Matt Campbell defends suspension decision, talks Iowa's offense and defense

AMES, Ia. — Matt Campbell addressed the media during his weekly press conference Tuesday in the Bergstrom Football Complex.

Here are the highlights:

Campbell defended Iowa State's choice to uphold his players' suspensions, despite last Saturday's game not counting. He said it would be "naive to think that (the suspension) is just a game."

He said there are other important factors to the suspension — the players not practicing with the first team for the weeks leading up to last Saturday, the players having to apologize to their teammates and earn back their trust — that the public doesn't see, especially for players who knew they were suspended since January.

"There's a lot of other things that go into it, other than just the game aspect of it. I really think (the game part) is so minimal," Campbell said. "The lead-up of two, three weeks where they’re not even engaging in game-like activities, I think that’s hard. I think it’d be naive to say it’s just an entire-game situation that is right or wrong, especially in certain situations."

Campbell said some of the suspended players had to "earn their way" back onto the team.

"Those are the teachable moments," he said. "When the team runs out for a game on a Saturday and you're in the stands, that's pretty tough."

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Campbell's respect for Iowa's defensive line is very, very clear. The Cyclones' head coach spent a good chunk of his Tuesday presser praising a Hawkeyes defensive line that includes guys like Parker Hesse, Anthony Nelson and A.J. Epenesa.

"That veteranness lays right there on that defensive front," Campbell said. "When good things have had to happen, that defensive line has spearheaded things. I think you’re getting one of the best defensive lines in the country."

Even when asked to address Iowa's linebacker group, Campbell expressed admiration for those players but quickly returned to the defensive line.

"What allows those guys to be confident and play with ease is that defensive front," he said.

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In terms of offense, Campbell fully understands the threat of Nate Stanley and Iowa's tight ends. 

Campbell called Stanley a veteran quarterback who can beat you in a variety of ways — not only with his tight ends.

"You're talking about a guy that, if you just say, 'Hey, I'm gonna take those tight ends away,' he’s good enough and he’s got good enough guys around him to make you pay," Campbell said. 

So, how can the Cyclones combat Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson?

"You have to be multiple," Campbell said. "You have to have the ability to do multiple things."

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Campbell discussed the positives he was able to take away from the brief time his team was able to play last Saturday.

One of those positives? Deshaunte Jones, whose 55-yard catch-and-run touchdown (that now doesn't officially exist) was the biggest highlights from the four minutes and five seconds of game action.

Campbell said Jones is the fastest and strongest he's even seen him. A major reason: Jones' diet this offseason.

"I think we hit a home run with it," Campbell said. "He looks like a different football player today than he did last year."

Matthew Bain covers college football and basketball recruiting for the Des Moines Register. He also helps out with Iowa and Iowa State football and basketball coverage for HawkCentral and Cyclone Insider. Contact him at mbain@dmreg.com and follow him on Twitter @MatthewBain_.