Spring Central: Binns builds on solid freshman campaign

April 17, 2009

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by Richie Zawistowski

IOWA CITY, Iowa — It’s a difficult task for any college football program to replace two players who were the middle of a defensive line that ranked 12th in the nation in total defense. Then combine that both players — Mitch King and Matt Kroul — were four-year starters, the defense is not only losing talent, but invaluable experience. King was named 2008 Big Ten Defensive Linemen of the Year, and will likely be selected in the NFL Draft on April 25-26.

For many programs, this void would be a back-breaker. Losing the level of talent and experience that King and Kroul brought to the Hawkeyes is difficult to overcome. But Iowa — almost four months removed of a 31-10 trouncing of South Carolina in the Outback Bowl back on Jan. 1 — not only feels comfortable replacing King and Kroul, but is confident in the players filling in.

Broderick Binns will enter his sophomore season with the Hawkeeys in the 2009 season and he is looking to build upon a solid freshman campaign. Binns played in all 13 games, notching 22 tackles, two sacks (tied for second on the team), and a fumble recovery. The fumble recovery was crucial in a 22-17 win against Purdue at Kinnick Stadium. In that same game Binns deflected a pass at the Iowa 5-yard line that was then intercepted by linebacker Pat Angerer.

The 2008 seasons was the first in which Binns saw action after being red-shirted during 2007. The 6-foot-2, 250-pounder from St. Paul, Minn., is looking to see more minutes on the field. With King and Kroul gone, players like Binns are needed to step up and take on the challenge.

“It’s a hard thing to do to for us to replace King and Kroul in the middle,” said Binns. “It’s going to be tough, but I think that the guys we have are up to the task and are capable of playing. We’ll be alright. We have eight returning starters on the defensive side. I just think we have to keep maintaining focus and work hard and we will do well.”

The defensive line is stacked with a plethora of depth and talent, which creates an advantage by constantly having fresh bodies coming in playing against a fatigued offense later in games.

“Its definitely going to be good for us this year with the depth and talent we have,” said Binns. “Last year there were only five or six of us rotating in, but this year I feel like a lot of guys are stepping up and making big strides in the spring. It’s better to have fresh legs in there rather to have just four or five guys playing the whole game.”

The amount of depth on the defensive line that Iowa has also allows coach’s flexibility in order to get the best players on the field, and so far this spring they have been experimenting moving their defensive line around to different positions.

“All the guys have been moved around a bit,” said Binns. “We’ve moved Christian and Adrian around, I’ve been moved inside, Lebron Daniel has been moved inside. We’re just trying different things right now and trying to see what fits. Everything is quicker on the inside, so it’s an adjustment. I would like to stay at end, but I’ll play anywhere that I’m given the opportunity to help the team win.”

Iowa is coming off a 9-4 season complete with the Outback Bowl victory, and winning is expected of this group in 2009. The coaches, fans, and players have high expectations for the upcoming season.

“The goal for the team is Big Ten Champions,” said Binns. “We want to make a bowl game like we did last year, and continue our success. We also want to have a better record than last year. As for myself, I want to start a Big Ten game. I just want to continue to contribute to my team and just improve as a player and get better.”

A theme seems to be resonating in regards to Binns, and that is one of a total team player. Football is a unique sport in that it requires all 11 players on the field to be working together. In football, team players are a must, and Binns fits the description extremely well.

“I would say my best asset is first of all is being a team player, you know, just doing what I have to do to accomplish team goals rather than being selfish,” said Binns.

Being a team player is only part of the equation in helping teams win ball games. Talent is also needed, and again, Binns fits the bill.

“Another asset would have to be my long arms and my speed rush,” said Binns. “It helps me beat offensive tackles and get to the quarterback. When it’s go-time, I like to pin my ears back and use my speed rush and long arms to my advantage to either club and rip the tackle or just knock down their hands so they’re not able to touch me.”

UI head coach Kirk Ferentz and defensive coordinator Norm Parker can sleep well at night knowing they have such a high-character, team-guy lining up for them on defense. The feeling is mutual, as Binns explained that Ferentz is one of the main reasons he came to Iowa from Minnesota.

“When I signed, the defensive line coach that recruited me, Ron Aiken, went to the Arizona Cardinals. Eric Johnson, the recruiting coordinator, asked if I still wanted to come here,” said Binns. “I said yeah, because of Ferentz. He was a really big part of it. He’s just a good guy. He knows all his players on a first-name basis. It was just a good environment when I came for a visit, and my parents really liked him.”

Parker is known for his tough-as-nails defenses. While the defense might not be as sexy as others across the nation — earlier in the week Parker said the UI defense was “not a run-up-the field, bing, bang, boom group of guys” — it does get great results.

Iowa ranked in the top-10 nationally in interceptions, scoring defense, and rush defense, coming in at fourth, fifth, and ninth, respectively in 2008. The Hawkeyes barely missed cracking the top-10 in total defense, finishing 12th. The results of Iowa’s defense starts with the line and its ability to control the line of scrimmage.

“They really trust their guys up front to make plays so our linebackers can drop back into coverage and create problems for quarterbacks,” said Binns.

With this strategy, sacks are not going to be as abundant as that of a blitz-happy team. Iowa ranked 96th in the nation last year in sacks, but it was ranked fourth in interceptions, due largely in part to the amount of defenders dropping into coverage. If the defensive line is not able to get pressure on the quarterback and he gets a clean pocket, the 23 interceptions Iowa posted in 2008 would be extremely depleted. Everything Iowa does starts up front and more specifically up front stopping the run.

The defense is based on the defensive line playing gap containment and allowing the linebackers to make plays. This is stressed more than having the line shoot a gap and make a play in the backfield. The philosophy is to keep everything in front, rather than getting out of position and giving up a big play. This strategy allowed Angerer to register 107 tackles and tie for the team lead with five interceptions.

“On a basic run play as the five-technique, I’m over the tackle,” said Binns, “My responsibility is the C gap (which is the space between the tackle and tight end). The guy next to me has the A-gap (center and guard) and B-gap (between guard and tackle) and he has to eat them up. It’s the same on the other side. We have to do our job up front first and foremost. If we continue to maintain our gaps and allow our backers to come up and fill the holes and get tackles I think we’ll be alright.”

If by “alright” Binns means a season capped with a season-ending win in a January bowl-game, then coaches and fans would consider the season a pretty good one. And for the incoming freshmen who were not able to experience last year’s Outback victory, Binns has some advice:

“Just keep working hard because you never know when your number is going to get called,” said Binns. “Not everyone is going to stay healthy the whole season, so for the young guys, just keep going, keep truckin’, and keep working.”

A team-player looking to do anything to help the Hawkeyes, complete with a strong work ethic? There are coaches all over the nation looking for players like Binns and to think that he has not even scratched the surface yet. It’s only April, but things are looking fine on the defensive line for the Hawkeyes.

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