Iowa’s defensive regression in 2024 shows why it’s difficult to sustain elite level of play

IOWA CITY — Phil Parker has the mentality as Iowa’s defensive coordinator that he does not want offenses “to gain a yard.”

“So any time they gain a yard, you’re behind,” Parker said. “You say, ‘Why’d they gain a yard?’ Or, ‘Why’d they gain 10?’”

As Parker — the 2023 recipient of the Broyles Award, which goes to the best assistant coach in college football — maintains his same high standards in 2024, the results have not been quite at the same elite level as in past seasons.

Iowa has allowed 5.11 yards per play, 3.84 yards per rushing attempt and 6.3 yards per passing attempt through the first 10 games of the 2024 season. All three figures are respectably 45th or better among the 133 FBS teams this season.

But those figures are a notable drop-off from last year’s elite numbers — 4.08 yards allowed per play, 3.14 yards allowed per rushing attempt and 5.06 yards allowed per passing attempt. Those ranked first, eighth and second nationally, respectively. (Ohio State was barely ahead of Iowa with 5.05 yards allowed per passing attempt.)

The decrease in defensive production is despite Iowa returning every starter except cornerback Cooper DeJean and defensive linemen Logan Lee and Joe Evans.

“We have eight returning starting guys coming back this year,” Parker said during his bye-week news conference. “Everybody thinks that you’re going to be just as good as you were last year. And you guys don’t understand that every day you go out there, it’s a challenge.”

It is rare to reach the level of success Parker’s defenses achieved in 2022 and 2023 and even rarer to sustain it over an extended period of time.

Before Iowa in 2022 and 2023, the last time a defense led the FBS in yards allowed per play in consecutive seasons was Alabama in 2016 and 2017. Even Alabama, with its army of former five-star recruits, subsequently had a drop-off in 2018 when the Crimson Tide allowed 4.89 yards per play.

Iowa’s defensive regression does not necessarily have an obvious singular cause.

Bad tackling has sometimes been an issue for Iowa, particularly in its losses to Michigan State and UCLA. But the Hawkeyes’ 81 missed tackles through 10 games (8.1 per game) this year, according to Pro Football Focus, are not far off from their 107 missed tackles through 14 games (7.6 per game) last year.

In the case of Iowa’s loss to UCLA, Parker’s defense struggled mightily at getting off the field on third down, as the Bruins converted on 64.3 percent of attempts. But the Iowa defense’s 35.1 percent of third-down conversions allowed ranks 41st nationally — respectable although not quite as good as last year’s 31.3 percent.

One clear contrast has been Iowa’s increased propensity to give up big plays in 2024. Iowa has given up nine 30-plus-yard plays, already matching last year’s total from 14 games (including the Big Ten title game and Citrus Bowl).

The even more glaring area has been 20-to-29-yard plays. Iowa gave up 11 plays last in that range. This year, Iowa has given up 22 plays for gains of 20-29 yards.

“The bigger chunk plays have been too much,” Parker said. “And for whatever reason — whether a guy’s not in his gap or whether a guy has lost leverage, didn’t see the ball or whatever it is — that needs to be cleaned up.”

The exact causes aside, Iowa’s defense — a unit that could once almost be taken for granted in past years — has experienced a heavier dose of reality in 2024.

“Obviously, wins and losses come with the sport, but we don’t feel like we played our best,” defensive end Deontae Craig said after the loss to UCLA. “When you leave the field, whether you win or lose, you want to feel like you put your best foot forward.”

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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