life on the defense without Ott.

[gilligan19]

this going on the thought that he is not coming back.

these look to be the starters on the DL with their backups.
DE RSSO Matt Nelson 6'8 275, backup RSSO Brinks 6'5 270 lbs
DE RSSO Hesse 6'3 250 lbs backup RSFR A Nelson 6'7 250 lbs
DT RSSR Johnson 6'4 310 lbs backup RSSR Ekakitie 6'3 290 lbs
DR RSJR Bazata 6'2 285 lbs backup RSJR Hulet 6'3 285 lbs

these players can work at getting better without having to look over their shoulders. would Ott help yes, but it would be for just 1 year, these players other than Johnson and Ekakitie will only be here for 1 year,
Matt Nelson recorded his 1st sack against Stanford and 1st extended playing time, Hesse started the last 8 games and played when Ott was injured,

Hesse is ahead of Ott at the same age, as Ott played early but not as a starter as a true FR. Ott then started as a true SO, in this reguard Ott was a true JR in his 3rd year, Hesse will be a 3rd year SO.

with the new players they will add quality depth and size, McKnight is 6'5, Golston is 6'5 as DE's, as for Simon I would like to see him as a outside LB or maybe a FB at 6'1 Lattimore is slotted in at the DT spot and he to is 6'5, the switch to bigger DL is a big change from what KF has gone with in the past. even Harris is listed @ 6'4 365 lbs by 1 site,

thoughts and opinions welcomed

 

[Proud_Illini_Native]

Kilroy ?

 

[nu2u]

Kilroy ?

That was my first impression as well but I could be wrong since there is no mention of the recruiting star rating of the players mentioned. Almost like Kilroy ......properly medicated.

In any event, the Iowa defense is the one unit that I am least anxious about, potentially one of the top 2-3 in the Ferentz era if the LBs make another step forward and a decent pass rush develops.

DE is slightly green but should be OK IMO unless the injuries hit. More concerned about settling Lomax's free safety replacement.

 

[gilligan19]

That was my first impression as well but I could be wrong since there is no mention of the recruiting star rating of the players mentioned. Almost like Kilroy ......properly medicated.

In any event, the Iowa defense is the one unit that I am least anxious about, potentially one of the top 2-3 in the Ferentz era if the LBs make another step forward and a decent pass rush develops.

DE is slightly green but should be OK IMO unless the injuries hit. More concerned about settling Lomax's free safety replacement.

please explain pass rush to me ? as last season they recorded 30 sacks 1 fewer than the record of 31 set by the 2009 team, so please explain a better pass rush.

 

[nu2u]

please explain pass rush to me ? as last season they recorded 30 sacks 1 fewer than the record of 31 set by the 2009 team, so please explain a better pass rush.

Among B10 teams, the Iowa defense ranked 9th in number of sacks per game (2.1 spg). Penn State, Ohio State, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Indiana, and Wisconsin all averaged more sacks per game.

Part of that is due to Ott's injury but that's the point - you asked us to assume that Drew Ott will not be a member of the 2016 unit.

I realize that sacks don't tell the whole story but I believe any objective observer would agree that consistent pressure on the opposing QB was not one of Iowa's stronger suits last year. Rush defense mostly excellent, pass rush not so much.

 

[gilligan19]

Among B10 teams, the Iowa defense ranked 9th in number of sacks per game (2.1 spg). Penn State, Ohio State, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Indiana, and Wisconsin all averaged more sacks per game.

Part of that is due to Ott's injury but that's the point - you asked us to assume that Drew Ott will not be a member of the 2016 unit.

