Iowa preps for explosive Georgia Tech offense

Dec 18, 2009 - 10:45 PM By LUKE MEREDITH AP Sports Writer

IOWA CITY, Iowa(AP) -- Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker has just about seen it all his 11 years with the Hawkeyes.

For the most part, his defenses was up to the task.

So when Parker said Friday that Georgia Tech's explosive triple-option offense will require more preparation than any opponent No. 10 Iowa (10-2) has faced in his tenure, it's clear the Hawkeyes are asking for another dominant performance from a defense that's carried them all season.

Iowa will face the ninth-ranked Yellow Jackets (11-2) on Jan. 5 in the Orange Bowl, their second BCS bowl game under coach Kirk Ferentz.

Parker is leading preparations for a run-based attack that was prevalent when he started coaching IN THE 1960S but has since fallen largely by the wayside. The Yellow Jackets have brought the triple option back to prominence, and even though opponents know what's coming, they largely haven't been able to stop it.

Georgia Tech has rushed for 3,993 yards and 46 touchdowns this season.

"They know what they're doing with it, they're excellent teachers. I think their kids play hard and they're sort of the masters of this offense," Parker said. "In all the time that we've been here, there's never been a team that is going to make the players study film and concentrate every play as much as this team will.

"You can't think about football an hour and a half a day and go out and play these guys, or they'll go down the field like you're not even there."

That didn't happen much to the Hawkeyes in 2009.

Iowa's first 10-win regular season since 2002 was keyed once again by Parker's defense, which finished in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense for the second straight year.

Linebacker Pat Angerer, defensive end Adrian Clayborn, cornerback Amari Spievey and safety Tyler Sash all earned first-team All-Big Ten honors, and linebacker A.J. Edds and safety Brett Greenwood earned second-team honors.

Parker believes the key to containing Georgia Tech is getting strong play from the defensive line. In that regard, the Hawkeyes are in good shape behind Clayborn, fellow end Broderick Binns and tackles Christian Ballard and Karl Klug.

Parker said Iowa's defensive line has "spearheaded" the play of the defense as a whole this season. The defense allowed just 122 yards rushing per game.

"If these guys can expand what they can take care of, then it makes it easier on the linebackers and easier on the secondary," Parker said. "It all starts up front."

On the other side of the ball, Iowa will likely be about as healthy as it's been since the season opener.

Offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe said quarterback Ricky Stanzi has participated in all team drills during the last three practices and is "full speed ahead" for the Orange Bowl.

Stanzi sprained his ankle in the second quarter of Iowa's home game against Northwestern on Nov. 7, effectively ending the Hawkeyes chances for an undefeated season. Iowa lost that game, 14-10, and fell to Ohio State 27-24 in overtime the following week with the Big Ten's bid to the Rose Bowl on the line.

Iowa's offense was hardly a juggernaut even before Stanzi's injury and finished the season averaging 23.1 points per game.

Injuries were the main culprit. Tight end Tony Moeaki, receivers Colin Sandeman and Paul Chaney Jr., linemen Dace Richardson and Bryan Bulaga - the Big Ten's offensive lineman of the year despite missing three games - and running back Adam Robinson all missed time with injuries.

Though Chaney is out for the season and Richardson is questionable with a leg injury, everyone else should be 100 percent for the bowl.

"It will feel good to be able to go out there with everybody you'd want to have," O'Keefe said.