Defensive Adjustments

[Hawk94Mn]

From my rudimentary understanding of Iowa’s scheme, it appears Parker has made several slight changes/nuances to our defense this year.

First, it appears he is playing a lot more cover 3, with hooker rolling up to a linebacker position and playing as our 2nd or 3rd curl/crossing route defender. This has allowed Parker to bring field side blitzes and rely on hooker to negotiate a lot of space. A great idea when Hooker not only has the athletic tools to do so but also the anticipation and intelligence to jump routes From what I can tell, this is muddingy the waters in the middle of the field and making it tough for QB’s to make quick decisions.

This type of force your hand defense seems to be relying heavily on their Dlines ability to not only contain the Qb but also complete the sack. Which our Dline has shown it can do.

Colbert playing the underneath zone and his ability to force tough throws to the sideline is perfect for the hawks scheme. Teams will struggle to run the ball against our front and be forced to make sideline throws with a linebacker forcing the issue and a corner or safety playing over the top.

Hopefully other teams don’t pick up on this tendency but I believe Parker has blitzed on nearly every 15 or more to go on 2nd and 1st down. This is a great scheme because it forces a quick throw at a time when teams are looking to make an intermediate to deep pass. The one weakness is the screen.

Finally, while we have seen it before, I don’t know if we’ve had a better Dline group to drop into coverage than the very athletic Hesse and Epenesa. A fantastic scheme to stop quick crossers and flat routes while bringing an overload blitz. Phil really is a fantastic coordinator and hes showing it again this year. Bravo.

 

[ichawk24]

In both games, they ran a Niemann/Hockaday blitz with Epenesa dropping into coverage. I love it. AJE chucked an ISU crosser pretty good.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

From my rudimentary understanding of Iowa’s scheme, it appears Parker has made several slight changes/nuances to our defense this year.

First, it appears he is playing a lot more cover 3, with hooker rolling up to a linebacker position and playing as our 2nd or 3rd curl/crossing route defender. This has allowed Parker to bring field side blitzes and rely on hooker to negotiate a lot of space. A great idea when Hooker not only has the athletic tools to do so but also the anticipation and intelligence to jump routes From what I can tell, this is muddingy the waters in the middle of the field and making it tough for QB’s to make quick decisions.

This type of force your hand defense seems to be relying heavily on their Dlines ability to not only contain the Qb but also complete the sack. Which our Dline has shown it can do.

Colbert playing the underneath zone and his ability to force tough throws to the sideline is perfect for the hawks scheme. Teams will struggle to run the ball against our front and be forced to make sideline throws with a linebacker forcing the issue and a corner or safety playing over the top.

Hopefully other teams don’t pick up on this tendency but I believe Parker has blitzed on nearly every 15 or more to go on 2nd and 1st down. This is a great scheme because it forces a quick throw at a time when teams are looking to make an intermediate to deep pass. The one weakness is the screen.

Finally, while we have seen it before, I don’t know if we’ve had a better Dline group to drop into coverage than the very athletic Hesse and Epenesa. A fantastic scheme to stop quick crossers and flat routes while bringing an overload blitz. Phil really is a fantastic coordinator and hes showing it again this year. Bravo.

Niemann and Colbert are guys who will eventually develop into having strong cover skills too. They've been okay thus far. It will be exciting to see them as they continue to improve.

 

[DaCDiggity]

Get McDonald in between Niemann and Colbert in a year or two....yesssir

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Get McDonald in between Niemann and Colbert in a year or two....yesssir

It looks like we might be capable of rotating guys too ... OR also situationally using LBs. Through the next two seasons, I can see both Welch and Colbert seeing quality reps.

Similarly, I could see McDonald and Doyle see reps too. Also, I like what we've been hearing about Benson too!

 

[Hawk94Mn]

It looks like we might be capable of rotating guys too ... OR also situationally using LBs. Through the next two seasons, I can see both Welch and Colbert seeing quality reps.

Similarly, I could see McDonald and Doyle see reps too. Also, I like what we've been hearing about Benson too!

The depth of the linebacker group going into 2019 is very promising. Weakside: Colbert, Welch and Mcdonald. Middle: Welch, Jones, and Doyle Outside: Niemann, Wade, and Benson - this isn't including Jestin Jacobs who could play all three positions. Am I forgetting anyone?

 

[HawkNole09]

Telling you guys bring on the tougher schedule next year— we can lineup with anybody (except maybe Alabama)

 

[nu2u]

The depth of the linebacker group going into 2019 is very promising. Weakside: Colbert, Welch and Mcdonald. Middle: Welch, Jones, and Doyle Outside: Niemann, Wade, and Benson - this isn't including Jestin Jacobs who could play all three positions. Am I forgetting anyone?

I believe Aaron Mends has another year of eligibility.

 

[dbrocket]

I believe Aaron Mends has another year of eligibility.

Not unless he gets a medical redshirt. IIRC, ths various beat writers that talked about it on podcasts around the time he was injured didn't seem optimistic about that possibility.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

I believe Aaron Mends has another year of eligibility.

He'd be applying for a 6th year ... and I would surmise that he likely doesn't have much of a case. However, the coaches can certain give it a try anyhow.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

The depth of the linebacker group going into 2019 is very promising. Weakside: Colbert, Welch and Mcdonald. Middle: Welch, Jones, and Doyle Outside: Niemann, Wade, and Benson - this isn't including Jestin Jacobs who could play all three positions. Am I forgetting anyone?