I realize that sacks don't tell the whole story but I believe any objective observer would agree that consistent pressure on the opposing QB was not one of Iowa's stronger suits last year. Rush defense mostly excellent, pass rush not so much.

but they were 10th in the nation vs the run giving up 114.9 ypg, 15th in Scoring defense and 22nd in total defense,

really and you worry about a pass rush, IA had these for starters after Ott went out.
RSFR SDE Hesse 6'3 240 lbs 1st year starter
RSSR WDE Meier 6'2 250 lbs 2nd year starter
RSSO DT Bazata 6'2 285 lbs 1st year starter
RSJR DT Johnson 6'4 310 lbs1st year starter,

this season the DL looks like this
RSSO DE Nelson 6'8 275 lbs speed of a TE got his 1st start vs Stanford
RSS0 DE Hesse who has added 10 lbs to his 6'3 frame to be 250 lbs 2nd year starting
DT RSSR Johnson 6'4 310 lbs 2nd year starting recorded 5 sacks in his 1st year starting
DT RSJR Bazata 6'2 285 lbs 2nd year starting this fall.

also it has never been a priority with Norm Parker or Phil Parker to put this pressure on the passing game, its all about containing and stopping the run, even under Fry the DL was geared to funnel the playes to the LB'rs and let them make the playes,

give me a defense that is top 10 vs the run anyday as well as a top 15 scoring defense

you will win more games that way.

 

[nu2u]

but they were 10th in the nation vs the run giving up 114.9 ypg, 15th in Scoring defense and 22nd in total defense

..and 64th in the nation in team sacks. Room for improvement.

 

[H4wkfan4life]

please explain pass rush to me ? as last season they recorded 30 sacks 1 fewer than the record of 31 set by the 2009 team, so please explain a better pass rush.

Almost 40% of those sacks came from ott and meier. Ott played less than half season and meier was pretty banged up towards the end iirc.

We also played 1 extra game. That said, I'm more worried about protecting against the pass rush....would love to see a healthy CJ all year

 

[fecal particulate]

That was my first impression as well but I could be wrong since there is no mention of the recruiting star rating of the players mentioned. Almost like Kilroy ......properly medicated.

In any event, the Iowa defense is the one unit that I am least anxious about, potentially one of the top 2-3 in the Ferentz era if the LBs make another step forward and a decent pass rush develops.

DE is slightly green but should be OK IMO unless the injuries hit. More concerned about settling Lomax's free safety replacement.

It's gotta be Kilroy. Might not be any stars but no one has positions, heights, and weights in that format. It's a lock.

 

[ichawk24]

We had 2/3 of the sacks in the first half. Then Ott out and Meier ground down.

Iowa can usually put a top 15 run defense on the field. A strong pass rush can be the difference between a good defense and a great defense.

 

[Proud_Illini_Native]

That was my first impression as well but I could be wrong since there is no mention of the recruiting star rating of the players mentioned. Almost like Kilroy ......properly medicated.

In any event, the Iowa defense is the one unit that I am least anxious about, potentially one of the top 2-3 in the Ferentz era if the LBs make another step forward and a decent pass rush develops.

DE is slightly green but should be OK IMO unless the injuries hit. More concerned about settling Lomax's free safety replacement.

Definitely Kilroy

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

..and 64th in the nation in team sacks. Room for improvement.

The difference, defensively, between great and elite.......

 

[Suterman]

Iowa did not have a great pass rush last year. If we can improve on that one area, our defense could be elite this year. I'm not worried about stopping the run. Welcome back Herby/Blacktarn/Kilroy.

 

[millhawk]

Don't give up on Hesse as a pass rusher. He's athletic and has added some muscle.

 

[RockEyeState]

Don't give up on Hesse as a pass rusher. He's athletic and has added some muscle.

We have 2 very experienced Def Tackles who are also going to need to pick up the pressure.
#goHawks

 

[millhawk]

We have 2 very experienced Def Tackles who are also going to need to pick up the pressure.
#goHawks

Good point...we always seem to expect it from only the de's. Ekakatie came on strong the last half of the '15 season. They should be able to rotate and keep them fresh.

 

[Packer54]

A blitz every once and awhile might help.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

You better add Michael Slater into the mix. I've heard from several places he's going to play a lot. Even Reese mentioned him in his last press conference...as being really talented. He's gotten to 285 already, so he may have to move inside, but if he kept his quickness at 285, look out at DE.

