Getting very, very pumped about Hawkeye Defense

[RockEyeState]

With Desmond King's return, having 3 of 4 defensive backs returning, plus a
Bevy of Linebackers (Niemann, Bower, Josey Wales, Mends, etc, etc) along with
Jaleel Johnson, Bazata, Faith, Matt Nelson, Parker Hesse on the Defensive Line, I'm thinking that this could
be one of the best Hawkeye defensive groups in quite some time.

They were d*** good last year and have almost everyone back!

#goHawks

 

[Hawkeyefan1234]

As long as they get a pretty good pass rush, they will be crazy good.

 

[spbc7]

Except the defense wasn't that good last year. Faced 3 top 50 offenses all season and gave up 45, 27, and 20 to those teams. The majority of the other offenses were 80th or worse. Teams figured us out down the stretch and threw at will without a good pass rush.

 

[milehighhawkeye24]

Except the defense wasn't that good last year. Faced 3 top 50 offenses all season and gave up 45, 27, and 20 to those teams. The majority of the other offenses were 80th or worse. Teams figured us out down the stretch and threw at will without a good pass rush.

Pretty sure you shouldn't be using the word "us" in this.....troll

 

[Gopher Dano]

Pretty sure you shouldn't be using the word "us" in this.....troll

Just as the sun sets in the west, ol milehigh calls anyone who doesn't pump sunshine a troll.

Regardless of the facts. Every. Single. Time.

 

[broth87]

Pass rush is key which is why Ott's return is so big for this group.
Parker will be able to do more with this group with the experience back and the talent so that will obviously help. I love this defense and think they're one of the best in the conference. Throw in an offense with a lot of good pieces back, makes for an exciting spring and summer heading into next fall.

 

[HawkinK.C.1]

Our D is gonna bring the pain next year. Very optimistic about the future.

 

[Hawkeyefan1234]

Pass rush is key which is why Ott's return is so big for this group.
Parker will be able to do more with this group with the experience back and the talent so that will obviously help. I love this defense and think they're one of the best in the conference. Throw in an offense with a lot of good pieces back, makes for an exciting spring and summer heading into next fall.

I think Lattimore plays next year off the edge. Good size and can get after the QB.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Except the defense wasn't that good last year. Faced 3 top 50 offenses all season and gave up 45, 27, and 20 to those teams. The majority of the other offenses were 80th or worse. Teams figured us out down the stretch and threw at will without a good pass rush.

Aside from Stanford, I'm pretty sure the other two were below their scoring average. Yes, it was above our average, but then that's why we also need to score points.....and again, besides the Stanford game, we did (which is why we won....)

 

[RockEyeState]

Aside from Stanford, I'm pretty sure the other two were below their scoring average. Yes, it was above our average, but then that's why we also need to score points.....and again, besides the Stanford game, we did (which is why we won....)

EvilMonkey is right on, again. My POINT is that the IOWA Defense was pretty salty, last year. (A lot better than most people realized) and with a HUGE contingent of playmakers returning, the opposition is going to have trouble.

#goHawks

 

[Hans81]

Well, GopherDano - at least Iowa doesn't need to go the juco route like the gophs are doing just to field an o-line. Apparently, Minny's new fat coach ate a couple of his players.

 

[milehighhawkeye24]

Just as the sun sets in the west, ol milehigh calls anyone who doesn't pump sunshine a troll.

Regardless of the facts. Every. Single. Time.

The guy has 6 posts and all troll posts, pretty obvious and just calling them like I see them. Speaking of trolls, why are you even here? I know your teams season(s) end early each year but most of come on here to get information and updates on our favorite teams. Most fans are not obsessed and/or so paranoid (nor do we have the time) to be on others teams fan pages each and every day to just start arguments and be annoying. More power to you though

 

[milehighhawkeye24]

Well, GopherDano - at least Iowa doesn't need to go the juco route like the gophs are doing just to field an o-line. Apparently, Minny's new fat coach ate a couple of his players.

