Iowa football: Five reasons Iowa can make a playoff run

Iowa’s defense is good

I wanted to save the best for last, and Iowa’s defense is the best reason they can make a run because it is very good, and it’s continuing to get better. Led by a veteran defensive line, this defense is currently one of the best in the country and coming off one of it’s best outings in a few season as it held the Maryland Terrapins 17th ranked rushing attack to a season-low 68 yards rushing.

Currently, the Iowa football defense is third in the nation in total yards per game with 258. Against the run, they are also third and against the pass they are 19th. Their scoring defense is ranked fifth allowing just 14.1 points per game.

On the defensive line, they have three guys with three sacks or more including AJ Epenesa (six sacks) who is second in the Big Ten and Anthony Nelson (five sacks) who is fifth in the Big Ten.

At the linebacker position, the Iowa football team has done surprisingly well considering the amount of injuries suffered at the position. Six different players have seen starts at the linebacker spot, and currently Iowa is tinkering with a more modern defense that features safety Amani Hooker manning an outside linebacker spot in a 4-2-5.

In the secondary, they have defensive leader, junior Amani Hooker who has been a jack of all trades this year and currently leads the team with two interceptions and is third on the team in total tackles. At the corner position, Iowa’s two season-opener starters have been dealing with injuries but in their place have been two incredible freshman in Julius Brents and Riley Moss. The game experience these two are receiving will be critical for when Iowa needs to face spread attacks with predominantly four and five-wide receiver sets.

Moss has already won freshman Big Ten Player of the Week honors and Julius Brents is quietly having one of the best seasons in the nation.

The early season adversity with injuries will only help this Iowa defense later in the season as they have the ability to mix and match personnel at ease now to account for whatever offense the opposing team will be running.

If you haven’t been paying attention, you should now because as I have alluded to in the last five slides, this team is one built to contend for a playoff berth this year.