That's it ... unless we start hearing some buzz about Klemp or the walk-ons. However, I'd never underestimate our walk-on LBs ... usually there are a number of gems in the bunch. Preliminarily, I'd keep an eye on Timms or Evans ... but Riggs might also manage to surprise.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Telling you guys bring on the tougher schedule next year— we can lineup with anybody (except maybe Alabama)

The D will be able to handle it ... however, our WRs need to keep on making strides. I think that they have the potential to "get there" though.

 

[Harbinger273]

Love the way this defense is starting to look. Tons of talent. I like the schemes and new capable faces. Taking advantage of a strong and deep DL may allow for some different looks from the back 7.

 

[unoHawkeye]

One thing that has been interesting to me has been Iowa’s usage of the Raider/Radar package this year. It seemed like we really went away from it the last couple of years after having very little success with it. It’s been very well implemented this year on passing downs though, with more crosses/blitzes/looks out of it and has been generally quite successful. Not sure if this is the result of having better athletes on the DLine or teams just not preparing for it (I know we did well out of it in 2013, the Nebraska game specifically), but hope the success continues.

 

[Hawks4Life86]

One thing that has been interesting to me has been Iowa’s usage of the Raider/Radar package this year. It seemed like we really went away from it the last couple of years after having very little success with it. It’s been very well implemented this year on passing downs though, with more crosses/blitzes/looks out of it and has been generally quite successful. Not sure if this is the result of having better athletes on the DLine or teams just not preparing for it (I know we did well out of it in 2013, the Nebraska game specifically), but hope the success continues.

I don't remember the specific game/games, but I believe that we went away from it because we got burned bad when teams decided to run the ball against that look.

 

[unoHawkeye]

I don't remember the specific game/games, but I believe that we went away from it because we got burned bad when teams decided to run the ball against that look.

I remember that as well. Maybe Parker has just been more careful in the times that he’s used it this year? Obvious passing downs?

 

[Bearhawk0505]

I remember that as well. Maybe Parker has just been more careful in the times that he’s used it this year? Obvious passing downs?

I do not recall us using the raider yet this year. We have been using the NASCAR which has our 4 good DEs all rushing the passer. The Raider was only a 3 man DL, with extra DB coming in.

 

[Bearhawk0505]

Also, we have been winning 1st down and been able to implement the NASCAR often.

 

[unoHawkeye]

I do not recall us using the raider yet this year. We have been using the NASCAR which has our 4 good DEs all rushing the passer. The Raider was only a 3 man DL, with extra DB coming in.

Thanks for the correction

 

[BirdistheWord]

Nice post. This D Line is one of the strongest I can recall, which helps cover up a lot of inexperience in back 7.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

One thing that has been interesting to me has been Iowa’s usage of the Raider/Radar package this year. It seemed like we really went away from it the last couple of years after having very little success with it. It’s been very well implemented this year on passing downs though, with more crosses/blitzes/looks out of it and has been generally quite successful. Not sure if this is the result of having better athletes on the DLine or teams just not preparing for it (I know we did well out of it in 2013, the Nebraska game specifically), but hope the success continues.

Last year we went away from using a 3-man front with guys standing and shooting gaps ... largely because we got burned so badly by PSU in the running game.

Instead, we opted for 4 down linemen ... guys who we perceived to be our best pass rushers ... and guys who brought the best speed or quickness to the table. The point obviously was that we wanted to rush the passer - but we also wanted to be gap-sound.

This year, Phil has seemed to intoduce a new wrinkle. We're still using 4 D-linemen ... but we're no longer using them only as down linemen. Thus, this latest iteration utilizes the NASCAR personnel - but sometimes also using the Radar philosophy of having guys stand and shoot gaps.

What's interesting is that Phil has flashed us doing many different things with the same personnel. We've used the NASCAR personnel ... but had the guys all operate from their 3-point stances ... this ensures that the guys can play with leverage against the run. We've also had the guys standing ... making it harder for O-linemen to know their blocking assignments. Of course, even with 4 standing linemen ... that doesn't ensure that they're not susceptible to the run .... because by standing, they're giving O-linemen a possible leverage advantage. However, as others have noted, Phil has flashed yet another counter ... zone blitzing from the same package. This is not only potentially effective against the pass ... but the blitzing backers can traditionally be so disruptive that it can be effective against the run too. Furthermore, zone blitzers typically are coming from further from the LOS ... and consequently have more opportunity to diagnose runs (compared to a pass-rushing D-linemen).

Anyhow, the new wrinkles are interesting to see.

 

[chiphawk59]

Having Epenesa, Hesse and A.Nelson really give us lot's of flexability because all three can move inside and play tackle and still drop into pass coverage on zone blitzes. Not a lot of teams have DT athletic enough to drop in to coverage not to mention the confusion it causes opposing OL as to who their supposed to block.

 

[Johnsoda123]

I do not recall us using the raider yet this year. We have been using the NASCAR which has our 4 good DEs all rushing the passer. The Raider was only a 3 man DL, with extra DB coming in.

Yeah I was going to say that also. I have not seen the Raider package so far. I'm not sure if we ever will. What I have seen is more blitzes than we usually see from Parker. Course a guy like AJ doesn't come around very often where you can drop him back in coverage.