Gophers / Iowa lines

[TNGophfan]

Iowa has a much better defense than Nebraska, and a considerably less productive offense than Nebraska. In the wash, kind of the same.

EXCEPT that Iowa gains points and field position advantage from its special teams. Iowa is number one in the B1G in kick-off returns and punt returns, having a TD in each category already. Those yards don't show up in Iowa's offensive numbers, but they are every bit as meaningful and can be game changing. I have given up on the Gophers, under PJ, effectively using return teams to leverage field position and possibly score points. Because he likes to avoid mistake situations, I think he just doesn't believe in putting in the hard, continuous effort and practice on the offensive phase of the STs game. But, the Gophers really help themselves if they defense Iowa's return teams well. Don't let Iowa add to its offensive yardage via kickoff and punt returns.

We give up very few kick off return yards as its almost always through the end zone. Unless its real windy, I dont worry about that. On punt returns, let's just not punt. . Actually, that is a concern. High and short better than low and long.

 

[Panthadad2]

Iowa has a much better defense than Nebraska, and a considerably less productive offense than Nebraska. In the wash, kind of the same.

EXCEPT that Iowa gains points and field position advantage from its special teams. Iowa is number one in the B1G in kick-off returns and punt returns, having a TD in each category already. Those yards don't show up in Iowa's offensive numbers, but they are every bit as meaningful and can be game changing. I have given up on the Gophers, under PJ, effectively using return teams to leverage field position and possibly score points. Because he likes to avoid mistake situations, I think he just doesn't believe in putting in the hard, continuous effort and practice on the offensive phase of the STs game. But, the Gophers really help themselves if they defense Iowa's return teams well. Don't let Iowa add to its offensive yardage via kickoff and punt returns.

PFF has Minnesota and Nebraska tied for the #1 performing special teams unit in the country (??) with Iowa at #12. Minnesota was ranked very high last year too. It feels like PFF isn't scoring effectiveness or game impact...or something. Maybe it's things I don't pick up on just watching games (likely).

 

[Gophergrandpa]

We give up very few kick off return yards as its almost always through the end zone. Unless its real windy, I dont worry about that. On punt returns, let's just not punt. . Actually, that is a concern. High and short better than low and long.

One thing about Iowa: their return man, Wedjun, takes kicks out from 4 or 5 yards deep in the end zone. He's a burner and at full speed in two steps. His return for a TD this year was about 104 yards.

 

[GopherWeatherGuy]

Iowa has a much better defense than Nebraska, and a considerably less productive offense than Nebraska. In the wash, kind of the same.

EXCEPT that Iowa gains points and field position advantage from its special teams. Iowa is number one in the B1G in kick-off returns and punt returns, having a TD in each category already. Those yards don't show up in Iowa's offensive numbers, but they are every bit as meaningful and can be game changing. I have given up on the Gophers, under PJ, effectively using return teams to leverage field position and possibly score points. Because he likes to avoid mistake situations, I think he just doesn't believe in putting in the hard, continuous effort and practice on the offensive phase of the STs game. But, the Gophers really help themselves if they defense Iowa's return teams well. Don't let Iowa add to its offensive yardage via kickoff and punt returns.

Koi Perich is back on kick and punt returns the majority of the time for a reason. It's only a matter of time until he breaks one.

 

[Gophergrandpa]

PFF has Minnesota and Nebraska tied for the #1 performing special teams unit in the country (??) with Iowa at #12. Minnesota was ranked very high last year too. It feels like PFF isn't scoring effectiveness or game impact...or something. Maybe it's things I don't pick up on just watching games (likely).

View attachment 39615

That is an overall measure, I believe. I've attached an ESPN metric that focuses in on kick-off and punt returns average yardage. I sorted for average kickoff return yardage, and Iowa is #1. If you look at average punt return yardage (not sorted), Iowa is also #1. I still have nightmares of Cooper DeJean.

 

[GopherWeatherGuy]

That is an overall measure, I believe. I've attached an ESPN metric that focuses in on kick-off and punt returns average yardage. I sorted for average kickoff return yardage, and Iowa is #1. If you look at average punt return yardage (not sorted), Iowa is also #1. I still have nightmares of Cooper DeJean.

They have a kickoff return TD and a punt return TD so that is not a surprise. The punt return came against 0-7 UMass and the kickoff return came against Rutgers in maybe the easiest kickoff return you'll ever see. He was never touched. It was an abomination by Rutgers.

 

[Gopherchase]

Let’s beat them like in ‘14. To hell with boring ball let’s just kick the hell out of the Hawks.

 

[MNVCGUY]

I knew Iowa's passing offense had been bad to this point but didn't realize just how bad.

Gronowski has a decent completion percentage but in 4 conference games they have 0 passing TDs and 4 INT. If the D can keep Gronowski from hurting us with his legs I like our chances of keeping them from being able to put up many points.

Then it just comes down to how our offense preforms. Drake has done a very good job to this point of protecting the ball and rarely puts it up for grabs. Going to be key to continue that against Iowa because more than pretty much any team in the country they rely on the other team to make mistakes.

The one thing Fleck has going for him that a lot of coaches don't is he is comfortable playing in low scoring/ball control type games. Some teams really struggle with that and that is when they try to force things and Iowa makes them pay.

 

[Ski-U-Ham]

High and short better than low and long.

Cue erection jokes...