Reading Sean's pinned article on Gangwish reminded me of his great effort against Scherf in the Iowa game. I just re-watched a one-hour version of the game and focused on Iowa's possessions and on Jack Gangwish's play. Recall that RG made the trip but did not dress. So a guy who walked on from Wood River, who redshirted, and who had not sniffed the field for a single play in his RS Fr and sophomore seasons was starting against the guy who is going to win the Outland.
Twice in the first half Jack failed to hold the edge, once when he did not adjust to a TE who switched to Jack's side right before the snap and another time when Scherf just plain owned him - started out inside of Jack, initiated contact, and then established the outside edge and never let go. And by that, I do not mean to suggest that holding should have been called. Great play by Scherf.
Now go to 51:06 of the video. The first play of the fourth quarter is second down and 6 from the 24. The TE starts off lined up on Jack's side, so Scherf is inside Jack. It's the same sweep that worked several times for Iowa in the first half. This time, Jack does not let the TE get the edge on him. He fights off the TE, then receives the block by the pulling Scherf, all the while stringing the play out toward the sideline. Jack got pushed by Scherf, but he never got turned inside, and N stuffed the play for a 3-yard loss (lost in all of this is a horrible spot by the official that turned the three-yard loss into a one-yard loss). VV got the tackle, and Jack was nowhere near the running back at the end, but he kept the play from turning the corner. N held the 3rd down pass to less than first down yardage, and then you see DPE's first magical punt return, which I would argue was the key play of the game, in a game filled with key plays. We score on the great pass by TA and the great catch by KB on the very next play.
Go to 56:12. Third and 10. Jack has not come close to Rudock all day. In what was obviously a called play, N blitzes Santos and Anderson, Jack goes left, crosses behind Santos and VV, and blows right past the center. He gets his hands on Rudock's leg, Rudock has to hurry, and the pass falls incomplete. And then you see DPE's second magical punt return.
Go to 1.01:37. Second and 10. Jack bounces off Scherf, beats him to the outside, and sacks Rudock, who dropped back but then started to scramble straight up the middle. Loss of one. A great play. Trace Jack's actual route to Rudock. Wow.
Finally, go to 1.19:08. OT. Third and goal from our 7. Jack beats Scherf badly with a beautiful spin move to the inside, forces Rudock out of the pocket and into an incompletion. Iowa has to settle for a FG. Another great play against a guy who is about to become a millionaire for his blocking ability.
A final observation: Gangwish played all but one of our defensive snaps. That one was in the first half, when we subbed into a three-man front and then blitzed and Zaire caused a fumble by Rudock. As the game wore on, Gangwish's motor was still revving, and he was the difference in several key plays in the fourth quarter and OT.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU61FphAW5E
Twice in the first half Jack failed to hold the edge, once when he did not adjust to a TE who switched to Jack's side right before the snap and another time when Scherf just plain owned him - started out inside of Jack, initiated contact, and then established the outside edge and never let go. And by that, I do not mean to suggest that holding should have been called. Great play by Scherf.
Now go to 51:06 of the video. The first play of the fourth quarter is second down and 6 from the 24. The TE starts off lined up on Jack's side, so Scherf is inside Jack. It's the same sweep that worked several times for Iowa in the first half. This time, Jack does not let the TE get the edge on him. He fights off the TE, then receives the block by the pulling Scherf, all the while stringing the play out toward the sideline. Jack got pushed by Scherf, but he never got turned inside, and N stuffed the play for a 3-yard loss (lost in all of this is a horrible spot by the official that turned the three-yard loss into a one-yard loss). VV got the tackle, and Jack was nowhere near the running back at the end, but he kept the play from turning the corner. N held the 3rd down pass to less than first down yardage, and then you see DPE's first magical punt return, which I would argue was the key play of the game, in a game filled with key plays. We score on the great pass by TA and the great catch by KB on the very next play.
Go to 56:12. Third and 10. Jack has not come close to Rudock all day. In what was obviously a called play, N blitzes Santos and Anderson, Jack goes left, crosses behind Santos and VV, and blows right past the center. He gets his hands on Rudock's leg, Rudock has to hurry, and the pass falls incomplete. And then you see DPE's second magical punt return.
Go to 1.01:37. Second and 10. Jack bounces off Scherf, beats him to the outside, and sacks Rudock, who dropped back but then started to scramble straight up the middle. Loss of one. A great play. Trace Jack's actual route to Rudock. Wow.
Finally, go to 1.19:08. OT. Third and goal from our 7. Jack beats Scherf badly with a beautiful spin move to the inside, forces Rudock out of the pocket and into an incompletion. Iowa has to settle for a FG. Another great play against a guy who is about to become a millionaire for his blocking ability.
A final observation: Gangwish played all but one of our defensive snaps. That one was in the first half, when we subbed into a three-man front and then blitzed and Zaire caused a fumble by Rudock. As the game wore on, Gangwish's motor was still revving, and he was the difference in several key plays in the fourth quarter and OT.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU61FphAW5E
