Will Levis knows what to expect from disciplined Iowa defense

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Will Levis (Vicky Graff Photo)

If anyone on the Kentucky football team knows about the Iowa defense the Cats will face Saturday in the Citrus Bowl, it would be quarterback Will Levis. The Penn State transfer started against Iowa last season and was 13 of 16 passing for 106 yards and ran 15 times for 34 yards before being benched in the second half

Levis has thrown for 2,593 yards and 23 touchdowns this season but has thrown 12 interceptions — and Iowa’s secondary is among the best in the nation at picking off passes.

Iowa defensive back Jack Koerner said this week that the Hawkeyes know Levis is an improved player and more than just a runner like he mainly was last year at Penn State.

“He seems like a much more mature player,” Koerner said. “When we played them last year, he was really more of a run threat to us. Getting the ball out wasn’t necessarily his strong suit.

“So obviously he’s matured a little bit, and he’s been throwing the ball a little bit more. That’s obviously something we’re looking at. But, whenever you play against a quarterback that can be mobile, get outside the pocket and extend plays, you have to stay diligent in coverage, and the D line has got to be diligent with the pass rush and everything.

“He’s definitely a dynamic player, and we’ll definitely be having to slow him down.”

Levis doesn’t see a lot of differences in the Iowa defense this year. He says the Hawkeyes are as disciplined and consistent with its techniques and coverages as it was last season.

Levis, meanwhile, will face the same scheme against Iowa that he saw last year.

“Little things from when they play certain coverages and certain down and distances have changed a little bit, but the same coverages that you see in the past with them are the same stuff that you’re going to see this year and what we expect to see as well,” Levis said.

“That doesn’t necessarily make it easy at all because they are disciplined and even though you might know what you’re going to get on a certain coverage, it’s a defense that it takes a disciplined offense to combat it. We need to make sure we go out there and play cleanly.”

4 Responses

  1. I think UK will manage Levis’s game and control dangerous passing situations so he will either pass less or make safer throws. I think we can beat them with our running game, 🏈 Especially if he shows them his arm once in a while.

  2. Will can help this team more with his legs than his arm. We already have a strong running game and he adds another variable to that game. He will have the off season to work on his passing and hopefully be a more complete quarterback next season.

  3. On average this season, UK was 16-24 with 1 interception in the 9 wins for 219 yds whereas in the 3 losses, UK was 27-40 with 1 interception for 243 yds. I want UK to rush the ball 40 times for 240 yds and only pass the ball 24 times or 200 yds, and they win this game. Tomorrow, I think the passing game must be there to compliment the running game. The running game must be established first, before the passing game should be used much.

    40 rushes for 240+ yards and 24 pass attempts for 200+ yards is the formula for victory tomorrow.

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