By Jordan Hansen | [email protected]
TAMPA, Fla. — With one half of the 2017 Outback Bowl in the books, Florida leads the Hawkeyes, 10-3.
It was far from a pretty half for either team, but the Gators have been able to make a couple more offensive plays than the Hawkeyes. The big one was an Outback Bowl record 85-yard pass from Florida quarterback Austin Appleby to running back Mark Thompson in the late in the second quarter.
It broke the 3-3 tie and put the Gators ahead.
So what’s gone wrong for the Hawkeyes today? Well …
No receptions by an Iowa receiver in the first half. A tight end who literally hasn't caught a pass all season caught one tho.
— Daily Iowan Pregame (@dipregame) January 2, 2017
C.J. Beathard looks gimpy and has gone just 5-of-12 for 26 yards. There simply is no passing offense for the Hawkeyes. No one has been open, and the screen game really isn’t working particularly well, either. That’s not a great combination.
Akrum Wadley, however, has been quite good. He has 11 rushes for 52 yards and has been the most consistent offensive threat for the Hawkeyes. LeShun Daniels Jr. hasn’t been bad, either. It’s just the rest of the team that’s been struggling.
The Iowa defense, however, has absolutely shown up.
welp pic.twitter.com/XdwyX4hIH0
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) January 2, 2017
Brandon Snyder and Desmond King both have picks. Aaron Mends also sent Austin Appleby something of a message as well.
https://twitter.com/DannyLawhon/status/816001125640007680
I think I got injured just watching that. There have been miscues, however, and a whole bunch of missed tackles. As in, a metric ton. The aforementioned Thompson run, especially.
Mark Thompson…..MAMA, THERE GOES THAT MAN pic.twitter.com/CoUQTjbNHP
— Jack McGuire (@JackMacCFB) January 2, 2017
Last, Iowa went for it on fourth down near the goal line after Beathard nearly had a touchdown run in the middle of the second quarter. Daniels got stuffed on the next play, however, and I’m wondering if head coach Kirk Ferentz is going to come to regret that decision later.
The Hawkeyes do get the ball first in the second half, so it will be interesting to see just how much they can do on their first drive. It just might set the tone for the rest of the game.
Stats:
