By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker was in the unusual position of having to defend his defense to the media on Tuesday.

He wasn’t asked any questions that were unfair or that crossed the line.

It just wasn’t a love fest, which is usually the case when Parker meets with the media because of how well his defenses have performed for an extended period.

Parker has been the Iowa defensive coordinator since 2012, and a member of Kirk Ferentz’s staff since the very beginning in 1999.

Way more times than not, the Iowa defense has been the strength of the team, along with special teams.

But so far this season, the Iowa defense has failed to play up to its incredibly high standard more times than most probably would have expected. The Iowa defense has allowed too many explosive plays this season, and limiting explosive plays had long been a strength under Parker.

In three of Iowa’s four losses this season, the defense failed to stop the run, the latest example being last Friday’s 20-17 loss to UCLA when Iowa allowed 211 rushing yards to a team that was averaging just 73.9 rushing yards per game.

Iowa (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) is also allowing 5.11 yards per play this season, which ranks 35^th nationally, after having led the nation in that statistic in each of the past two seasons at 4.08 yards per play last season and 3.99 yards per play in 2022.

“Obviously, you’re 6-4 and we’ve got some things to look at and correct as we go back,” Parker said Tuesday. “This is a week to do that, just liker the first (bye) week was, just to re-evaluate where we’re at as a team.”

The Iowa defense has also been on the field far less this season than last season due mostly to the success of the Iowa running game.

And yet, the defense still has taken a step backwards, at least by its lofty standards.

Parker has an extra week to fix things with this being Iowa’s second bye week.

Iowa’s next game is against Maryland on Nov. 23 in College Park, Maryland.

The Terrapins could have an advantage since former Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz is in his first season as a Senior Offensive Assistant for Maryland.

Brian Ferentz coached against Parker every day in practice for eight years, so if any opposing coach has a clear understanding of how Iowa plays defense, it would be Brian Ferentz, though, Parker downplayed that narrative when asked about it on Tuesday.

“I think if you look at it, obviously, he knows us pretty well,” Parker said of Brian Ferentz, who is Kirk Ferentz’s son. “He probably knows the signals and everything, too. But I think you go back and the system that we’ve been in since I’ve been here since 1999, there’s variations of things that we’ve done.

“Since I’ve taken over in 2012, things have changed, football has changed. Our players have changed. So, really what it comes down to is I don’t know who has the advantage or disadvantage in that case. I think it will be a heck of challenge just to go out to the east coast to play a very good football team.”

Parker didn’t make any excuses or point fingers when pressed about Iowa’s defensive shortcomings this season.

He also downplayed the significance of playing on the road, even though three of Iowa’s four losses have been on the road, and in each of those three losses, the defense struggled.

“Obviously, the opponents that you’re playing, they look at film, too, and they’re trying to attack you in different ways,” Parker said. “I wouldn’t say just because it’s on the road. I’d say it just has to do with guys playing and whether it’s being in the right spot and making the plays that you’ve got to make or not making the plays.

“That’s what it comes down to. We had eight returning starting guys coming back this season and everybody thinks you’re going to be just as good as you were last year. You guys have to understand that every day you go out there, it’s a challenge. You have to earn everything you get, and I think we’ll keep on striving, and we’ll keep on pushing these guys to be the best they can be every day.”

So again, no excuses from Parker.

His vaunted defense hasn’t lived up to its reputation, but in fairness to the Iowa defense, it has been carrying the Iowa football team for far too long, with help, of course from special teams.

Iowa won 10 games last season despite having arguably the worst offense in the country. The defense had very little margin for error last season, and yet, Iowa still won the Big Ten West Division.

The defense was bound to have an off year because sometimes that just happens, even to the best units.

The fact that so many veteran players chose to return this season makes the struggles on defense harder to understand.

It makes you wonder if opponents have started to figure out Parker’s schemes.

But on the other hand, Iowa’s defense has always been somewhat predictable under Parker.

Iowa’s success on defense has more to do with being tough, prepared and fundamentally sound than being hard to figure out.

The challenge for Parker will be to make sure this season is an aberration.

However, that will be a daunting task with eight starters having to be replaced on defense heading into next season, including All-America linebacker Jay Higgins and three starters in the secondary.

The defense can’t be expected to carry the load every season, but it seems we almost take for granted that it will carry the load.