Denard at Iowa 2009
Courtesy of Mgovideo, I just rewatched Denard's TD drive late in the game last year at Iowa City.
I doubt Iowa's D plays us in 2010 the same way they did at the end of a 2009 game when they had game-planned for Forcier and were protecting a 2 score lead. However, I think this video suggests yards can be gained against a tough, disciplined Iowa D on designed QB runs. Not huge chunks. Small bits. We will have to show the patience we lost over the course of a recent game I decline to directly reference. We will have to convert third downs.
A few other reactions I had:
- It is amazing how much Denard has improved. Even on this series, where he looked so great, the 2009 version of Denard is (dare I say it) a lot slower. Both in starting the play, and in executing. He is much more explosive and decisive this year than last. That is not surprising, but it is something I had not appreciated until watching him in 2009 form. It is not just that he added passing in 2010; he is executing the QB-designed runs much better as well.
- I was shocked how slow our pace was from one play to the next on this drive. We probably wasted a good 90 seconds with long delays between plays. We could have completed the drive much more quickly and perhaps had more time for a final drive (always a what if).
- On this drive Denard seemed very content to take 4-7 yards from the defense. Although Indiana was fun for all of us, that is a good mentality to get back to. We had more of a first down mindset with UCONN. Here's hoping we can string together some tough first downs Saturday.
October 14th, 2010 at 2:39 PM ^
Great drive. How does Iowa's defense this year compare to last year?
October 14th, 2010 at 2:46 PM ^
Their line is probably just as good, if not better than last year. Their linebackers should be worse. Angerer was excellent and is now on the Colts. Also, I think they have had a couple of injuries. Not sure about the DBs.
October 14th, 2010 at 3:36 PM ^
I heard one of their starting CBs is out and so they have a sophomore backup in.
October 14th, 2010 at 4:28 PM ^
They lost Amari Spievey to the Lions, and he was a solid contributor as a senior.
October 14th, 2010 at 2:51 PM ^
Hard to tell with the current data set.
2009 Iowa gave up only 4.3 yards per play. Only 4.1 yards per play against Big 10 opponents. http://www.cfbstats.com/2009/leader/827/team/defense/split07/category10…
2010 Iowa is giving up only 4.1 yards per play through 5 games against weak offenses. http://www.cfbstats.com/2010/leader/827/team/defense/split01/category10…;
Against their two solid opponents: 5.3 yards at Arizona, 4.6 against Penn State.
October 14th, 2010 at 2:54 PM ^
Can we really say Penn State is a "solid" offense? This is a honest question, I really don't know. I thought they were decent maybe, but man, they gave Illinois just about everything from their offensive implosion.
October 14th, 2010 at 3:17 PM ^
They can't run the ball. At all (ranked 85th overall). They have a crappy OL, a true frosh QB and some talent at WR. In their 3 losses they've scored 1 TD. They kicked 5 FGs against Temple on their way to 22 pts.
Their D is pretty good still.
October 14th, 2010 at 3:17 PM ^
Given that they've scored a combined total of 19 points against three BCS-conference opponents (and a whopping 22 against Temple), I don't think we can.
October 14th, 2010 at 2:52 PM ^
Slowest. Pace. Ever.
It's amazing how much quicker our offense is this year.
October 14th, 2010 at 2:59 PM ^
I bet Denard goes for 150 rushing yards against Iowa's scary defense. I'm uncertain if that will translate into a win, but I feel confident Denard will be back to his video game stats.
Go Blue
October 14th, 2010 at 2:58 PM ^
Their D will be worse because they don't have St. ANGERER playing for them!
Metallica reference, yes, I know.
October 14th, 2010 at 3:01 PM ^
Who was drafted by the beloved Lions with the 66th pick in last years draft
October 14th, 2010 at 3:09 PM ^
and LB A.J. Edds was drafted by Miami and tore his ACL during Dolphins camp this summer.
October 14th, 2010 at 3:20 PM ^
I doubt Iowa's D plays us in 2010 the same way they did at the end of a 2009 game
I'm not sure why people keep saying this. For years, Norm Parker's M.O. has been to count on his front seven to stop the run. He loves to play Cover-2 and Cover-3. It's possible that he might change things up for this game, but he's never been comfortable leaving his corners in single coverage.
October 14th, 2010 at 3:52 PM ^
Is Norm Parker even back with the team after his recent health issues? I was under the impression that he's not with Iowa at all at the moment. If true, I would think it's even less likely that Iowa goes away from their base philosophy.
