UNI Q&A -- Jay Jordan
- Thread starter JJIII
- Start date
Ah, I misunderstood your main point, "purple opponents on a regular basis." My guess, Iowa State plays more of those on average than any other P5.
This deserves an article of its own, but ISU used fold blocking and pin and pull significantly in 2016 and 2017 to the detriment of overmatched lineman. They moved away from that last year and the line made marginal improvements late in the year. I expect that we will see some more of it this year, but I think it will be more focused on the edge where the angles are used, especially with more defenses playing odd fronts in the league.
Think Oklahoma. OU uses a counter game premised on pin and pull blocking that is unusual in the classic Air Raid/Spread formations. That may become more prominent.
ISU's best puller is Newell at center which is an ideal position for this type of scheme if you have improved at guard and your guard can hold an individual block long enough to allow the center to either pull to kick or fold around to the second level. It becomes like a traditional I formation lead play without a fullback in the backfield. Now, fold the F back in to the lead as well and you have something inside. They did that at Toledo.
No. You understood my point. I changed my story to fit my narrative.
Sorry for the dumb question, I have looked up a fold block but not sure I am completely getting it. Is it as simple as a pull that doesn't cross the whole line?
Jay, I cannot say enough how much I appreciate reading all of your insight! You're an incredible asset and I admire your football acumen! Thanks for your time and talent!
On a fold, let's say the tackle is folding inside of the guard with a 3 tech DT in the way. The Guard will post the 3 tech while the tackle steps around the guard to the inside and makes his way through the A gap to the filling LB. That is why I said it is like using a full back to lead through the hole in an I formation.
It is predicated on the G's ability to post and hold that 3 tech to allow the tackle to fold around. Fold is used when we discuss the movement inside one gap over. It is pin and pull when the tackle blocks down on the 3 tech and the G or C pull out and around to lead through the C gap. Often in 2016 and 2017, the G was not capable of even initiating the post block and the tackle or back never gets to the second level because the 3 tech destroys the point of attack.
It is a hard block, one I do not like because it does not use natural angles against the defense, it requires physically moving the interior DT's. I do not like lineman leading through holes. I would use them to kick out on their pull all day long, but I don't want them leading to the second level because it is too hard for them to make an athletic block in space. I want the F doing that because they are more of a space player.
Hope that helps. I wrote an article a couple of years ago about the offensive line play. I think I covered this with video aids.
Thank you for your answer and for your articles kind of an ISU football version of "how it's made".
You feel like you’re getting old? I may still have the newspaper clipping from your signing class around somewhere.
Yep. Newspapers.
Jay, what are the chances of one of the running backs breaking a long run against UNI? There will be a lot more speed in the backfield this year.
What a 'this guy gets it' comment.
When I hear talking heads like Urban Meyer this week chuckling as he says 'Ever been to Ames?' it tells me that guys like him don't understand what makes Iowa State a special place. Similar to guys like Joel Klatt who doesn't get that it's not the buyout that keeps Matt Campbell in Ames.
Swirl On!
Post UNI Game Q&A. 
On the postgame show yesterday, I heard Ben Bruns day that the OL’s performance was average, but the interior guys were really good.
So...any chance that someone like Joey Ramos, or even Grant Treiber, are starting on the outside by mid season?
On the postgame show yesterday, I heard Ben Bruns day that the OL’s performance was average, but the interior guys were really good.
So...any chance that someone like Joey Ramos, or even Grant Treiber, are starting on the outside by mid season?
Post UNI Game Q&A.
On the postgame show yesterday, I heard Ben Bruns day that the OL’s performance was average, but the interior guys were really good.
So...any chance that someone like Joey Ramos, or even Grant Treiber, are starting on the outside by mid season?
To piggyback on this one, why did they have Knipfel pull so much? I love that guy but he missed quite a few blocks in space. Two that stood out to me IIRC is I believe he pulled on the shovel pass and missed the linebacker that made the tackle and he definitely pulled on one of the big sacks in the 1st quarter and totally missed the DE.
My biggest question is, what were they trying to accomplish with that protection? Was Brock supposed to roll right and Knipfel pick up the DE because they knew JGJ was going to have a tough time with him? I'd embed a link or gif if I even remotely had a clue on how to make one from the game.
I'm curious about that play, too. Jones was wide open in the flat with a numbers advantage that would have lead to six, and seemed disappointed to not have received the ball, so I think Purdy made the wrong pre-snap read, or maybe misread the defensive end who, was unblocked. I can't remember Knipfel specifically, but the late blitz UNI sent from the nickel/SAM doomed the shovel and left Jones in a ton of space.
I can't wait to see what Jay has to say about our scheme and playcalling in the UNI game.
