The Defense- Don Brown.
October 6th, 2019 at 10:22 AM ^
This could have just been included in the defense snowflakes post...
Also, I know we played great on that side of the ball yesterday, but we still couldn’t stop a crossing route to save our lives. Teams with equal or more speed (Penn State, Notre Dame, Ohio State) are going to murder us on those.
October 6th, 2019 at 10:36 AM ^
The UFR could prove me wrong, but I saw a little more zone (or at least more safety help from the top) on crossing routes. Brown's gonna blitz and use man and Iowa guessed right on a few of those plays, but he's adapting.
Stanley will be in an NFL training camp next year. Brown just held him to a FG. Enjoy it for a few more hours at least.
October 6th, 2019 at 11:21 AM ^
Cam McGrone had been underused. He is making a big difference. He's a natural at blitzes.
Speaking of underused, we got these guys named Collins, Black, and DPJ. Maybe we could use them. It's like what Abraham Lincoln said about George B. McClellan during the Civil War, " "If General McClellan does not want to use the Army, I would like to borrow it for a time".
October 6th, 2019 at 10:36 AM ^
They stopped a few in the second half.
It looked like Iowa checked to crossing routes at the line a few times when they saw man. If so then players just have to make plays. Crossing routes can be be stopped in man but you gotta make plays.
Currently rewatching and Dwumfour has been very good at getting penetration in the run game so far. If that continues then the defense will definitely be trending up. Penetration like that was how msu was able to stymie osu early last night.
October 6th, 2019 at 10:38 AM ^
If we couldn't stop a crossing route to save our lives, why did Iowa score 3 points?
You're not going to get a win on literally every down. They won the RPS battle a few times. But in the end their team, with a 3-year starter (NFL prospect!) at QB, went 6-17 on third downs and averaged 6.2 YPA, and if we factor in sacks (8 for 65 yards), their YPA was actually 3.9.
October 6th, 2019 at 10:52 AM ^
Absolutely won’t win on every down that’s why the offense is even more disappointing. We won’t keep PSU, ND, and OSU from scoring. The best we can hope is limiting them.
Problem is we can’t score.
October 6th, 2019 at 11:06 AM ^
Well yeah, I don't think anyone would argue that scoring 10 points is awesome.
October 6th, 2019 at 11:13 AM ^
its the Russians
October 6th, 2019 at 11:17 AM ^
Dax was in and made a couple plays on these....huge step for him and the staff. This is exactly what we were hoping for.
one he tipped away for an Ambry interception, and another he racked the man after a 4 yard gain...those were going for 20 yards a pop against Glasgow.
Dax will make some freshman mistakes at some point, but clearly he has arrived and is bringing the athleticism we’ve heard about.
October 6th, 2019 at 11:31 AM ^
FUCK snowflakes.
Having to wade through 1,000 "replies" to find a topic you're interested in is stupid. That's why topic headings were invented.
One of the stupidest ideas this board has ever had.
October 6th, 2019 at 1:02 PM ^
I think your take is stupid. Nothing personal .....
The OP is useless and perfect for a snowflake thread. It adds nothing to the discussion.
If you want hundreds of separate posts, go somewhere like MLive.
October 6th, 2019 at 12:14 PM ^
Crossing routes are really effective for short yardage because they are difficult to defend. Last season against IU and OSU we were getting completely gashed for big gainers and TD's on those types of plays. This season those plays have been limited to the 10 to 15 yards or so. Don Brown has adjusted nicely.
October 6th, 2019 at 1:11 PM ^
A lot of the problem last year was Watson was simply slow and Kinnel was massively overrated.
Also the defensive line played HORRIBLY against OSU last year.
People who put all the blame on don brown are simply being lazy arm chair coaches.
Atleast half the blame is on the players.
October 6th, 2019 at 10:24 AM ^
Him finally having a little quality DT depth makes it a lot easier for him. He is going back to his exotic ways, throwing tons of different looks at teams. I love the 3 high safety look he runs. I think we see a lot of that against better offenses, and if we can get home with 4 guys against QBs, our defense will be just fine.
