Pregame: Illinois at Iowa, Saturday, November 20th, 1:00pm CT, FS1

Status
Not open for further replies.
#51      
They can't get any interceptions if we don't throw the ball...
Think About It Reaction GIF by Identity
I need to remember that if we run on third and five, and I want to complain that the offense is too conservative.
 
#55      
One of the biggest things that I saw Rutgers doing and fully expect other teams to do in the future is to use an off-set tilted nose and then base their run fits off of the nos being in the backfield. Most of our running game is predicated on getting double team blocks off of zone looks and moving those double teams up to the second level where either the guard or center can peel off and pick up a LB creating lanes. The tilted nose in Rutgers defense basically blew up the C-G double team in the middle by attacking the center at an angle and pushing him into the backfield. So our Gs needed to either get up field to block a LB or try and get together with the C and dig the nose out of the backfield on mid and shallow zone runs (our bread and butter). There was a lot of hesitation and unevenness about what we did here which throws of the timing of the run game and let's MLBs and box plays to read the flow and attack especially in the mid and power zone run schemes which we love to run. So Rutgers shut down out shallow and mid zone running plays this way and really set our offense back. Thankfully their ends and contain players weren't doing much and we had some success on outside zone concept plays early because our Gs didn't need to worry as much about the Nose and because of the tilted position of the nose we had a better than 50% of knowing how to run away from that position. We were in the game but in the second half Rutgers sold out on the run and moved more people into the box and their secondary players actually did a great job of sealing and shutting down the outside zone play while still playing the tilted nose in the middle that ruined our mid and shallow zone plays. Ultimately they played on our side of the ball by breaking double teams and pushing our center in to the backfield.

Comparatively I saw Minnesota playing more of a two gap scheme with their DL. Basically having them play head up on Tackle - Center - Guard and then lock out and try and read the play for their fits instead of just picking a gap and penetrating. Their idea was a hat on a hat and let your LBs scrape and clean, but we were able to successfully execute our GC doubles and get up field to neutralize their LBs creating success in the run game. Basically not attacking our center and playing two gap allowed us to seal lanes and leverage our midline and shallow zone concepts way more successfully. Not saying Minny didn't try and shoot gaps or create pressure but they tried doing it with LBs and edges and not their nose/interior DL which helped us.

I'm sure their is more to what went on in success vs defeat on the line between both games but this is what jumped out at me while watching the Minny game.

Considering these things and truth to get back to the Iowa game. They traditionally play a 4 man line playing off the shoulder of the gap they are supposed to hold/defend. So we will likely see a little more penetration from Iowa, but their alignments should be more conducive for our double teams than Rutgers defensive alignment. I expect a lot of mid line zone runs between the guard and tackle where the running back reads the spill off the tackles butt. With guard center combo on playside DT to the guard peeling to the Mike and the OT taking play side DE whichever way he wants to go and the back has to read if the run the the B or C gap based off that. We probably won't break any big runs as Iowa is based off of prevent the big play and feed off mistakes when they make them type of defense but I expect a big game for McCray if I am right.

Illinois Football Celebration GIF by Fighting Illini Athletics
 
#58      

DeonThomas

South Carolina
Iowa finally made a switch at QB that seemed to help the offense a little bit this past week. We need to continue mixing up coverages and get pressure on the QB to win this one. This feels like the Wisconsin game to me.....we might struggle to run the football.
Agree with this...Wisconsin game all over again.

In my back to reality moment, I don't really think that Bielema can pull off the "three game road win streak against ranked opponents" miracle this year with inherited talent. With that said, it sure would be nice to pull it off on national TV in the 3pm time slot!!!
 
