******* Iowa Weekly Discussion Thread***

[cyfan92]

Other than an ISU blowout win, every possible scenario is somehow possible this week..

From what I remember in recent memory, the way to beat Iowa is:

1. Designed QB run game
   1. (-) Rocco is not a runner
2. Improvised QB run game
   1. (-) We don't really want Rocco scrambling and having Moberly or Kohl play QB
3. Dominant NFL WR's
   1. (+) We have two guys who at a minimum will make training camp rosters
4. Control the line of scrimmage
   1. (-) About as likely as pigs flying
5. Minimal mistakes
   1. (-) ISU has been plauged by this.. We are overdue for this to change but Iowa system might just have an edge on CMC's system
6. Win field position
   1. (+) Possible with them having a new punter not named Tory Taylor

I think it's a 1/4 chance ISU wins, 2/4 chances Iowa wins close, and 1/4 chance that Iowa wins by double digits

 

[clonedude]

With the injury situation ISU is in... I would put the line at -6 1/2 Iowa. And I'd still put my money on Iowa in that situation.

CW said at least twice on Two Guys yesterday that he thought the ISU DL played well. I don't know how anyone could watch that game and say that? Even Bruns talked about our DL getting manhandled. John and Eric talked about it during the game. Bruns even said our LBs and Safeties were getting flatbacked by ND's OL at times. Our ability to stop their run game was awful... I don't want to even think about how many yards Kaleb Johnson will have on us this week if we aren't drastically improved in that area somehow?

 

[TornadoBird]

Someday maybe the coaches will figure this out. Already hearing all of the “we kept it vanilla on purpose in week 1 excuse machine running on all cylinders.

We were three 1st half over-throws away from beating the breaks off North Dakota. Given the chance Rocco could have dissected their defense like he did during the 2nd scoring. For the first time in the Campbell era were going into the TOE weekend with a clear identity on Offense. I truly don't think the coaches went into the game with the intentions of being vanilla (first play Hail Mary), but what are you going to do if your opponent insists on dominating TOP and settling for field goals? Maybe I'm cautiously optimistic in our chances against the Hoks, or maybe I love to pretend like the world isn't crumbling around me after week 1.

 

[MeowingCows]

Yes, it's a major concern this weekend against Iowa State. Biggest reasons Iowa's won most the games in the series recently is they've not turned it over much and had a big advantage in the punting game Essentially dominating field position. The punting advantage is gone and McNamara is a lot looser with the ball. Some of the risk is welcomed going forward but I do worry in what's likely to be a close game and against as good of secondary as Iowa State's

So I take it that Iowa doesn't have a guy punting 60+ yards every drive and generational return game scoring points almost every game this time around?

Easy solution for the secondary, just don't challenge it. UND may not have scored much on us, but they moved the ball just fine and that's largely all Iowa needs to do. Just keep picking on our DL and LBs like they did practically all game.

 

[Aclone]

27-10 Iowa.

Please. No establish the run ********. We won't be able to against their front 7. Rocco needs to throw 40 times if we want to have a chance.

Some of you folks are wayyyyy overestimating Iowa.

They scored what they did Saturday because they wore down a mediocre Mo Valley team. Which didn’t remotely have the skill talent to challenge their defense.

 

[cycloner29]

Have a zoom call here shortly with our life insurance company in Iowa City. Iowa State gear on and ready to rep the 'clones!!

 

[CoachHines3]

 

[RagingCloner]

Help me out here, is he referring to Hasert and Travis?

 

[OscarBerkshire]

At the end of the day in the Campbell era this game has always been that we win on paper but lose in reality. I honestly don’t expect that to change, except that maybe the hawks might win on paper. Let’s see if we can win in reality

 

[CoachHines3]

Help me out here, is he referring to Hasert and Travis?

Yeah, I would believe so

 

[GoHawks]

So I take it that Iowa doesn't have a guy punting 60+ yards every drive and generational return game scoring points almost every game this time around?

Easy solution for the secondary, just don't challenge it. UND may not have scored much on us, but they moved the ball just fine and that's largely all Iowa needs to do. Just keep picking on our DL and LBs like they did practically all game.

Unfortunately those days are temporarily gone. I like Dhakin the new punter especially considering he's a Freshman but he's more like your average punter than Tory which isn't a knock. The Return game still could be really good wetjen is a burner and he goes north and south quickly. You can scheme against that though unlike a 60 yard punt bomb.

Opening week to 2 week provides huge changes imo more so than any other week. I don't think Iowa State's performance was nearly as bad as what some have said. If Iowa can run like that that's yes that greatly increases their chances but I see it as unlikely. It was very early in Campbell tenure last time Iowa had over 150 yards rushing in this game. TE's will need to consistently beat the Iowa State linebacker and Cade will need to hit them that's the realistic path to moving the ball for Iowa. I have my doubts though. I think we all know honestly this is going to be a low scoring close game with a few plays deciding it. A comfortable for win for either would suprise me more than the team that wins.

