Concerns heading into Iowa Game

**ShopTalk** · 09-05-2012, 04:44 AM

After watching the Tulsa game a few times, two areas for concern are:

Special Teams play - Both returning and defending.
1. Most if not all returns were fair catches = zero return yards.
2. Defending returns had two or three runs that were almost touchdown returns for Tulsa.
3. Messingham was Special Teams coach last year. Whoever it is this year has a long ways to go.
Offensive Line Play
1. Left Tackle on pass plays was lit up by Tulsa's DE all night long. Many sacks, QB hurries from this side alone. On the long bomb TD to Lenz, Brun was pushed right into Jantz' grill as he released the ball and not sure if the LT also got blown up.
2. On the safety, the left side Tackle/Guard let the defensive player right through without a block and RG Lichtenberg didn't have a chance of getting there before Woody was sacked in the end zone.

To me, the biggest area of concern of these is special teams KO and punt coverage. Iowa historically is very sound on special teams and those almost TD's by Tulsa will be TD's by Iowa if the same mistakes are made.

**Judoka** · 09-05-2012, 04:49 AM

Kick coverage is the thing that scares me the most. Our coverage was atrocious and it'll be a lot harder to recover momentum in Kinnick than it was last week in Jack Trice.

**BuffettClone** · 09-05-2012, 05:12 AM

I'm concerned about both too, as competition starts getting better those long returns will turn into TDs and the DEs will be getting faster and stronger. It will be a lot harder to recover from these problems if they continue

**Cyclonepride** · 09-05-2012, 06:13 AM

I wonder if the mix of players on kick off coverage will change a bit. Are we running any starters on there? Seems like we have in the past.

**mt85** · 09-05-2012, 06:23 AM

I agree with the concern regarding kick coverage. It would be nice if we could find a kicker that could consistently put the ball in the end zone.

**chuckd4735** · 09-05-2012, 06:23 AM

Simple solution...kick it in the end zone and let our defense do their job.

**psychlone99** · 09-05-2012, 06:29 AM

I think the biggest concern is much more obvious than those things that have been listed. I'm most concerned with how Jantz will play. While he didn't make the glaring mistakes on Saturday (which may be an indicator of progress), I was a little concerned with his tentativeness. And, strangely enough, I thought he seemed more tentative in the 2nd half. There were some plays where he just kind of locked up and couldn't pull the trigger.

While Jantz has proven to be a play-maker, he hasn't yet proven that he can effectively lead the offense in an environment like Kinnick. I think this is the biggest unknown heading into Saturday. Combine this with a past tendency to make ill-advised throws, and this is my biggest concern.

Given that I think ISU is a better overall team, I'd prefer that we take a conservative approach with our QB play at the outset. Really work hard to establish the run, and don't ask SJ to make too many plays through the air early. Let the offense get settled in, then work from there.

**cydline2cydline** · 09-05-2012, 06:30 AM

On 2. 2., the left guard/tackle is supposed to let him free so that he can go up field and block...the right pulling lineman needs to get there faster to blow up the guy left untouched

**CycloneNorth** · 09-05-2012, 06:59 AM

I'm concerned that we'll beat the Hawkeyes too badly and they will want to end the series.

But really kick coverage is my biggest concern.

**intrepid27** · 09-05-2012, 07:22 AM

I thought the first couple of kick offs we were trying to pin them inside the 20. He just did not get enough height on the ball.
My biggest concern is that our guys need to tackle better.

**Cyclonin** · 09-05-2012, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by ShopTalk

After watching the Tulsa game a few times, two areas for concern are:

Special Teams play - Both returning and defending.
1. Most if not all returns were fair catches = zero return yards.
2. Defending returns had two or three runs that were almost touchdown returns for Tulsa.
3. Messingham was Special Teams coach last year. Whoever it is this year has a long ways to go.
Offensive Line Play
1. Left Tackle on pass plays was lit up by Tulsa's DE all night long. Many sacks, QB hurries from this side alone. On the long bomb TD to Lenz, Brun was pushed right into Jantz' grill as he released the ball and not sure if the LT also got blown up.
2. On the safety, the left side Tackle/Guard let the defensive player right through without a block and RG Lichtenberg didn't have a chance of getting there before Woody was sacked in the end zone.

