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Strange Facts RE: Northwestern O

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ghostOfHomer777

HB Heisman
May 20, 2014
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Against 4 prior Power 5 conference foes, Northwestern has scored a grand total of 4 TDs on offense! All 4 of those touchdowns were rushing TDs.

Of the aforementioned 4 TDs, only 1 resulted from a sustained drive down the field. That lone TD was against a Minnesota team that lacks any balance on O and is not as strong against the run as Iowa.

The 3 other TDs were scored in the following fashion:
- vs Stanford: A 42 yard TD scamper by Thorson (on a 3rd and 7)
- vs Duke: A 55 yard TD scamper by Long (on 3rd and 1)
- vs Minnesota: A TD run on a drive that started on the Minnesota 5-yard line.
 
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Other interesting tidbits ....

Through all 6 games, Northwestern has 17 red-zone appearances. Out of those 17 red-zone appearances, they only have 5 TDs. Of those TDs, ALL of them are rushing TDs. This is easily the worst red-zone TD efficiency in the B1G.

I think that these stats paint a crazy picture of just how good the Northwestern D must be playing. How can you win games with those offensive stats?

I hope that the Iowa D executes at their very best - because our O is going to NEED IT! Furthermore, we better play great special teams ... because the field-position game has also been a significant contributor in Northwestern's victories.
 
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Thorson has 4 TD passes this year so they are capable. Also, 4 INTs.
He is getting baptized right now but he can be dangerous.

The NW stat that jumps off the page is the red zone TD ratio. Limit them to FGAs and Hawks will win.

Not sure if Thorson ever seriously considered Iowa even though he was heavily recruited by the Iowa staff.
 
nu2u said:
Thorson has 4 TD passes this year so they are capable. Also, 4 INTs.
He is getting baptized right now but he can be dangerous.

The NW stat that jumps off the page is the red zone TD ratio. Limit them to FGAs and Hawks will win.

Not sure if Thorson ever seriously considered Iowa even though he was heavily recruited by the Iowa staff.
Click to expand...
I honestly think turnovers will be the difference in the game. Limit turnovers and make their O put together long sustained drives to score and we are in good shape. Nab a timely turnover or two and I think it's too much for their O to overcome.
 
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Nice work. Makes me feel better.... But I am drinking. Seriously though these stats support more hope in favor of the Hawks.
 
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nu2u said:
Thorson has 4 TD passes this year so they are capable. Also, 4 INTs.
He is getting baptized right now but he can be dangerous.

The NW stat that jumps off the page is the red zone TD ratio. Limit them to FGAs and Hawks will win.

Not sure if Thorson ever seriously considered Iowa even though he was heavily recruited by the Iowa staff.
Click to expand...
You always must respect your opponent. Northwestern went in too cocky against Ball State and almost lost. I highly doubt that the Hawkeye D is expecting to walk all over the Wildcats.

Speaking of Ball State ... it was against the 2-4 Ball State squad that Thorson threw 3 of his 4 TD passes.
 
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Stats don't mean anything, BUT these are really weird and highly interesting. They'll mean a lot more if Iowa can keep those NW trends going. I mean really, that's all NW has for an offense after 6 games? Wow. Thanks for this info. It gives me much more confidence about the Hawks being able to come out of Evanston 7-0.

So thanks to the OP and everyone for pointing all this out. I had no idea.
 
I fear that old Kirk might reappear this game. He might just be as conservative as possible as to not give NW any turnovers. Play field position and make them drive the length of the field on offense.
 
LincolnHawkeye said:
I fear that old Kirk might reappear this game. He might just be as conservative as possible as to not give NW any turnovers. Play field position and make them drive the length of the field on offense.
Click to expand...
I'll genuinely be surprised if we can muster much on O. If we can simply possess the ball for long enough so that our D can get a good break ... and then play the field position game ... that could at least still keep the game close. Here, I'm assuming that Beathard is as dinged/limited as Marc Morehouse seems to be suggesting. If Beathard still can dig deep and be adequately mobile and throw the ball like himself ... then I give us better odds.
 
ghostOfHomer777 said:
Other interesting tidbits ....

Through all 6 games, Northwestern has 17 red-zone appearances. Out of those 17 red-zone appearances, they only have 5 TDs. Of those TDs, ALL of them are rushing TDs. This is easily the worst red-zone TD efficiency in the B1G.

I think that these stats paint a crazy picture of just how good the Northwestern D must be playing. How can you win games with those offensive stats?

I hope that the Iowa D executes at their very best - because our O is going to NEED IT! Furthermore, we better play great special teams ... because the field-position game has also been a significant contributor in Northwestern's victories.
Click to expand...

The Northwestern D must be outstanding. I'm watching the Stanford-UCLA game and Stanford is just pounding them on the ground. Power football at it's best. Can't believe Northwestern held them to six.
 
iammrhawkeyes said:
The Northwestern D must be outstanding. I'm watching the Stanford-UCLA game and Stanford is just pounding them on the ground. Power football at it's best. Can't believe Northwestern held them to six.
Click to expand...
That game was played at 10 am Stanford time and frankly I they had a lack of respect for the "mild cats"
 
Kirk is 2-4 at Evanston, with wins in 2001 and 2007.
Losses in 1999, 2005 (Adam Shada salute game), 2010 (Clayborn and the DL gassed) and 2012 (Made Kain Colter look like Michael Vick).
 
NashvilleHawk said:
Kirk is 2-4 at Evanston, with wins in 2001 and 2007.
Losses in 1999, 2005 (Adam Shada salute game), 2010 (Clayborn and the DL gassed) and 2012 (Made Kain Colter look like Michael Vick).
Click to expand...
Greenway was the saluter.

That damn '99 game was a screw job. NW clearly fumbled to seal the win for Iowa. Unfortunately replay couldn't be overturned yet, and Iowa got Northwesterned.
 
iammrhawkeyes said:
The Northwestern D must be outstanding. I'm watching the Stanford-UCLA game and Stanford is just pounding them on the ground. Power football at it's best. Can't believe Northwestern held them to six.
Click to expand...
First off, the Northwestern D IS outstanding. However, it didn't hurt that Stanford had 9 new guys starting on the D, it was the first game of the year, AND it was a home game for the Wildcats. On top of all that, Stanford had 2 turnovers .... presumably forced by the Northwestern D. In the process, Northwestern out-possessed the ball and won the game. It's hard to score when you turn it over AND when you don't have the ball.
 
Herkmeister said:
Please expand a bit further.
Click to expand...
He just means that the Hawks need to take care of their own business. The Wildcats aren't just going to lay down because their prior stats aren't particularly impressive.

We don't want the Iowa game to be the one where the trend gets broken!
 
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