 

[madguy30]

At the end of the day in the Campbell era this game has always been that we win on paper but lose in reality. I honestly don’t expect that to change, except that maybe the hawks might win on paper. Let’s see if we can win in reality

How so specifically?

And please don't use yards. There's so much more to a game than that.

 

[MeowingCows]

Unfortunately those days are temporarily gone. I like Dhakin the new punter especially considering he's a Freshman but he's more like your average punter than Tory which isn't a knock. The Return game still could be really good wetjen is a burner and he goes north and south quickly. You can scheme against that though unlike a 60 yard punt bomb.

Opening week to 2 week provides huge changes imo more so than any other week. I don't think Iowa State's performance was nearly as bad as what some have said. If Iowa can run like that that's yes that greatly increases their chances but I see it as unlikely. It was very early in Campbell tenure last time Iowa had over 150 yards rushing in this game. TE's will need to consistently beat the Iowa State linebacker and Cade will need to hit them that's the realistic path to moving the ball for Iowa. I have my doubts though. I think we all know honestly this is going to be a low scoring close game with a few plays deciding it. A comfortable for win for either would suprise me more than the team that wins.

If that's your win condition, you're in pretty damned good shape, I'll say that with confidence. Especially if we stay in 3-3 more.

If they do go out there in something like 4-2-5, then I'd be interested to see how what's likely to be a safety matches up against TEs.

 

[hawkfan]

Bet the under, it'll come down to the turnover margin like usual.

I'm not sure I get the thought process of hoping Campbell gets one dimensional and throws it 40+ times. Iowa's track record of success in this game recently has been built on forcing ISU to throw the ball and make mistakes through the air (INT's). This might be the best overall secondary Iowa has had under Phil (outside of last year when Dejean was there) with Castro/Higgins/Jackson as three really athletic guys in the middle, Phil always reloads at CB, and Schulte/Nwankpa are both really good.

I get why Campbell would rather run/punt and hope Iowa's offense self destructs rather than air it out. If you throw 40 times with a leaky OL, you're inviting a lot of pressure on your QB playing his first game in Kinnick. If it were me, and I was going to throw it that much, it would be all screen plays and short passes, but Iowa does a pretty good job of batting those down at the DL, as we've seen in recent years.

 

[nhclone]

With the injury situation ISU is in... I would put the line at -6 1/2 Iowa. And I'd still put my money on Iowa in that situation.

CW said at least twice on Two Guys yesterday that he thought the ISU DL played well. I don't know how anyone could watch that game and say that? Even Bruns talked about our DL getting manhandled. John and Eric talked about it during the game. Bruns even said our LBs and Safeties were getting flatbacked by ND's OL at times. Our ability to stop their run game was awful... I don't want to even think about how many yards Kaleb Johnson will have on us this week if we aren't drastically improved in that area somehow?

Started rewatching some of the game earlier. There were a couple times early in the game where they got some movement on Dom Orange with a double team, but overall our DL played well. Didn't get a ton of pressure in passing situations, but UND was throwing quick routes and/or moving the QB and letting him use his legs. On rewatch, I don't know how anyone would say we got "manhandled" on the DL. LB is another story. Ebel might be a stud one day, but he stood out as extremely hot and cold in this one. One play in particular that stood out on the negative side, he literally ran full speed into Dom's back while the UND back ran for 10+ yards in the open gap to his left. Not sure if he missed a call or missed a read, but it was 1000% on him that play. Lot's of examples like that so far on rewatch.

 

[clonedude]

I agree with Woody in that the team that makes the less mistakes will win this thing... that always seems to be the case every year. And nearly every single year under CMC... ISU has been the team that has always made the most mistakes and the costliest mistakes at the worst times. So I do not trust us to be able to turn that around... the odds are definitely against it.

I think it was Bruns that has already mentioned that our punt snaps were not ideal on Saturday. Several were low, and it took us quite a bit of time to get the punt off. I think he even predicted there's a good chance Iowa blocks one this week. It's this kind of s**t that we do in this game seemingly every year that cost us these games. Last year the Becht pick 6 was ballgame. One year Breece fumbled inside like our own 10 yd line to them.

Until we start to see a CMC coached ISU team actually win in the margins and details against Iowa... I just can't predict that all of the sudden we'll play a good clean game... and therefore cannot predict an ISU win. It would definitely help if we were completely healthy, but we have injuries all over the place. Lots of young and inexperienced guys playing does not bode well for playing mistake free football either.

 

[t-noah]

Their defense is really good. Ours isn't. I don't like our chances. I hate this game every year.

All the more reason to hate the hawks.

Cyclones Win!!!

 

[MartyFine]

 

[WaltDisney]

Nope.

Yep

 

[WaltDisney]

Please. No establish the run ********. We won't be able to against their front 7. Rocco needs to throw 40 times if we want to have a chance.

I don’t think Iowa will lose to a one dimensional offense. Iowa stops ISU’s run game they likely win. And I don’t see how ISU will be able to run against Iowa. Only way is to set up the run by passing.