Iowa DB DeJean

[Gophergrandpa]

Iowa beat Kentucky 21-0 in their bowl game. Iowa scored one TD on offense; it scored two more with defensive Pick Sixes. Iowa’s brutally aggressive and opportunistic defense has, for the second year, propped up an anemic offense. How good could Iowa be with an above average offense paired with its defense? (How good could the Gophers be if our defense matured into one that went beyond stifling our opponents to one that actually stole points from our opponents—as Coleman Bryson did in the Pinstripe?}

Enough Iowa praise. Iowa’s Cooper DeJean had one of the Pick Sixes against Kentucky—his 3rd Pick Six of the season. His three Pick Six TDs on the season were one more than the total of all TD receptions by Iowa WRs in 2022 (which were 2!). That is a strange stat.

 

[Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0]

Give Brian Ferentz a lifetime contract!

 

[Rowthatboat]

Iowa beat Kentucky 21-0 in their bowl game. Iowa scored one TD on offense; it scored two more with defensive Pick Sixes. Iowa’s brutally aggressive and opportunistic defense has, for the second year, propped up an anemic offense. How good could Iowa be with an above average iffenss paired with its defense? (How good could the Gophers be if our defense matured into one that went beyond stifling our opponents to one that actually stole points from our opponents—as Coleman Bryson did in the Pinstripe?}

Enough Iowa praise. Iowa’s Cooper DeJean had one of the Pick Sixes against Kentucky—his 3rd Pick Six of the season. His three Pick Six TDs on the season we’re one more than the total of all TD receptions by Iowa WRs in 2022 (which were 2!). That is a strange stat.

Let’s hope that’s not about to change—could be a bad thing with their defense

 

[Dano564]

The Iowa defense is like a machine.
It's not by chance they turnover teams like they do.
Whatever concept they use / run, they find the right people for it and they master it. And they master the return game on it as well. Each defensive player is looking to bring it back all the way, and the whole defense is blocking on fumble and interception returns.

They find the right talent to do the job, year in, year out.

 

[Gophergrandpa]

The Iowa defense is like a machine.
It's not by chance they turnover teams like they do.
Whatever concept they use / run, they find the right people for it and they master it. And they master the return game on it as well. Each defensive player is looking to bring it back all the way, and the whole defense is blocking on fumble and interception returns.

They find the right talent to do the job, year in, year out.

It’s not just talent (which they find aplenty) but also a ballhawking mindset that permeates defensive tactics. It truly is an identity.

 

[Gold Rush]

It’s not just talent (which they find aplenty) but also a ballhawking mindset that permeates defensive tactics. It truly is an identity.

Our mindset on defense is getting much better and it is light years ahead of the Glen Mason days. Unfortunately, our return mindset is to fair catch everything and take it wherever the kick lands. (Maybe a little better the last few games, though!)

 

[50PoundHead]

The Iowa defense is like a machine.
It's not by chance they turnover teams like they do.
Whatever concept they use / run, they find the right people for it and they master it. And they master the return game on it as well. Each defensive player is looking to bring it back all the way, and the whole defense is blocking on fumble and interception returns.

They find the right talent to do the job, year in, year out.

They always have great LB play and usually have good DB play. I think Rossi does a great job, but I see his defenses more as read-and-react as opposed to WTH-disrupt. Their defense is really aggressive and somehow they rarely get burned.

 

[huntster17]

Iowa has had a solid defense but MN has had better team stats and on the field given up large yardage against quality offenses like MN and tOSU.

 

[MaxyJR1]

The Iowa defense is like a machine.
It's not by chance they turnover teams like they do.
Whatever concept they use / run, they find the right people for it and they master it. And they master the return game on it as well. Each defensive player is looking to bring it back all the way, and the whole defense is blocking on fumble and interception returns.

They find the right talent to do the job, year in, year out.

Their front 7 is superior, which allows the back end to play zone and read the QB.

 

[Gold Rush]

Their front 7 is superior, which allows the back end to play zone and read the QB.

they are very good -- but I think Fleck finally has as much or more talent than they do. He has really levelled the playing field vs. Iowa and Wisconsin even though the results vs. Iowa aren't quite there. But we go into the game as a coin flip and eventually those games are going to start falling our way.

Maybe just one more little boost is all that it will take!

 

[MaxyJR1]

they are very good -- but I think Fleck finally has as much or more talent than they do. He has really levelled the playing field vs. Iowa and Wisconsin even though the results vs. Iowa aren't quite there. But we go into the game as a coin flip and eventually those games are going to start falling our way.

Maybe just one more little boost is all that it will take!

