How should the hawks handle Underwood as a runner/scrambler?

uihawk82 · Sep 22, 2026

Will we be in zone coverage most 1st and 2nd downs to keep eyes on the QB? Do you think we should spy on their QB most plays taking a defender out of coverage? Mix in a fair amount of 5 man blitzes to go for negative plays including blitzes on passing downs?

I am for playing base defense to start off the game, see if our front 4 can eat up their OLine and get pressure. I like the spy off and on if it is 3rd down and 7 or so yards to go where a running qb could pick up a first down.

I watched a lot of the Mich win over the sooners and I dont think Mich has all american receivers. go hawks

HawksRule73 · Sep 22, 2026

I think our defensive gameplan for Michigan will be very similar to our defensive gameplan against Vandy. I think you'll see the DL play contain with some Will LB and safety blitzes mixed in. I think you'll see a lot of spy with one of the LBs. And I think you'll see a lot of man on the outside with the safeties playing zone.

squeezebox_1 · Sep 22, 2026

Buchanan and Marsh are solid WRs. I honestly think Michigan would be much better with Carr as their QB. The edge containment in this game is going to be critical.

Hawksfor3 · Sep 22, 2026

uihawk82 said:
Will we be in zone coverage most 1st and 2nd downs to keep eyes on the QB? Do you think we should spy on their QB most plays taking a defender out of coverage? Mix in a fair amount of 5 man blitzes to go for negative plays including blitzes on passing downs?

I am for playing base defense to start off the game, see if our front 4 can eat up their OLine and get pressure. I like the spy off and on if it is 3rd down and 7 or so yards to go where a running qb could pick up a first down.

I watched a lot of the Mich win over the sooners and I dont think Mich has all american receivers. go hawks

I listened to Chuck Long with Tom K last night on the podcast, and Chuck said that if they decide to blitz Underwood, then they have to make sure they can beat their man. He also said that the d linemen need to come leading in with their shoulder to the inside in order to not give up the end run.

hawkandroll · Sep 22, 2026

Scheme for Buffington to get 2-3 unimpeded shots and that should take care of the issue for the rest of the game.

uihawk82 · Sep 22, 2026

hawkandroll said:
Scheme for Buffington to get 2-3 unimpeded shots and that should take care of the issue for the rest of the game.

Just like how Jack Campbell knocked Penn St's starting qb in the big showdown game of top ranked teams.

r_desihawk · Sep 22, 2026

hawkandroll said:
Scheme for Buffington to get 2-3 unimpeded shots and that should take care of the issue for the rest of the game.

buffington is good but nowhere close to campbell in laying wood.

CRWash63 · Sep 22, 2026

r_desihawk said:
buffington is good but nowhere close to campbell in laying wood.

I disagree - Buffington is Lott Impact Player of the week.

Fight4Iowa · Sep 22, 2026

He does a really nice job of getting outside while keeping eyes downfield and forcing defense to come up to account for him and then hitting open receiver. I think we definitely need DE's to maintain outside leverage. Occasional blitzes up the middle and occasional blitzes from his throwing hand side to force him to roll opposite. We need him to have similar numbers like he was against OU, but we need to force a fumble or INT on him.

I'd prefer to have him run more in the first half than throw. Prefer to have him throw more in the second half than run.

nu2u · Sep 22, 2026

Fight4Iowa said:
He does a really nice job of getting outside while keeping eyes downfield and forcing defense to come up to account for him and then hitting open receiver. I think we definitely need DE's to maintain outside leverage. Occasional blitzes up the middle and occasional blitzes from his throwing hand side to force him to roll opposite. We need him to have similar numbers like he was against OU, but we need to force a fumble or INT on him.

I'd prefer to have him run more in the first half than throw. Prefer to have him throw more in the second half than run.

Yep, keep him in the pocket AMAP. It wouldn’t surprise me if Bell is spending extra time with the DEs this week. I mean, Underwood will get loose a few times, just have to limit the damage. Absolutely have to have a spy on 2nd/3rd and long.

WeBeHerkin · Sep 22, 2026

Tackle him.

Gonzo_Bloor · Sep 22, 2026

Whatever scheme Phil comes with you can be guaranteed that priority #1 for the D will be to contain the QB and not over pursue him in the backfield. Against running QBs I've seen our DL acting more as spies on passing downs and holding their position instead of going balls out for the sack. Underwood has not shown himself to be all that great of a passer, the one thing we can't do is create situations where he can step up in the pocket and have 20 yards of open field in front of him because our DL/LBs have over pursued and/or taken sh*tty angles to get at him.

BunchofAholes · Sep 22, 2026

Despite the overall performance of the D, our contain hasn't been great. (Phil mentioned it). I think that will be a focus in practice this week.