Thats not even true, the gophers are dead last in the Big10 in recruiting for next year with a whopping 0 commits....funny I didn't see gooferdano chime in on that thread, trolls will be trolls. Go Hawkeyes

 

[spbc7]

The guy has 6 posts and all troll posts, pretty obvious and just calling them like I see them. Speaking of trolls, why are you even here? I know your teams season(s) end early each year but most of come on here to get information and updates on our favorite teams. Most fans are not obsessed and/or so paranoid (nor do we have the time) to be on others teams fan pages each and every day to just start arguments and be annoying. More power to you though

Troll posts? I posted about having to see Happ for 3 more years, not pressing more because Villanova's guards were too good for it to be effective, White committing to MSU, and Robertson not going to Iowa because of his connections elsewhere. Apparently that makes me a troll?

 

[spbc7]

Aside from Stanford, I'm pretty sure the other two were below their scoring average. Yes, it was above our average, but then that's why we also need to score points.....and again, besides the Stanford game, we did (which is why we won....)

All I'm saying is it wasn't as good as RockEye was making it seem. Definitely an above average defense, but teams like Stanford and Minnesota threw all over it. I don't see how this defense will be better than the 2009 defense, which would make it not one of the best defenses in quite sometime. There will be next to no pass rush and the safety position is unproven.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

The defense is going to be good, there is no doubt. How good depends on how much better Bazata, Johnson, Hesse, and Nelson improve. We have to have a couple guys that didn't play much last year step up too...Ekatite, and Slater come to mind as guys that could make the leap. Slater has gotten props for his work in practice from Phil Parker...so I'm excited to see what he can do. We are deeper in the DL than I can remember, but they all have to improve. The back seven have the potential to truly be exceptional. One thing I would throw in there, is that I think our offense is going to help the defense, by controlling the ball and keeping our defense fresher. We are going to score points next year in bunches.

 

[StatewidePundit]

The nation and Christian McCaffery are just laughing

As long as they get a pretty good pass rush, they will be crazy good.

LOL and as long as the other teams are awful , the D will be good. After last year never get your hopes up with a Kirk Ferentz team. Safer just doing the usual 6-6 thing and losing a close Alamo Bowl that no one cares about.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

There will be next to no pass rush and the safety position is unproven.

You sound pretty certain there. I'm assuming you have a track record for these kinds of statements? How'd your guarantees going into the 2015 season turn out? You expect, before the season began, that the offensive line to help lead the way for our running game like it did?

I also would be disappointed if you didn't find a way to gripe about certain things our OL didn't do well because it would be totally necessary to include when answering my questions...........totally necessary. To-tal- you get the idea.

 

[spbc7]

You sound pretty certain there. I'm assuming you have a track record for these kinds of statements? How'd your guarantees going into the 2015 season turn out? You expect, before the season began, that the offensive line to help lead the way for our running game like it did?

I also would be disappointed if you didn't find a way to gripe about certain things our OL didn't do well because it would be totally necessary to include when answering my questions...........totally necessary. To-tal- you get the idea.

I didn't guarantee anything? Keep twisting my words though, it's fine really.

 

[RockEyeState]

The nation and Christian McCaffery are just laughing

LOL and as long as the other teams are awful , the D will be good. After last year never get your hopes up with a Kirk Ferentz team. Safer just doing the usual 6-6 thing and losing a close Alamo Bowl that no one cares about.

WTF ?? Pundit apparently didn't notice the THEEEEEEEEEEEE IOWA HAWKEYES were ranked in top 5 nationally a lot of the year and the DEFENSE was a MAJOR part of that.
Christian McCaffery??? Watch the tape of what he did to USC, the game before Iowa.

He would have had over 1,000 yards in a half against I.S. who

 

[StatewidePundit]

I noticed a really weak schedule to get any type of 'ranking' and then getting trounced by another Pac team that had a real offense ( see 2003 Orange Bowl ).

LOOK OUT THERE GOES CHRISTIAN MCCAFFERY AGAIN !!!

 

[hawkinne]

The nation and Christian McCaffery are just laughing

LOL and as long as the other teams are awful , the D will be good. After last year never get your hopes up with a Kirk Ferentz team. Safer just doing the usual 6-6 thing and losing a close Alamo Bowl that no one cares about.

