Hits and Misses from Iowa’s Non-Conference games

From here on out, it will be conference warfare for the Iowa football team. Last weekend they completed the non-conference portion of the schedule with a 41-10 win over Western Michigan.

Iowa is 3-0 for the 11th time in the Kirk Ferentz era as they travel this weekend to open Big Ten play at Penn State. But, what did we learn in the first three non-conference games? What are some of the hits and misses so far this season?

HIT – The offensive line has done a better job of protecting the quarterback.

Last year the Hawkeye offense line struggled in pass protection. It was not good as they gave up 38 sacks. This year it’s better. In the first two games of the season, the Iowa offensive line gave up a grand total of two sacks. A bit of a warning sign from last week was the Hawkeyes allowing four quarterback sacks, but the Broncos were a crazy blitzing team, so we can excuse that away a little bit. Overall, it just seems better, so far.

MISS – The Iowa pass rush is still not very effective

Now, some of it can be excused away as a function of the opposing offense getting rid of the ball very quickly. That would be totally fair, particularly for the first game of the year against Utah State. But, Iowa State wasn’t really firing it out of the pocket quickly and neither was Western Michigan.

Yet, here we are three games into the season and Iowa has only four sacks. Pro Football Focus has Iowa was 19 quarterback hurries, which is good and positive. Joe Evans leads the way with seven of those, but Deontae Craig is pretty quiet early in the year with two hurries according to PFF.

MISS – The Iowa passing game

It’s fair to say that Cade McNamara’s nagging quad injury has impacted the Iowa air attack. The Hawkeyes are averaging a mere 150.7 yards per game in the air this season. McNamara is at 139.0 yards per game and a completion rate of 53.5% on the season.

Throw in the fact that Iowa’s leading receiver, Luke Lachey, has been lost for the season due to a broken ankle and the Hawkeye passing game is going to face some challenges and need to make adjustments.

HIT – The portal players are helping

When you hit the transfer portal, you hope for the best with the talent that you are acquiring. So far, it seems like the Hawkeyes have done well with their transfer portal players.

Despite his injury, Cade McNamara has done well and provided great leadership. His Michigan teammate, Erick All has been very good and will counted on even more moving forward. Rusty Feth has been solid in his reserve rotation role along the offensive line. It also seems like wide receiver Kaleb Brown is finding his role and I think that will only grow the rest of the season.

On the defensive side, after a slow start to the season, Nick Jackson is getting into a real groove. He’s been outstanding in the last two games at linebacker.

MISS – A lack of turnover creation

Usually the Iowa defense feasts on creating turnovers. They have been one of the best programs in the country in the last decade in intercepting passes and causing fumbles. This year, just two interceptions and one fumble recovery. Maybe it will pick up in conference play, but right now Iowa hasn’t been all that effective in creating turnovers.

Along those same lines, Phil Parker can’t be pleased with the defense giving up explosive plays at a higher rate than in the past. In three games, Iowa has allowed five explosive plays, four in the air and one on the ground.

HIT – Logan Jones

Last year, Logan Jones got put into a tough spot. He transitioned over to center from playing defensive tackle. He struggled. His snaps seems to be delivered late. He had trouble in pass protection and creating a push in the run game.

Fast forward to this season and Jones looks like a different player. The Iowa coaches were telling people coming into the season that they felt like Jones could be an All Big Ten center in the very near future. Heck, the way he is going, Jones might make it this year. He spent some time in the off-season watching film with James Ferentz when he was back in town and it’s really paid off. Jones is playing with a lot of poise and confidence.  

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