SportsLine wire reports
April 15, 1999

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Installing a new defensive scheme is difficult. Doing it without a marquee player is even harder.

But that is exactly what the Iowa football coaching staff will have to do this year.

Iowa will abandon the 5-2 defense in favor of a 4-3 set, and will have to do it without three of its top defensive players from last year.

Iowa lost Jared DeVries, Eric Thigpen and Matt Hughes to graduation last year. DeVries was a second-team All-American, Hughes is the fifth-leading tackler in Iowa history and Thigpen led Iowa in interceptions last year.

Iowa needs someone to step up on defense and Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said that player might be sophomore-to-be linebacker Aaron Kampman.

"Kampman has taken a big step up," Ferentz said. "He lives the game. He is very meticulous in preparation and diligent. He has made a great improvement."

KAMPMAN BURST ONTO THE IOWA SCENE last year as a true freshman. He was scheduled to redshirt last year, but injuries to Vernon Rollins and Raj Clark forced him into action in the third game of the year.

At middle linebacker, Kampman will be at the heart of the new defense. Defensive coordinator Norm Parker's new look calls for three linebackers instead of two, with the defensive ends becoming outside linebackers.

Former defensive end-turned-linebacker Ryan Loftin said in the 5-2 defense, his job was containment, and now he has to deal more with zones and tight end coverage. He said last year he rushed the quarterback about 50 percent of the time, and this year, it will be considerably less than that.

"There are plenty of ways to win a football game and stop an offense," Loftin said. "This is just another."

ONE PLAYER THAT HAS FIT INTO THE NEW SCHEME well has been junior college transfer Derrick Davison.

The 6-foot-2, 235-pound Davison was recruited as a free safety coming out of North Dakota College of Science, but has moved to linebacker, where he is battling senior Travis Senters for the starting job. He said the position change will not be too difficult.

"I think a true athlete can adjust to anything," said Davison, who is nursing a broken hand. "I am used to making defensive calls at free safety, so the only other difference is that it is a lot more physical."

The new defense has brought about a shift in the depth chart, as well. Loftin, who started all 11 games last year, is not listed on the two-deep and Senters is listed below Davison.

"The new system has brought a renewed interest in moving up on the depth chart," Loftin said.

IN THE SECONDARY, THREE STARTERS RETURN, including strong safety Matt Bowen, who had a team-leading 92 tackles last year. Sophomore Matt Stockdale is the leading candidate to take over for Thigpen at free safety.

Stockdale could be challenged by converted running back Doug Miller. Ferentz said Miller was moved from running back and looked strong in a scrimmage over Easter weekend.

"If he can challenge for a starting position, we will keep him," Ferentz said. "If not, we will move him back."

Knee injuries are still hindering Clark and Rollins -- so much, in fact, that their seasons may be lost. Ferentz said Clark was "touch and go" for the season and Rollins was rehabilitating his knee.

"It's going to be wait-and-see," Ferentz said of Rollins. "If we can get five plays out of him per game, I'd be happy, just to get that senior leadership and contribution. Right now, we can't count on that one, either."