3 and Out: Checking in on the tight ends

1. Welfare check on the tight ends — I just wanted to see how this unit has performed in the first five games. By doing this I'm in no way insinuating anything. One thing about Iowa's TE production is you have to factor the rise in talent and targets for the wide receivers group. Also, there's the perception that offensive coordinator Greg Davis ignores the position. Not true. In 2013, tight ends accounted for 62 receptions. In 2012, Davis' first season, tight ends caught 60 (including 45 from C.J. Fiedorowicz). In the last seven seasons, only 2008 even comes close to those numbers for Iowa's TEs (with three NFL-level TEs catching 58 passes.

OK, how is this season going? Iowa has had three tight ends (Jake Duzey, Ray Hamilton and Henry Kreiger-Coble) combine for 23 receptions for 178 yards and two TDs. Duzey leads with 14 catches for 77 yards. Overall, the trio averages 7.73 yards a catch, which sounds about right for TEs. Last season at this time, Iowa had four TEs combine for 18 catches for 223 yards and one TD (12.38 yards a catch).

Conclusion: Iowa started playing three-TE sets against Pitt and continued that at Purdue. You'll probably see more of that. Another possible wrinkle could be vertical moves. Duzey showed last season he's capable of that. Tight end is kind of treading water and not leading the pack. If you look at the numbers, outside of the superstar TEs Iowa has had, that is kind of the position.

2. Defense is doing well, but they're not buying it — Purdue's offense seemed to get a whole lot better one week after facing the Hawkeyes. After generating just three points against Iowa, the Boilermakers rebounded with 38 in a win at Illinois. Austin Appleby replaced Danny Etling at QB and the Boilers seem much better off.

The bottom line for Iowa, however, is six quarters of pretty great defensive football. The 156 yards Iowa allowed was its lowest since 112 against Ball State in 2010 (a span of 39 games). After Pitt running back James Connor rushed for 100 yards in the first half against Iowa, the Hawkeyes rush defense has in the last six quarters held opponents to 137 rushing yards.

The players recognize they've done their jobs, for the most part, up to this point, but they also know the higher-powered offenses are yet to come. The defense doesn't believe it's arrived. Not even close.

'Our coaching staff constantly reminds of that, so our heads don't get too big,' free safety Jordan Lomax said. 'We have meetings everyday about it. 'Stay focused.' 'Don't think about the big picture.' Don't look ahead and keep all of the concentration on what's in front of us.'

3. In praise of pass blocking — Iowa's run blocking has been picked to the bone. On Kirk Ferentz's call-in show last night, one caller wanted guards Jordan Walsh and Sean Welsh replaced. Show host and Iowa radio play-by-play voice Gary Dolphin took up arms for the guards, saying that Iowa football radio analyst Ed Podolak believed Welsh is one of the better young guards he's seen.

The fact of the matter is Iowa's running game has problems and it extends from O-line to running backs to formations to play calls. Lots of thunder on that topic.

How about pass blocking? That's been pretty good. Running the numbers: Iowa has allowed just seven sacks, that's No. 30 in the nation. Disruption in the pocket has been relatively minimal. This is something that's working and worthy of note.

'I think it's just being focused on the details and doing things right and understanding that doing one tiny minuscule detail wrong is going to lead to a big problem for the quarterback and for the team,' center Austin Blythe said.

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com