Hawkeye offense falters in Cy-Hawk win
The Hawkeye’s defensive performance gave Iowa a win on Saturday, but they need improvement offensively if they want to continue to be successful.
Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley throws under pressure during Iowa’s game against Iowa State at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018. The Hawkeyes defeated the Cyclones 13-3.
September 9, 2018
On Sept. 8, Iowa (2-0) won a tough game against in-state rival Iowa State (0-1) to keep the Cy-Hawk Trophy in the Hawkeye football complex for a fourth-straight year.
The 13-3 Hawkeye victory came despite a lackluster performance by the Iowa offense, and it was the second-straight game the offense proved to be a bit of a liability for the Hawkeyes, especially in the first half.
When the halftime whistle blew, Iowa had just 73 yards of total offense, 5 first downs, and just 3 points that were largely the result of good field position.
Throw in last week’s first half, and Iowa is averaging just 110.5 yards of offense in the first half, with the passing game being especially worrisome — it has put up just 116 yards in the first half through two games.
“We don’t have rhythm,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “That’s usually the hardest thing to establish. What we have to do right now is refine, and keep cleaning things up, and try to develop some rhythm.”
A chunk of that much-needed rhythm is needed between quarterback Nate Stanley and his wide receivers.
Through the first two games, Stanley has completed just 10 passes to the wideouts for 135 yards, with 75 of those yards coming on just two plays.
While those numbers certainly need improvement, the Hawkeyes can be positive about the fact that six of those catches and 102 of those yards came in the second half of the Iowa State game.
“It was big to be able to get those receivers going,” Stanley said. “Being able to spread the ball around and being able to get everyone involved so they can’t focus in on one person, especially our tight ends, is big.”
Perhaps the best thing to come out of the second half of the Sept. 8 game for Stanley and Company was Brandon Smith’s first reception of the season.
After a rough game against Northern Illinois, Smith made a big 30-yard reception near the end of the Iowa State game to help seal the win for the Hawkeyes.
That play may have been just the spark the young receiver needed.
“[Smith] looks like a big player,” Ferentz said. “But he’s still a young guy learning how to play. So, hopefully, that will be good for his confidence, and that’s something you can’t give young players.”
While the offense continues the search for consistency and rhythm, it can be confident because it may not have to be elite to win games.
The other side of the ball has been terrific for the Hawkeyes through two games, allowing an average of 5 points a game — that’s the second-best mark in college football.
That is the reason the Hawkeyes will begin this week 2-0, and it gives them hope that if they can improve offensively, nothing is out of reach.
“It’s a good feeling,” tight end Noah Fant said. “It makes us think if we keep the offense going in the right direction and keep improving week by week, it’s going to be something that’s going to be pretty special.”
