Iowa defense keying in on Penn State QB
Iowa’s defense has made a habit of benching quarterbacks in 2021.
Maryland’s Taulia Tagovailoa was the latest to receive the Hawkeyes’ defense harsh treatment in Friday’s 51-14 thrashing: 157 passing yards (compared to his 335 season average) and five interceptions (compared to one entering the game).
Maryland coach Mike Locksley had no choice but to remove his starter from the game, making him the fourth coach in five weeks to do so. While benching quarterbacks isn’t an official statistic or even a goal for Iowa’s defense, this metric provides context to their early season success.
“It’s given us a lot of confidence,” veteran defensive back Kaevon Merriweather said. “I think we understand what we need to do. I think we’re an experienced group now, with a young defensive line they have a lot more experience going on game six. We understand what needs to be done each week.”
This week’s assignment? Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford is a familiar opponent. Saturday’s game will be the third meeting against Clifford, and in 2019 he came into Kinnick Stadium and led the Nittany Lions to a 17-12 win.
Without question, this will be the best version of Clifford yet. This season he ranks third in the Big Ten in passing yards (1,336), passing touchdowns (11) and completion percentage (67.3%).
And like Iowa’s Spencer Petras, he’s riding an impressive winning streak of his own with nine in a row as a starter.
“(Clifford) is a veteran player, can make any throw that they ask him to make,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “He’s a veteran player, a leader, a guy they look to.”
Like any quarterback, the main component in stopping Clifford the passer is with consistent pressure by the defensive line. Fourth-ranked Penn State’s offensive line shut out Indiana’s defense in sacks in Saturday’s 24-0 win. Statistically, the matchup between the respective lines in this game is a toss-up. Penn State ranks sixth in the Big Ten in sacks allowed (8) and Iowa ranks seventh in team sacks (13).
“We need to get pressure in his face to get him off his mark,” defensive lineman Logan Lee said. “Number one thing is push the pocket, collapse the pocket and try to get pressure and cause a disruption on the throw.”
Without pressure, Clifford has proved to be one of the most accurate passers in the country. According to Pro Football Focus, Clifford is completing 72% of his passes when in a clean pocket this season; this is an 8% upgrade since he first became the starter in 2019.
A clean pocket for Clifford means he can connect with his top receiver Jahan Dotson at a dangerous rate. Dotson, like Clifford, has third-ranked Iowa’s full attention in game planning. The two have connected for the most touchdowns in Penn State history (18) and Dotson has recorded at least one 20-yard reception in eight consecutive games.
Neutralize Clifford means neutralizing Penn State’s big-play ability.
“Everything,” Ferentz said when asked what impressed him about Dotson. “That’s what you have to realize: You’re playing a team that can close the gap really fast because they’ve got some guys . ... He’s the guy, really good guy.”
“As dangerous as anything” Ferentz said of Clifford. “If it’s not there for him, something opens up, he’ll pull it down and go. He’ll throw off the run or take it and make the yardage necessary for a first down or even more than that.”