MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Iowa’s plan this year was to find playing time for eight quality defensive linemen.
But six linebackers and seven defensive backs?
“'Unnerving' would be a good word,” Hawkeye coach Kirk Ferentz said after Saturday’s 48-31 victory over Minnesota at TCF Bank Stadium.
He was referring specifically to Iowa’s new starting cornerback tandem — true freshmen Julius Brents and Riley Moss. But Ferentz also could have been speaking about the entire back seven of his defense, which has bordered on chaotic in a season marked by injuries and inexperience.
For Hawkeye fans who tend to prefer half-empty glasses, and there are plenty of you, the situation at linebacker and in the secondary should be the biggest concern as the team moves farther into the Big Ten Conference season.
What happened Saturday wasn’t entirely reassuring.
For example:
Brents and Moss replaced injured starters Matt Hankins and Michael Ojemudia. They each got their first career interceptions. Moss even added a second one. But he was picked on routinely by Minnesota quarterback Zack Annexstad, and didn’t always have the answer.
Ferentz also said that Hankins (wrist injury) and Ojemudia (unspecified) were cleared to return to practice at different points last week. Ojemudia even played some in nickel and dime situations Saturday. The Hawkeyes would certainly benefit from at least one of them being able to start next week at Indiana.
Jack Hockaday got a fourth consecutive start at middle linebacker, with Djimon Colbert alongside him, as the Hawkeyes went with a three-safety configuration for much of the game. Then Hockaday, a senior who was the team’s leading tackler entering the game, went out late in the first half with a knee injury. He left the stadium on crutches.
Hockaday was replaced by Amani Jones. Jones picked up a targeting penalty in the final minute of a game the Hawkeyes had well in hand. The price for his aggressive hit on a Gophers’ receiver? An ejection from Saturday’s game and a suspension for the first half of the Indiana game. With outside linebacker Nick Niemann already out with a leg injury, this is less than ideal.
But six linebackers and seven defensive backs?
“'Unnerving' would be a good word,” Hawkeye coach Kirk Ferentz said after Saturday’s 48-31 victory over Minnesota at TCF Bank Stadium.
He was referring specifically to Iowa’s new starting cornerback tandem — true freshmen Julius Brents and Riley Moss. But Ferentz also could have been speaking about the entire back seven of his defense, which has bordered on chaotic in a season marked by injuries and inexperience.
For Hawkeye fans who tend to prefer half-empty glasses, and there are plenty of you, the situation at linebacker and in the secondary should be the biggest concern as the team moves farther into the Big Ten Conference season.
What happened Saturday wasn’t entirely reassuring.
For example:
Brents and Moss replaced injured starters Matt Hankins and Michael Ojemudia. They each got their first career interceptions. Moss even added a second one. But he was picked on routinely by Minnesota quarterback Zack Annexstad, and didn’t always have the answer.
Ferentz also said that Hankins (wrist injury) and Ojemudia (unspecified) were cleared to return to practice at different points last week. Ojemudia even played some in nickel and dime situations Saturday. The Hawkeyes would certainly benefit from at least one of them being able to start next week at Indiana.
Jack Hockaday got a fourth consecutive start at middle linebacker, with Djimon Colbert alongside him, as the Hawkeyes went with a three-safety configuration for much of the game. Then Hockaday, a senior who was the team’s leading tackler entering the game, went out late in the first half with a knee injury. He left the stadium on crutches.
Hockaday was replaced by Amani Jones. Jones picked up a targeting penalty in the final minute of a game the Hawkeyes had well in hand. The price for his aggressive hit on a Gophers’ receiver? An ejection from Saturday’s game and a suspension for the first half of the Indiana game. With outside linebacker Nick Niemann already out with a leg injury, this is less than ideal.