 

[gilligan19]

Johnson ended up with 5 sacks, in 2013 IA finished 7th in total defense, 9th in Pass defense, 17th in rushing defense, and 9th in scoring defense and only had 24 sacks, YOU ignore the fact IA's defense is not geared to get sacks, not in this day and age of running QB's,

getting sacks these days like it was under Fry, in 2009 when IA won the OB they set the bar with 31 sacks.

sacks are over rated in my opinion having a top 10 defense against the run means more. if a team can't run they have to use the pass to move the ball, this is what killed IA in 2013 and 2014, when all they had was FB Weisman because of injuries,

yes with Ott they had 22 sacks w/o him the recorded 8 more, but the thing to remember these were 1st year starters, DT RSJR Johnson, RSSO DT Bazata, and RSFR DE Hesse. under Morgan the older they get the better they get. Nelson at 6'8 275 lbs has the speed of a TE and will be coming off the egde,

the LB'rs will be 2nd year starters in JR Nieman, RSJR Jewel, RSFR will be the only 1st year starter, but it would not surprise me of preseason listed starter WLB RSJR former ;EO starter, start at the WLB spot giving IA 3 2 year starters at LB'rs.

with King coming back the 2ndary looks to be solid, its amazing how returning starter experience can and does make the difference.

Hesse has gone from 240 lbs as a RSFR to 250 lbs as a RSSO, look at how much better Meier did between his JR year when he weighed 240 lbs then as a SR he weighed 252 lbs, he made major strides between the two seasons.

Ott was 6'4 270 lbs and is being replaced by 6'8 275 lb Nelson longer reach and faster off the edge,

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

Johnson ended up with 5 sacks, in 2013 IA finished 7th in total defense, 9th in Pass defense, 17th in rushing defense, and 9th in scoring defense and only had 24 sacks, YOU ignore the fact IA's defense is not geared to get sacks, not in this day and age of running QB's,

getting sacks these days like it was under Fry, in 2009 when IA won the OB they set the bar with 31 sacks.

sacks are over rated in my opinion having a top 10 defense against the run means more. if a team can't run they have to use the pass to move the ball, this is what killed IA in 2013 and 2014, when all they had was FB Weisman because of injuries,

yes with Ott they had 22 sacks w/o him the recorded 8 more, but the thing to remember these were 1st year starters, DT RSJR Johnson, RSSO DT Bazata, and RSFR DE Hesse. under Morgan the older they get the better they get. Nelson at 6'8 275 lbs has the speed of a TE and will be coming off the egde,

the LB'rs will be 2nd year starters in JR Nieman, RSJR Jewel, RSFR will be the only 1st year starter, but it would not surprise me of preseason listed starter WLB RSJR former ;EO starter, start at the WLB spot giving IA 3 2 year starters at LB'rs.

with King coming back the 2ndary looks to be solid, its amazing how returning starter experience can and does make the difference.

Hesse has gone from 240 lbs as a RSFR to 250 lbs as a RSSO, look at how much better Meier did between his JR year when he weighed 240 lbs then as a SR he weighed 252 lbs, he made major strides between the two seasons.

Ott was 6'4 270 lbs and is being replaced by 6'8 275 lb Nelson longer reach and faster off the edge,

Nelson is not faster off the edge than Ott. Ott had one of the best first steps for a man his size in the country. Now, Ott developed that speed working with Doyle over 4 years...so we will see about Nelson this year...but it's a tall order to compare his speed off the edge to Drew Ott...it wasn't close last year.

