Hawkeyes hoping defense ready for Big Ten play
IOWA CITY, Iowa — After five years of teasing the Hawkeyes with his potential, senior safety Jordan Bernstine is finally someone the Iowa defense can count on.
The Hawkeyes are going to need a few more guys like Bernstine to step up with Big Ten play on the horizon.
Iowa’s defense, typically one of the better units in the country, remains a question mark heading into Saturday’s game at Penn State (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten).
The Hawkeyes (3-1, 0-0) tightened up what had been a leaky defense in the fourth quarter of a rousing comeback against Pittsburgh and in its last game, a 45-17 win over Louisiana-Monroe back on Sept. 24.
“Hopefully we can keep playing that way, like our shoulders are pressed against a wall,” Iowa cornerback Shaun Prater said. “We have to keep playing aggressive and just go out attack those guys every single play, every chance we get.”
Iowa ranks 53rd in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 23.8 points per game — a number skewed by giving up 44 to Iowa State in an overtime loss. Iowa had finished in the top 10 of that category each year from 2008-10 as players like Adrian Clayborn, Christian Ballard, Tyler Sash and Pat Angerer kept the Hawkeyes in every game.
Those guys are all playing on Sundays now, and Iowa is still trying to replace them.
“The last two weeks we have taken some positive steps. Some things that hurt us (against Iowa State) continue to plague us a little bit, and we just have to keep working to shore those things up,” coach Kirk Ferentz said.
The first sign of trouble came when Cyclones quarterback Steele Jantz — who has thrown as many picks as touchdowns this season — ripped Iowa apart in the second half and overtime.
A major shake-up followed.
Micah Hyde moved back to his usual spot at cornerback and Tanner Miller and Bernstine, a once-highly touted recruit hampered by injuries throughout his career, took over at safety.
Former walk-on Thomas Nardo found a home along the defensive line, and Dominic Alvis moved from tackle to end.
The moves didn’t pay off at first as Pittsburgh jumped out to a 21-point second half lead on Sept. 17. But the Hawkeyes stiffened and Hyde followed quarterback James Vandenberg’s thrilling comeback with a late interception to seal a 31-27 win.
Bernstine, who missed the Iowa State game because of illness, has helped clean up the secondary issues and provided a boost on kickoff returns.
“He’s done an incredible job of a guy just turned his attention and his zest for the game around,” Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker said. “He’s really become, from being a very insignificant leader to maybe the leader of the defense.”
Nardo was the breakout star against Louisiana-Monroe, with 12 tackles, two for losses and half a sack in earning Big Ten defensive player of the week honors in just his second career start.
“We are on the path but we are not there. We have some young players and we have also got some guys who are not real experienced but they are doing some good things,” Ferentz said.
At linebacker, Iowa has been forced to play three sophomores at times this season, though the return of a healthy Tyler Nielsen should help against Penn State.
If the defense continues to improve, Iowa has a shot at challenging for a division title. After all, they’ve got an offense that’s scored at least 31 points in every game so far.
“Even though they’re giving up some points they still have a lot of good players. They know what they’re doing back there,” Penn State wide receiver Derek Moye said.