I am looking for a realistic breakdown of the position groups between the two teams. There is lots of trash talk on the different boards, but I am looking for a more thoughtful review. I was not able to be in Ames for the Tulsa game, nor did I see any replays of the Iowa/NIU game, so have no personal observations. Anyone have thoughts?
Iowa State vs. Iowa position comparison
- Thread starter CyberJJJ
- Start date
Well I learned on facebook today from a Hawk fans status that Northern Illinois potentially has the best defense in the country.
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KFitzy87
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This was also confirmed by an unbiased source - Ed Podolak - who said that the Husky Defense would be the toughest Iowa will face all year.:err:
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Would give you one, but my laptop crashed and I'm peeking in on a borrowed computer, with no time to write. If I were to cut it to a nutshell, Iowa's corners have better size, same athleticism, everywhere else we win the battle. :wink:
Okay, so maybe it's a little more complicated than that. OL's are about even, I'd put u slightly ahead at DL, well ahead at LB (Kirksey is their most impressive defensive player IMO), we have an edge at WR, them at TE, us at RB, and maybe a slight edge at QB now. Oh, and the way it looks now, special teams are about even--though I thought we would be better at coverage.
Am I forgetting anything?
I doubt you could find a realistic breakdown from anyone who is a fan of either team. It'd be biased one way or the other. Maybe you should check the depth charts and compare positions. Then report back to us.
That QB from NIU must be super athletic as Micah Hyde was unable to make up any ground on him during the 70+ yard run. On the other hand, Reeves seemed to catch Watts on that long run.
Iowa looked pretty slow at a lot of positions and lacks depth in a couple key areas, most notably RB.
Tulsa's WR-core & RBs were better than what Iowa will throw out their Saturday. Difference is the OL, which may play better and they should, because they did not play overly well for Iowa this last Saturday. But that was probably due to the '85 Bears that slipped into Soldier and donned the NIU jerseys for one last game.
As proof they had nine starters back from a pitiful defense last year. Look at their scores.
I will give you my two cents. I have never liked the OL vs OL comparison, etc, since obviously those units do not play each other.
ISU OL vs Iowa DL (adv ISU)
ISU Rushing Game vs Iowa LB (adv ISU)
ISU Passing Game vs Iowa Backfield (push)
Iowa OL vs ISU DL (adv ISU)
Iowa Rushing Game vs ISU LB (adv ISU)
Iowa Passking Game vs ISU Backfield (slight Iowa adv?)
Punting (ISU)
PK (Iowa)
Coaching (push, maybe slight ISU since new coordinators)
Homefield (Iowa)
Across the board, we are the more talented and experienced team. But it is a rivalry game and on the road, so, all bets are off. As usual (except for last year), turnovers will be huge.
ISU OL vs Iowa DL (adv ISU)
ISU Rushing Game vs Iowa LB (adv ISU)
ISU Passing Game vs Iowa Backfield (push)
Iowa OL vs ISU DL (adv ISU)
Iowa Rushing Game vs ISU LB (adv ISU)
Iowa Passking Game vs ISU Backfield (slight Iowa adv?)
Punting (ISU)
PK (Iowa)
Coaching (push, maybe slight ISU since new coordinators)
Homefield (Iowa)
Across the board, we are the more talented and experienced team. But it is a rivalry game and on the road, so, all bets are off. As usual (except for last year), turnovers will be huge.
I would say that this is pretty close, except for this...
Iowa OL vs ISU DL (adv ISU)
I think that one is a Push.
My quick take -
QB - Push. I think a lot ISU fans are all a little jaded after last season and are waiting for a stinker from Jantz. Vandenberg runs extremely hot and cold.
RB - ISU by a wide margin. SJ will be the best back on the field next Saturday by a wide margin. ISU follwos that with White and Woody. Iowa counters with a true freshman.
WR - Slight edge to ISU. On Saturday I didn't see a Iowa WR get separation more than a handful of times. Lenz is primed to make John Walters look like a genius for pumping him up as an all conference caliber talent.
TE - Iowa, if they can figure out how the hell to utilize Fedorowitz. He's a matchup nightmare, and I think he saw 2-3 targets on Saturday.
OL - Iowa. Iowa's frontline guys are probably better, but ISU has better depth if injuries become a factor.
DL - ISU. The Hawks front line looked very average. ISU has more capable bodies to rotate in and out. If it's hot and humid come this Saturday, I'll take the DL with fresher legs in the fourth quarter.
LB - ISU by a wide margin. Morrison was virtually invisible all game long. Kirksey is solid, but I'll take the Knott/Klein/George three headed monster all game long.
