3rd and long

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dirtyninety

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Oct 6, 2012
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I’ve felt that way the last two or three years. I would much rather a third and 3 or 4 than a third and long. Would be curious to see our average on giving up a first down on third and long versus the national average and versus third and shorter.

Edit: I think we’ve had an amazing defense the last couple of years. We just SEEM to give up a lot of first downs on third and long.

We bend......we don't break. However we just SEEM to not break...it depends on your definition of break is. Giving up more points than your offense can score could be considered breaking I guess.
 

AuH2O

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Sep 7, 2013
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One thing they need to correct is when they have good pressure and they leave their feet trying to get a sack. McDonald did it twice vs UNI and Uwazurile did it last night. In all three cases they stay on their feet they likely cause the QB to get rid of the ball or maybe still get the sack. Instead all three led to big plays.
 

madguy30

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Nov 15, 2011
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You're completely right, its almost as if plays of 73 and 51 yards against blown coverages will jack up your averages. It doesnt take a professional mathematician to figure that out. Take away those 2 plays and the offenses were a draw. It

I also don't know if ISU ran the ball successfully two plays in a row, or even attempted to. Iowa may have averaged less, but they seemed to have some push to at least get positive yardage.
 
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madguy30

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Nov 15, 2011
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One thing they need to correct is when they have good pressure and they leave their feet trying to get a sack. McDonald did it twice vs UNI and Uwazurile did it last night. In all three cases they stay on their feet they likely cause the QB to get rid of the ball or maybe still get the sack. Instead all three led to big plays.

Also is the Dline too high with the shoulders at times?
 
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acoustimac

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Jan 8, 2009
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Lamoni, IA
My observations paralleled several here. Third a long was a death sentence for us. #2 cleanly missed at least 5 tackles that I counted. Our blitzes were slower than molasses in winter time. Always seemed a step or two late.

On the other hand, the result was turning an average QB into a highly successful one. That’s no insult to Stanley, but he has glaring weaknesses.
 

MeowingCows

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Jun 1, 2015
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Iowa
We bend......we don't break. However we just SEEM to not break...it depends on your definition of break is. Giving up more points than your offense can score could be considered breaking I guess.
Holding teams under 20 points isn't breaking. We should win games in that scenario... yet, we've lost a few of them that way in the past few years.
 
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madguy30

Well-Known Member
Nov 15, 2011
49,757
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My observations paralleled several here. Third a long was a death sentence for us. #2 cleanly missed at least 5 tackles that I counted. Our blitzes were slower than molasses in winter time. Always seemed a step or two late.

On the other hand, the result was turning an average QB into a highly successful one. That’s no insult to Stanley, but he has glaring weaknesses.

I thought Rose looked a little out of position too at times but would need to watch it again.
 

andybernard

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Oct 22, 2009
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You're completely right, its almost as if plays of 73 and 51 yards against blown coverages will jack up your averages. It doesnt take a professional mathematician to figure that out. Take away those 2 plays and the offenses were a draw. It

BREAKING: If you take away a team's most successful plays, they suddenly become less successful.
 

SCarolinaCy

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Jun 20, 2011
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Greenville, SC
We bend......we don't break. However we just SEEM to not break...it depends on your definition of break is. Giving up more points than your offense can score could be considered breaking I guess.
What is missing here is the TOP you give up. While you are bending, the other team maintains ball control. Hard fro the offense to score when they don't have the ball.
 
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