After every game, try to tell yourself not to get too high, or get too low.  Prime examples are last week, and this week.  We had key players out last week, and missed several plays that were there, and squeaked out with a 16-17 win.  People seemed to be jumping off bridges left and right.  Some of us tried to remind people that we're not that bad of a team as we showed.

Fast foward to today.  We started slow, but dominated the game, and obliterated the Cyclones 35-3, but I caution you, do not get too high over this win.  UNI is a better team than ISU.

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So those of you who watched the NFL kickoff tonight, let me just say did that the Titans defense at the end looked exactly like we did, minus the blocked kicks???

They were exhausted, could get absolutely no push with their front four, and let the opposing team go right down the field...twice.  Hines Ward fumbled at the 5, but the Steelers got another chance in OT, and again, drove right down the field, due to lack of pressure by Tennessee and scored the game-winning FG

In the NCAA, NFL, or whatever league of football you're playing in, in a 2-minute defense, you cannot sit back and play soft zone with a 3 or 4-man rush and expect to get good results, ESPECIALLY if they're tired.  Pressure is essential, and while I'm not against the bend-dont-break philosophy during the course of the game, I am firmly against it in obvious passing situations, ESPECIALLY when all the offense needs is a FG.

You just cant let the QB sit back there comfortably and go through his reads.  A good QB will pick you apart, and march his team right on down the field.

Hopefully we can change that this year.

News flash: Iowa loses the interior of it's vaunted defensive line from last season!  Alright so we all know that by now.  King and Kroul both four-year starters combined for 111 tackles and six sacks last season, blah blah blah.

Hold on now though.  With eight returning starters on defense Iowa does not appear to suffer much of a drop off in overall defense.  The run defense may be just a tad easier to attack up the gut, but three returning linebackers in a Norm Parker defense isn't making me lose any sleep for Iowa's chances to stop the run.  The question is, which is more vital to a defense?  An interior presence to collapse a pocket, or fierce defensive ends wreaking havoc off the edge?

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