Matchups
by Markthejacket on Dec 13, 2009 2:08 PM EST
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As Jaxon said in a post earlier, matchups are going to be very key in this game, and we really only need to analyze the players playing the game lol.
So let's start off with offense. Bebe is a mismatch against any corner in the nation other than maybe Joe Haden. And let's face it, your defense is small; tackling Jon Dwyer up the middle is going to be a major problem for Iowa. Dwyer only gives up about 20 pounds to some of your D-Linemen. Both of OSU's running backs had season best days against you. BOTH of them. The Big 10 has very few quality backs, so it will be interesting to see how our arsenal does. Iowa's defense is well coached and will probably play their assignments well, but the physical matchups will be the key for us on offense. Iowa's defense looks so strong for a few reasons.
1) They are well coached, and they stay at home. Iowa runs a basic 4-3, and thrives off the secondary making big plays. But we don't really throw, so...
2) They played against very few big-time offensive studs. Iowa did a good job of containing John Clay from Wisconsin, but they got the benefit of playing Penn St. in nasty weather, didn't play against Juice Williams, and got shown up by two backs from Ohio state that no one has heard of. Minor from Michigan also had a good day against them.
3) The offense has won a lot of close games for them. Nearly every time the defense struggled the offense came back with just enough to win the game.
I really don't know what our defensive scheme is going to be for this game as it has fluctuated all year. I like the Morgans versus Ricky Stanzi. The Iowa O-line has given up 27 sacks this year and a lot of pressure. Morgan Burnett will hopefully be able to play zone coverage and just read the qb like he does so well. Look for him to come down with at least one pick given Iowa's propensity for giving the ball away. Their receivers are solid but nothing we haven't seen before, same with their backs. Their TE is really the one who could hurt us by giving Stanzi an easy target. Personally, If i was Wommack I would commit to getting in the backfield and stopping the run, Get pressure on Stanzi and force him into making mistakes. Mix up some coverages, we have plenty of time to teach the secondary. Let Burnett play ball-hawk. Really, our secondary has played very well over the last three games.(2tds, 3ints) I would trust them in single coverage with one safety back(Burnett). and leave the linebackers free to get in the backfield. Basically a Cover 1. Then you can mix it up in the box, because they don't know who has the TE, it could be the safety, an ILB or OLB., but the linemen have to figure it out quick because at least one is coming and you have to double DMorgan. I would bring at least five every down.
Whew! well enough X's and O's, really it comes down to Iowa's lack of playmakers. Big time players win you big games (see ACCCG), and GT just has a lot more of them. The biggest thing we have to worry about is Iowa's ability to win in the 4th quarter and come from behind in a number of ways.
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I know...
my defensive notes are pretty confusing but I was just brainstorming I hope it makes sense if not I’ll explain it later in a better format
Right
“Bebe is a mismatch against any corner in the nation” – you’ve not seen Amari Spievey play, clearly. He’s easily the best corner we’ve had in the KF era. If he’s on Bebe, Bebe will have a very long day.
Our defense may be smallish up front, but so’s your O-line, and we have an All-American MLB to clean up what our D-line doesn’t get.
“The Big 10 has few quality backs”
Evan Royster, Carlos Brown, Brandon Minor, John Clay, and the two “no-names” from OSU beg to differ.
Also, please drop only one safety back against McNutt and DJK. That safety will eventually have to pick one to cover, and the other can beat single coverage all. Day. Long. Same goes for blitzing. If you bring five or more, expect us to shred you on short routes to Moeaki or our two WRs. Which will then start opening up the run game, and if you can’t stop our run, you may as well give up defensively (which many teams have done against us in the past).
I should also point out that you’’ve got it backwards with the offense saving the defense. In pretty much every close game we’ve played this year, it’s been the defense keeping it close until our offense got sufficiently untracked to put up points. Remember: in our losses, the defense held teams to 17 and 24 points in regulation. Those are games our offense can win if it’s operating properly, and its stalling has been less about defensive schemes than our own bonehead mistakes and personnel issues (i.e. losing our quarterback).
In the final analysis from my side, understand this: if the Iowa offense plays well for four quarters, GT’s best-case scenario is a shootout win. And the Iowa defense hasn’t let opposing offenses score enough to get into shootouts with us. I predict a hard-fought, close game, and honestly, I like our chances.