To me, the biggest area of concern of these is special teams KO and punt coverage. Iowa historically is very sound on special teams and those almost TD's by Tulsa will be TD's by Iowa if the same mistakes are made.

On your punt return point, there punter had some great hang time. He didn't really have a bad kick and Horne never really had a chance to return one. That will change with each team. Their punter was just on his game.

**CLONECONES** · 09-05-2012, 07:24 AM

I feel Iowa will work on the contain since Steele breaking to the outside seemed to be the breaking point for Iowa's D.

Between the tackles was the weak spot for their run D during the NIU game... Will they load the box with the safety and give Steele man on man coverage or are they going to let the run game dominate.

Either way, looks good for us. I hope Steele can get it done in Kinnick.. he needs a good road performance

**Gonzo** · 09-05-2012, 07:29 AM

Originally Posted by ShopTalk

After watching the Tulsa game a few times, two areas for concern are:

Special Teams play - Both returning and defending.
1. Most if not all returns were fair catches = zero return yards.
2. Defending returns had two or three runs that were almost touchdown returns for Tulsa.
3. Messingham was Special Teams coach last year. Whoever it is this year has a long ways to go.
Offensive Line Play
1. Left Tackle on pass plays was lit up by Tulsa's DE all night long. Many sacks, QB hurries from this side alone. On the long bomb TD to Lenz, Brun was pushed right into Jantz' grill as he released the ball and not sure if the LT also got blown up.
2. On the safety, the left side Tackle/Guard let the defensive player right through without a block and RG Lichtenberg didn't have a chance of getting there before Woody was sacked in the end zone.

To me, the biggest area of concern of these is special teams KO and punt coverage. Iowa historically is very sound on special teams and those almost TD's by Tulsa will be TD's by Iowa if the same mistakes are made.

Historically, we have been. But not the last few years. We seem to always miss at least one FG that should be an easy make. We've been getting burned on onside kicks, fake punts, and KF seems to prefer return guys whom he can trust not to fumble rather than who have the potential to break one. Hyde is an explosive runner with the ability to make good things happen, but all in all, I don't see special teams/return play as any kind of advantage for Iowa.

**junckerl** · 09-05-2012, 07:31 AM

My two concerns are kick coverage and play calling. I usually don't say anything about play calling as I know that I don't know nearly as much as our coaching staff, but a counter in the end zone just seemed like a bad idea. You know they are going to send everybody and lining up in the I with Woody running up the middle has been fairly successful before. I also felt that the bubble screen was used a lot, was this just because it was working and Tulsa wasn't properly defending it, is this our new game plan, or were they purposefully trying to pad Steele's stats?

**CyCloned** · 09-05-2012, 07:49 AM

Originally Posted by junckerl

My two concerns are kick coverage and play calling. I usually don't say anything about play calling as I know that I don't know nearly as much as our coaching staff, but a counter in the end zone just seemed like a bad idea. You know they are going to send everybody and lining up in the I with Woody running up the middle has been fairly successful before. I also felt that the bubble screen was used a lot, was this just because it was working and Tulsa wasn't properly defending it, is this our new game plan, or were they purposefully trying to pad Steele's stats?

The kick coverage was just horrible, and something that will be addressed.

The play on the 3 yard line was just plain stupid, hopefully we will not see anything like that again this year. I think ISU has some great coaches, but they really had a brain fart on that one.

Tulsa was playing their DBs 8-10 yards off the line most of the game and that play was available. I give the coaches credit for taking what was there, rather than having an agenda of plays to call. Most likely we will not see the bubble that often again this year.