No. 4 Penn State preps for No. 3 Iowa’s ‘fast, confident and aggressive’ defense

STATE COLLEGE — James Franklin knows some might describe the Iowa defense as “simplistic,” given how long Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz and defensive coordinator Phil Parker have worked together, but the Penn State coach is also well-aware that the system gets results.

When No. 4 Penn State faces No. 3 Iowa on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium, Franklin, offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich and the Nittany Lions have a good idea of what they’re going to see from the Hawkeyes defense. But they also know that behind the curtain, there is much more going on with Iowa, and that’s what they’ll need to be prepared for.

“To me, that’s what the smartest people in the world do, right? They take complex things and are able to present them in a very clear and precise manner,” Franklin said over Zoom on Tuesday afternoon. “I think that’s what they do a great job of where the offenses are doing all of these different things, shifts, motions and empty and unbalanced and formation into the boundary and all these different things to try to cause conflict and RPOs.”

Through five games of the 2021 season, Iowa (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) has the results to back up their philosophy entering its nationally televised matchup with Penn State (5-0, 2-0). The Hawkeyes defense ranks No. 2 nationally in scoring (11.6 points per game) and No. 7 nationally in total defense (271.4 yards per game).

But the most impressive statistic is the turnovers. Iowa has forced 16 turnovers this season while giving the ball away only four times, which gives the Hawkeyes the No. 1 turnover margin in the nation at plus-12.

In last week’s 51-14 demolition at Maryland, Iowa forced seven turnovers, including six interceptions.

“I think everybody knows that’s the storyline of this game,” Franklin said. “They’re doing a lot of things well. That’s the thing that they’re doing right now that makes them special.”

For its part, Penn State has taken care of the ball well this season. The Nittany Lions’ plus-6 turnover margin ranks No. 12 nationally and No. 2 in the Big Ten. Quarterback Sean Clifford’s three interceptions are the lone turnovers by Penn State this season.

But Iowa won’t make things easy on Clifford or the rest of the Nittany Lions. Franklin knows it, and everybody watching does, too.

“The method to their success is through repetition and through making sure that they’re lined up and sound, and it allows their players to play fast, confident and aggressive,” Franklin said. “So I love it. I truly, truly love it and respect it. But, yeah, they are who they are. They may have a wrinkle that you haven’t seen, but for the most part, they are who they are.”