Pass D fools gold? Were ISU and IU games anomalies?

[ghostOfHomer777]

The ISU squad, irrespective of top QB, has been on pace averaging around 250 passing yards per game (excluding the Iowa game).

During B1G play, IU has been averaging 295 passing yards per game!

Between those two more pass-oriented foes, Iowa's pass D has obviously held up pretty well. Is this an actual indicator that our pass D is okay ... or were these performance simply "fools gold?"

What do ya think?

It's also worth mentioning that the ISU game was just the 2nd start (of the season) for both OJ and Hankins ... and, similarly, the IU game was just the 2nd start for both Moss and Brents. What are the implications there?

 

[Slappy Pappy]

Phil Parker for the win!

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Phil Parker for the win!

I hope so ... McSorley's mobility is really tough to handle ... the D has to defend another gap. On top of that, they have a lot of dangerous targets in the passing game ... so we not only have to contain McSorley ... but we also have to limit their success passing the ball too.

Blough is tough ... because he does a great job of using his legs to extend plays. That puts a lot more pressure on your DBs in coverage.

 

[Harbinger273]

Pass D is ok with a chance to get very good next year. I believe there will be continued improvement yet this season with the true freshman and return of Hankins. We are getting turnovers and limiting those we play for the most part. Tough challenge this week against PSU should show us what they are made of and build character back there.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Pass D is ok with a chance to get very good next year. I believe there will be continued improvement yet this season with the true freshman and return of Hankins. We are getting turnovers and limiting those we play for the most part. Tough challenge this week against PSU should show us what they are made of and build character back there.

Maryland has mighty fine athletes at the skill spots ... they just have problems consistently executing in the passing game. Iowa's DBs did their job in that game.

 

[Hawk94Mn]

Wisco was our only poor pass defense performance, not necessarily from a yards perspective but from how open guys were in big moments. Luckily, 3 or 4 of those big gains were on OJ who now only appears on third down. He really struggled with his technique and while he was injured, I think his poor performance that day is the reason we see two freshman corners playing now. Which is significant given how effective he was in run support.

Wisco is likely the only team confident enough in their oline to throw long developing plays. I think the experience at safety and our dominance up front has been the reason for recent success in pass coverage. When you regularly drop 7 into coverage, you don’t ask a lot of your corners except for defending the fly route.

Does anyone remember a deep ball completed over gervase or hooker this year?

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

Ask after the Purdue game. Part of the defensive style is to keep the play in front of you, Purdue I'm afraid, could nickel and dime us hard.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Wisco was our only poor pass defense performance, not necessarily from a yards perspective but from how open guys were in big moments. Luckily, 3 or 4 of those big gains were on OJ who now only appears on third down. He really struggled with his technique and while he was injured, I think his poor performance that day is the reason we see two freshman corners playing now. Which is significant given how effective he was in run support.

Wisco is likely the only team confident enough in their oline to throw long developing plays. I think the experience at safety and our dominance up front has been the reason for recent success in pass coverage. When you regularly drop 7 into coverage, you don’t ask a lot of your corners except for defending the fly route.

Does anyone remember a deep ball completed over gervase or hooker this year?

Great point ... I'll be very curious to see what sort of pass-rush the DL can muster over the next 2 games. It will be really important ... but they still need to be really disciplined, because PSU's RB is quite good ... as it PU's Knox. Furthermore, containing the QB will be big too.

 

[wyldhawk9]

I hope so ... McSorley's mobility is really tough to handle ... the D has to defend another gap. On top of that, they have a lot of dangerous targets in the passing game ... so we not only have to contain McSorley ... but we also have to limit their success passing the ball too.

Blough is tough ... because he does a great job of using his legs to extend plays. That puts a lot more pressure on your DBs in coverage.

Iowa has something defensively I don't think we've seen under KF. Iowa has the ability to play a variation of the 4-3 with 2 LBs and a hybrid safety (hooker). This is not a concept they are tinkering with. They have run this defense successfully in game situations. The variable here, though, is that the Hawks have not played a QB who's as effective running the ball as McSorley this year. Parker has better options to contain him this year though and I'd love to see Hooker spying McSorley a fair amount.

 

[thewop]

Early success of the d-line would be helpful. We need to get the QB's to speed their internal clock even when it isn't necessary. I like our chances of doing this to Blough better than McSorley.

I'm not going to guess, but I'm confident in saying the "pass d" question will be answered in the next 12 days. If the answer is "Yes, it's rock solid," then look out.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Iowa has something defensively I don't think we've seen under KF. Iowa has the ability to play a variation of the 4-3 with 2 LBs and a hybrid safety (hooker). This is not a concept they are tinkering with. They have run this defense successfully in game situations. The variable here, though, is that the Hawks have not played a QB who's as effective running the ball as McSorley this year. Parker has better options to contain him this year though and I'd love to see Hooker spying McSorley a fair amount.

McSorley gashed both OSU and IU for miles ... and while MSU managed to contain him ... it was at the expense of having Sanders run wild. I'll be floored if the Hawks can contain BOTH McSorley's running AND limit Sanders. However, two of the teams that might be best equipped to do so are Iowa and Michigan ... and we're PSU's next 2 games!

 

[Hawk_4shur]

If the Hawks can limit the running yards in base defense, then the safeties don't have to crash as hard, and the LB's can wait an extra count to make their move. Wisky moved the ball on the ground very well, so Iowa worked extra hard to limit it - the result was more open receivers.

A team that can run well and pass well against the Hawks is a problem, like it is for all defenses.

A well designed pass play, well executed, is not going to be stopped. You have to limit the damage and hope that the opposing team can't execute that well all the time. Iowa's D has been very good at limiting YAC, which helps avoid big plays.

 

[Pepperman]

Ask after the Purdue game. Part of the defensive style is to keep the play in front of you, Purdue I'm afraid, could nickel and dime us hard.

With Moore, I'm worried about the crossing routes and drag routes - when a player with his speed catches the ball in stride, you've got issues.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

With Moore, I'm worried about the crossing routes and drag routes - when a player with his speed catches the ball in stride, you've got issues.

With a guy like him ... you need to have defenders try to string him out ... and swarm to the ball. You place a huge emphasis on team defense against speed like that ... otherwise you get burned by the one-on-one match-up.

 

[TKingpin]

With a guy like him ... you need to have defenders try to string him out ... and swarm to the ball. You place a huge emphasis on team defense against speed like that ... otherwise you get burned by the one-on-one match-up.

And maybe try to chuck him right at the line to disrupt the timing.

We don’t do that very often, though.

 

[David1979]

Ask after the Purdue game. Part of the defensive style is to keep the play in front of you, Purdue I'm afraid, could nickel and dime us hard.

Tackling is uber important in that game. They love isolating Moore on the edge and just having him try to make guys miss. Ohio State did a horrible job of tackling in that game. not only did their guys whiff on Purdue's guys but I saw Moore who is about 5'9 shrug off defenders who had him wrapped up.