 

[gilligan19]

Nelson is not faster off the edge than Ott. Ott had one of the best first steps for a man his size in the country. Now, Ott developed that speed working with Doyle over 4 years...so we will see about Nelson this year...but it's a tall order to compare his speed off the edge to Drew Ott...it wasn't close last year.

how many times did you see Nelson on the field to come to this conclusion, I watched him vs Stanford and got his 1st sack of his career in that game and yeah he is/was as fast as Ott, what Ott was 3 years of Technique that Nelson does not have, this is what Morgan taught him and will teach Nelson and Hesse plus the others going forward.

technique is more important than speed when rushing off the edge, speed comes in handy when you flush the QB out of the pocket but that is where the LB'rs come in to chase the QB down.

 

[spbc7]

not geared to get sacks, not in this day and age of running QB's

It's funny you say that, running QB's are generally sacked more often than solely pocket passers. Rodgers, Smith, Wilson, Bridgewater, Mariota, Taylor, and Newton were all near the top in sacks this past year.

 

[icantfindausernamethatisntused]

Nelson is not faster off the edge than Ott. Ott had one of the best first steps for a man his size in the country. Now, Ott developed that speed working with Doyle over 4 years...so we will see about Nelson this year...but it's a tall order to compare his speed off the edge to Drew Ott...it wasn't close last year.

Given that Nelson stands 6' 8", I'd like to think pun was intended.

 

[shoot_the_three]

OP so are you suggesting that the defense (specifically DE position) will be better with Ott leaving?

 

[SDHawkDoc]

A fundamental flaw in the lack of concern as to pass rush is the assumption that the secondary can provide blanket coverage for extended time.
As improved as coverage might be, a pass rush is imperative as even the best secondary in the country can't blanket receivers indefinitely.

 

[gilligan19]

Nelson has a distinct reach advantage over Ott, in Nelson's 1st true game experience he regerstered a sack vs the Stanford QB, and those that watched Ott develop as a FR where he was forced to play because of Injuries, he started to get better as a SO, then progreesed as he became a JR,

MY QUESTION IS

Will Hesse who started the last 8 game start at SDE or will he start at WDE, lets say that Hesse a 2nd year starter starts at SDE that means that 6'8 275 lb Nelson as a RSSO will replace Meier a 6'2 252 lb'r that makes a 6" height and 23 lb increase at the WLB position,

you have to remember the LB'rs were under weight as RSSO in Jewell, Bower and Neiman, these 3 have all bulked up and are more experienced this year, look at how much Morris, Hitchens and Kirksey improved as the gained much needed weight/muscle.

the Linebackers can and do make a DL look very good. this is also the 1st time in years that IA will have a 1st team AA CB in the backfield and I would think he could keep the best under wraps for a extended period of time,

RSSR Mabin is a former WR with the speed to keep up, and he will be a 2nd year starter.

so yes I feel this years defense can and will be better than last years without Ott, sorry he can and will be replaced every team can and does this IA is no different.

 

[iahawkeyes17]

Nelson has a distinct reach advantage over Ott, in Nelson's 1st true game experience he regerstered a sack vs the Stanford QB, and those that watched Ott develop as a FR where he was forced to play because of Injuries, he started to get better as a SO, then progreesed as he became a JR,

MY QUESTION IS

Will Hesse who started the last 8 game start at SDE or will he start at WDE, lets say that Hesse a 2nd year starter starts at SDE that means that 6'8 275 lb Nelson as a RSSO will replace Meier a 6'2 252 lb'r that makes a 6" height and 23 lb increase at the WLB position,

you have to remember the LB'rs were under weight as RSSO in Jewell, Bower and Neiman, these 3 have all bulked up and are more experienced this year, look at how much Morris, Hitchens and Kirksey improved as the gained much needed weight/muscle.

the Linebackers can and do make a DL look very good. this is also the 1st time in years that IA will have a 1st team AA CB in the backfield and I would think he could keep the best under wraps for a extended period of time,

RSSR Mabin is a former WR with the speed to keep up, and he will be a 2nd year starter.

so yes I feel this years defense can and will be better than last years without Ott, sorry he can and will be replaced every team can and does this IA is no different.