"Never get your hopes up with a Kirk Ferentz team." How would you not when he has had so many good teams? Stick to ISU football where there is no hope.

 

[Hawkeyefan1234]

I noticed a really weak schedule to get any type of 'ranking' and then getting trounced by another Pac team that had a real offense ( see 2003 Orange Bowl ).

LOOK OUT THERE GOES CHRISTIAN MCCAFFERY AGAIN !!!

How about winning 8 games in three years? LOL! And it's not like the Big 12 is a bunch of heavyweights. Kirk Ferentz will be in the College Football Hall of Fame when he retires. Iowa in this century has the second most top 10 finishes in the Big Ten behind Ohio State. How about that?

 

[Gopher Dano]

Most fans are not obsessed and/or so paranoid (nor do we have the time) to be on others teams fan pages each and every day to just start arguments and be annoying. More power to you though

I don't start arguments. I only state the facts. I've seen that it really rustles your jimmies, though.

"Never get your hopes up with a Kirk Ferentz team." How would you not when he has had so many good teams? Stick to ISU football where there is no hope.

Ummm... Well... Yeeaaahhhh....

 

[Roy-munson]

I don't start arguments. I only state the facts. I've seen that it really rustles your jimmies, though.



Ummm... Well... Yeeaaahhhh....

Why did you start at 1998?? that was frys last year.. But let's compare overall record now starting in 1998, bowl game record. Ricky stanzi has won more bowl games then Isu..

 

[Hawkeyefan1234]

Why did you start at 1998?? that was frys last year.. But let's compare overall record now starting in 1998, bowl game record. Ricky stanzi has won more bowl games then Isu..

And Iowa has more top 10 finishes than anyone in the big ten besides Ohio State. That is very, very impressive. Iowa had as many wins in the Big Ten this year as Iowa State did the last three years.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

I didn't guarantee anything? Keep twisting my words though, it's fine really.

That wasn't twisting your words, I asked you a question..............................

Did you make any claims (like the one you made above about the 2016 DL) about the 2015 team and how'd that turn out for you?

Wanna try again?

 

[H4wkfan4life]

Overall they were a good unit, especially in the MSU, WI, NE, and NW games. Didn't really need them in the NW game, but they certainly won the WI/NE games and kept us in the MSU game.

But if you look at the IND/MN games, they were piss poor imo. Indiana had TONS of dropped passes that were EASILY catchable. If their receivers didn't flat out choke, we probably lose that one and give up 40+. Giving up 35 to MN....nuff said.
Also we gave up more points to IL than every b1g team they played, except MN.

All that said, I'm still pretty optimistic for the 2016 season.

 

[spbc7]

That wasn't twisting your words, I asked you a question..............................

Did you make any claims (like the one you made above about the 2016 DL) about the 2015 team and how'd that turn out for you?

Wanna try again?

I didn't make any claims about 2015. I didn't make any claims about 2016 either. Logic would lead you to believe there will be no pass rush since the two best pass rushers will most likely be gone. The returning leader in sacks had only 3.5 last year. Look at the sack numbers in the second half of last season without Ott. Abysmal, basically only one sack/game. Guys develop, but the chances that two DE's developed over this offseason as solid, consistent pass rushers against B1G tackles are slim to none.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

I didn't make any claims about 2015. I didn't make any claims about 2016 either. Logic would lead you to believe there will be no pass rush since the two best pass rushers will most likely be gone. The returning leader in sacks had only 3.5 last year. Look at the sack numbers in the second half of last season without Ott. Abysmal, basically only one sack/game. Guys develop, but the chances that two DE's developed over this offseason as solid, consistent pass rushers against B1G tackles are slim to none.

And what you just said there..........is called making a claim.

You're acting like you're pretty sure you're not going to be wrong about that statement.....that's pretty much a claim about the 2016 Iowa DL.

 

[milehighhawkeye24]

Just as the sun sets in the west, ol milehigh calls anyone who doesn't pump sunshine a troll.

Regardless of the facts. Every. Single. Time.

I don't start arguments. I only state the facts. I've seen that it really rustles your jimmies, though.

