Will Iowa play like there's nothing to lose, or play "base" and learn for future?

[kjb32812]

I think that you're selling the '16 Michigan O a little short. As skill guys go, they had Butt, Darboh, Chesson, a healthy stable of talented RBs, and Peppers. Of course, it was the '16 Iowa D that had to match up with those guys. The '17 Iowa D will have to try to match-up with PSU's O. I agree that handling that match-up will be easier said than done. However, I also know that the Iowa coaches like their guys. I've seen less talented (on paper) Iowa teams surprise their "supposed" superiors before ... I have no reason to believe that it cannot happen again.

Also, I agree that Iowa's young QB hasn't faced a D as strong as PSU's yet. However, he did face off against a heated rival in an away game ... and he still responded well. Thus, it's not like he hasn't faced high-pressure situations before. Also, Iowa has TEs and RBs who pose awful tough match-ups for opposing Ds in the passing game. I've heard PSU fans be somewhat critical of their LBs thus far. Would you disagree that is possibly an exploitable match-up for the Hawks? Of course, Franklin isn't dumb ... he'll likely manipulate coverages in order to make sure that Fant receives extra attention. The implication is that Stanley will have to find another target who is in man coverage. Will Iowa be able to exploit those man-coverage match-ups? To that end ... I do not know what to expect. I know that in the past, VandeBerg was able to get open against pretty much any D he was facing ... however, that was before his foot injury and that was also with a different QB throwing him the ball. Will he be able to recapture that old "magic?" Again, I cannot say ... however, the past suggests that the ability is within him.

The final question is how the Iowa OL will respond against the PSU DL? Again, I don't know the answer to this one. I do know that the Iowa OL situation appears to finally be "settling down" a little bit. The implication here is that perhaps the group might be able to make a few more strides in terms of their level of play ... however, you simply never know until you see them do it on the field.

Good insight.

LBs are the biggest weakness on the team thus far. We haven't recruited particularly well at the position, had a transfer and another who is always injured and/or is a bust. I think we are also realizing just how good a player Brandon Bell was for us...and he is gone.

The DL vs. OL is the biggest question. We are very, very deep in the middle and all of those guys played significant minutes last year...we could easily play two groups and almost three...but they've haven't been as good as we expected. Some say it is scheme (PITT simply outnumbered us) and some say it is our scheme (we would not let PITT get big plays outside). In addition, some will say we have been content to give up yards but not points. Doesn't matter as this will be our first real test. I disagree with others re: our DEs but both those I disagree with know a hell of a lot more about football than I do. I think our top two are solid but there is a significant dropoff after that. They don't see it that way. DBs are the strength of our D.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Ghost, I know I have been saying it for awhile, but it might finally be B. Smith who will get the one on one coverage and have some nice possession receptions or shots in the end zone. Their DBs are really good but Smith has the tools to win the jump ball.

We'll see. One on one match-ups are usually pretty darn physical ... and Smith is still a young guy. That's part of the reason why there is something to be said for strength training for WRs ... because they have to beat jams, win the battle as it relates to hand play ... and then still have the focus to run a good route and high-point the ball.

Smith has the raw tools ... but at this early juncture, it may be a tall order for him to beat veterans in coverage. However, with that said ... it's a classic O'Keefe move to throw straight at stud DBs in man coverage. At the end of the day ... the defender has to execute too. If the defender has lapses ... you can exploit them. After you exploit a DB ... then you can get in his head. That actually tends to make a DBs play worse rather than better (because then they try to overcompensate for their prior lapses).

 

[kjb32812]

One of the untold benefits of the Iowa offense thus far is that there simply isn't much film on it yet. Thus, the PSU D has 3 games of film to study on it. In contrast, the Hawks at least now have over a whole season of film on PSU's O. Thus, I'd agree that Brian definitely does have the ability to schematically "surprise" PSU. Furthermore, from what we saw of Stanley against ISU ... he's willing to use all of his targets. Thus, if the OL can give him time ... he'll be able to complete passes.