October 6th, 2019 at 4:09 PM ^
The difference in our defense between now and the beginning of the year is our offense stopped turning over the ball.
Our offense committed 9 turnovers in the first three games, where all the opponents points were scored, including the first play/series of the game. Most of the opponents points were from our offense turning over the ball. Try playing great defense when every time you go out your backs are to the wall
The defense is better now because the offense stopped screwing them over. I think at least half of the turnovers were Patterson interceptions or fumbles
October 6th, 2019 at 10:25 AM ^
Yes, but.
It seems like gambling on those 3rd & longs in man. Either they ran off the CBs and let the long developing cross unfold or took a shot deep, working out 3x.
That might be ok with few offensive possessions for Iowa but not ok for ND, PSU, OSU.
October 6th, 2019 at 11:14 AM ^
what happens in Ann Arbor stays in Ann Arbor
October 6th, 2019 at 10:31 AM ^
Still waiting to see what he does against the PSUs, OSUs, and NDs of the world. We've seen him shut down offenses like Iowa's many times in the past. I do think having Dwumfour, McGrone and Daxton makes a huge difference. Hopefully those guys stay healthy/see more playing time going forward.
October 6th, 2019 at 11:06 AM ^
Now if Ross gets healthy so him and McGrone can be the starting backers the defense could be crazy fast. Sprinkle in some Mazi and Hinton next week to get their feet wet as well and you might have really good depth at our weakest spot on D as well
October 6th, 2019 at 11:10 AM ^
It's definitely a good thing that we've seen less and less Ben Mason at DT. Yes I agree that the next step is incorporating more Hinton and Smith. We could have solid DT depth by the time OSU rolls around.
October 6th, 2019 at 10:37 AM ^
The linebackers are definitely a liability though, I like Jordan Glasgow and that kid has accomplished more than I have in life but he isn’t super great, at least in this scheme.
But I also don’t really know anything about football.
October 6th, 2019 at 11:15 AM ^
neither do I, but that doesn't ever stop me from pretending that I do!
October 6th, 2019 at 10:47 AM ^
I wasn’t happy with the drag routes taking us by surprise for the 8th game in a row.
October 6th, 2019 at 11:16 AM ^
we need real drag queens to teach the kids how to do it right (start with the sparkle dress)
October 6th, 2019 at 10:52 AM ^
My take isn't going to change until I see change ... We have a stout defense when we have the better athletes. We play someone of similar talent (OSU, Bowl games, occasionally PSU/Wisky), and the pressure stops getting home, the man coverage becomes a dice roll instead of an advantage, and our LBs get exposed either schematically or athletically.
October 6th, 2019 at 10:54 AM ^
(UM D) twas as good (in IA game) as it was bad in UW game - (based on the past two games) they're back on a positive trajectory - and the improved team (D) speed will be critical in PSU, MSU, ND & OSU games
October 6th, 2019 at 10:56 AM ^
Dwumfour being in made a big difference.
Michael Danna played great too. His experience helped a lot. There had been so many complaints that he only had impact in his career against lesser teams. But he did good against a very physical team yesterday. And Daxton Hill is clearly the real deal. What a great player he is!
October 6th, 2019 at 11:02 AM ^
Defense won the games against army and Iowa. This team could have three losses by now. Still disappointed with the Wisconsin game but I guess it’s better than being the Tennessee of the North
October 6th, 2019 at 11:12 AM ^
I've been mulling over, when I have time, deciding if it's because the offense is new or because Gattis is still an apprentice. I think it's Gattis. There's so many experienced players on the offense that it should be looking much better than this. I think Gattis is actually pulling them down into underachievement.
October 6th, 2019 at 11:58 AM ^
So you’re educated enough to imagine that a coach that has EXACTLY four games under his belt as an offensive coordinator is a failure? I’ll take a very HARD PASS on this one! Get me last weeks film and you tell me who called this play: First and goal from the 7, hand the ball off to our starting defensive lineman off-tackle.
