This may surprise ya: Run D of Iowa's (prior) opponents

[ghostOfHomer777]

You, like me, may have be surprised as to why Iowa's running game has seemingly had some trouble gaining some traction this season. Perhaps it was issues with blocking? Perhaps it was inexperience and/or injuries at RB?

... or perhaps maybe we also need to tip our cap to our opponents!

Northern Illinois - allowing just 2.7 yards per carry this season (#6 out of FBS teams)
Iowa State - allowing just 3.0 yards per carry this season (#12)
Maryland - allowing just 3.4 yards per carry this season (#21)

Certainly our issues running aren't just attributable to one of these factors ... but, rather, is due to a combo of them. However, it's nice to see that things are trending up for our Hawks!

 

[Auger]

They have faced plenty of solid D's but the OL has definitely had its ups and downs and remains just an ok run blocking OL. The OL unit hasn't been that great these past 6 seasons compared to a lot of the Iowa OL's from 2000 - 2012.

 

[CUHawkeye91]

Iowa has been running into some heavy fronts and they are gaining yards. Sometimes not many, to be sure, but they have been able to do just enough that opponents have to continue to commit defenders to stopping the run. This helps Nate and the pass offense tremendously.

 

[Auger]

Iowa has been running into some heavy fronts and they are gaining yards. Sometimes not many, to be sure, but they have been able to do just enough that opponents have to continue to commit defenders to stopping the run. This helps Nate and the pass offense tremendously.

Which is why there should be 15 TE targets a game but for whatever reason there isnt.

 

[bojihawk44]

Which is why there should be 15 TE targets a game but for whatever reason there isnt.

We lead D1 in TE catches, yards and TDs. It doesn't get any better than that.

 

[CUHawkeye91]

Which is why there should be 15 TE targets a game but for whatever reason there isnt.

The top two receivers on the team are TJ and Fant, so they are not being ignored.

 

[Auger]

Combined they avg 7 catches a game great for TE's but we also have the greatest mismatch in college football at that position. Nobody has been able to even come close to covering these guys. No reason why that number shouldn't be 9-10 receptions combined per game from those two. I know it sounds nit picky but I do believe these guys are under utilized. This is a very rare mismatch. We're talking 2 potential 1st Rd TE's here.

 

[butch25uni]

They have faced plenty of solid D's but the OL has definitely had its ups and downs and remains just an ok run blocking OL. The OL unit hasn't been that great these past 6 seasons compared to a lot of the Iowa OL's from 2000 - 2012.

I will admit I have a bad memory but I seem to recall quite a few not so great run or passing OLs in those years. With that said, I did drink a lot back then during games and may just remember yelling that they sucked and they were actually really good.

 

[CUHawkeye91]

Combined they avg 7 catches a game great for TE's but we also have the greatest mismatch in college football at that position. Nobody has been able to even come close to covering these guys. No reason why that number shouldn't be 9-10 receptions combined per game from those two. I know it sounds nit picky but I do believe these guys are under utilized. This is a very rare mismatch. We're talking 2 potential 1st Rd TE's here.

Stanley averages 17 completions a game, so about 43% of his completions go to T.J. and Fant. A slightly higher percentage of his yards have gone to these two as well. I’m not sure if any other team in the FBS utilizes the TE like Iowa.

Given Iowa’s desire for a balanced run-pass distribution on offense, the numbers likely won’t get much better unless the Hawks decide to become a passing team. I think that is unlikely.

 

[Wadzinator]

We lead D1 in TE catches, yards and TDs. It doesn't get any better than that.

My bad didn't realize that. It just feels like they should be targeted more jmo

 

[wyldhawk9]

Combined they avg 7 catches a game great for TE's but we also have the greatest mismatch in college football at that position. Nobody has been able to even come close to covering these guys. No reason why that number shouldn't be 9-10 receptions combined per game from those two. I know it sounds nit picky but I do believe these guys are under utilized. This is a very rare mismatch. We're talking 2 potential 1st Rd TE's here.

Hey Auger, I get what you're saying. And I kind of agree. Would love to see this happen one game, where Brian F goes all in and says we'll keep running this until you can stop it...and runs 15-20 consecutive variations of the TE route tree and we score 5 TDs on it. It is a very nice mismatch to have on the field. I absolutely love watching these 2 play - they are fantastic players (no pun intended). I encourage you to adjust your expectations, though. I know that you said potential 1st Rd TEs. However good Fant and Hock are, they are not both first round picks, and based on the finicky nature of the draft and what they do at the combine, it's entirely possible neither are drafted in the first 2 rounds.