I wouldn't say it rustles my feathers, more so makes me feel better about myself seeing you waste your time on a Hawkeye fan page each and every day. You do realize how pathetic that is, especially considering you being a gopher fan.....that makes sense though because your season(s) are over before the Hawkeyes so it does give you a lot of time. I also notice you do not respond to some threads that it is impossible to serve your pathetic agenda. As I said, most if not all of us realize how absolute pathetic you make yourself look each and every day with each and every response here. I look forward to hearing back from you on this





Ummm... Well... Yeeaaahhhh....

 

[Packer54]

Except the defense wasn't that good last year. Faced 3 top 50 offenses all season and gave up 45, 27, and 20 to those teams. The majority of the other offenses were 80th or worse. Teams figured us out down the stretch and threw at will without a good pass rush.

MSU didn't exactly run it up on our defense. If the offense had generated some addition opportunities that may not have come down to the final drive. I was very proud of our defense that game and most of the season.

Hopefully no major health issues and I would see the opportunity to be better. If nothing else with Drew being out there are some guys that saw some serious minutes that will be better prepared for this year. That an another favorable schedule should make this another fun year.

 

[starbrown]

Actually, under Kirk the "D" has been better than the "O" every year except one. And from a points-allowed standpoint it has been in the Top 25 most years.

 

[David1979]

Getting pressure on the QB will be key. So they either need Ott back or Hesse and Nelson to get a lot better. Either way they will be good but to be great they need those DEs to step up their pass rush.

 

[milehighhawkeye24]

I agree, when we can put pressure on the QB with only front 4 our defense is top tier in most years. However, I think we can generate much of our pressure up front with our 3 man rotation of JJ, Bazata, and Ek. Our ends need to be disaplined and keep contain and many times the QB will simply be "flushed" to the outside. Even if Ott is back it might be mid season before he is 100% in explosion standpoint, Hesse can generate speed rush, and the big question is whether Nelson can use his frame to his benefit and not detriment, showed flashes last year. Also, Phil Parker brings some pressure a lil more than the late Parker so that could help, but if we do not have to bring heat more than 10% of the time we could be scary good

 

[ICWestfan]

Actually, under Kirk the "D" has been better than the "O" every year except one. And from a points-allowed standpoint it has been in the Top 25 most years.

I'm not worried about the D other than depth which seems pretty shallow at this point. I worry more about the O pretty much every year especially at this time.

 

[milehighhawkeye24]

I'm not worried about the D other than depth which seems pretty shallow at this point. I worry more about the O pretty much every year especially at this time.

I actually think we have some terrific depth at almost all position, if Ott doesn't come back DE could be thin but DT we are 3 deep and solid very solid, FIsher gone but Mends/Hackaday/Bower provide great depth, Fleming is a terrific back up Corner and Snyder/Gair provide depth at safety. I actually think our depth is probably as good as it has been in a long long time on the defensive side of the ball.

 

[mlb1399]

Getting a pass rush is the key to having a great defense. Our pass rush went away once Ott went down last year. If Hesse can gain 10-15lbs, Nelson develops and/or Ott comes back, they have the potential to be a top 10 defense.

 

[LGEND24]

I actually think we have some terrific depth at almost all position, if Ott doesn't come back DE could be thin but DT we are 3 deep and solid very solid, FIsher gone but Mends/Hackaday/Bower provide great depth, Fleming is a terrific back up Corner and Snyder/Gair provide depth at safety. I actually think our depth is probably as good as it has been in a long long time on the defensive side of the ball.

This is the only thing that I don't agree with. I'm looking forward to see how much he has improved in the spring because he struggled quite a bit last year.

 

[milehighhawkeye24]

This is the only thing that I don't agree with. I'm looking forward to see how much he has improved in the spring because he struggled quite a bit last year.

Which is why he is a backup, but as far as adding depth that truly helps. He is actually our 4th option because Jackson is our 3rd option and plays in "Nickle" situations. So in our base defense we have Jackson and then fleming. To me that is some pretty solid depth, also keep in mind they are playing behind 1 for sure NFL player and 1 probable. Alot of people do not understand that Mabin may very well be a sought after NFL DB because he is close to 6'3", can tackle well in space, runs well, and has good hands for a DB.