Fill, Overlap, Pursue and What Iowa's Run Fits Can Teach Your Defense

Iowa is consistently one of the top defenses in the FBS year in and year out. 2025 was no different. They ranked 17th in total rush defense, allowing just 3.4 yards per carry. What’s their secret? Nothing. They base out of a 4-2-5 scheme, play Cover 2, 3, and 4, and are exceptional in their effort and technique across the board regardless of talent level. In this article we’ll break down how they fit the run against various schemes from their 2025 film.

Outside Zone

Here the Hawkeyes fit outside zone. The front side linebacker fills A gap strong while the backside interior linebacker gap exchanges with the defensive end for the quarterback responsibility. The best part of this clip is the crack replace by the corner. He reads the receiver heading to the safety on the crack block, plants a foot, gets downhill, and becomes the force player. He makes the tackle along with the pursuing linebacker.

This is a great example of their safety inserting on the run against outside zone. He works downhill with great tempo, then when the gap opens, accelerates through it and makes the tackle. Also worth noting the play side linebacker somehow fits A gap and bounces back out to get in on the tackle as well. That’s the thing about Iowa’s defense. They all play with an endless motor, and that’s what you see in any good defense.

Pin & Pull

Iowa is very good at filling and overlapping all the way to the sideline, and this is a great example. The defensive end does an especially good job taking on the down block, climbing back over the top, and taking on a puller as well. It’s effort like this that allows Iowa to consistently get a plus-one advantage in so many situations.

Again, great effort by the defensive end to get back outside. The play side interior linebacker does a great job overlapping with the puller, and the corner sheds his blocker and becomes the force player. It’s not sexy. It’s just solid defense by the Hawkeyes.