We will have to agree to disagree
but I’m pretty sure Be be will have a big day. The one aspect that does worry me is our run defense. GT has given a lot of yards on the ground and as UGA showed if you do that you keep our offense off the field. If you run the ball you do have a good chance, real good.
But if your defense struggles early it will only get worse as you begin to guess where the ball is going. Your best -case scenario for GT could be true, to put a lot of points on the board, but if you have to throw the ball to keep up I’m pretty confident our pass rush will come to bear. Derrick Morgan is a beast and 1st round pick in April and you will see why.
Keep the trash talk coming Hawk fans…we aren’t used to having anything to talk smack about with football so its fun! We will happily switch to basketball too if you want!
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
Just so you know...
…your site has had a lot of comments about the small-but-fast linemen at GT, but that won’t be all that different for our Iowa D. Our D will be used to it, because they see it every day in practice. Iowa almost always has undersized linemen (last year was probably our biggest line in a decade) who make up for it with great technique and zone blocking.
I’m not saying your OLine isn’t good or won’t be effective, but if you think that’s going to be an advantage you are wrong.
by Eyeheartfreedumb on Dec 15, 2009 4:06 PM EST up reply actions
John Clay
is listed at 248 according to UWs site. Dwyer is listed at 235. Ask Clay’s ankle how “small” our front 7 are.
Keeping wildlife, an amphibious rodent, for uh, domestic, you know, within the city - that aint legal either, Dude.
by AcrimoniousAngerererer on Dec 14, 2009 10:52 AM EST reply actions
As for Ohio State gashing us
consider this…they did rack up a lot of yards and yet, scored 24 points…had zero fumbles (in fact no turnovers at all for Ohio State) and we had an interception that was just outside our red zone.
You guys need to understand…Iowa is BEND DON’T BREAK. Getting lots of yards only matters if it leads to lots of points. So, if you “gash” us like Ohio State did on the ground and that leads to 24 points, then I damn well hope your defense is as good as Ohio State’s defense. Because if it is not, I am betting we will get more than 24 points (Ohio State in overtime gained a couple of yards then kicked a FG so I am purposely not counting those three points).
And I have to agree with fossil…even those analysts who predict Iowa will lose say this will be the most physical team you have played to date. Trust us Hawkeye fans…we may not qualify for the speed compliments but we tackle as well as any team in America and we follow our assignments and we are obsessed with not allowing big plays. So if Tech loses any patience, they will lose the game.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
CPJ doesn't lose patience at all..it can actually be quite maddening for a fan
how he will continue to run the FB dive though it goes nowhere 5 straight times.
Bend but Don’t Break? Love to hear it. Once we get inside our own 45 yard line its 4 down territory. Check our red zone stats. We don’t punt and we don’t kick FG (very often anyway).
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
That is what intrigues me the most about this matchup...
…because if you like numbers, check out the percentage of times our opponents have been successful on 4th down. It can actually be quite maddening for a fan (an opposing team’s fan).
by Eyeheartfreedumb on Dec 15, 2009 4:09 PM EST up reply actions
Well, not THE most, but a lot.
Edit fail.
by Eyeheartfreedumb on Dec 15, 2009 4:09 PM EST up reply actions
This is pretty typical
Keep talking how Iowa is not that good and that we do not have playmakers. DJK and McNutt are not playmakers. Keep telling yourselves that, Tech fans. Our defense isn’t that good either.
It definitely seems from all these boards that Iowa fans respect GT, and GT fans do not reciprocate. I expect a good close game, but looking forward to the very good chance of watching the Tech fans eat crow.
Yep
And you can tell its insightful analysis when he mentions OSU’s “two backs no one’s ever heard of” Listen there Champ, just because you’re not aware of football outside of the ACC, it doesn’t mean no one else is. Both Saine and Herron were 4 or 5 star recruits, they were two of the best backs in their classes. Now, Dwyer is very good, no denying that, and uniquely suited for your offense. He will be a challenge, but our D thrives on just such challenges. Will be interesting to see.
You know, we probably shouldn’t even bother playing this game. It’s become quite clear to me from reading the posts on the Rumble Seat that Iowa has absolutely no chance in the face of the awesome juggernaut that is Georgia Tech. It’s good that the analysis provided has convinced me not to bother watching the game on January 4th, as we clearly have never seen a team as amazing as the ACC’s best.
