Although it was North Texas, Iowa benefited from facing a fast-paced offense.
By Ryan Rodriguez
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Iowa’s 62-16 trouncing of North Texas Sept. 26 was a long one.
Games that end being decided by a margin of more than 40 points typically don’t take more than three hours to complete, but for two pass-happy offenses, it was an exercise in the quick strike, both executing it and defending against it.
With the teams only getting bigger and faster from here on out, the lightning-quick pace was perfect preparation for a few of the teams the Hawks will come up against in Big Ten play.
“It was different a little bit for us because they are such a high-tempo team,” junior defensive end Nate Meier said. “But it was good for us. There’s a lot of speed in the Big Ten.”
There’s been a lot of debate about whether the Hawkeyes’ nonconference schedule has prepared them for their upcoming slate of Big Ten games, a schedule that some admit is one of the weakest in the Power-5 conferences.
Two of the team’s first four wins have come against non-Power-5 schools, including Football Championship Subdivision heavyweight Illinois State.
The talent level on those rosters is a far cry from the quality of a Big Ten competitor puts out on a week-to-week basis, but one thing is for certain: The Hawks are in shape.
Between Tyler Boyd in the Pittsburgh game and the uptempo Mean Green, Iowa has already dealt with quite a bit of speed the first four weeks of the season.
“It got us into shape and just helped us understand how high-tempo offense work,” sophomore Josey Jewell said. “They got a lot of plays off, especially in the first half, so it got everyone a little tired, but we just have to work through it.”
Iowa’s fatigue was apparent at times throughout the contest.
A North Texas offense that’s average even by Conference-USA standards had no trouble putting together a number of long drives against the Iowa defense in the first half, drives that a more talented team probably would have cashed in on.
What’s more, Iowa’s own offense was hitting deep strikes with such regularity that the Hawks defensive players had just a few minutes to catch their breath in between possessions.
“There were time when we were sloppy, but I think that came from the tempo of the game,” linebacker Cole Fisher said. “I don’t think we’re going to be playing anyone faster than that, but there were time when we were definitely pretty gassed out there.”
And much to their credit, Iowa’s defense improved dramatically as the game went on, sacking North Texas quarterback Andrew McNulty three times and taking a pair of interceptions to the house for touchdowns.
Particularly in the red zone, Iowa stepped up when it had to. Junior cornerback Desmond King had a pass breakup in the back of the end zone that would have been a sure score.
In fact, the Hawkeyes had nine different players record pass breakups.
Bend but not break has been Iowa’s mantra so far on defense. It’s up to the Hawkeyes to ensure they can keep pace.
“We played as a unit today, just a good total defensive effort,” King said. “Just one game at a time. Just focused on the next opponent.”
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