Yeah, the WI series has gone the way it should the last few years. MN should have won the last 3 games against IA, but failed. (2019, 2021, 2022)

 

[upnorthkid]

Their front 7 is superior, which allows the back end to play zone and read the QB.

Agreed. They have a guy up front who can be a game wrecker consistently which allows them to play how we want to, with 7 in coverage reading the qb but getting home in a reasonable time so the coverage stays tight. To me, that is the thing holding this d back from taking the final step. Hopefully we have some guys again who can get us there

 

[highwayman]

Iowa has had a solid defense but MN has had better team stats and on the field given up large yardage against quality offenses like MN and tOSU.

And yet Minnesota’s defense is far superior to most every college defense. For some reason, 80-90% of college coaches feel defense is an afterthought. That’s why the PAC will continue to suck. Glamour over substance.

 

[Gophergrandpa]

Yeah, the WI series has gone the way it should the last few years. MN should have won the last 3 games against IA, but failed. (2019, 2021, 2022)

Iowa wrings a lot of "complementary" play out of its defense and special teams, and that is how Iowa has beaten us despite being at huge offensive statistical disadvantage in 2019, 2021 and 2022. Without a more disruptive pass rush, our D can continue to scheme to stop explosive plays--which is a very good thing--but it is hard for our D to play as opportunistically as Iowa's for fumbles on sacks and interceptions. Our ST's inability to flip the field, in contrast to Iowa's otherworldly ability, is also a factor in our losses to Iowa. In hard-fought contests, field position is a huge factor. I think PJ plays a conservative game not only on Offense, but on D and STs as well (stop explosive plays; don't make mistakes). Captain Kirk plays a conservative offense, but is more aggressive and opportunistic on D and STs. Might be a result of better personnel, but it could also be schemes and attack mentality. There are a lot of ways to win a football game besides yardage and TOP advantage (we won in the Syracuse bowl game on a great kick return and a pick six), and that is why Iowa has "stolen" wins from the Minnesota offense in 2019, 2021 and 2022. And that is why Iowa seems so often to win games with close scores.

 

[Gophergrandpa]

And yet Minnesota’s defense is far superior to most every college defense. For some reason, 80-90% of college coaches feel defense is an afterthought. That’s why the PAC will continue to suck. Glamour over substance.

Our defense is truly superior by many measures, and that is a big reason why PJ and Co. have produced some 9 win seasons with subpar passing offenses. Our D doesn't give up many explosive plays, and is very hard to score on. That is really good. But our D is, statistically, kind of mediocre at sacks, tfls, and turnovers--which are key elements of "complementary" football. As good as our D is at stopping the other team from scoring, it isn't as good at setting the table for the offense with short fields ... or at itself scoring on turnovers.

I am very happy with our defense, and am one of the folks who--despite some angst after one or two games a year--is ultimately quite satisfied with the Gophers putting up 8-9 wins a year on a consistent basis. But if PJ is to move the Gophers up an echelon, into the 10-11 wins per year category, our defense, though quite good, also has to move up a notch. Stopping explosive plays and keeping the score down must become the default case, a "given," if you will; forcing turnovers (fumbles and INTs) with a disruptive pass rush must become the "next level" goal, one that will make the defense truly complementary to the offense.

Of course, it wouldn't hurt if Athan and the offense move our passing game up a notch, too.

 

[Nomellini]

Their front 7 is superior, which allows the back end to play zone and read the QB.

"Superior" to whom? Didn't Mo light them up for 200+?

 

[Otis]

Maybe Iowa should let this guy run some routes.

 

[Tucker32]

Our defense has been largely solid, but we are not where Iowa has been yet at this point. They dominated everyone that wasn't Ohio State and Michigan. Ohio State scored largely due to their offense putting them in terrible spots in the second half, and Michigan was shut down to 3 and outs almost the entire second half until the final minute of the game.

The Gophs did well defensively but had two bad outings against teams that Iowa simply doesn't do on defense - Illinois and Penn State. The points weren't awful against Illinois, but they really did dominate us that day, as did Penn State. Iowa shows up every game against teams like that.

Like a lot of people said, we are close but really need better defensive line play to be more consistent like Iowa.

 

[MaxyJR1]

"Superior" to whom? Didn't Mo light them up for 200+?

We have a competent offense compared to a lot of teams that played IA and should have beaten them 3 of last 4 years. People have said they are nothing special, but when you couple it with their punting game and flipping of the field, they wait for the other team to make a mistake.

Lighted up for 200+ and 10 points?

 

[Xerxes_]

"Superior" to whom? Didn't Mo light them up for 200+?

This just goes to show that the running game is an overrated aspect to today's football when you don't have a decent #2 and can't pass. AK wasn't a threat to throw the ball against Iowa's defense in the 2nd half.