Hate to break it to you Stanford was not Nelson's first true game experience. As a backup he played in a lot of games prior to that. In fact he played in 6 games before the rose bowl. And technically he was only credited with half a sack.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/3145005/matt-nelson

Kilroy glad to see you are still obsessed with height and weights of players and providing wrong information.

 

[spbc7]

Kilroy glad to see you are still obsessed with height and weights of players and providing wrong information.

I'm 6'5 225, give me a couple months with Doyle and I would be a guaranteed stud, right?

 

[Proud_Illini_Native]

how many times did you see Nelson on the field to come to this conclusion, I watched him vs Stanford and got his 1st sack of his career in that game and yeah he is/was as fast as Ott, what Ott was 3 years of Technique that Nelson does not have, this is what Morgan taught him and will teach Nelson and Hesse plus the others going forward.

technique is more important than speed when rushing off the edge, speed comes in handy when you flush the QB out of the pocket but that is where the LB'rs come in to chase the QB down.

Come on Kilroy you were the same guy who said JR should be starting over CJB last year. Your talent evaluation skills can't to be trusted anymore.

 

[gilligan19]

Come on Kilroy you were the same guy would said JR should be starting over CJB last year. Your talent evaluation skills can't to be trusted anymore.

and JR threw for over 3000 yards and his best game he threw for 6 TD's, 440 yards and ran for 78 yards in 1 game, and the mighty CJ didn't break a 100 TWICE, the 2nd time vs a defense that was giving up a avg of 292 ypg and ended up 122nd, Michigan didn't even have a decent running game.

so yeah I would have taken JR every time.

 

[93hawkeye]

Nitpicking about sack numbers aside, I remember many times in the 2nd half of last season desperately wishing the Hawks could get to the QB quicker. For example, I doubt Connor Cook could have engineered MSU's 8-minute scoring drive in B10 title game if our pass rush would have put more fear into him.

 

[Pepperman]

Definitely Kilroy

He hasn't asked anybody why they hate Gesell yet, so once that happens we'll know for sure

 

[David1979]

and JR threw for over 3000 yards and his best game he threw for 6 TD's, 440 yards and ran for 78 yards in 1 game, and the mighty CJ didn't break a 100 TWICE, the 2nd time vs a defense that was giving up a avg of 292 ypg and ended up 122nd, Michigan didn't even have a decent running game.

so yeah I would have taken JR every time.

Why do you hate Iowa and hate Beathard? You are not a good fan. Always trashing players.

 

[David1979]

Nelson has a distinct reach advantage over Ott, in Nelson's 1st true game experience he regerstered a sack vs the Stanford QB, and those that watched Ott develop as a FR where he was forced to play because of Injuries, he started to get better as a SO, then progreesed as he became a JR,

MY QUESTION IS

Will Hesse who started the last 8 game start at SDE or will he start at WDE, lets say that Hesse a 2nd year starter starts at SDE that means that 6'8 275 lb Nelson as a RSSO will replace Meier a 6'2 252 lb'r that makes a 6" height and 23 lb increase at the WLB position,

you have to remember the LB'rs were under weight as RSSO in Jewell, Bower and Neiman, these 3 have all bulked up and are more experienced this year, look at how much Morris, Hitchens and Kirksey improved as the gained much needed weight/muscle.

the Linebackers can and do make a DL look very good. this is also the 1st time in years that IA will have a 1st team AA CB in the backfield and I would think he could keep the best under wraps for a extended period of time,

RSSR Mabin is a former WR with the speed to keep up, and he will be a 2nd year starter.

so yes I feel this years defense can and will be better than last years without Ott, sorry he can and will be replaced every team can and does this IA is no different.

Who cares about how much Bower bulked up? He is not a starter. Mabin will be a 3 year starter.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

how many times did you see Nelson on the field to come to this conclusion, I watched him vs Stanford and got his 1st sack of his career in that game and yeah he is/was as fast as Ott, what Ott was 3 years of Technique that Nelson does not have, this is what Morgan taught him and will teach Nelson and Hesse plus the others going forward.

technique is more important than speed when rushing off the edge, speed comes in handy when you flush the QB out of the pocket but that is where the LB'rs come in to chase the QB down.

