College football historians will look back on the 2022 football season and quibble over which game, nationally, was the most boring to watch all season...SDSU v Iowa or ISU v Iowa . One thing's for sure...Iowa's offense sucks the joy and excitement out of a sport that fans have been looking forward to since January. When most of the offensive coaches are coming off 35% pay raises despite last year's performance, it leaves a bad taste in everyone's mouth.
IowaLaw's Actually More Disappointed in Padilla Than Petras. Say what you will about Petras. He is who we knew he would be. The worst QB in the Big 10. But watching Padilla stand on the sidelines with a goofy grin clapping and cheering on Petras series after series is like watching a cuckold high five the guy banging his wife. There are no positions in all of sport that bestows the moxy, the swagger, and the sheer confidence that a 22 year old Power 5 QB has. They're already built, loaded with testosterone, have been the best athlete in town at every level of competition, and go home with any co-ed they want on a Friday night. They feel invincible. So when Padilla rode the bench all year last year behind an inferior QB yet still came back for his 4th year in the program, you would think he did so for one reason...TO FIGHT TO PLAY. Instead, he's more than content holding the clipboard behind the most incompetent starting QB in college football with a QB rating of 3.0. There's no rage, angst, or disappointment in his eyes. He has his head in the clouds. No rumors of him being pissed off or demanding a shot (see Michigan's backup QB). The only comments he's given to the media are that Petras is the better man. If it were most QBs, he'd be enraged that he pissed another year of eligibility down the drain while an inferior QB gets 100% of the snaps. Hell, his own head coach "never even considered" playing him. I want my QB to be a die hard competitor who would kill for an opportunity to go in on a winning drive against Iowa State. Not a soft spoken water boy who doesn't want to ruffle any feathers.
Still Not Sold On LaPorta. IowaLaw was the only one to point out LaPorta's 4 drops last week as fans were desperate to find a bright spot in the offense praised him. This week, Petras once again locked on LaPorta and only LaPorta. While LaPorta caught 8 passes and had no drops, the guy's yards after catch was lower than any TE we've seen at Iowa. How many receivers can catch 8 balls with none longer than 11 yards? Less than 7 yards per carry? How many routes are that short? I get it, beggars can't be choosy and LaPorta had a productive day. But if LaPorta is going to be the team's leading receiver and wants a career in the NFL, he's gotta actually break a tackle or two and work on his speed, as blocking is not his specialty.
Utilization of Van Ness? Lucas Van Ness is a beast. He single handedly blocked two punts. But that's pretty much all he did all game. What happened to the game changer / future AJE that many of us predicted he would be? He finished a slug fest in the rain with a grand total of...2 tackles (1 solo). The guy has all the potential in the world. I'd love to see him wreaking havoc in the backfield and averaging 2 sacks per game.
Zero Pop From Iowa's Lackluster RBs. When was the last time the Hawks lacked a single back with the ability to break a big run if given a crease. This year's backs are an entire stable of Mark Wisemen plowing up the middle for no more and no less than 2-3 yards per carry. Leshon, who averaged just 2.4 yards per carry today, came to Iowa with offers from the likes of Youngstown State and Bowling Green. To run a power offense in the Big 10 west with a statue for a QB, you need an upgrade at RB. This is one position where I think Iowa's in good shape for the future. This year, yikes! Zero quickness, zero burst, zero straight line speed, and zero power runs.
Cooper DeJean Coming of Age. There were certainly some bright spots on D. I'll be the first to admit I wasn't sold on the hype of DeJean coming in after dominating small school Iowa high school competition. But his 11 tackle, 2 pass deflection performance was the best so far of his career. Look for him to only get better as the game slows down for him a bit.
This Offense Isn't Just Bad. It's Historically Bad. A look around the Big 10 today shows that while Iowa mustered just 7 points in the entire game (for the second week in a row), the following teams put up serious points: Michigan State - 52 points; Minnesota - 62 points; Penn State - 42 points; Maryland - 56 points; Rutgers - 66 points; Purdue 56 points; Michigan - 42 points; Ohio State - 45 points. That's right. Most offensive coordinators in the Big 10 generated more than TEN POINTS PER QUARTER. Can you imagine how much respect our opposing coaches must have for the nepotism meathead? He and his $1,000,000 salary have to be a running joke in coaching circles, which is a direct reflection on Kirk and his legacy.
