IOWA CITY -- With a human freight train named LeSean McCoy bearing down, the Iowa defense is preparing for its stiffest test when the Hawkeyes travel to Heinz Field to play Pittsburgh Saturday.

To date, Iowa's defense has been among the nation's best, leading the BCS in scoring defense (2.67) and red zone defense while ranking third in pass efficiency defense.

"Statistics and rankings … to me, in September, don't mean all that much," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said.

"What is important, though, is how we're doing things, and I think the guys are working hard. We're doing a lot of good things."

Iowa has forced eight turnovers -- seven interceptions -- while not allowing a touchdown in its first three games.

The 5-foot-9, 210-pound McCoy will be the best back the Hawkeyes have faced.

A year ago as a freshman, McCoy rushed for 1,328 yards and 14 touchdowns. His rushing total is the second most for a Panther freshman behind only Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett, and his 14 touchdowns broke Dorsett's record of 13.

McCoy hasn't shown any signs of a sophomore slump, either. He's got four rushing touchdowns in Pitt's first two games, including three against Buffalo.

"From here on out, we're going to see a good tailback every week," linebacker A.J. Edds said. "He's kind of starting it out for us. He's a preseason all-America guy, and he's running behind some big, powerful guys in front of him.

"So it's going to be a test for us, especially the interior, the guys in the box, the front seven. It's going to be a test for us to show up and play because they have the guys to block for him, and if he gets a crease he can take it the distance every time."

Opponents are averaging fewer than three yards a carry against the Hawkeyes, but McCoy is averaging almost four yards per carry.

Additionally, McCoy's backup, LaRod Stephens-Howling, has averaged 6.6 yards on his 14 carries.

The 5-foot-7, 180-pound Stephens-Howling is Pitt's version of lightning to McCoy's thunder.

"McCoy is a tough runner. He's garnered a lot of attention, justifiably so," Ferentz said. "But the other guy comes in and he's very, very effective. So they've got a 1-2 punch. It's not just McCoy, but McCoy's awfully good."

Iowa's success defensively has come with a steady rotation of players.

Along with defensive tackles Mitch King and Matt Kroul, Iowa has gotten great production from new defensive end starters Adrian Clayborn (team high 21 tackles) and Christian Ballard, as well as solid contributions from Broderick Binns and Karl Klug.

Edds leads a linebacker group that has seen rotations at both middle (Pat Angerer and Jacody Coleman) and Will (Jeremiah Hunter and Troy Johnson).

In the backfield, the Hawkeyes have used eight players extensively, including Shaun Prater and Jordan Bernstine as nickel and dime backs.

"We're pretty young on defense right now," Ferentz said. "A lot of guys are working in, and when they've gotten opportunities, they've encouraged us. We're getting some confidence in them."

Breaking against their norm, the Hawkeyes used specialty groups defensively throughout their victory over Iowa State last Saturday, sending in nickel and dime packages, as well as sets with three down linemen and four linebackers.

Ferentz joked that defensive coordinator Norm Parker has too many weapons to use.

"He's just like the guy in the Wizard of Oz, back behind the curtain," Ferentz laughed. "He's got all kinds of things to do. We have a few more options than we've had, but we're still hardly there. We've got a lot of work to do."

The Hawkeyes attribute some of their defensive success to their depth.

"We have depth at a lot of positions," Coleman said. "We have a lot of freshness, I guess you could say. Because we rotate at a lot of positions, we have a lot of people coming out fresh, not fatigued, and I think that is helping out a lot."

WHO'S THE QUARTERBACK? ï½ Ferentz said if the Pitt game were Tuesday, Jake Christensen would be his starter.

But since the game is Saturday, Ferentz said he and his staff will assess how Christensen and Ricky Stanzi perform in practice before making a final decision.

"We'll just see how the week materializes," Ferentz said. "I hope that both guys continue to prepare like they have been."

OK IN BEAUMONT ï½ The only Hawkeye player affected by Hurricane Ike was middle linebacker Jacody Coleman.

Coleman said his father, Quintin, and an uncle rode out the storm in his hometown of Beaumont, a Houston suburb.

"He told me they were doing good, but he was scared … the house was moving a little bit," Coleman said. "They are running off a generator now. He said there are some grocery stores opened up. A lot of wind damage, but they're doing good."

Contact Jim Nelson at (319) 291-1521 or jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com