Hmmm...although there is certainly technique involved, I'm pretty sure quickness and speed are primary in beating a offensive tackle to the edge. There is a reason they call it a speed rush. It's relying on athleticism more than technique when you are trying to beat an OT to the edge. Iowa's coaching staff does as good as any in teaching technique in the trenches...wouldn't we have incredible sack numbers based on technique being more important.

 

[DrVenkman]

and JR threw for over 3000 yards and his best game he threw for 6 TD's, 440 yards and ran for 78 yards in 1 game, and the mighty CJ didn't break a 100 TWICE, the 2nd time vs a defense that was giving up a avg of 292 ypg and ended up 122nd, Michigan didn't even have a decent running game.

so yeah I would have taken JR every time.

Beathard at Michigan with Harbaugh would have had 8000 passing yrds, 2500 rushing and 125 TDs.
Harbaugh is that good.

 

[H4wkfan4life]

and JR threw for over 3000 yards and his best game he threw for 6 TD's, 440 yards and ran for 78 yards in 1 game, and the mighty CJ didn't break a 100 TWICE, the 2nd time vs a defense that was giving up a avg of 292 ypg and ended up 122nd, Michigan didn't even have a decent running game.

so yeah I would have taken JR every time.

LMAO, you're something else
CJ took 65% more sacks than JR did at MI, and CJ did a much better job of using his feet to pick up needed 1st down than JR ever did. If JR saw the pressure CJ saw last year, he would have broken a fingernail and been on the bench anyways. Cj showed way more heart and also looked better...even though he was hurt for a large part of the season. Also how many "targets" of JR are going to be playing in the nfl? They're a top notch group, period.

 

[Pepperman]

A blitz every once and awhile might help.

Count me in with this thought. I know the Iowa defense doesn't like to gamble and the belief is that if you can stop the run and keep the passes in front of you, eventually the other team will make a mistake and punt or turn it over. All good and great against mediocre competition, but I think the defense needs to gamble a bit when playing better teams and I'm all for more blitzing. The key to it is you need to take away the quick reads and then the gamble is on whether you can get to the QB or hurry him enough that he cannot complete the back-breaker. I like that risk/reward and I do understand the risks of a big play - much rather get burnt than give up the 18 play drives like against MSU or what we watched unfold seemingly every week in 2010.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Count me in with this thought. I know the Iowa defense doesn't like to gamble and the belief is that if you can stop the run and keep the passes in front of you, eventually the other team will make a mistake and punt or turn it over. All good and great against mediocre competition, but I think the defense needs to gamble a bit when playing better teams and I'm all for more blitzing. The key to it is you need to take away the quick reads and then the gamble is on whether you can get to the QB or hurry him enough that he cannot complete the back-breaker. I like that risk/reward and I do understand the risks of a big play - much rather get burnt than give up the 18 play drives like against MSU or what we watched unfold seemingly every week in 2010.

So what you guys want is for Iowa to blitz more....

 

[iahawkeyes17]

and JR threw for over 3000 yards and his best game he threw for 6 TD's, 440 yards and ran for 78 yards in 1 game, and the mighty CJ didn't break a 100 TWICE, the 2nd time vs a defense that was giving up a avg of 292 ypg and ended up 122nd, Michigan didn't even have a decent running game.

so yeah I would have taken JR every time

And you wonder why people don't take you serious. All you look at is stars rankings when players were 18 HS kids, height/weight & stats. Re watch the games basically every game the announcers and analyst (who all know more about football than you) agreed and praised KF for his decision to go with Beathard over Rudock and all the intangibles CJ brought to the team.

I can basically speak for almost everyone when I say absolutely no one missed your post here except the times someone needed a good laugh.