Listening to Scott Dochterman recently, he admitted Kirk and Brian Ferentz is right on execution, it does need to improve on offense.
The B1G West is what Iowa needs to focus on and compete within, Chuck Long shared with @TomKakert on the latest Hawkeye Report podcast.
The 2022 season should be an interesting one for the 24th edition, as college athletes have the deal with the pay or play era of College Football.
NIL: name, image and likeness would make sense, but in 2022, collectives really aren't NIL, unless the collectives lead recruits truly emphasize NIL work with organizations seeking college spokesman's?
Kudos to Kennington breaking down the various collective types being developed. There is some interesting ideas out there, along with charitable aspects.
Three top options:
1) facilitators
2) charitable
3) service options
It will be interesting to see how this unfolds in regards to Iowa.
At Florida State, the $5.99 idea or example given is less appealing.
Who are the best NIL spokespersons for University of Iowa athletics agree with Kennington pointing out it needs to expand past one sport, in it's development.
The transfer portal will not kill college sports. It isn't completely new, it is simply now available for all student-athletes.
While the portal and NIL talk are getting a lot of press this off season, I am more interested in how the 2022 season of College Football will likely unfold.
Iowa has one new assistant coach, but the most interesting new figure isn't even going to be paid in 2022?
Iowa clearly needs to improve it's consistency on offense. In 2019, QB Nate Stanley ended a career, where his red zone stats were highly impressive over his three year career.
Last year, OC Brian Ferentz's ineptitude in the red zone became apparent. This is an area the Hawkeyes can't allow to remain a trend, like in 2021.
QB Spencer Petras is likely #1 heading into 2022. He hit 57% of his passes, while the next QB hit 49%.
But, while I tend to agree with Scott Dochterman on his comments and questions surrounding the importance of reaching 60% or more in the passing game, which really is about execution, his story today is extremely important.
Iowa needs to resolve the major issues in the running game that derailed the Iowa offense in 2021. Scott wrote:
"Overall, the Hawkeyes rushed for 3.12 yards per carry on first down, which was fifth worst among FBS programs. That was the best statistic. Excluding sacks, Iowa runners had 39 negative carries on first down, most among Big Ten teams and fourth most nationally. Tyler Goodson, whose 1,151 rushing yards were the most by an Iowa running back since 2011, finished with 27 carries for negative yardage on first down, which were three more than any other FBS runner."
"Iowa’s offensive linemen, current running backs and assistant coaches know they can’t repeat that performance and expect to win 10 games like in 2021. This spring, they’re doing everything they can to ensure it doesn’t happen again."
Despite all the challenges in working out the problems the Iowa offense had in 2021, this is a new Hawkeye team in 2022.
They do return a good mix of retiring lettermen, but since 2014, no Hawkeye team has ever won back to back Big Ten West titles.
The Hawkeyes do have a lot of would of, should of and could of moments post- 2009, post 2015 and the question remains, what will post-2021 bring to Iowa City?
Will Iowa learn to be a better self-scouting team in 2022, and show better results on offense on the field, especially in the Big Ten?
One interesting quote from Chad Lestikow with DMR. "That’s one thing that I took from him, was just continuing to dissect and continue to peel back every which way to make sure that the guys had an unbelievable chance to be prepared for no matter what they were going to see," Budmayr said in that interview. “That was part of the preparation that he was phenomenal at, and I took that from him."
Iowa needs to make the critical adjustment better on offense.
“We’ve had new people come on that have been helping us out,” sophomore WR Keagan Johnson said. “Not really revamping the offense, but just adjusting some of the things we were doing.”
Iowa clearly needs to improve their execution on offense. Having one year under their belt with RB coach Ladell Betts and OL coach George Barnett.
Iowa is a year older with the players that return. Also, Iowa's recruiting does appear to be trending upward.
Maybe I am being overly optimistic, but Tennessee made their major step with QB Tee Martin, the year after QB Payton Manning left the Volunteers program.
Iowa could really shake the Big Ten, if they could be the first Big Ten team in the West to break through the glass ceiling the West has faced, since 2014, in Indianapolis.
The Hawkeyes will have to get through all the major minefields of their 2022 Big Ten schedule to even have a change.
While the hurdles ahead are bigger in 2022 for Iowa, and the 2021 offensive woes likely will add to the pessimistic outlooks for the Hawkeyes.
Let's be patient and hope the stars can align better for another run in Year 24.
A strong finish is all we can ask for, as fans. As each Hawkeye seeks to become the best version of themselves.
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