Lost in translation of the Hawkeyes’ offensive woes is the fact that Iowa hasn’t necessarily started the way it’s wanted to defensively in each of the past three games.
In fact, each of Iowa’s past three opponents have scored on their opening possessions. That started with a 12-play, 66-yard drive at Rutgers, it continued with an 11-play, 75-yard drive by Michigan and Illinois also began its contest against Iowa with a 17-play, 66-yard scoring drive.
Of course, the Hawkeyes stiffened in the red zone and held both the Scarlet Knights and Fighting Illini to field goals. Still, when trying to piece together the formula for how Iowa pulls the shocker at No. 2 Ohio State this weekend, it’s hard to come up with a scenario where the Hawkeyes win after letting the Buckeyes right down the field for an opening score.
The key to starting off better defensively and not surrendering an opening score is third down according to Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker.
“I think we have to really to go back and look and evaluate when you could have got off the field on third down. We could have got off in the Illinois game on third down, and we were going to get off the field, and we got a penalty. Some of the things, sometimes the guy makes a good catch. Sometimes the guy doesn’t play with very good technique. Sometimes it’s a shitty call, you know what I mean?
“Those things you just have to keep on working at. The guys that we’re playing against, I think are on scholarship too. They’re trying to win too. It’s very competitive. The sense of urgency to make sure you’re exact, and you have be to perfect,” Parker said.
Parker doesn’t feel the Hawkeyes are doing anything different on the first drive of games schematically. Again, according to the Hawkeye DC, it comes down to third down execution.
“No, I don’t think so. I always think it’s important to stop the first third down. There’s no question about that. That’s how you see the game…
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