October 6th, 2019 at 12:13 PM ^
The QB play, or lack there of, is pulling them down. Shea has played like ass.
October 6th, 2019 at 11:19 AM ^
Dear NeverPunt: punting also won the game, Iowa would have stuffed a 4th down run and gotten easy field goals all day- so Punt!
October 6th, 2019 at 11:33 AM ^
No, never punt.
October 6th, 2019 at 10:59 AM ^
Great post lol
October 6th, 2019 at 11:00 AM ^
Pony partially redeemed himself for getting clowned by Wisconsin.
Will he hold TUOS under 60?
The jury is still out on that one...
October 6th, 2019 at 11:23 AM ^
The jury has returned with a verdict- Wisky was guilty of having a pony party
October 6th, 2019 at 11:21 AM ^
Bit early to be drinking, eh OP? Dominating defensive performance on every down except for 3rd and long, which led to us barely winning a must-win game. I'll take it, while I can, because November looms and wins will be scarce with performances like this.
October 6th, 2019 at 11:24 AM ^
actually, it's when you just wake up and are dehydrated that you need to drink the most
October 6th, 2019 at 11:22 AM ^
While I do agree with others that this easily could have been - and should have been - in one of the snowflake threads, I will also say that the defense really did gameplan well for Iowa, but then Iowa's offense is rather the kind that is in Brown's gameplanning wheelhouse.
October 6th, 2019 at 11:25 AM ^
I regret that you have the heavy burden of determining whether to snowflake or not
October 6th, 2019 at 11:25 AM ^
Iowa has two players on the OL who will be playing on Sundays in the near future so that was definitely a welcome sign. If they can keep that kind of performance or something close to it against PSU or ND, then that would be extremely impressive.
October 6th, 2019 at 11:28 AM ^
well it IS Sunday and I think these two Iowa OL's are already playing Call of Duty
October 6th, 2019 at 12:12 PM ^
Nothing to do today?
October 6th, 2019 at 11:40 AM ^
There is a defense snowflake thread for these.
October 6th, 2019 at 11:45 AM ^
The difference in this game was personnel. Dwumfor looked really effective yesterday which made the overall line play better. Cam McGrone is starting to look like Devin Bush 2.0. Dax Hill makes some freshman mistakes but also makes some plays that no other safety on this team is capable of making. Mike Rosanna Rosanna Danna is adjusting to B1G play and is contributing off the bench. Lavert Hill has rediscovered his game.
It's all extremely encouraging and even moreso than us winning 35-24, because as bad as the O was the pieces are all there. If this is our D the rest of the season this team might be able to do something of the O can figure itself out.
October 6th, 2019 at 11:51 AM ^
Amazing! We were even stout up front! Minus a couple of Captain obvious whiffs the outcome was superb!
October 6th, 2019 at 11:58 AM ^
Kudos to Don Brown and the players on defense. Inspiring game but can they keep it up? Let's hope so because the offense is lost for this year.
October 6th, 2019 at 12:04 PM ^
My only complaint on the D is ever having Glasgow out wide on a receiver, RB, or TE. He needs to stay inside. As we play teams with better athletes (PSU/ND/OSU) gotta avoid Glasgow in space. The 1-2 plays he was, you knew they were targeting him. Even McGrone out wide is not good, He got beat deep once. Avoid LB’s basically playing CB. Those are the plays you saw coming and when Iowa actually made solid plays.
October 6th, 2019 at 12:14 PM ^
The defense played well but let's not lie to ourselves and act like anything has changed
Don Browns defense can dominate teams without mobile QBs, athletic WRs, and good RBs. Against teams like OSU, ND, and PSU his defense will be exposed yet again.
Harsh truth
October 6th, 2019 at 12:36 PM ^
I thought McGrone played with maturity and discipline especially on the blitzes. How many times do you see a linebacker with a free shot come in out of control? He came in in control and made the play.