BULLDOGBLITZ No. 18 Bulldogs To Make First Outback Bowl Appearance, Take on Iowa
- Thread starter Vernon
- Start date
Hawk fan here. Don't know too much about MSU. Looking forward to the game.
On offense, we've got a Mackey Award finalist in TE TJ Hockenson. We had the best TE combo in college football, but Noah Fant has declared for the NFL draft and won't play.
Our receivers and runningbacks won't scare anyone. We finally got 100 yard games from a runningback (we have three, but none that would really be THE GUY at another school) in the final two games of the season. Both came from sophomore Mekhi Sargent, but those efforts were against Illinois and Nebraska, so the question still remains whether our run game got on track or we just played two poor defenses.
At receiver we have a possession guy in senior Nick Easley, a speedster in sophomore Ihmer Smith-Marsette, and a bigger all around guy in sophomore Brandon Smith (who's actually from Lake Cormorant). I think Smith and Smith-Marsette are going to be good ones as upper classmen, but in their first two seasons they've been hit and miss.
Offensive line has been Kirk Ferentz's specialty going back to his days in the 80's as Iowa's O-line coach. Our tackles are studs but Hawk fans have questioned our guards and centers. As I mentioned earlier, our run game has been sub par this season. The line is great in pass protection though, and our QB Nate Stanley has been sacked the fewest times of any Big Ten QB. This isn't a testament to his escapability, though. He's statuesque.
As far as offensive philosophy is concerned, we're a prostyle offense all the way. OC Brian Ferentz will want to grind clock and set up the pass with the run. Our QB will always audible to a run if he doesn't like what the defense gives him. It's been frustrating to watch our playcalling as most Hawk fans feel that we really haven't played to our strengths which is our tightends. For Iowa to move the ball, Hockenson will have to stretch the defense to open up the run and get our very average receivers open.
Defensively, we're extremely sound and have the NCAA's 7th best defense. Our line is dominant. Our 6'8 defensive end Anthony Nelson has been a sack machine down the stretch this season and backup 5 star DE AJ Epinesa is a pass rush specialist.
At linebacker, we're very average and we lack speed in the middle. LB is definitely our weak spot.
Secondary is DC Phil Parker's specialty and we've had the Big Ten's defensive back of the year 4 of the last 7 years. This year that man is strong safety Amani Hooker. Our corners are above average and I'm pretty sure (someone can correct me if I'm wrong) that we're in the top 5 in the NCAA in interceptions.
We'll rush 4 and drop 7 and our safeties very rarely let anything get behind them. We're as bend but don't break as it gets on defense. We'll make you dink and dunk us and try to force you into making mistakes.
We've got an above average place kicker in Miguel Recinos, but a very below average punter. Our kick and punt returners are great - Ihmer Smith Marsette won the Big Ten's returner of the year award. Our kick and punt coverage is above average as well.
Bottom line - if you can take TJ Hockenson away and make us throw at the sidelines, our very pedestrian run game will never get going. If your offense can take advantage of our lack of speed at linebacker, or if your QB can extend plays, you'll score lots of points.
Hey Flick, Shush ..... What are you doing down in here giving up our stuff !
Seriously, we congratulate you on your Outback Bowl bid and good luck in the game...ah not so much...
By the looks of things here, it might be just the two of us Hawk fans. Our secrets are safe!
This board is dead... Hard to stir up a ruckus if nobody is here! :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
Sorry guys we get very few to talk around here. It's usually me talking to myself. Lol
ignore shagwell he is a constant negative nelly on HR
the RB's are all SO's the WR's that will be back were SO's this season. Iowa's defense was/is 7th in total defense giving up just 290.0 ypg and 11th in scoring defense. this should be a solid defensive battle. Iowa is tied for 1st in total sacks with DE Epenesa and DE Anthony Nelson tied at 10 sacks each good for a tie for 8th nationally
as for the offense as a SO QB Stanley in 13 games had 2437 passing yards, 26 TD's to just 6 INT's on 351 attempts
2018 thru 12 games 2638 passing yards 23 TD's to 9 INT's on 365 attempts.
as for Sageant he was a JUCO 1st Team AA who arrived on Iowa's campus in June, he also shared to running back duties with 2 other RB's,
Sargeant 152 carries 748 yards rushing, 16 catches 152 yards 900 total yards
Young 133 carries 630 yards,
Kelly-Martin in 7 games as he was limited by injuries
92 carries 390 yards rushing, 9 catches 78 yards
Iowa rotated their RB's all season to keep them fresh. that is a better picture of what MSU will be facing in the Out Back Bowl, on a side note KF is 3-4 against SEC teams.
its going to be a very interesting game watching 2 top 10 defenses going at it. but watch it turn into a shootout:cheers2::boxing:
the RB's are all SO's the WR's that will be back were SO's this season. Iowa's defense was/is 7th in total defense giving up just 290.0 ypg and 11th in scoring defense. this should be a solid defensive battle. Iowa is tied for 1st in total sacks with DE Epenesa and DE Anthony Nelson tied at 10 sacks each good for a tie for 8th nationally
as for the offense as a SO QB Stanley in 13 games had 2437 passing yards, 26 TD's to just 6 INT's on 351 attempts
2018 thru 12 games 2638 passing yards 23 TD's to 9 INT's on 365 attempts.
as for Sageant he was a JUCO 1st Team AA who arrived on Iowa's campus in June, he also shared to running back duties with 2 other RB's,
Sargeant 152 carries 748 yards rushing, 16 catches 152 yards 900 total yards
Young 133 carries 630 yards,
Kelly-Martin in 7 games as he was limited by injuries
92 carries 390 yards rushing, 9 catches 78 yards
Iowa rotated their RB's all season to keep them fresh. that is a better picture of what MSU will be facing in the Out Back Bowl, on a side note KF is 3-4 against SEC teams.
its going to be a very interesting game watching 2 top 10 defenses going at it. but watch it turn into a shootout:cheers2::boxing:
Vernon, are you bored? Have you ever had to 'talk down' or ban anyone for derailing every thread in sight? Cheers to all.
Iowa was just too big, fast, & strong for the Bulldogs.
They’re lucky that they get to play in the lesser SEC. The B1G would kill those boys!
They’re lucky that they get to play in the lesser SEC. The B1G would kill those boys!
