ESPN: If Rudock can throw over the top of the Gophers in the cold, Iowa will roll

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BleedGopher

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per ESPN:

You want answers? You’ll get answers about Iowa. The Hawkeyes looked downright dangerous last week against Northwestern. And really, it’s been a three-game surge for Iowa on offense, interrupted by an off week and hidden somewhat behind an ugly defensive showing at Maryland on Oct. 18. But last week, wow, it all came together, even the big plays in the passing game. The Hawkeyes have had this in them all season, with receivers Tevaun Smith, Kevonte Martin-Manley and Damond Powell all capable of stretching a defense. But Minnesota leads the Big Ten and ranks fifth nationally in allowing 5.6 yards per pass attempt. If Jake Rudock can throw over the top of the Golden Gophers in the cold, Iowa will roll.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/110528/big-ten-morning-links-66

Go Gophers!!
 



I'd love to see that be their gameplan. I doubt it though.
If the game comes down to our back 7 v their passing game we roll IMO.
 

WolfontheProwl said:
I think we could say the same thing about the Gophers couldn't we?
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I think the point he is making is that Iowa has a good receiving core, not sure anyone would make that claim for us. But yes in theory if Iowa employs the same strategy as Purdue and Illinois and we actually decide to throw downfield in the first half I guess you could say the same thing for the Gophers.
 


ESPN: If Rudock can throw over the top of the Gophers in the cold, Iowa will ...

I don't think that's gonna happen. If our defense is gonna get worked, it's gonna be on short passes and runs.

So I certainly hope that they try to do that.
 

afurry91 said:
I don't think that's gonna happen. If our defense is gonna get worked, it's gonna be on short passes and runs.So I certainly hope that they try to do that.
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We have seemed really susceptible to the outside swing passes this year, so I agree that the short stuff scares me more than deep plays. I think if they try to go deep, they get picked off. However, I have a bad feeling we get burned on a flea flicker or an option pass this year. I think Ferentz is good at sniffing out times when it is ripe for those plays, and our secondary, while talented, seems prone to cheating up on running plays and so I fear them getting beat by some tomfoolery.
 

Need to stop Weisman. Something they couldn't do the last two years.
 




Not many teams have had success throwing over the top against us, except maybe TCU a few times. We're 6th in the country allowing 5.6 yards per pass attempt, so I'm all for them trying to air it out tomorrow.
 

BarnBoy said:
Cripes.. that guy is still around?
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The good news is that over the last 3 years his average yards per game (rushing) have gone down:
2012 - 81.5 YPG
2013 - 75.0 YPG
2014 - 65.1 YPG

And his average per carry has declined each year as well:
2012 - 5.1
2013 - 4.3
2014 - 3.9

Although he already has 13 rushing TD after have 8 in each of his last two seasons.
 

Unregistered User said:
The good news is that over the last 3 years his average yards per game (rushing) have gone down:
2012 - 81.5 YPG
2013 - 75.0 YPG
2014 - 65.1 YPG

And his average per carry has declined each year as well:
2012 - 5.1
2013 - 4.3
2014 - 3.9

Although he already has 13 rushing TD after have 8 in each of his last two seasons.
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As to the yards per game, didn't Ferentz have him on a pitch count for most of the first half of the season? Obviously, the reduced per carry average is encouraging, but the high TD number you pointed out combined with the limited use he was getting might be indicative of a higher percentage of his carries taking place in the red zone, jacking up his touchdowns and limiting his potential for long runs.
 

bleedsmaroonandgold said:
As to the yards per game, didn't Ferentz have him on a pitch count for most of the first half of the season? Obviously, the reduced per carry average is encouraging, but the high TD number you pointed out combined with the limited use he was getting might be indicative of a higher percentage of his carries taking place in the red zone, jacking up his touchdowns and limiting his potential for long runs.
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Yes. Most fans don't like that idea but hopefully Weisman can step in and begin punishing defenders.
 



There is no way that Iowa is going to sit back and just try to throw over the top on the Gophers even if it seems open. If they do that it will be off of play action and then the deep post route. I would not be one bit surprised to see them do the flee flicker toss back from Weisman and have Rudock pass deep to a streaking wide receiver when we are in a run blitz. They seem to pop this one on us every year. I too suspect with the wind that there is going to be a lot of quick outs and wide receiver screens when they are throwing the ball.
I predict you will see a lot of counter action runs to Weisman with the usual pulling right guard cutting back against the grain like the always do. It's no secret what Iowa will try and do, but they will execute it like they alway's seemingly do. Gophers defense needs to hold to field goals not touchdowns and then maybe the Gophers will have a chance.
 

The strength of our defense is not allowing the big pass plays. We allow the least amount of yards per pass attempt. As others said, the weather could help us. It certainly will be a game where field possession is very important.
 

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