By John Bohnenkamp

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa’s defensive line understood the criticism, even if the players tried not to hear it.

The Hawkeyes have always been good about backfield harassment, but they had just three sacks in the first five games, and a unit that likes to make opponents uncomfortable was, itself, uncomfortable with its performance.

“We stay off the phones with the media and stuff,” defensive end Joe Evans said. “It’s hard not to see, sometimes, people on social media criticizing us for not getting to the quarterback, not being productive.”

They were productive in Saturday’s 20-14 win over Purdue at Kinnick Stadium.

The Hawkeyes sacked Purdue quarterback Hudson Card six times and had 12 tackles for loss, constantly chasing Card and keeping the Boilermakers’ running game in check with 96 yards on 40 carries.

The linemen met as a unit, without the coaches, during the week to work out whatever issues they may have had.

“We just said it was important to go out and play for each other,” said Evans, not wanting to go into much detail. “Have some fun. Of course, winning is fun.”

News of the meeting was a surprise to Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz.

“They probably should have more meetings then,” Ferentz joked. “No, I wasn’t aware of it and I would encourage them to keep meeting. Was that with or without coaches?”

Told it was without coaches, Ferentz said, “Good. I’m all for it. Usually player meetings coincide with losing teams, that’s my experience, but this is a contradiction to that. That’s awesome. Happy for them.”

What happened up front, though, had an impact everywhere else on the defense. Linebacker Jay Higgins had 12 tackles. Linebacker Nick Jackson had seven. Safety Quinn Schulte had eight.

“Those guys just got after it up front,” Jackson said. “They’ve got a chip on their shoulder every day. They finally got to experience that ‘getting back home.’ Shoot, they’ve been living for that all year.’

“They just did a heck of a job making my job, Jay’s job, everybody’s job on the back end a little easier.”

Defensive tackle Logan Lee was especially disruptive, finishing with 10 tackles, including 2 ½ for loss, and two sacks.

“It was a good effort by all the guys,” Ferentz said. “You know, I think I said before, sometimes it’s just a matter of making quarterbacks uncomfortable or getting them off the spot, not just sacks. Sacks are always a good thing but there’s a little bit more to it.

“That being said, today was clearly the best job we’ve done. I thought the guys really worked hard and dug hard out there. We have a lot of respect for their quarterback, what a competitor, but he gave us a chance to get there a little bit, too. He didn’t always get the ball out.”

“I had a feeling eventually it was going to come,” Evans said. “Just continue to keep pushing it, pushing it, pushing it in practice. And one of these days it was going to fall for us.”

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HIGGINS WITH A PICK: Higgins’ day also included his first career interception, when he picked off Card in the fourth quarter.

“It’s Jay Higgins,” Jackson said. “At this point, are you surprised at anything he does? He’s going to be in the right spot every time.”

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NOTES AND QUOTES: Wide receiver Kaleb Brown did not play. Ferentz said it was for “personal reasons.” … Iowa has allowed 14 or fewer points in 12 of its last 19 games. … The Hawkeye defense allowed 357 yards of total offense to Purdue.  It is the 20th consecutive game the unit has allowed 400 or fewer yards, the longest active streak nationally. … The Hawkeyes had their highest tackles-for-loss total since having 12 in the Music City Bowl win over Kentucky on December 31. … Iowa had 181 rushing yards, the second most this season and the most against a Big Ten opponent since having 184 against Purdue last season.