MONDAY MUSINGS: UNI film takeaways, an early look at Iowa in two weeks

[WastedTalent]

For those complaining about a lack of deep throws, ISU got a pretty good taste of it's own medicine with what UNI did on defense, and from a scheming standpoint, they played it correctly. UNI dropped 3 safeties deep and was playing its first zone 10-12 yards deep. Take away big play potential and force the offense to be patient and dink and dunk. Sound familiar? The bait is to get impatient and try to force it deep, which we didn't.

And I know "what if's" are pointless, but take away the two drive killing effort penalties that wouldn't have been penalties any other year, as well as the fumble-that-wasnt-a-fumble, and the score probably looks something more like 24-6 or 30-6, and none of us are complaining despite the super vanilla playcalling, Purdy not rushing, and a few bad missed assignments by the OLine

Correct. And even a couple of the 4th down decisions. I thought there was at least one that they should have went for instead of punting, and another that they did go for was just a terrible play call. Convert either, or both of those, there's another touchdown likely.

 

[CTTB78]

I agree. Chris said the lack of explosive plays was due to guys not stepping up. I would say it had a lot more to do with the play-calling.

Not surprised to see CW not comment on the play calling. While the deep ball may not have been there consistently with UNI's coverage, the bigger headscratcher was the short yardage calls (who ever is making them).
Hopefully we see an entirely different gameplan for Iowa and allow Purdy to be Purdy.

 

[madguy30]

I'd say it had more to do with UNI playing 3 safeties deep in order to take away the deep ball. They were giving us the short routes and we were taking what they were giving.

The question will be what can ISU do to keep other teams playing them similarly? Yards were gained between the 20s but then it got tough (also aided by penalties mistakes etc.) for much movement.

Is there an ISU receiver that can still be a deep threat vs. that look?

 

[madguy30]

Correct. And even a couple of the 4th down decisions. I thought there was at least one that they should have went for instead of punting, and another that they did go for was just a terrible play call. Convert either, or both of those, there's another touchdown likely.

The 4th and 1 before halftime that led to a debacle (and could have possibly been picked off because UNI read it): was that Purdy choosing to pass out of the RPO or was it designed? I refuse to believe Hall wouldn't have had much trouble picking it up.

 

[Gunnerclone]

The question will be what can ISU do to keep other teams playing them similarly? Yards were gained between the 20s but then it got tough (also aided by penalties mistakes etc.) for much movement.

Is there an ISU receiver that can still be a deep threat vs. that look?

Milton has shown the ability to be a big play/deep threat last year. But it seemed like he was lined up as the farthest outside receiver on the right quite a bit which was confusing to me. That doesn’t seem to be the spot he could create from. Plus he would be my pick to be the WR that can make the most play from scrambles/improv plays and there were just none of those with the way the staff called the game.

 

[madguy30]

Milton has shown the ability to be a big play/deep threat last year. But it seemed like he was lined up as the farthest outside receiver on the right quite a bit which was confusing to me. That doesn’t seem to be the spot he could create from. Plus he would be my pick to be the WR that can make the most play from scrambles/improv plays and there were just none of those with the way the staff called the game.

And what's Pettway like in that regard?

I liked his feet and hands obviously on the TDs. I don't recall seeing if he got behind anyone but it's hard to tell on the TV.

 

[Gunnerclone]

And what's Pettway like in that regard?

I liked his feet and hands obviously on the TDs. I don't recall seeing if he got behind anyone but it's hard to tell on the TV.

Pettway feels like a hands/red zone guy to me. Which is fine. Early returns though.

 

[FinalFourCy]

Again, if you charted Purdy's incomplete passes, I bet there were only a few truly bad/inaccurate throws. Most of them were drops or pressure from UNI.

I'm not sure anybody expected the line to be perfect. But UNI was consistently getting pressure without blitzing. That's not great.

Purdy’s feet didn’t help the situation in the pocket, and he had as many late (but complete) or off throws as his receivers had drops imo.

On 41 pass attempts he was sacked twice with three hurries. That’s with UNI having the benefit of not needing to worry about containment. We’re caughtup on Meeker getting beat by a lowly UNI DE, but tackles get beat like Meeker in every game- QBs have to feel that and stepup in the pocket which would have allowed Meeker to have a chance to push the DE past Purdy.


I thought the OL played above average. The RBs were okay too, and had they broken a long run or two, many would think differently about the OL.

I thought the Purdy was good too, particularly given the shackles we may have placed on him. A little better feet in the pocket, and again, the narrative on the OL is more positive.

Such a small margin of error that we cannot afford a few mistakes.