The Takeaway: Northwestern

or is Coker really a Werewolf in that picture. He looks REALLY harry.

Hope to finally sit down to watch it Tuesday night. I was furtively checking Twitter on my phone as the game went along though. At 17-17, I had a very sick feeling in my stomach that I had seen this movie before…Imagine my surprise when the Hawks went gonzo in the 4th quarter and I checked the final score at about 10pm.

No comment.

and i love norm, but how many seasons does he have in him?

if Norm was to retire at the end of the season, and if Iowa didnt want to change the bend but dont break style of defense, who would replace him?

At least it was huge for me. I really hate the hold that jNW has had on us.

Beating those punks under the lights after their comeback showed some intestinal fortitude on both sides of the ball. It looked like the team really, really wanted it.

Then again like most people I thought the Pitt comeback would trigger something in this team.

I hope they keep their focus during these 2 upcoming “should be wins” contests.

When is Morris expected back?

They seem to be missing this year.

There were a few times when the DB’s were totally out of position (I’m looking at you, Prater), and that can’t be blamed on Parker.

A few missed tackles also led to 1st downs, or 3rd and shorts. Not Parker’s fault.

I agree that LB’s were often covering WR’s, but it was usually Nielsen or Donatell. That’s usually Nielsen’s job, anyway, and wasn’t Donatell a safety a few weeks ago? I don’t consider those massive mismatches.

and solely because of strawberry/ghost pepper smoothie. DO NOT WANT

At one point Ross WB said:

 “Damn straight. I’m clearly not drunj enough.”

Ross – looks to me like you indeed were “drunj” enough for post-game commenting.

Jacobi couldn’t be more right; Northwestern just isn’t good. Their best win is against an awful Boston College team. That last comment is a bit ironic since Iowa’s best win might be beating a Northwestern team whose best win was against an awful Boston College team…

The defense is still struggling with some fundamentals but more than that, as AJ again pointed out, they’re being hampered by their own coaching staff’s inability to adjust to in-game situations. The fact that every fucking person in the stadium knew Jeremy Ebert would be getting the ball on third down was farcical. But as BnB pointed out, a win is a win.

Now on to our annual undeserved win against IU!

were, at first glance, atrocious on both sides of the ball. Iowa was 1/7 on third down while jNW was 16/22. But there is something hidden in both of those.

For Iowa’s offense, we have GOT to convert a much higher percentage than 1 of 7. But the offense still managed to score 34 points while going 1/7 (and picked up another 1st on 4th down when VDB scrambled). And after two of those unconverted 3rd downs, we kicked a field goal. Which means we were moving the ball rather well (outside of the three-and-out after jNW scored in the 3rd quarter).

The defense’s inability to get off the field, particularly against jNW, has been problematic for a while. And, to a degree, I think it speaks to a lack of proper coaching/scheming. But, that said, jNW still had 22 third down situations and “only” put up 31 points. This is a hell of a lot more “breaking” than our “bend-but-don’t-break” defense should allow, but is still indicative of the general philosophy, Iowa surrendered yards but not (too many) points.

But then… it didn’t. And that was neat!

I think of this…<img src=“http:// ”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm3JodBR-vs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm3JodBR-vs"/>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm3JodBR-vs

IT WORKS PERFECTLY!

……1/7 3rd down conversions is not that bad when you are getting first downs on first and second down, so third down isn’t needed. Or look at it this way: we had only SEVEN third down opportunities compared to NW’s 22. The reason is not that we had 15 fewer possessions, it’s because we didn’t need 3rd downs to move the ball and score 41 points.

As for their 16/22, I think this may be unique to NW and less of a problem for us with other teams. NW has superior possession receivers and a consummate short-gain passing QB. It would be almost impossible to stop a guy like Persa from completing a 5 yard pass, whether you jam or blitz, on most plays. All you can do, sometimes, is wait for a mistake.

But I’m talking 3rd and 6 or less. On 3rd and 7 or more, blitzing seems a better strategy, which we did some on Saturday night. The key is NOT letting NW get more than 3-4 yards on their first two downs. I bet they were getting 90% success on 3rd and less than 6. Unless Persa shanks a pass, or a WR has a drop, you’re going to have trouble with them in those situations.

But at the end of the game, we needed to blitz more. We gave up about 150 yards of offense in under 3 minutes of game time, and they passed with ease. We were getting less pressure with our d-line, and it showed.

Also, I’d bet that KF and Norm basically consider Donatell a nickle-back DB. He’s only 205 lbs, and seems—from his build—to have a lot more in common with a DB than an LB. I think he’s an LB in name only. I think that’s why he wasn’t much subbed for on passing downs.

I thought Norm did about as much as he could, up until NW’s last few possessions. We blitzed some, we played a “Donatell-nickel” defense, we stunted some, and so on. At some point, you have to give Persa and his WRs credit for simply being pretty damn good at that kind of ballgame. Honestly, I don’t know how one stops a five yard pass from Persa to Ebert consistently with any defense. It’s what they do, and they might be the best at it in college FB this year.

I’m just glad we don’t have to face either one again!

Which equated to “We beat ourselves, Iowa didn’t beat us.” That guy does not like the Hawks for some strange reason.

Listen, I cheer with ecstacy with your every interception…and when those interceptions turn into mind blowing pick sixes well, I cheer like a school girl getting their first Miley Cyrus backpack. I do.

It’s just that, you are the punt returner…and when you continually decide to not, you know…catch punts, it makes me sad. Sad like a school girl who just spilled grape juice on her new Miley Cyrus backpack. It’s those punts that inevitably roll 20 yards behind you for field position cripping effect that make me sad.

Micah Hyde, please start fair catching punts. Thank you.

We won. I am happy.

But something that bugs me a bit, is taking three time-outs into locker room, so often, at half time. Another reason to use a time out (besides lengthening the game clock for scoring opportunity) is to give your players a chance to catch their breath, swig some gatorade, and give additional guidance when they struggle.

If, KF doesn’t want to call time for the traditional reason of “scoring”, how about when the D can’t get off the field? Can any of the D coaches speak up and suggest such a thing to the captain? Is that taboo on the sideline? I don’t have any idea.

After the long jNW drive, and a long sprint the other way (Tanner INT), the D goes right back on the field. jNW converts two 3rd down conversions, in a row, early in the drive. How about a time-out in there?

That drive ended in a punt (thanks to Diesel), so maybe pointless whining on my part there.

Then, Iowa and jNW exchange a couple of very quick drives. Then, the D is back on field for a grinding jNW drive that had 6 first downs in it (resulting in TD). Maybe give the D a break or two on that drive?

If the players need a break, how about giving it to them? We have the technology.

WOOO. jNW!