As a group really only had 1 blown play out there. It looked like Hyde came forward anticipating a scramble by Tenn Tech's QB and he hadn't crossed the line yet and he wound up and fired the ball down-field for a big completion. Hyde's an aggressive guy who hasn't had much time at FS and should grow into it as he plays more.
As a unit there's some depth here. Bernstine can fill in at any position and Tanner Miller has some experience at the FS spot. If Lowery is able to make a full recovery in a few weeks he'll add even more depth for this unit. Hyde's flexibility is another luxury for this unit, as he can drop down and play over a slot WR comfortably which gives them some scheme versatility if they choose to use it.
Prater:
Tennessee Tech mostly stayed away from him in this one and one of the few times they came at him he showed some great athleticism going up and snatching a jump ball away, and then tore off for a big return and a TD. He definitely made the most of his opportunity out there as that was really the only action he saw. Didn't really get a chance to make plays in run support much either. An excellent start for Iowa's most experienced DB.
Hyde:
Looked comfortable most of the time in his new role back at FS. Did play a little more aggressive at times and did get caught out of position once as mentioned above. In the wet conditions didn't really get challenged deep but he looked to have good depth and positioning in his Cover 2 drop when I saw'm. Has shown willingness in run support as a CB and should be solid as a run defender coming forward. Will need to force to himself to adjust to the pass first mentality over the next few games and play with a little more caution.
Sleeper:
First look at the former walk-on in a game situation and it was a bit tough to judge his abilities in the rain. While he didn't make any big mistakes, he struggled supporting the run, mostly due to poor angles, and looked a little slow to react at times. He did a nice job in his pass drops and did a solid job of squeezing routes when they came into his zone. Looks like a high-effort guy. Conditions made it hard to tell how effective he'll be against teams who can sling it more effectively. Time will tell on this one.
Castillo:
Castillo has steadily improved in the last two years and has made himself a serviceable corner in Iowa's system. He shows good effort in run support but is undersized and will get bullied by bigger WR's at times. Does a solid job as a zone defender and but I'm not sold on him in man coverage. Has improved his man cover skills but still looks vulnerable to vertical routes and needs to read routes well to stay in good position. Have to keep an eye on him this year to see how he holds up as the season goes on. Teams are going to shy away from Prater so his side of the field could get awfully busy.
Bernstine:
I really liked what I saw from Bernstine in this one. Showed excellent closing speed in run support. His level of speed and acceleration aren't something Iowa has had at safety recently. You can't teach skills like that and he took great angles and moved very well on the slick field-turf. Looked very good coming forward and making solid wrap up tackles on backs. Delivered a pop on many of his tackles as well. Love the hitting power. He's also a very capable CB as well and can really play every position in the Iowa's scheme. I find it hard to believe he won't be a starter for this unit. He has the best physical tools of any DB on Iowa's roster and just needs opportunities to get on the field to make plays.
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