In the last 10 drafts here's how many TEs have gone rd. 1:
2018 - 1
2017 - 3 (most TEs drafted in R1 since 2002)
2016 - 0
2015 - 0
2014 - 1
2013 - 1
2012 - 0
2011 - 0
2010 - 1
2009 - 1
2008 - 1

Just tapping the brakes a little on the first round talk.

 

[DodgerHawki]

Stanley averages 17 completions a game, so about 43% of his completions go to T.J. and Fant. A slightly higher percentage of his yards have gone to these two as well. I’m not sure if any other team in the FBS utilizes the TE like Iowa.

Given Iowa’s desire for a balanced run-pass distribution on offense, the numbers likely won’t get much better unless the Hawks decide to become a passing team. I think that is unlikely.

No offense or play-call is perfect. The growth of the Iowa offense has been very good this year. The reason the passing attack has been better is that there's improvement from everyone, not just the TE's. Getting ISM and Smith into the passing attack, and not just Easley and the two TE's, is big. Iowa will keep going after the mismatches with the TE's, but not every game is going to be like Indiana with two TE's over 100 yards. Last week against Maryland was just a get out of dodge game. With the wind and the way Iowa was dominating on both lines, just get ahead and don't do anything to give Maryland points.

The OL could be better, but my goodness they have allowed 6 sacks in 7 games. The only missing ingredient yet is big plays from the running game, and hopefully they are close to popping one with Kelly-Martin. He's the only back who's somewhat of a home run threat in the backfield, and Iowa will need him to pop 1 or 2 20+ yard runs to take down Penn State.

 

[wyldhawk9]

No offense or play-call is perfect. The growth of the Iowa offense has been very good this year. The reason the passing attack has been better is that there's improvement from everyone, not just the TE's. Getting ISM and Smith into the passing attack, and not just Easley and the two TE's, is big. Iowa will keep going after the mismatches with the TE's, but not every game is going to be like Indiana with two TE's over 100 yards. Last week against Maryland was just a get out of dodge game. With the wind and the way Iowa was dominating on both lines, just get ahead and don't do anything to give Maryland points.

The OL could be better, but my goodness they have allowed 6 sacks in 7 games. The only missing ingredient yet is big plays from the running game, and hopefully they are close to popping one with Kelly-Martin. He's the only back who's somewhat of a home run threat in the backfield, and Iowa will need him to pop 1 or 2 20+ yard runs to take down Penn State.

A big part of the sack number being low has been blitz pick up by the RB. I haven't noticed it as much with Young or IKM but Sargent has been excellent at picking up the extra defender to keep Stanley clean.

I'd love to see IKM house one. That's been an element that we've missed with Akrum's graduation. Though these are 3 good backs, and I love how they are being used, I don't think any of them has the ability to outrun a defense on a long field. I'd love to be wrong though!

 

[hawkster03]

Which is why there should be 15 TE targets a game but for whatever reason there isnt.

Mr. Fant? Welcome.

 

[David1979]

Combined they avg 7 catches a game great for TE's but we also have the greatest mismatch in college football at that position. Nobody has been able to even come close to covering these guys. No reason why that number shouldn't be 9-10 receptions combined per game from those two. I know it sounds nit picky but I do believe these guys are under utilized. This is a very rare mismatch. We're talking 2 potential 1st Rd TE's here.

I don't know what more they could be doing. They are targeted a lot.

 

[DodgerHawki]

A big part of the sack number being low has been blitz pick up by the RB. I haven't noticed it as much with Young or IKM but Sargent has been excellent at picking up the extra defender to keep Stanley clean.

I'd love to see IKM house one. That's been an element that we've missed with Akrum's graduation. Though these are 3 good backs, and I love how they are being used, I don't think any of them has the ability to outrun a defense on a long field. I'd love to be wrong though!

Agree on the RB blocking stuff. Pass protection is a team thing. It's combination of Stanley generally being smart/getting out of bad plays, but he's also shrugged off potential sacks several times. And all the RB's have done a good job at times pass blocking.

I'm with you on hoping that this is the week we get a big run out of the RB position.

 

[David1979]

We had some big runs from IKM that were called back the first week by bogus penalties. He is the biggest threat for big plays at RB but he has been dinged up so much. Hopefully he is healthy going forward.

 

[David1979]

Penn State doesn't have a very good rush defense so Iowa should be able to move the ball on the ground which should really open up the passing game again this week.

 

[Johnsoda123]

Penn State doesn't have a very good rush defense so Iowa should be able to move the ball on the ground which should really open up the passing game again this week.

Forecast is cold, snowy and rainy. Don't know who that helps.

 

[David1979]

Forecast is cold, snowy and rainy. Don't know who that helps.

Better than wind!