DEFENSIVE UNIT YOU FEEL BEST ABOUT

[jerbob36]

DBs -- TOP 7 as best as I can tell (starters on top row)

Lee SO/Hall JR Schulte SR. Xavier JR Harris SR
Nestor SO. Entringer SO


LBs -- Top 5 as best as I can tell (including Castro here, though he could also go with DBs)

CaSHtro SR Higgins SR Jackson SR
Sharar JR Harrell JR


DL -- TOP 7 as best as I can tell
Craig SR Graves JR Black SR Hurkett SR
Allen SO Llewellyn JR Pittman JR


DBs - I feel best about them. Experience, playmaking, young hungry guys waiting in the wings pushing the starters.
LBs - I feel great about the starters. Less so about the guys behind them.
DL - I feel good about this group, but wonder where the QB pressures/sacks are going to come from. Hopefully Craig continues to progress. Graves has been much hyped.

This is a really good defense once again.

 

[Herkylian]

I'd say DB's because usually under coach Parker it's a top 10 to 20 unit every year. But me personally any unit with Castro in it is top five automatically. That young man can out instinct almost anyone on the the football field and he has the physical skills. I like your list and it's a good discussion.

 

[jonesy5960]

All of them. Next question.

 

[eyesofhawk]

The entire D, including the punter

 

[Ferentz_Fan]

I feel like the LBs will get the most action/contact.

 

[DutchyFunStar]

Ability to get pressure with just the front 4 is always a concern.

 

[Ferentz_Fan]

Ability to get pressure with just the front 4 is always a concern.

I hear you, Phil doesn't always go for the sack or want the QB to scramble.

 

[squeezebox]

Graves and Allen are both going to take huge steps this year. Phil has been dialing up the blitzes more often this year. I see the pressure/sack numbers going up with that secondary.

 

[kceasthawk]

The entire D, including the punter

Well the punter will be worth keeping an eye on. We've had great fortune with lads from that Aussie kicking academy, so hopefully that continues....

 

[Hawk_4shur]

All of them. Next question.

Agreed,

Next question - how abut the offense?

 

[DutchyFunStar]

I hear you, Phil doesn't always go for the sack or want the QB to scramble.

That slow bull rush is tough to watch sometimes. Especially with a patient QB.

 

[desihawk]

there’s no lockdown cb (like dejean or riley) this year and i suspect that harris and lee will at best be adequate. so my hopes are with the DL. if the DL isn’t more disruptive than usual the defense could take a significant step back.

 

[pistachio1999]

there’s no lockdown cb (like dejean or riley) this year and i suspect that harris and lee will at best be adequate. so my hopes are with the DL. if the DL isn’t more disruptive than usual the defense could take a significant step back.

Did pretty darn good against Michigan in the BTCG against a 1st round NFL QB draft pick.

 

[cmhawks99]

there’s no lockdown cb (like dejean or riley) this year and i suspect that harris and lee will at best be adequate. so my hopes are with the DL. if the DL isn’t more disruptive than usual the defense could take a significant step back.

@best be adequate ?

 

[desihawk]

@best be adequate ?

i had the privilege of watching dejean last couple years

 

[cmhawks99]

i had the privilege of watching dejean last couple years

Fair enough, and Harris had an up & down last year for sure but they are very high on him and will play in the NFL and Lee played awesome last year as a first go around. And there is some buzz that John Nester might beat him out.

 

[J-Prof]

Might be worth splitting the DTs and DEs for the purposes of this exercise. I feel better about the DTs than I do about the DEs. Although the ends have some potential and might be a strength by mid-season.

 

[NevadaHawk]

The LB unit will be rock solid. They get my vote.

 

[rfgiowa]

LBs = A
DBs = A-
DLs = B+

 

[cidhawkeye]

i had the privilege of watching dejean last couple years

Was that a solo project? I think a few others may have watched him as well. Some P. Parker guy has watched these other guys as well and feels pretty good about them. But you go with ‘adequate’

 

[BonzoFury]

Linebackers 1
DBs 1A (the loss of Cooper will be significant, otherwise they'd be 1
DL

 

[BDE420]

I feel like without pressure maybe the DBs slip a little. Love the D overall as a unit but pressure is worrisome and could cause problems as a whole especially if O is a 3 n Out unit again (I think it’ll be much improved 🤞🏻

 

[cidsports]

More reason for optimism for Hawkeyes '24 🤔

 

[HawK + i]

I hear you, Phil doesn't always go for the sack or want the QB to scramble.

This guy gets it, but it is surprising how many Iowa fans don't understand that Parker's DL is usually looking to contain the QB to force bad throws to the secondary or disrupt the passing lanes and get tip balls. He certainly prioritizes turnovers above sacks.

 

[TonyTheTiger.1865]

Best linebacker. I am concerned about DE and getting pressure.

 

[SolarHawk]

This guy gets it, but it is surprising how many Iowa fans don't understand that Parker's DL is usually looking to contain the QB to force bad throws to the secondary or disrupt the passing lanes and get tip balls. He certainly prioritizes turnovers above sacks.

This, Iowa thrives on bend don’t break and forcing untimely turnovers in the secondary. We will have one of the best defenses statistically this year. All we need is top 80 or better offense to have a special season.

 

[Stoopsbrother]

LB's 100%

 

[BUCKSNDUCKS]

Anyone think Harris could be a lb?