Advantage by position

BunchofAholes

All-Conference
Jul 9, 2025
2,279
4,318
113
@WeBeHerkin suggested this with his post about last week's performance by position.

Which team has the advantage at each position?

OL

RB

WR

TE

QB

DL

LB

DB

Kicker

Punter

Returners

Coaching
 

TheChosen

All-Conference
Jan 3, 2023
823
1,304
93
All Of Them GIF by MOODMAN
 
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HawksRule73

All-Conference
Jun 26, 2025
606
1,638
93
It's not really about who has the better OL, WR, etc. It's about who has the better matchup against the opposing position.

For example, our OL isn't going against their OL, it's going against their DL (and LBs to a certain extent).

With that in mind, I tend to look at the matchups by play type rather than by position.

So I think our running game, given our strong OL and deep backfield, has the advantage against their run D. However, I think their pass D has the advantage against our pass O given their strong defensive backfield and our mediocrity at WR, TE, and QB. On the flipside, I think our run D has the advantage against their run O with our deep strong DL and Phil's penchant for keying on the run. However, they have (I think) a pretty big advantage in their pass O vs our pass D, given their strong QB play and a trio of very talented TEs. On the special teams side, I'd say we have the advantage in the KR and PR areas given we are returning the Jett award winner. I'd say FG and Punting are pretty even with maybe a slight advantge to them in the FG game and a slight advantage to us in the Punting game.

Overall, I think the game is going to come down to 2 things:
1. Who can win the turnover battle? If it's even or we're negative, we lose. If we're +1 or better, I'd say we've got above 70% odds to win.
2. Who can get out to the lead first and then impose their will offensively? If we can score first and make them play from behind, we have a much better chance to grind the game out and limit their possessions. If we fall behind early and are forced to pass to make up points, I don't see much of a path to win in that scenario.
 

swagsurfer02

Heisman
Dec 8, 2010
35,509
24,204
100
It's not really about who has the better OL, WR, etc. It's about who has the better matchup against the opposing position.

For example, our OL isn't going against their OL, it's going against their DL (and LBs to a certain extent).

With that in mind, I tend to look at the matchups by play type rather than by position.

So I think our running game, given our strong OL and deep backfield, has the advantage against their run D. However, I think their pass D has the advantage against our pass O given their strong defensive backfield and our mediocrity at WR, TE, and QB. On the flipside, I think our run D has the advantage against their run O with our deep strong DL and Phil's penchant for keying on the run. However, they have (I think) a pretty big advantage in their pass O vs our pass D, given their strong QB play and a trio of very talented TEs. On the special teams side, I'd say we have the advantage in the KR and PR areas given we are returning the Jett award winner. I'd say FG and Punting are pretty even with maybe a slight advantge to them in the FG game and a slight advantage to us in the Punting game.

Overall, I think the game is going to come down to 2 things:
1. Who can win the turnover battle? If it's even or we're negative, we lose. If we're +1 or better, I'd say we've got above 70% odds to win.
2. Who can get out to the lead first and then impose their will offensively? If we can score first and make them play from behind, we have a much better chance to grind the game out and limit their possessions. If we fall behind early and are forced to pass to make up points, I don't see much of a path to win in that scenario.

I can agree with pretty much all of this. I will add, Iowa better not get into a position where they are down and have to start throwing. Even if Gronowski’s first outing wasn’t a true representation of how he will play from here on out, it is a higher level of competition than what he is used to.
 
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Nov 29, 2023
594
884
93
It's not really about who has the better OL, WR, etc. It's about who has the better matchup against the opposing position.

For example, our OL isn't going against their OL, it's going against their DL (and LBs to a certain extent).

With that in mind, I tend to look at the matchups by play type rather than by position.

So I think our running game, given our strong OL and deep backfield, has the advantage against their run D. However, I think their pass D has the advantage against our pass O given their strong defensive backfield and our mediocrity at WR, TE, and QB. On the flipside, I think our run D has the advantage against their run O with our deep strong DL and Phil's penchant for keying on the run. However, they have (I think) a pretty big advantage in their pass O vs our pass D, given their strong QB play and a trio of very talented TEs. On the special teams side, I'd say we have the advantage in the KR and PR areas given we are returning the Jett award winner. I'd say FG and Punting are pretty even with maybe a slight advantge to them in the FG game and a slight advantage to us in the Punting game.

Overall, I think the game is going to come down to 2 things:
1. Who can win the turnover battle? If it's even or we're negative, we lose. If we're +1 or better, I'd say we've got above 70% odds to win.
2. Who can get out to the lead first and then impose their will offensively? If we can score first and make them play from behind, we have a much better chance to grind the game out and limit their possessions. If we fall behind early and are forced to pass to make up points, I don't see much of a path to win in that scenario.
The first half will be the key, if the squawks have the lead going into half, they have a chance, if they are behind, even a few points, they are in trouble. Like always turnovers will play a big part of the game, if it's one or less, ISU will have the advantage, the squawks will need to be plus 2 there to win.
 

Hans81

All-Conference
Aug 13, 2004
16,424
2,905
98
The first half will be the key, if the squawks have the lead going into half, they have a chance, if they are behind, even a few points, they are in trouble. Like always turnovers will play a big part of the game, if it's one or less, ISU will have the advantage, the squawks will need to be plus 2 there to win.
F U and your stupid “squawks” comment. Are you 12 years old?
 
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Stoopsbrother

Senior
Dec 15, 2022
255
420
63
OL Hawkeyes

RB Hawkeyes

WR Draw

TE Iowa State

QB Iowa State

DL Hawkeyes

LB Iowa State

DB Draw

Kicker Draw

Punter Hawkeyes

Returners Hawkeyes

Coaching Iowa State
 
May 27, 2009
468
723
93
@WeBeHerkin suggested this with his post about last week's performance by position.

Which team has the advantage at each position?

OL

RB

WR

TE

QB

DL

LB

DB

Kicker

Punter

Returners

Coaching
OL - Iowa

RB - Tie

WR - Tie

TE - Tie

QB - Iowa State

DL - Iowa

LB - Tie

DB - Tie

Kicker - Iowa

Punter - Iowa

Returners - Iowa

Coaching - Iowa
 

WeBeHerkin

All-American
Aug 5, 2016
4,519
5,154
113
Probably mentioned in the past weeks, but the OC that Phil Parker said was hardest to game plan for was probably Paul Chryst when at Wisconsin.