#60      
One of the biggest things that I saw Rutgers doing and fully expect other teams to do in the future is to use an off-set tilted nose and then base their run fits off of the nos being in the backfield. Most of our running game is predicated on getting double team blocks off of zone looks and moving those double teams up to the second level where either the guard or center can peel off and pick up a LB creating lanes. The tilted nose in Rutgers defense basically blew up the C-G double team in the middle by attacking the center at an angle and pushing him into the backfield. So our Gs needed to either get up field to block a LB or try and get together with the C and dig the nose out of the backfield on mid and shallow zone runs (our bread and butter). There was a lot of hesitation and unevenness about what we did here which throws of the timing of the run game and let's MLBs and box plays to read the flow and attack especially in the mid and power zone run schemes which we love to run. So Rutgers shut down out shallow and mid zone running plays this way and really set our offense back. Thankfully their ends and contain players weren't doing much and we had some success on outside zone concept plays early because our Gs didn't need to worry as much about the Nose and because of the tilted position of the nose we had a better than 50% of knowing how to run away from that position. We were in the game but in the second half Rutgers sold out on the run and moved more people into the box and their secondary players actually did a great job of sealing and shutting down the outside zone play while still playing the tilted nose in the middle that ruined our mid and shallow zone plays. Ultimately they played on our side of the ball by breaking double teams and pushing our center in to the backfield.

Comparatively I saw Minnesota playing more of a two gap scheme with their DL. Basically having them play head up on Tackle - Center - Guard and then lock out and try and read the play for their fits instead of just picking a gap and penetrating. Their idea was a hat on a hat and let your LBs scrape and clean, but we were able to successfully execute our GC doubles and get up field to neutralize their LBs creating success in the run game. Basically not attacking our center and playing two gap allowed us to seal lanes and leverage our midline and shallow zone concepts way more successfully. Not saying Minny didn't try and shoot gaps or create pressure but they tried doing it with LBs and edges and not their nose/interior DL which helped us.

I'm sure their is more to what went on in success vs defeat on the line between both games but this is what jumped out at me while watching the Minny game.

Considering these things and truth to get back to the Iowa game. They traditionally play a 4 man line playing off the shoulder of the gap they are supposed to hold/defend. So we will likely see a little more penetration from Iowa, but their alignments should be more conducive for our double teams than Rutgers defensive alignment. I expect a lot of mid line zone runs between the guard and tackle where the running back reads the spill off the tackles butt. With guard center combo on playside DT to the guard peeling to the Mike and the OT taking play side DE whichever way he wants to go and the back has to read if the run the the B or C gap based off that. We probably won't break any big runs as Iowa is based off of prevent the big play and feed off mistakes when they make them type of defense but I expect a big game for McCray if I am right.
Pretty much word for word what I was going to write, except I only noticed the NT on an angle to the center so it would have been a lot less wordy.

Seriously, fantastic write-up and many thanks for sharing.
 
#62      
Great write up. We have had a lot of our success this year running with the pin/pull(im sure you guys heard it on the TV broadcast and Martin talk about it on the radio) It'll be interesting to see what Iowa does to combat that. IMO Phil Parker is as good as it gets calling a defense. Fun fact Bielema tried like hell to get him to leave Iowa for Illinois when he was hired. Happy we landed on Walters though, kid does a heck of a job scheming.
Like OHIO STATE, Iowa will play as dirty as their refs allow. Just hoping we don't loose players to injury. Hope Illini can somehow beat Iowa this year.
 
#63      
My son went to Iowa. (I know...) His take is that they rely on turnovers (primarily interceptions) to get field position to score points. They don't get any interceptions, they lose....
Well, we don't throw the ball so.........
 
#64      
Yes in the early 50’s there was a brawl between Iowa fans and Illinois players on the field. Before my time, but my understanding is that it was pretty bad. Not just pushing and shoving. Broken bones etc. There are articles about it on the internet.
The 1952 game... Fans were pretty upset, and a lot of that anger was due to some calls by the officials... Apples, and bottles and at least one 'rock' thrown at the Illinois players... It got real ugly...
 
#65      

MoCoMdIllini

Montgomery County, Maryland
The 1952 game... Fans were pretty upset, and a lot of that anger was due to some calls by the officials... Apples, and bottles and at least one 'rock' thrown at the Illinois players... It got real ugly...

Here's a little more about that game:

 
#66      

Ransom Stoddard

Ordained Dudeist Priest
Bloomington, IL
I was in Madison last weekend visiting family, and Iowa was in town for UW's homecoming. We were out on the town Friday night and I've never seen a fanbase so uniformly drunk, obese, stupid, and poorly dressed (that yellow!!!) than these Squawks. It was gratifying that Bucky ate their lunch, and hopefully we get to do it to them in their place on the 20th.
 
