RU run defense

hawkimatt

All-American
Iowa Swarm member
Oct 18, 2001
3,356
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Surprised that this isn’t a strength on a GS team. Are the high YPC numbers evidence of a weakness or are they skewed due to low attempts by opponents?
 

Rutgers Chris

All-American
Nov 29, 2005
5,454
6,466
97
Surprised that this isn’t a strength on a GS team. Are the high YPC numbers evidence of a weakness or are they skewed due to low attempts by opponents?
Burned by a few long qb runs more than anything else. Miami of OH qb led the team in rushing with 7.7 ypc, running backs were at 3 ypc.

Ohio qb also led the team in rushing with 10.3 ypc. Running backs at 4.5.
 
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JC_in128

Senior
Mar 9, 2023
567
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Your QB is the type that has always presented a challenge for the current RU D. And for that matter all past RU D’s as well. A capable arm and a dude with legs presents problems for RU.
 
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PSAL_Hoops

Heisman
Feb 18, 2008
13,909
13,147
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Your QB is the type that has always presented a challenge for the current RU D. And for that matter all past RU D’s as well. A capable arm and a dude with legs presents problems for RU.

I mean, it seems like pretty much anyone is capable of torching us with a deep ball this year because our safeties stink and we leave receivers wide open regularly.

But that said, Gronowski is not at all the shifty prototype QB that notoriously gives RU trouble. If he’s going to burn us with his legs, it’d be more like the way the UCLA QB (who was otherwise a statue) did it. He’s a bruiser up the middle type - the opposite of shifty. My completely uneducated guess though is that it’ll be explosive pass plays that are our biggest vulnerability in this game (especially early on) beause Greg is probably going to sell out up front and dare Gronoski to prove he can beat us with big plays down the field.
 
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RUGuitarMan1

All-Conference
Apr 5, 2021
2,542
3,974
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I’m less concerned about the secondary play for this game than the play of the DL and LBs. The run defense has not been good and if Iowa can control the game by running the ball sprinkled with play action roll out passes (which Iowa loves to do), it’s going to be tough to win. The front 7 has to play much better. I picked RU to win by 1 point, so maybe the defense can do just enough.
 
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Branchrentals

Heisman
Sep 2, 2022
7,860
18,020
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Rutgers has a shot if they get a couple turnovers. Gets the passing game going. Maybe block a punt.

Otherwise Iowa running game and defense wins it for them.
 
Jul 5, 2025
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This whole NIL thing has thrown GS player development method for a loop. You have well-trained players leave.. take in poorly trained players from elsewhere and you must rely on them.

It is really hard on a program like RRRRRRs.
 
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