EvilMonkeyInTheCloset · Sep 22, 2026

uihawk82 said:
Will we be in zone coverage most 1st and 2nd downs to keep eyes on the QB? Do you think we should spy on their QB most plays taking a defender out of coverage? Mix in a fair amount of 5 man blitzes to go for negative plays including blitzes on passing downs?

I am for playing base defense to start off the game, see if our front 4 can eat up their OLine and get pressure. I like the spy off and on if it is 3rd down and 7 or so yards to go where a running qb could pick up a first down.

I watched a lot of the Mich win over the sooners and I dont think Mich has all american receivers. go hawks

Call Tonya Harding before the game..........

iahawkeyes17 · Sep 22, 2026

Think will be similar to isu until Underwood can prove he can make the throws consistently. We did a good job of containing a mobile qb. Could’ve done better against the run too many runs guy falling forward gaining extra yards. Michigan does have better skill players so be interesting to see how our front 7 does 2 weeks later against the run.

squeezebox_1 · Sep 22, 2026

iahawkeyes17 said:
Think will be similar to isu until Underwood can prove he can make the throws consistently. We did a good job of containing a mobile qb. Could’ve done better against the run too many runs guy falling forward gaining extra yards. Michigan does have better skill players so be interesting to see how our front 7 does 2 weeks later against the run.

Meh, it's a mixed bag, there's no doubt in my mind that I'm taking Flora over Marshall or Hiter right now. Buchanan is probably the best WR of the bunch, it would be debatable for Marsh vs Overby/Hayes.

85Bears · Sep 22, 2026

squeezebox_1 said:
Buchanan and Marsh are solid WRs. I honestly think Michigan would be much better with Carr as their QB. The edge containment in this game is going to be critical.

They really would. A smart efficient qb who can throw accurate passes and not turn the ball over would have Michigan in the playoff hunt. Their ceiling is quite a bit lower with Anthony Richardson at qb

85Bears · Sep 22, 2026

hawkandroll said:
Scheme for Buffington to get 2-3 unimpeded shots and that should take care of the issue for the rest of the game.

Sharers delayed blitz on Pavia knocked all the smack talk out of his mouth. Thing of beauty. They never see that coming.

Rifler · Sep 22, 2026

I would second the Jack Campbell vs Sean Clifford reenactment...

Hawkfan82 · Sep 22, 2026

I think we see the 3-3-5 a lot.

Jonesy5960 · Sep 22, 2026

LetsGoHawks83 · Sep 22, 2026

hawks GIF by University of Iowa Hawkeyes Athletics

uihawk82 · Sep 22, 2026

Hawkfan82 said:
I think we see the 3-3-5 a lot.

That does get a faster Lbkr on the field but it all comes down to down and distance and we have some pretty fast DEnds who could track down Underwood

Hawkfan_08* · Sep 23, 2026

BunchofAholes said:
Despite the overall performance of the D, our contain hasn't been great. (Phil mentioned it). I think that will be a focus in practice this week.

This has been a major weakness for Eppy. I'm worried about him on that side. Might need more Brown.

JerseyCityHawk · Sep 23, 2026

uihawk82 said:
Will we be in zone coverage most 1st and 2nd downs to keep eyes on the QB? Do you think we should spy on their QB most plays taking a defender out of coverage? Mix in a fair amount of 5 man blitzes to go for negative plays including blitzes on passing downs?

I am for playing base defense to start off the game, see if our front 4 can eat up their OLine and get pressure. I like the spy off and on if it is 3rd down and 7 or so yards to go where a running qb could pick up a first down.

I watched a lot of the Mich win over the sooners and I dont think Mich has all american receivers. go hawks

Break his legs?

Ellobo · Sep 23, 2026

This thread really should be combined with the one about Michigan and fumbles. Letting Underwood out of the pocket is a double edged sword for both teams. Yes he makes his best plays this way but also makes his biggest mistakes.

When he is improvising he is very dangerous with his legs but he has a tendency to hold the ball away from his body so you can knock it out (less so on designed runs). In addition he is best throwing the ball on the run but he also has shown a tendency to try to fit the ball into tight spaces (sometimes the receiver simply isn't open). While he is improving on his accuracy and he isn't as bad with it as last year...that 3 or 4 INT game will happen at some point...with a pic 6 or two.

So imo, it really comes down to if you think your O can score on our D. Keeping Underwood in the pocket makes the Michigan O ineffective (though safer). But the punter has been (so far) quite good and it means you'll have to go the length of the field and make a couple big plays on O to win. Or you can take the chance (double edged sword) that Underwood just hands the game to you with bonehead mistakes.

Kirk is God · Sep 23, 2026

Re-watch Iowa vs Ga Tech Orange Bowl and you got your answer. What a clinic Norm put on that day (with probably some help from Phil).

How should the hawks handle Underwood as a runner/scrambler?

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