IOWA CITY - Kirk Ferentz admits his Iowa football team is in the "developmental stage."

After three games, two of them wins, there are still a lot of questions to be answered and mistakes to fix.

The problem is Ohio State is next on the schedule, and Ferentz doubts the Buckeyes are in the same stage.

"They are a much more veteran football team than we are, and we are playing on their turf," he said after Saturday's 45-21 win over Northern Iowa.

"We have our work cut out for us, and we are starting right at the top. I am not saying Ohio State is the favorite, but they are one of the favorites. They are a savvy team, and that is a tough place to play."

Many of the worries about this team are on the defensive side of the ball.

After beating the Panthers, Ferentz was concerned about the yardage, rushing and passing his defense surrendered.

"This was supposed to be a game for us to fine-tune things," said cornerback Jovon Johnson, who scored a defensive touchdown for the second time in three games Saturday.

"We were preparing for the Big Ten season, but I don't feel like we played up to our ability," he said.

"We had a lot of guys - myself included - in positions we shouldn't be in. We still had a little bit of confusion, and we need to take that out of there so we can go into the Big Ten season confident."

The Hawkeyes have given up just six touchdowns in two games and are allowing less than 280 yards an outing.

But it still does not look like, or function like, a strong unit on a consistent basis.

"I think we have a long ways to go," said all-America linebacker Chad Greenway, who was in on a career-high 20 stops Saturday.

"I think we improved, but we are still out there making mistakes on defense, doing too many things that are uncharacteristic for us.

"Physically, we have got the ability to make the plays, it is just mental errors, something we need to keep working on in practice. We can't have that week to week like we have been doing."

Twice Saturday UNI was able to get receivers open for unchallenged touchdowns. Those are the kinds of mistakes that have the Hawkeyes a little on edge.

"We know the situation, we know what we have to do," said Greenway. "It is just like we get out there in the game and it is like a deer caught in the headlights, and we don't do it.

"That's why I don't think it is impossible to correct.

"We've got to limit the mistakes that hurt us. We have just got to get better."

Many of the defensive starters were still on the field in the fourth quarter Saturday.

Johnson said it was because defensive coordinator Norm Parker was giving them a chance to show they could play better.

"We kind of folded against Iowa State in the fourth quarter, and he was trying to give us an opportunity to make up for that," said Johnson.

"Still, late in the fourth quarter, we had mental errors and things you don't need to take place. We've got to go out next week and get ready for Ohio State."

What worries Ferentz is the same mistakes keep cropping up, and they are not always by inexperienced players.

"Most concerning are the mistakes we make in practice, or make previously, then see those things take place again," said Ferentz. "That is not a good sign.

"Our experienced guys have got to lead the way. They've got to cover their end of the deal, and then, hopefully, some of our young guys will keep pushing forward. I think for the most part we are getting that, but it is not real consistent right now.

"Over the three games we have not shown the kind of consistency we've got to have, and we are going to have to develop that pretty quickly heading into conference play. I think we are playing a pretty good team next week, if I remember right."

The Buckeyes rebounded from a loss to Texas with a win over San Jose State last week and likely will have last year's 33-7 loss in Kinnick Stadium on their minds.

Contact Kevin Evans at (319) 291-1469 or kevin.evans@wcfcourier.com