DB - Iowa. I think pretty highly of Micah Hyde, and if any part of the secondary looked decent at NIU it was the secondary. Of course that might have just been a byproduct of NIU owning an atrocious passing game.
Special teams - Iowa. Mike Meyer was clutch in the 4th quarter - when the Hawks needed a fifty yarder to make it a one possession game, he drilled it. Vanderkamp had a good day punting for ISU but kick coverage was just a little shaky.
Coaching - Push. Ferentz has built a good program, but I was less than wowed by the Greg Davis offense. CPR's guys will run through a wall if he asks them to, and he'd lead the charge.
It's pretty even across the board, and even if one team was clearly more talented than the other I stil wouldn't bet either way. Get ready for a good game, and let's hope it's an ISU W!
QB - Push. I think a lot ISU fans are all a little jaded after last season and are waiting for a stinker from Jantz. Vandenberg runs extremely hot and cold.
RB - ISU by a wide margin. SJ will be the best back on the field next Saturday by a wide margin. ISU follwos that with White and Woody. Iowa counters with a true freshman.
WR - Slight edge to ISU. On Saturday I didn't see a Iowa WR get separation more than a handful of times. Lenz is primed to make John Walters look like a genius for pumping him up as an all conference caliber talent.
TE - Iowa, if they can figure out how the hell to utilize Fedorowitz. He's a matchup nightmare, and I think he saw 2-3 targets on Saturday.
OL - Iowa. Iowa's frontline guys are probably better, but ISU has better depth if injuries become a factor.
DL - ISU. The Hawks front line looked very average. ISU has more capable bodies to rotate in and out. If it's hot and humid come this Saturday, I'll take the DL with fresher legs in the fourth quarter.
LB - ISU by a wide margin. Morrison was virtually invisible all game long. Kirksey is solid, but I'll take the Knott/Klein/George three headed monster all game long.
DB - Iowa. I think pretty highly of Micah Hyde, and if any part of the secondary looked decent at NIU it was the secondary. Of course that might have just been a byproduct of NIU owning an atrocious passing game.
Special teams - Iowa. Mike Meyer was clutch in the 4th quarter - when the Hawks needed a fifty yarder to make it a one possession game, he drilled it. Vanderkamp had a good day punting for ISU but kick coverage was just a little shaky.
Coaching - Push. Ferentz has built a good program, but I was less than wowed by the Greg Davis offense. CPR's guys will run through a wall if he asks them to, and he'd lead the charge.
It's pretty even across the board, and even if one team was clearly more talented than the other I stil wouldn't bet either way. Get ready for a good game, and let's hope it's an ISU W!
I was on suicide watch after saturday but reading articles on Northern Illinois potentially having the best defense in the country makes me feel a little better.
They must just believe everything that Ed Podolak says on post game comments, he only said it like 10 times during soundoff after the game.
Both teams will be able to run the ball but may struggle passing because LBs and DBs are strength of both defenses. And Iowa sill learning to use new passing offense.
I thought that Podolak said that their defensive line was very good and may be one of the best they face this year. I didn't think he said they had the best defense. I find it hard to believe he would say that.
[video=youtube;yg2u_De8j5o]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg2u_De8j5o[/video]
Thanks for all the information and discussion. I also agree with the comparison better of groups that play against each other (ie. ISU OL vs. UofI DL) for an understanding of what to watch during the game.
Isu advantage at RB and LB.
Iowa advantage at OL and big ones at TE and home field.
Secondaries, D lines, WRs and QBs pretty equal.
They will run on our undersized Dline and force our LBs to make stops. If we focus to much on the run they'll play action and their TE has a field day. We'll spread them out and force their LBs to either cover slots or tackle our backs in space. Both QBs are wildcards, one of them will probably melt down and turn the ball over a few times. Special teams appear similar, we have a great punter, they have a proven kicker. Return men dont really matter anymore. Being a road game makes Iowa the favorite, if we win its b/c we rattle Vanden Berg and he throws picks.
Iowa advantage at OL and big ones at TE and home field.
Secondaries, D lines, WRs and QBs pretty equal.
They will run on our undersized Dline and force our LBs to make stops. If we focus to much on the run they'll play action and their TE has a field day. We'll spread them out and force their LBs to either cover slots or tackle our backs in space. Both QBs are wildcards, one of them will probably melt down and turn the ball over a few times. Special teams appear similar, we have a great punter, they have a proven kicker. Return men dont really matter anymore. Being a road game makes Iowa the favorite, if we win its b/c we rattle Vanden Berg and he throws picks.
