Northwestern University Athletics
Quick Hitters: The Myslenski Iowa Preview
11/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 12, 2010
By Skip Myslenski
NUsports.com Special Contributor
• His 'Cats had played the old matador defense against Penn State and missed 27 tackles on the way to their defeat. So, when asked what he would like to see from them Saturday against Iowa, Pat Fitzgerald was precise and very much to the point. "I want to see us tackle. That's the number one thing I want to see us as a defense do," he said. "We work our (butt) off on it and you show up on Saturday. It shows up in your attitude and shows up in the fundamentals. Playing with leverage, that's what happened (against the Nittany Lions). We overran a bunch of things and then we got on our heels and we missed a bunch of tackles because we weren't aggressive. We've just got to trust ourselves and do what we do every day and we'll be fine."
Was he shocked by that shoddy performance against Penn State?
"Yeah. I thought it was extremely out of our character. We hadn't played that way I don't know since when. I can't tell you. We've talked a lot about it, the Leadership Council, the captains, us as coaches. We've got to do something to fix it. The guys, I think, have some solutions, and hopefully we act on that."
Would he share those solutions?
"No."
• Their last official home game of this season is Nov. 20 against Illinois at Wrigley Field. But, when asked their preference by Fitzgerald, the dozen 'Cat seniors chose to celebrate their day this Saturday at Ryan Field. "It holds a lot of memories for us," explained one of them, the offensive lineman Keegan Grant. "So we figured if we were going to have our Senior Day it was going to be at the field where we played."
Echoed defensive tackle Corbin Bryant: "I always wanted my Senior Day to be here where the foundation was laid."
• It is tradition, as a Senior Day approaches, to ask players if their arrival on campus seems like yesterday. Since many of this year's graduates were freshmen in Fitzgerald's first season as a head coach, it seemed only appropriate that the same question be tossed to him. "No," he said with a hearty laugh. "I wish I could say yeah. But, no, not at all. Honestly, each day it's something new that I learn. Just to see the resiliency and the pride in our program, we're not very pleased with what happened on Saturday. But you wouldn't know it by the way we practiced. I thought our guys had an attitude about them to improve. . . It's fun to learn each day. But it doesn't feel like yesterday."
• Here is the succinct scouting report on the Hawkeyes' defense, compliments of Grant: "Iowa's similar to Penn State. They're very base in what they do. They'll try to slant around on you. But they're a try-to-hit-you-in-the-mouth team. So we have to come out there and hit back."
• Here, compliments of Fitzgerald, is a more-detailed report: "Fundamentally, they're outstanding. They do what they do. They make little subtle tweaks and adjustments up front to take away what you do best. They do the same thing from a coverage concept. They have changeups, OK? But they're just outstanding at what they do. They've been that way for 12 years. They don't try to do a lot of things with smoke and mirrors. They just punch you in the face and continue to do it."
Does that make them any easier to prepare for?
"No, I don't think so. At the end of the day it forces you to execute even that much better. They know exactly what they're doing on every play. They don't beat themselves."
• The Hawkeyes have committed just six turnovers this season, which are the fewest in the Big Ten and the second fewest (behind Oregon's four) in the country. That is how you keep from beating yourself. As for that defense: It has given up an average of just 14.3 points per game (second in the Big Ten, sixth in the country) and a mere 85.2 rushing yards per game (second in the Big Ten, fifth in the country). Oh. It has also held six of its nine opponents to one touchdown or less.
• The Hawkeyes, offensively, subscribe to the old saw and do attempt to establish the run. But, says Fitzgerald, "What's more impressive with Iowa is their play-action pass off the run. Ricky Stanzi (its senior quarterback) does a great job, he's very efficient, one of the most-efficient passers in the country. When I study quarterbacks and look at the mistakes they make, I haven't seen one mistake that Ricky made. I haven't watched every rep of the year. But I haven't seen him make a poor choice yet and I think that's what makes him so impressive. They build great confidence off the running game and do double moves and all those things they've always done and they're very efficient."
• Stanzi has completed 157 of his 230 attempts for 2,212 yards and 20 touchdowns. These are not gaudy numbers. But, and this is what Fitzgerald was talking about: he has thrown just three interceptions and is the best in the Big Ten (and third best in the country) with a pass efficiency rating of 175.3.
• In their last two meetings, both in Iowa City, the 'Cats escaped with wins over the Hawkeyes. It was no surprise, then, that Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz fairly gushed when asked earlier this week about the job Fitzgerald has done. "It's not a smoke-and-mirror operation. They are good football players that play well," he said. "I mean, you look at our two games, they have done the things you're supposed to do. Winning starts with not beating yourself and, you know, they sat there while we turned it over nine times ... If you can do that, you sure like your odds on a game, and that's what they have done to their credit."
• Historical stat-of-the-week: The 'Cats have actually won four of their last five games against the Hawkeyes. But the visiting team has won each of the last four in the series.
• Current stat-that-makes-you-go-hmmmmm: The Hawkeyes are 2-0 in Big Ten road games this season. In Big Ten home games this season, the 'Cats are 0-2.
• And finally, on a lighter note, we bring you Corporal Radar O'Reilly of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (M*A*S*H) in Korea, who just happens to be a native of Ottumwa, Iowa. As a bartender, he had this to say to a visitor: "Sir, if you'd like a drink, compliments of Col. Blake. Scotch, gin, vodka, and for your convenience, all in the same bottle."
And, as a son, he once reminisced: "My father didn't have me until he was 63. First time we played peek-a-boo, he had a stroke."
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