Kelvin Bell and Seth Wallace not ready to call the defense elite at this stage
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Some in the media tried to get Kelvin Bell and Seth Wallace to take the bait on Tuesday, but neither would.
Iowa’s two assistant coaches on defense were given several chances to say that the defense is elite in response to questions that pushed that narrative, but they instead reminded the media that the season isn’t over.
When asked if it feels like Iowa has an elite defense based on the statistics, Bell minced no words.
“No, no it doesn’t,” said Iowa’s first-year defensive line coach and former recruiting coordinator.
Wallace then reminded the media that there still is a lot out there to accomplish, and room to improve on defense. He almost seemed uncomfortable responding to the elite narrative.
“It goes back to we see so much more that we can be better at,” said Wallace, who coaches the Iowa linebackers. “Maybe if we get to that point, we’ll feel that way. But there’s a lot left out there.”
Iowa is currently in its second bye week of the season and will return to action against Wisconsin on Nov. 9th in Madison, Wis.
With records of 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten, Iowa is barely halfway through its nine-game conference schedule, so Bell and Wallace were right to dismiss the elite narrative.
It’s just too early to push that storyline despite what the statistics say.
Iowa is certainly showing signs of having an elite defense, including being ranked third in the Big Ten in total defense, rushing defense and scoring defense.
Iowa also has at this stage of the season from a statistical standpoint the best total defense and best scoring defense in 21 seasons under Kirk Ferentz.
But there still are four conference games left on the schedule and a bowl game, and maybe even the Big Ten Championship game should Iowa win the West Division.
“I don’t think that any of us, other than when we read some of the stuff that you guys write about, I don’t know that any of us could tell you what the statistics are or where we’re at,” Wallace said. “It’s more about how much better can we get, and making sure that our players understand that because they probably do get a chance to read more of the stuff that’s out there about us.
“And we just want to make sure that they understand that there’s a lot that we can still improve on.”
Kirk Ferentz is a master at living in the moment and with staying the course.
He would’ve answered the question about the defense being elite the exact same way. Ferentz would’ve said it’s way too early to anoint the defense and he would’ve been right because it is too early.
Iowa already has held two Big Ten opponents scoreless this season, including a 20-0 victory at Northwestern this past Saturday in which the Wildcats only gained 202 yards. Iowa also defeated Rutgers 30-0 in the Big Ten opener.
The defense, led by coordinator/defensive backs coach Phil Parker, is clearly the strength of this Iowa team.
Junior defensive ends A.J. Epenesa and Chauncey Golston are both performing at an all-conference level, along with junior strong safety Geno Stone.
Iowa hasn’t allowed more than 20 points in a game this season, and to be able to say that after eight games, is impressive.
The players on defense should be proud of what they’ve accomplished so far, but hardly satisfied, not with so many games still left to be played.
That was the message sent by both Bell and Wallace on Tuesday.
The media can say the defense is elite, but Bell and Wallace are wise to avoid that narrative at this stage because a lot can happen between now and the end of the season.
Iowa's two shutouts also came against teams with a combined record of 3-12 overall and 0-10 in conference play.
Injuries are always a concern and the defense has dealt with some of that adversity this season, including at middle linebacker where senior starter Kristian Welch has missed the last two games.
Starting cornerback Matt Hankins also missed three games because of an injury, as did sophomore defensive back Kaevon Merriweather because of a foot injury.
Redshirt freshman Dillon Doyle and true freshman Jack Campbell have rotated at middle linebacker in Welch’s absence and have held their own, while sophomore walk-on Jack Koerner is now firmly entrenched as the starter at free safety after having started the last seven games at that position.
It’ll be fun to watch how the defense performs down the stretch because it is flirting with dominance.
But the story about this Iowa defense still is being written with some of the best chapters yet to come.
The best way for the Iowa defense to achieve elite status is to have the players and coaches just keep grinding and not worry about what others think or about the statistics.
Bell and Wallace both made that obvious with their answers on Tuesday.