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Iowa defense struggles in opener

Sports

September 2nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The hope for Iowa was that a deep and talented defensive line would help mask its inexperience at linebacker and in the secondary. A line can only do so much.

The back end of the Hawkeyes defense was exposed in last weekend’s 31-23 win over FCS rival Northern Iowa. Quarterback Sawyer Kollmorgen threw for 380 yards, and nearly half of that total came on three short throws to running back David Johnson over the middle.

Iowa (1-0) knows it’ll have to get those glaring mistakes corrected this week as it prepares to host Ball State (1-0) on Saturday.