October 14th, 2010 at 3:28 PM ^
Penn State is a pretty one dimensional offensive team right now and not a good one at that, and they lost to Arizona.
October 14th, 2010 at 3:29 PM ^
Holy crap - if Shaw doesn't take the time to stand there and dance on that carry and just picks that hole that opened up in front of him, he's the one walking into the endzone.
October 14th, 2010 at 3:58 PM ^
I know BHGP is mostly about bringing the funny, is there a more analytical Iowa blog anywhere, curious whether they think they will try to defend us with 2 high safeties. Hopefully they do, I think Denard will have a great day if they stubbornly leave two safeties on the field.
October 14th, 2010 at 4:34 PM ^
I think they always play the same defense, no matter what the offense runs (i.e. no nickel package). It will be really interesting to see if we make them change.
October 14th, 2010 at 4:34 PM ^
Posted this over on the Michigan Scout site...
As far as the defense is concerned, really nothing new to see here. Very, very solid DL play that will try to control gaps and maintain lane responsibility, LBs that clean up the mess and DBs that try to prevent the big play.
Most teams have been giving a lot of help on Clayborn with TEs and RBs providing chip blocks. The others have been playing very solid football, #93 Mike Daniels in particular. If I were Michigan, I'd come out throwing and let Denard run through gaps in the pass rush. The LBs will be in pass drops, so he'll have room to run.
Our LBs have been okay. Injuries at MLB forced true frosh James Morris into his first defensive action against Penn St. and he filled in admirably. The other two (Hunter and Nielsen) are both solid. They have shown a propensity to leave the intermediate crossing routes open which Arizona was able to exploit.
As far as the DBs go, you know what you get with Sash and Greenwood. Smart players who don't have amazing athletic ability, but are good enough to get by and make up for it with their game prep. Haven't seen the ball hawking ability yet at this point in the season. Prater is a good one at CB and on the other side is soph. Micah Hyde who is getting better with experience, but has been picked on from time to time.
Typical Iowa defense that tries to stop the run, prevent big plays and beat the snot out of people. Denard made them look pretty slow last year in IC, so I have my concerns about him rambling through a scattered defense. Contain will be the key as you won't see the Hawks blitzing the way Michigan St. did. Just not their m.o.
October 14th, 2010 at 6:24 PM ^
Thanks. Good feedback. Do you think Parker (from afar) changes anything up or stays with assignment football?
October 14th, 2010 at 6:29 PM ^
DRob looks, even then, so comfortable with the rollout, and more instinctive/so dangerous. Am I imagining things, or, since DRob has become a more proficient passer, is RR rolling him out less?
October 14th, 2010 at 6:39 PM ^
one key difference from last year to this year is sheridan is no longer standing next to RR on the sideline signaling plays.
October 14th, 2010 at 7:39 PM ^
Couple of thoughts:
- Jesus, can Pat Angerer play the shit out of the Mike position. Damn...
- Iowa will have a wrinkle or two. I don't care how good their DL is. On a QB iso with a lead blocker (Steph Hopkins plzkthx) and Martell Webb fucking people up with his bad nostriled self, I don't see how you can play Denard with 7 people in the box. Seven blockers / seven tacklers + Denard = happy El Jeffe. And Bob Sanders ain't walking through that door anytime soon, so forget about a safety filling from a deep half position. Yes, I'm looking at you Tyler MF Sash.
- Clayborn and Lewan will draw offsetting personal fouls in the first Michigan drive. Book it.
October 14th, 2010 at 10:46 PM ^
Dan, I don't think Parker will have any in-game contributions, but may very well have been watching some tape over the past week or two. I don't think he's been at practice at all either. It's a pretty big surgery to recover from and he needs to allow it to heal properly, otherwise they'll be lopping off even more of the leg. He is missed by all, no question.
Sash (and Greenwood) will fill nicely on the run, but only once it is identified for sure, which they do quite quickly based on the OL, game situation, etc. I really, really doubt that you'll see eight in the box hardly at all, but the MFer will seem like he's up there to start with because he can fill that fast. He's not as fast as Bob, but he is bigger and more durable (and plays the pass better). Keep in mind he still has a season left to play after this one.
Oddly enough, he only had one tackle vs. Georgia Tech in the OB and really wasn't needed. Our DBs had four total tackles in that game, the rest were entirely the front seven and mostly by the DL.