Iowa football rewind: Hawkeyes’ third-down defense, offensive line shine vs. Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. — The low-scoring, grind-it-out nature of Iowa football’s win over Wisconsin on Saturday drew some parallels to 2015 — the last time the Hawkeyes won in Camp Randall Stadium.

The 2023 score was 15-6. The 2015 score was 10-6. One would have to go back to 2003 to find a time when Iowa football won in Madison with more than 20 points on the scoreboard.

“This game turned out basically what you’d expect any time we get together, especially up here,” Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said after the 2023 win. “Just a tough, hard-fought game by both teams.”

Here are some takeaways from the 15-6 win after re-watching the game:

Sebastian Castro’s big day

Iowa safety Sebastian Castro received a nice birthday gift when defensive lineman Deontae Craig’s hit on Wisconsin’s Braedyn Locke did enough to send the pass offline and into a spot where Castro could make a play in the fourth quarter.

Although it was not necessarily evident to someone solely glancing at the box score, Castro already was putting together quite the performance on his birthday well before the last-minute interception.

While lined up about five yards back from the line of scrimmage in the first quarter, Castro quickly recognized a bubble screen. He was no match for the Wisconsin tight end blocking him and tackled the receiver immediately for a one-yard loss. The play became a moot point when the Badgers converted on fourth down three plays later, but it was impressive nonetheless.

As Wisconsin’s Tanner Mordecai threw to running back Jackson Acker in the backfield in the second quarter, Castro was no match for the blocking Tucker Ashcraft. The result was a loss of six yards by the Badgers, which created a third-and-long situation.

“Man, he read that so beautifully,” Fox play-by-play commentator Jason Benetti said on the broadcast.

Castro also had a key role in Yahya Black’s sack and forced fumble that resulted in a safety. Iowa sent Castro on a disguised blitz. Locke was dancing around the pocket to avoid Castro when Black delivered the big hit.

As for the interception in the final minute, Castro wisely dropped to the ground to clinch the win rather than trying to turn the pick into points.

“The thought did come to my mind,” Castro said of the possible pick-six, “but I wasn’t going to do that.”

Iowa’s stellar third-down defense

Iowa’s defense thrived in third-down scenarios.

Wisconsin was a meager 2-for-17 on third downs. Iowa’s offense ranks last among Power Five teams in third-down efficiency, but its 26.3 percent this season looks rosy compared to Wisconsin’s 11.8 percent on Saturday.

On third down, Iowa gave up 2.2 yards per play. On all other downs, Iowa gave up 4.8 yards per play.

Wisconsin’s chances were especially slim against Phil Parker’s defense on third-and-medium and third-and-long situations.

When the Badgers needed four or fewer yards for a first down, they were 2-of-6 on conversions and averaged 2.8 yards per play.

When the Badgers needed five plus-yards, they were 0-for-11 and averaged only 1.8 yards per play.

Offensive line setting up big plays on ground

The growth on the offensive line Ferentz has talked about in news conferences was on display in the win.

The most notable example was during Leshon Williams’ 82-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Iowa was in 22 personnel (two running backs and two tight ends) on third-and-2. The offensive line created plenty of space on the inside-zone play, particularly in the B gap between left tackle Mason Richman and left guard Rusty Feth.

The hole was big enough that “one of y’all could’ve run through it,” Williams told reporters after the game.

Williams had a bit of a stutter step he said “was me making things harder than what it was.” It worked out, though, as it appeared to put Wisconsin defensive end Rodas Johnson off balance. After Johnson was not in position to make a play, Williams only had a few more Badgers to evade on the touchdown run.

While the 82-yard touchdown run will be the most memorable for fans in the days and weeks ahead, it was not the only example of the offensive line setting up the rushing game for success.

Kaleb Johnson’s nine-yard run on a counter play in the first quarter is another example. With the help of tight end Johnny Pascuzzi, the right side of the offensive line cleared enough space for Johnson to go about eight yards before making contact with a defender.

The offensive line had many other plays where it did not give Iowa’s running backs much of a boost, though. If excluding Williams’ 82-yard touchdown, Iowa’s yards per carry would drop from 4.2 to 2.5.

Iowa’s offense was almost entirely dependent on running the ball Saturday, but when Deacon Hill did throw, the pass protection gave Hill plenty of time in the pocket.

Hill was kept clean on 81.3 percent of his 16 dropbacks against the Badgers, per Pro Football Focus. It is the highest percentage since Iowa’s Week 1 win over Utah State, when the line kept Cade McNamara clean on 83.9 percent of dropbacks.

Quick hits

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com