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
Ha
Could you explain to me how the bowl game on Jan 4th is relevant to the GT-Iowa game? I’ll give you time to think about it, but until then, if you Iowa fans have an issue with the content on this site, then leave. No one is forcing you to come here and read it. Plus, did you honestly think that a GT-based site was going to not heavily favor GT? That’s just as ignorant as me going to an Iowa site and complaining that everyone there thinks Iowa is going to win. Stop acting so arrogant.
"Big Ten can have this challenge. Duke loses, we all win..."
-Marcus Ginyard, G - UNC
Sarcasm doesn't play well on a blog
We all have to learn it…are use [sarcasm dripping] references!
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
That's one way to handle the typical scorn...
I prefer a more laconic approach:
Phillip II of Macedon: “You are advised to submit without further delay, for if I bring my army into your land, I will destroy your farms, slay your people, and raze your city.”
Spartan Ephors in response: “If.”
Keeping wildlife, an amphibious rodent, for uh, domestic, you know, within the city - that aint legal either, Dude.
by AcrimoniousAngerererer on Dec 15, 2009 10:35 AM EST up reply actions
Huh?...and I thought GT had the geek market cornered
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
I'm an 18th-level Geek
With a +5 nerding cloak.
by Bucketochicken on Dec 15, 2009 3:36 PM EST up reply actions
It's true
You never see Bucket anywhere without his 12-sided die.
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
Where do you get the disrespect from?
Just a little smack talk because we are excited about our team and the season we have had. It doesn’t happen often so we are taking advantage..to a degree. GT fans know the disappointment from high expectations. The talk is based on our team, not any disrespect towards Iowa.
Honestly most of us here know hardly anything about Iowa football. No common opponents etc…but that is the one good thing about the bowl game set-up is playing teams you rarely play. I was just happy to not be playing an SEC team!
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
Smack talk we can take...
…taking advantage because it doesn’t happen often we can understand. I think vahawk’s comment was more from the “don’t drink too much of the kool-aid” point of view. Not reciprocating respect may not have been the proper wording, but there are some commenters and posts that just drip with “we’re kings of the world” rhetoric (which I can take). Though I prefer it that way, cause victory will be more sweet (if we win). You just don’t want to be THAT fanbase.
In all honesty though, congratulations on the season y’all have had. I wanted to go to GT when I was growing up, and I’ve enjoyed watching you beat up the teams who usually rule the roost. I’m not happy to be facing your crazy offense… but I’m not scared either.
by Eyeheartfreedumb on Dec 15, 2009 4:19 PM EST up reply actions
And I started this
actually hoping for some relevant discussion.
My post was pretty sarcastic and biased, deal with it, its our site. The first guy was about the only one to make valid points and counter mine. I have nothing but respect for the Iowa fans, university, and team. I think both sides like their odds in this game and are excited to see their team do so well this year.
If blogs won football games, a lot more people would have journalism degrees. This is nothing other than amateur speculation. With that said, GO Jackets! GT-28 Iowa-23
I think the whole game rides on three things
1) Will Ricky Stanzi be good Ricky Stanzi or bad Ricky Stanzi. On one hand, he has not played a complete game all year so he is either due or that is just who the dude is. I think it just is who he is. Altnough, sitting for three games can make one rethink. We’ll see. But, your defense will not be anything like some of the defenses we have faced. He will be comfortable, but he’s been comfortbale before and laid an egg for 1/2 a game.
2) Adam Robinson needs to stay healthy the whole game. Then I think we have our running game in order as I expect our other RB to be much healthier by game time. Given the pourousness of your defense, we need to keep you off the field and wear out your defense like Georgia did.
3) OUr defensive ends…they can be hellish and one of them is always good. But, you can run away from him and I expect you to often. That means our other DE (Binns) needs to have a better than average game. Also, we need to tackle well. If Binns has a good game then it could be a tough night.
No one has really talked special teams. I can tell you our FG kicker is a head case and I pray the game does not come down to him. OUr punter will play in the NFL 10 or so years. OUr kickoff team is just now stopping teams. But they scare me. OUr kick return team is playing the best it has in three years or more but it is unlikely they will return one for a TD. OUr punt returns are a crap shoot and our punt coverage has got to be top 10 nationally if not top 5.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
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