Kind of. I think JoMo only used 30% of his playbook last year. We also did not see what we are seeing from Stevens. I think when you throw him out there with Barkley, Mc, Gesicki, Hamilton and either Blacknall/Thompkins/Johnson it is almost video game like. I'm over emphasizing because Stevens isn't in much but he has three TDs this season and each was done in a different way - throw, run, catch. Just one more look to have to plan for.

 

[Pepperman]

I mean really, this game probably comes down to whether or not PSU has a timeout to get the right FG block play set up. That irony would be so beautiful, if PSU is out of time outs and Iowa kicks the winning FG.

Am I right, @rivercityjazzman or what?

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Kind of. I think JoMo only used 30% of his playbook last year. We also did not see what we are seeing from Stevens. I think when you throw him out there with Barkley, Mc, Gesicki, Hamilton and either Blacknall/Thompkins/Johnson it is almost video game like. I'm over emphasizing because Stevens isn't in much but he has three TDs this season and each was done in a different way - throw, run, catch. Just one more look to have to plan for.

For sure, PSU certainly has a lot of weapons on offense. That makes the game-planning that much more difficult. The game of football is all about match-ups.

The fact that the game is early in the season likely plays to PSU's advantage. When the weather gets colder and those arctic winds start howling ... that can make it awfully hard for either team to pass the ball. The X-factor of wind-conditions is an understated advantage for Iowa when it gets late in the season. The opposition rarely counts on the weather rendering them 1-dimensional.

However, when it's still early ... the summer breezes usually permit a healthy passing game (for either side). Given the experience of McSorley and his targets ... right now that would be advantage PSU.

 

[Mr. Chim]

Love the avatar @kjb32812

 

[rclui57]

Interesting commentary. The Iowa coaches will have our team well prepared. Sit back and enjoy a good college football game. I am optimistic about both this game and the entire season. GO HAWKS

 

[Muskie5]

You sit in that cover two and you'll be torn up by Geisicki over the middle.

If I'm Iowa I'm run blitzing the A gaps often and hoping to get pressure if it ends up being a pass.

Well, good thing you're not Iowa, lol. What routes is Geisicki going to tear them up with over the middle?

 

[Mr. Chim]

Well, good thing you're not Iowa, lol. What routes is Geisicki going to tear them up with over the middle?

Seam, crossing routes, skinny post. You're aware of the weaknesses of the cover 2 are the middle of the field and the two holes between your corners and the safeties, right? Even if you went Tampa two, good luck to your middle linebacker trying to get deep enough quickly enough to cover Geisicki.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Seam, crossing routes, skinny post. You're aware of the weaknesses of the cover 2 are the middle of the field and the two holes between your corners and the safeties, right? Even if you went Tampa two, good luck to your middle linebacker trying to get deep enough quickly enough to cover Geisicki.

Iowa doesn't use cover 2 as its base coverage.

 

[Mr. Chim]

Iowa doesn't use cover 2 as its base coverage.

News to me. This was also in response to a post saying it was. It's also what you ran last year vs psu.

 

[rivercityjazzman]

I mean really, this game probably comes down to whether or not PSU has a timeout to get the right FG block play set up. That irony would be so beautiful, if PSU is out of time outs and Iowa kicks the winning FG.

Am I right, @rivercityjazzman or what?

I will admit that, in my crazy Hawk-dom, in my man cave filled with black and gold gear, that I have thought about a game-winning field goal at least once.

Ok, maybe 10,294,594 times.

If it actually happens, I will buy any fellow HR member as many beers as they want.

 

[plmac9]

You sit in that cover two and you'll be torn up by Geisicki over the middle.

If I'm Iowa I'm run blitzing the A gaps often and hoping to get pressure if it ends up being a pass.