#67      
I was in Madison last weekend visiting family, and Iowa was in town for UW's homecoming. We were out on the town Friday night and I've never seen a fanbase so uniformly drunk, obese, stupid, and poorly dressed (that yellow!!!) than these Squawks. It was gratifying that Bucky ate their lunch, and hopefully we get to do it to them in their place on the 20th.
I bet they brought their own corncobs. Not too moist, not too dry, just right.
 
#68      

DeonThomas

South Carolina
Agree with this...Wisconsin game all over again.

In my back to reality moment, I don't really think that Bielema can pull off the "three game road win streak against ranked opponents" miracle this year with inherited talent. With that said, it sure would be nice to pull it off on national TV in the 3pm time slot!!!
Or even the 1:00pm time slot on Fox Sports 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
#69      
I don't think this is true. I just did a little fact checking of the top 25 games this week, and I think you have your figures reversed. Most of the teams had at least 100 yards rushing and most of the teams did not get 300+ yards passing, let alone all having 300-500.
Bama had only 6 yards rushing on Saturday.
 
#70      
Here's a little more about that game:

Some added context unmentioned in this article is that this was Illinois' 11th straight victory over Iowa once the game was over. Probably explaining some of the Iowa fanbase's frustrations.
 
#71      
Bama had only 6 yards rushing on Saturday.
Yep and beat LSU by less than a touchdown. LSU rushed for 109 and passed for 186, but one pass was intercepted at the LSU 39 and led to an Alabama TD and 7 point lead shortly before the half. Passes are great if you can complete them and to the right team.
 
#72      
Yep and beat LSU by less than a touchdown. LSU rushed for 109 and passed for 186, but one pass was intercepted at the LSU 39 and led to an Alabama TD and 7 point lead shortly before the half. Passes are great if you can complete them and to the right team.

LSU also chose to go for it on a 4th and goal from their 7 yard line instead of taking the chip shot for the easy three points to cut the score down to 20-17 with 6:46 to go.

They then turned it over on downs on their last possession when they could have been trying a 47 yard field goal to send it into overtime.
 
#73      
Yep and beat LSU by less than a touchdown. LSU rushed for 109 and passed for 186, but one pass was intercepted at the LSU 39 and led to an Alabama TD and 7 point lead shortly before the half. Passes are great if you can complete them and to the right team.
My only point is that their running game did not lead them to the win. There are other ways to win games. LSU has 5 losses this year.
 
#74      
Just to put this in perspective, the road win at #7 PSU was our first road win vs. a ranked team since Juice and Co. took down #1 Ohio State in 2007 in Columbus. If one wants to count the Wrigley game as a "Northwestern home game" (I was there and certainly wouldn't ... lol), then the answer moves up to 2010.

With the win at #20 Minnesota, we beat two ranked teams on the road for the first time since our 2001 Sugar Bowl season, when we won 38-13 at #20 Purdue (we were #21) and 34-22 at #25 Ohio State (we were #12).

If we were to beat Iowa (and they're still ranked, of course), it would be the first time we have beaten three ranked teams on the road ... unless I am missing something ... EVER.

On a slightly less unbelievable note, it would be the first time we have beaten a ranked Iowa team since we beat a ranked Iowa team since beating #16 Iowa 20-16 in Champaign in 1986. It would be the first time we have beaten a ranked Iowa team at Kinnick since 1942....
 
#75      

Illinivek23

Gurnee
Just to put this in perspective, the road win at #7 PSU was our first road win vs. a ranked team since Juice and Co. took down #1 Ohio State in 2007 in Columbus. If one wants to count the Wrigley game as a "Northwestern home game" (I was there and certainly wouldn't ... lol), then the answer moves up to 2010.

With the win at #20 Minnesota, we beat two ranked teams on the road for the first time since our 2001 Sugar Bowl season, when we won 38-13 at #20 Purdue (we were #21) and 34-22 at #25 Ohio State (we were #12).

If we were to beat Iowa (and they're still ranked, of course), it would be the first time we have beaten three ranked teams on the road ... unless I am missing something ... EVER.

On a slightly less unbelievable note, it would be the first time we have beaten a ranked Iowa team since we beat a ranked Iowa team since beating #16 Iowa 20-16 in Champaign in 1986. It would be the first time we have beaten a ranked Iowa team at Kinnick since 1942....
This is crazy stuff. 79 yrs? Thx for this.

Let's do it!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.