IowaLaw's Actually More Disappointed in Padilla Than Petras. Say what you will about Petras. He is who we knew he would be. The worst QB in the Big 10. But watching Padilla stand on the sidelines with a goofy grin clapping and cheering on Petras series after series is like watching a cuckold high five the guy banging his wife. There are no positions in all of sport that bestows the moxy, the swagger, and the sheer confidence that a 22 year old Power 5 QB has. They're already built, loaded with testosterone, have been the best athlete in town at every level of competition, and go home with any co-ed they want on a Friday night. They feel invincible. So when Padilla rode the bench all year last year behind an inferior QB yet still came back for his 4th year in the program, you would think he did so for one reason...TO FIGHT TO PLAY. Instead, he's more than content holding the clipboard behind the most incompetent starting QB in college football with a QB rating of 3.0. There's no rage, angst, or disappointment in his eyes. He has his head in the clouds. No rumors of him being pissed off or demanding a shot (see Michigan's backup QB). The only comments he's given to the media are that Petras is the better man. If it were most QBs, he'd be enraged that he pissed another year of eligibility down the drain while an inferior QB gets 100% of the snaps. Hell, his own head coach "never even considered" playing him. I want my QB to be a die hard competitor who would kill for an opportunity to go in on a winning drive against Iowa State. Not a soft spoken water boy who doesn't want to ruffle any feathers.
Still Not Sold On LaPorta. IowaLaw was the only one to point out LaPorta's 4 drops last week as fans were desperate to find a bright spot in the offense praised him. This week, Petras once again locked on LaPorta and only LaPorta. While LaPorta caught 8 passes and had no drops, the guy's yards after catch was lower than any TE we've seen at Iowa. How many receivers can catch 8 balls with none longer than 11 yards? Less than 7 yards per carry? How many routes are that short? I get it, beggars can't be choosy and LaPorta had a productive day. But if LaPorta is going to be the team's leading receiver and wants a career in the NFL, he's gotta actually break a tackle or two and work on his speed, as blocking is not his specialty.
Utilization of Van Ness? Lucas Van Ness is a beast. He single handedly blocked two punts. But that's pretty much all he did all game. What happened to the game changer / future AJE that many of us predicted he would be? He finished a slug fest in the rain with a grand total of...2 tackles (1 solo). The guy has all the potential in the world. I'd love to see him wreaking havoc in the backfield and averaging 2 sacks per game.
Zero Pop From Iowa's Lackluster RBs. When was the last time the Hawks lacked a single back with the ability to break a big run if given a crease. This year's backs are an entire stable of Mark Wisemen plowing up the middle for no more and no less than 2-3 yards per carry. Leshon, who averaged just 2.4 yards per carry today, came to Iowa with offers from the likes of Youngstown State and Bowling Green. To run a power offense in the Big 10 west with a statue for a QB, you need an upgrade at RB. This is one position where I think Iowa's in good shape for the future. This year, yikes! Zero quickness, zero burst, zero straight line speed, and zero power runs.
Cooper DeJean Coming of Age. There were certainly some bright spots on D. I'll be the first to admit I wasn't sold on the hype of DeJean coming in after dominating small school Iowa high school competition. But his 11 tackle, 2 pass deflection performance was the best so far of his career. Look for him to only get better as the game slows down for him a bit.
This Offense Isn't Just Bad. It's Historically Bad. A look around the Big 10 today shows that while Iowa mustered just 7 points in the entire game (for the second week in a row), the following teams put up serious points: Michigan State - 52 points; Minnesota - 62 points; Penn State - 42 points; Maryland - 56 points; Rutgers - 66 points; Purdue 56 points; Michigan - 42 points; Ohio State - 45 points. That's right. Most offensive coordinators in the Big 10 generated more than TEN POINTS PER QUARTER. Can you imagine how much respect our opposing coaches must have for the nepotism meathead? He and his $1,000,000 salary have to be a running joke in coaching circles, which is a direct reflection on Kirk and his legacy.
