Tim Fuller/USA Today Sports
The First Half: The Secondary
Iowa's depth chart in the secondary is starting to look as it did at the beginning of fall camp.
Matt Hankins is back at cornerback after missing three games because of injury. Kaevon Merriweather is at No. 2 at free safety after playing in just one game this season because of injury. Cornerback Riley Moss figures to have a bigger role soon.
The injuries have kept Iowa from more of the "cash" defensive package, a 4-2-5 look that Amani Hooker played with such success last season.
What has happened, though, is greater depth back there.
Jack Koerner, who took over for Merriweather, has emerged to become the starting free safety. The sophomore is second on the team with 33 tackles, and he is tied with cornerback Michael Ojemudia for the team lead in pass breakups with three.
Geno Stone is having a big season at free safety. Stone has 26 tackles and one of Iowa's four interceptions.
Ojemudia, a senior, has been a steadying presence among the inexperience — he has 22 tackles and leads the Hawkeyes with two interceptions. Hankins' return will take some of the pressure off redshirt freshman D.J. Johnson.
Best game — Rutgers completed just nine passes against the Hawkeyes in a Week 2 game.
Worst game — Iowa State had touchdown passes of 51 and 73 yards against the Hawkeyes in the Sept. 14 game.
Second-half outlook — There's more depth now, which may allow defensive coordinator Phil Parker to be more creative with his coverage packages.
The Hawkeyes' secondary will be tested right away in Saturday's game against Purdue.
They'll need to start getting more takeaways — Iowa has just four interceptions this season, three by the secondary.
