Video: Kirk Ferentz on what it takes to be a successful road team
Kirk Ferentz discusses a variety of topics ahead of Iowa’s matchup with Minnesota.
IOWA CITY — The conversation at Kirk Ferentz’s meeting with media members on Tuesday was something out of Bizarro World.
Ferentz has grown accustomed to facing tough questions about Iowa football’s offense and positive inquiries about the defense over the last few seasons.
But on Tuesday, that dynamic was flipped.
Iowa’s offense, though with much left to prove, is moving in the right direction. Iowa’s defense, traditionally a powerhouse, has shown some uncharacteristic cracks, particularly in the secondary.
Maybe part of Tuesday’s discourse stems from the expectations for the defense being so high while those for the offense are so low. And by season’s end, Ferentz may again be grilled about the offense while hearing praise about the defense.
But this week, at least, that was not the case.
Ferentz, presented with that atypical framework, said: “As long as we get better, it’s OK.”
While mistakes early in the season might just be a smoke screen for a defense that will prove to be elite, there is some concern for Iowa’s inability to limit explosive passing plays.
Iowa allowed just two passing plays of 60+ yards all of last season. But this season? The Hawkeyes have already given up three. All three have come during the last two games and resulted in touchdowns.
One cost Iowa big-time in a 20-19 loss to Iowa State. Jaylin Noel jetted for a 75-yard receiving touchdown, which ended up being seismic in a game eventually decided by just one point.
More: What Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz said ahead of Hawkeyes’ game at Minnesota
The following game, it became something of a trend. Iowa gave up passing touchdowns of 62 and 63 yards to Troy. Devonte Ross was the receiver on both plays (he returned a punt for a touchdown, too).
“The one (against Troy) was just a mental error, and to me I attribute that to being a younger guy and forgetting first things first and also forgetting that the guy across from you is trying to win, too,” Ferentz said, referring to TJ Hall. “As a defensive back, you’ve always got to keep the ball in front of you. That’s just paramount. So you can always recognize that they may throw it deep. That’s the way it is.”
“Then the second one (against Troy) was just there was some fuzziness with the communication, and pretty much everything we do offensively, defensively and special teams, involves everybody,” Ferentz said. “Everybody has got to be on the same page, and there’s certain leverages or techniques that have to be used, and it may move more than one guy.”
More: Leistikow’s 4 thoughts: Iowa football facing a must-win Big Ten road opener at Minnesota
What makes these struggles more perplexing is that Iowa was expected to have a really good secondary this season under reigning Broyles Award winner Phil Parker, the longtime defensive coordinator. The Hawkeyes brought back Quinn Schulte, Jermari Harris, Sebastian Castro and Xavier Nwankpa, all of whom were key parts of a dominant defense last season. Even with Hall, who made his first career start at cornerback against Illinois State, this is an experienced group.
Maybe the loss of Cooper DeJean looms larger than expected, though that is difficult to fathom given his value to the defense was no secret and opponents stayed away from his side of the field. But still, when DeJean missed the last four games last season due to injury, Iowa’s defense largely was able to handle the fallout.
Iowa has the depth to mix and match if it so chooses. Koen Entringer replaced Xavier Nwankpa for a stretch at safety during the Iowa State game after Nwankpa got beat by Noel. The Hawkeyes have three players — Hall, Deshaun Lee and John Nestor — in arm’s reach of an opportunity to play cornerback opposite of Harris.
What also makes those explosive pass plays troubling is that Iowa’s defense is specifically designed to guard against them. Under Parker, Iowa typically keeps two high safeties, allowing for help over the top in the passing game. The Hawkeyes are much more willing to give up short passes.
“Just make the game as boring as possible,” linebacker Jay Higgins said of the Hawkeyes’ philosophy. “Make them throw the short passes. If they throw the short passes the whole game marching down the field, kudos to those guys. But we know that the shots coming. And when that shot comes, we make a play.”
Video: Jay Higgins talks defense ahead of road test vs. Minnesota
Linebacker Jay Higgins discusses a variety of topics ahead of Iowa’s matchup with Minnesota.
Special teams also have been guilty of allowing significant damage. The Hawkeyes gave up a 77-yard punt return touchdown to Troy — a slip-up on a special teams unit that doesn’t usually make mistakes of that magnitude.
“That punt return is just so easy to cherry-pick because that guy (Ross) could have had a cup of coffee and stopped at our bench, had a cup of coffee and then kept going,” Ferentz said. “… That’s just bad football.”
Iowa will attempt to clean things up this week in preparation for Saturday’s Big Ten opener at Minnesota (6:30 p.m., NBC). The Hawkeyes and Gophers have a tendency to play close games (the last three have been decided by a combined 10 points). That means every yard could be important, especially when they come in handfuls and lead to touchdowns.
“The one thing I do know is giving up big plays makes it tough to play winning football, so it’s something we have to get corrected,” Ferentz said. “We’ve been victimized by that now two weeks in a row. Again, it’s really not a matter of effort, it’s a little better job with communication and a better job with good, fundamental play out there. We’re certainly going to have to improve as we start to move into conference play now.”
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at [email protected]
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Publish date : 2024-09-18 00:04:00
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