Promising linebacking corps a big key for Iowa’s defense this season

[hoopthemottle]

Last season, James Morris was not who Norm Parker had led us to believe he was. I am not going to get excited about our LBer's until I see someone read & fill a gap the way Abdul Hodge and Pat Angerer could read and fill. That is my standard for high quality LB play.

And who is the AP writer from Iowa City that wrote this lazy article AND got it published in the Wash Post?

[Foval21]

I've also heard Lowdermilk is making good progress.

lowdermilk is a safety.

to whoever said morris is undersized...i believe he is the biggest of the 3 starting lbs so the whole corp is undersized. but as a group they are more athletic than most iowa lb groups.

[DuffMan]

the article was right. a strong d line also makes tackles. a weak one makes few. the fewer tackles.the d line makes the more the more the back 7 does.

Not really. With a strong Dline, the LB's make a lot of tackles. With a weak DLine the DB's make a lot of tackles, because the guys that the DL should occupying are blocking LB's.

last time i checked lb+db= back seven

[Foval21]

the article was right. a strong d line also makes tackles. a weak one makes few. the fewer tackles.the d line makes the more the more the back 7 does.

Not really. With a strong Dline, the LB's make a lot of tackles. With a weak DLine the DB's make a lot of tackles, because the guys that the DL should occupying are blocking LB's.

last time i checked lb db= back seven

but out of that back 7 who would you rather have making tackles...lbs or dbs? because a poor dl usually equals dbs getting tackles and a good dl usually equals lbs getting tackles.

[MiniMoeHawk]

the article was right. a strong d line also makes tackles. a weak one makes few. the fewer tackles.the d line makes the more the more the back 7 does.

LB's should lead the team in tackles if the DL does their job at plugging their gaps. When you secondary leads the team in tackles you are in for a long year.

[trj]

Last season, James Morris was not who Norm Parker had led us to believe he was. I am not going to get excited about our LBer's until I see someone read & fill a gap the way Abdul Hodge and Pat Angerer could read and fill. That is my standard for high quality LB play.

And who is the AP writer from Iowa City that wrote this lazy article AND got it published in the Wash Post?

It looks like they are going to keep Morris in the middle. He struggled at the point of attack last year I am not sure if it was a strength issue or a injury issue, whatever the reason that simply has to get better.

[MiniMoeHawk]

Is Morris fast enough to for pass coverage on the outside? OLB is big piece of the "bend don't break" philosphy pie

[cmhawks99]

Is Morris fast enough to for pass coverage on the outside? OLB is big piece of the "bend don't break" philosphy pie

Yes he is at least as fast as Edds and Angerer.....

[eveningnewsteam]

Last season, James Morris was not who Norm Parker had led us to believe he was. I am not going to get excited about our LBer's until I see someone read & fill a gap the way Abdul Hodge and Pat Angerer could read and fill. That is my standard for high quality LB play.

And who is the AP writer from Iowa City that wrote this lazy article AND got it published in the Wash Post?

Agreed. Morris got handled pretty good. I dont care if you lead the team in tackles if youre making stops 8 yards downfield.

[eveningnewsteam]

Yes he is at least as fast as Edds and Angerer.....

No fricken way

[MiniMoeHawk]

Yes he is at least as fast as Edds and Angerer.....

The overall D played much better before Edd's was dinged up. It is tough when you ask a LB to cover a slot WR or TE

[Foval21]

Last season, James Morris was not who Norm Parker had led us to believe he was. I am not going to get excited about our LBer's until I see someone read & fill a gap the way Abdul Hodge and Pat Angerer could read and fill. That is my standard for high quality LB play.And who is the AP writer from Iowa City that wrote this lazy article AND got it published in the Wash Post?

Agreed. Morris got handled pretty good. I dont care if you lead the team in tackles if youre making stops 8 yards downfield.

he made plays 8 yds downfield because he had olinemen all over him because the dl didnt take up blocks very well and got single blocked more than they should. morris couldnt play downhill. lbs need dls so they can play downhill...even greenway struggled with a subpar dl.

[ICHawk24]

Morris had a bum ankle all season. Lots of insiders are still high on him. But go ahead and post your "worry" on a message board.

[cmhawks99]

No fricken way

He isn't as good a Lber yet but he'll test as fast come combine time. Keep in mind Nielsen was faster than Edds and Angerer, yet wasn't as effective.

[SpecialKHawk]

Posted at nfl combine results.....

AJ Edds ran 4.62 combine, 4.67 pro day
Pat Angerer ran 4.71 combine, 4.63 pro day
Tyler Nielson ran 4.74 combine, 4.64 pro day