Added experience at linebacker should help the Iowa defense make strides next season. The Hawkeyes’ linebacker Coach Jim Reid says ” I think we’re going to be playing hard, we’ve got to be physical, we’ve got to make more plays, and I think we’ve got the guys there to do it.” The unit features five players who gained valuable experience in 2014. Last year an inexperienced group was exploited for several big plays.

Reid says “We all believe that we’re headed in the right direction with this crowd, adn it’s a fun crowd to coach because they are into it – big time. I know Coach Parker feels good about anything, you know we’re going in the right direction.” In the run game,  Reid says the linebackers need to do better job of setting the edge.

“It’s an 11-man responsibility,” he says, “To defend the pass, to defend the run on the flanks, do defend the run inside. It’s an 11-man responsibility. We all have to get to the football.”

A year ago the Hawkeyes were hurt by several teams who were able to fun on the flanks. Reid says “We have to defend, is the big play, which most of them did happen on the flank, in terms of the run game. But I think what you’re gonna see, is basically the same scheme, and all we gotta do is change the numbers…on the jerseys.”

The Hawkeyes travel to West Des Moines on Saturday for a practice at Valley Stadium.

(Learfield Sports)