What do you think about the O-line this past game?

[rivercityjazzman]

I'll admit my ignorance here, since I'm not a line guy, I'm a ST guy, but it seems to me that our O-line did not perform as well in the Maryland game as it did in the NW game. What do our line coach members think?

I recognize that we had Boone M back, and that as a result the assignments got shuffled around and James D sat. I'm generally of the mindset of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", however.

 

[IACub]

I'll admit my ignorance here, since I'm not a line guy, I'm a ST guy, but it seems to me that our O-line did not perform as well in the Maryland game as it did in the NW game. What do our line coach members think?

I recognize that we had Boone M back, and that as a result the assignments got shuffled around and James D sat. I'm generally of the mindset of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", however.

Maryland stacked the box early, and we exploited it to go up big. Screen pass for a big gain on the first drive as an example. In the second half our game plan was to keep it really simple, keep Beathard healthy, and burn the clock. Maryland knew what was coming and it showed. We were never in danger of losing, so I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

 

[DudeHawk]

Agree with your last point, but I can understand why they wanted to play Myers if he could go. He had already earned a starting spot, and you want your best players in the spots where they're most comfortable.

It seemed to me that we went ultra-conservative after halftime and spent a large portion of the game running very basic schemes/plays into a stacked box, especially in the 4th quarter.

Is this CJ being hurt more than people realize? Old school conservative Kirk rearing his head again? Some combination of both? The 2nd half was basically indistinguishable from any number of games that we've seen over the years after Iowa went to the lockerroom with a big halftime lead.

And, like pretty much every single one of those games, we won. So there's that. There's something to be said for doing whatever it takes to win, and that's what we did on Saturday.

 

[StormHawk42]

When things started stalling in the second half, part of me wondered if we should have kept our OL in place from the NW game. Then again, Maryland was going all out on run attack so that likely had more to do with it. My tickets were pretty close to the field and I saw Myers destroy some guys on those lead sweeps.

At the end of the day, ferentz has earned my trust to assemble his OL as he wishes, more than any other position. I'll definitely defer judgment to him. Because my opinion matters that much

 

[IACub]

Agree with your last point, but I can understand why they wanted to play Myers if he could go. He had already earned a starting spot, and you want your best players in the spots where they're most comfortable.

It seemed to me that we went ultra-conservative after halftime and spent a large portion of the game running very basic schemes/plays into a stacked box, especially in the 4th quarter.

Is this CJ being hurt more than people realize? Old school conservative Kirk rearing his head again? Some combination of both? The 2nd half was basically indistinguishable from any number of games that we've seen over the years after Iowa went to the lockerroom with a big halftime lead.

And, like pretty much every single one of those games, we won. So there's that. There's something to be said for doing whatever it takes to win, and that's what we did on Saturday.

I wouldn't worry too much about CJ's injury. If he was hurt badly they would have put Wiegers out there in the second half to hand the ball off 30 times. He's clearly hobbled, but definitely more mobile than he was against Northwestern. Expect more of the same next week against a terrible, terrible, terrible Indiana defense.

 

[millhawk]

A loss of intensity in the second half. Pass pro was a struggle too much no doubt. Boone was up and down because of rust. It will benefit Iowa to have him back at LT in the long run. We need Ike back, he was improving a ton when he got hurt.

 

[wyldhawk9]

OL is setting up very well for the future folks. Barring serious injuries, this position will have nice depth moving forward.

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

They just didn't play very well in the 2nd half, even Blythe and Walsh. Walsh whiffed more than once in the 2nd half in pass pro. It happens. The good news is those guys are very good and we all know they'll bounce back.