Since when has Iowa done anything different on defense? This is ridiculous. They will run the same defense they have under Parker. Nothing will change.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

News to me. This was also in response to a post saying it was. It's also what you ran last year vs psu.

Yeah I saw that ... Muskie was talking about 4-3 cover 2. And yes, those seams between the center and the edges are definitely the susceptible "windows" in a cover 2. Unfortunately for Muskie - that's not Iowa's base D. Iowa's base is more of a quarters coverage - given the base positioning of the safeties in such coverage, I can see why some fans might mistake it for cover 2. However, the cover responsibilities are rather different.

Of course, that is not to say that Iowa wouldn't play cover 2 ... Iowa played cover 2 a disproportionate amount of the time against Wyoming. However, that was also likely because they didn't think that Wyoming would have time to allow for the deeper stuff to develop .... so they wanted to focus more on stopping Wyoming's short game.

 

[Muskie5]

Seam, crossing routes, skinny post. You're aware of the weaknesses of the cover 2 are the middle of the field and the two holes between your corners and the safeties, right? Even if you went Tampa two, good luck to your middle linebacker trying to get deep enough quickly enough to cover Geisicki.

I've run cover2 for years, I am quite aware of it's weaknesses

Yeah I saw that ... Muskie was talking about 4-3 cover 2. And yes, those seams between the center and the edges are definitely the susceptible "windows" in a cover 2. Unfortunately for Muskie - that's not Iowa's base D. Iowa's base is more of a quarters coverage - given the base positioning of the safeties in such coverage, I can see why some fans might mistake it for cover 2. However, the cover responsibilities are rather different.

Of course, that is not to say that Iowa wouldn't play cover 2 ... Iowa played cover 2 a disproportionate amount of the time against Wyoming. However, that was also likely because they didn't think that Wyoming would have time to allow for the deeper stuff to develop .... so they wanted to focus more on stopping Wyoming's short game.

I believe their shell is still a cover2 look, which is more what I was referring to. but you are correct they roll into a lot of quarters coverage to handle trips etc...If a team lines up balanced, or pro sets, they'll still play cover2 at times. And I guess my original point was (I don't even remember how this started now and I'm too lazy to go look) they aren't going to do anything out of the norm and I thought they blitzed too much last year and got caught numerous times.

 

[iowa surfer]

I especially think that was the case with the GD offense given how horizontal it was and how he effectively made every play a running play, which only invited the safeties to creep further towards the LOS. I think it is better now that we are back to more of a KOK traditional offense with vertical threats (even those balls that go incomplete have the defense worrying about the threat)

Cap will have them "Fired up" Like a Gipper speech. Need a few breaks.Hawks are tough with

 

[Hawkeyeinsoutherncalifornia]

I say they play with reckless abandon.. no holds bar.. when I say "reckless abandon" I mean in a good way, spilling their hearts out on the field .. if that's not good enough then I am happy with it as long as I know they played the best they could I am happy.. but I think the Kinnick magic is going to show its head once again in favor of the almighty Hawkeyes

 

[kjb32812]

I think you Penn St fans may want to buck up and pay attention this Saturday. Iowa has pro level talent at the key positions that we frankly didn't have last year or were injured.

LT Alaric Jackson - 6'7" 330 rFR
DE AJ Epenesa 6'5" 270 5 star - best DE prospect 2017 recruit
QB Nate Stanley 6'5" 230 10 tds 1 int this year
WRs Matt Vandeberg, Ihmir Smith Marsette
TE Noah Fant

Take a good look at these names. You're going to remember them for a long time. Forget competing with Penn St. They're gonna kick your ass

I'm going to give this a bump simply because of the context.

Epenesa had a good play when he beat the RT I believe but the other kid was your stud.

Everyone else was an offensive player so that pretty much negates them. Fant had one catch for 13 yards and Stanley was exactly what your fans said he would be...sailing passes over open targets. When he wasn't dong that, players were dropping balls. Wonder if your WRs group were part of that.