They waited to get Minnesota in a situation in which he had to pass and forced an INT and return that was the defensive play of the game.

Iowa's QB, despite being awful and without his top 2 targets, was able to do someone AK couldn't. He made a big throw in the 2nd half when the game was in the balance.

 

[Xerxes_]

Iowa has had a solid defense but MN has had better team stats and on the field given up large yardage against quality offenses like MN and tOSU.

Against Ohio State this year they gave 360 total yards. That is the 3rd lowest yardage total Ohio State has gained in one game under Ryan Day.

 

[cheeseheadgophfan]

This just goes to show that the running game is an overrated aspect to today's football when you don't have a decent #2 and can't pass. AK wasn't a threat to throw the ball against Iowa's defense in the 2nd half.

They waited to get Minnesota in a situation in which he had to pass and forced an INT and return that was the defensive play of the game.

Iowa's QB, despite being awful and without his top 2 targets, was able to do someone AK couldn't. He made a big throw in the 2nd half when the game was in the balance.

If Mo doesn't fumble, that running game wins the game......

 

[Xerxes_]

If Mo doesn't fumble, that running game wins the game......

But he did. Not surprising when you run the ball with the same player over and over again because you don't have a solid #2 option and your QB isn't a threat in the passing game.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

We have a competent offense compared to a lot of teams that played IA and should have beaten them 3 of last 4 years. People have said they are nothing special, but when you couple it with their punting game and flipping of the field, they wait for the other team to make a mistake.

Lighted up for 200+ and 10 points?

Lighted up for 300 + yards. We only got 10 points because of TOs but we dominated them up front.

Against most opponents you're right though, they stuff the run with 7 people and try to avoid having to blitz at all to get a pass rush. It's their style.

 

[Thomasthetank]

But he did. Not surprising when you run the ball with the same player over and over again because you don't have a solid #2 option and your QB isn't a threat in the passing game.

It's funny...right before he fumbled they had a camera on Mo. He was huffing bad. I told my dad " they need to sit him for a play"

They didn't. He fumbled. If he doesn't we likely kick a FG and win the game

 

[Gophergrandpa]

"Superior" to whom? Didn't Mo light them up for 200+?

If games were decided based on offensive yardage then we won the the Iowa game in 2022 … and in 2021 and 2019. And Syracuse won the recent bowl game.

Mo and the collective Gopher offense scored 10 points on Iowa. That ain’t lighting up a defense IMHO. Mo fumbled, most likely, because we had to run Mo a dozen times in a late-game drive (Iowa win the field position game all day) to move into position to score.

Turnovers aren’t just random occurrences. Some teams are way, way better at forcing TOs in critical situations.

 

[btowngopher]

They only forced four more turnovers than the gophers did this year.

 

[Some guy]

Iowa wrings a lot of "complementary" play out of its defense and special teams, and that is how Iowa has beaten us despite being at huge offensive statistical disadvantage in 2019, 2021 and 2022. Without a more disruptive pass rush, our D can continue to scheme to stop explosive plays--which is a very good thing--but it is hard for our D to play as opportunistically as Iowa's for fumbles on sacks and interceptions. Our ST's inability to flip the field, in contrast to Iowa's otherworldly ability, is also a factor in our losses to Iowa. In hard-fought contests, field position is a huge factor. I think PJ plays a conservative game not only on Offense, but on D and STs as well (stop explosive plays; don't make mistakes). Captain Kirk plays a conservative offense, but is more aggressive and opportunistic on D and STs. Might be a result of better personnel, but it could also be schemes and attack mentality. There are a lot of ways to win a football game besides yardage and TOP advantage (we won in the Syracuse bowl game on a great kick return and a pick six), and that is why Iowa has "stolen" wins from the Minnesota offense in 2019, 2021 and 2022. And that is why Iowa seems so often to win games with close scores.

That’s just flat out wrong.
Iowa plays one of the more conservative styles of defense in the nation.


They are almost exclusively 4 man rush.
Hardly ever blitz.
Hardly ever play man.
Simple zone coverages.



Being good and being aggressive aren’t the same thing

 

[Gold Rush]

It's funny...right before he fumbled they had a camera on Mo. He was huffing bad. I told my dad " they need to sit him for a play"

They didn't. He fumbled. If he doesn't we likely kick a FG and win the game

Hopefully Fleck learns from this and doesn't make the same mistake again. The better team did not win that game -- but the smarter one did!

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

But he did. Not surprising when you run the ball with the same player over and over again because you don't have a solid #2 option and your QB isn't a threat in the passing game.

Is there some stat that shows running more often increases the % of fumbles?