New Story Quarterbacks Struggle in Kids' Day Tune-Up

[Adam Jacobi]

IOWA CITY — Iowa's annual Kids' Day open practice, held Saturday at Kinnick Stadium, is an opportunity for families to bring their young ones to see a tune-up from the Hawkeyes and snag a few autographs along the way.

Some of the throws by Iowa's quarterbacks Saturday may have sent the parents scrambling to cover their kids' eyes.

Jokes aside, Saturday's game wasn't a cause for panic for the Hawkeyes, who are still adjusting to new offensive coordinator Tim Lester and his playbook, but it was a forceful reminder that the work is still very, very much in progress.

"We're just going to let all three guys keep playing," said head coach Kirk Ferentz after the open practice. "With quarterbacks, you've just got to let them keep playing, see what they can do. We're going to keep giving all three guys good reps."
FREE:

Quarterbacks Struggle in Kids' Day Tune-Up

The QB competition in Iowa City grew even murkier after a rocky Kids' Day performance for both McNamara and Sullivan.

iowa.rivals.com

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

IOWA CITY — Iowa's annual Kids' Day open practice, held Saturday at Kinnick Stadium, is an opportunity for families to bring their young ones to see a tune-up from the Hawkeyes and snag a few autographs along the way.

Some of the throws by Iowa's quarterbacks Saturday may have sent the parents scrambling to cover their kids' eyes.

Jokes aside, Saturday's game wasn't a cause for panic for the Hawkeyes, who are still adjusting to new offensive coordinator Tim Lester and his playbook, but it was a forceful reminder that the work is still very, very much in progress.

"We're just going to let all three guys keep playing," said head coach Kirk Ferentz after the open practice. "With quarterbacks, you've just got to let them keep playing, see what they can do. We're going to keep giving all three guys good reps."
FREE:

Quarterbacks Struggle in Kids' Day Tune-Up

The QB competition in Iowa City grew even murkier after a rocky Kids' Day performance for both McNamara and Sullivan.

iowa.rivals.com

Can’t even blame Brian for Sullivan.

What is it about Iowa City that turns quarterbacks to shit?

So, what I’m reading is this is going to be a long season. 😒

 

[Iron Doc]

Was the stats issue due to the skill people or was the OLine still dismal?

 

[coorsoriginal02]

Not panicking but holy hell…god forbid we have good things happening with the offense.

We’re only 3 weeks out FFS.

 

[Hawkfan_08]

Can’t even blame Brian for Sullivan.

What is it about Iowa City that turns quarterbacks to shit?

So, what I’m reading is this is going to be a long season. 😒

Not a hot take but Sullivan wasn't good at NW. Maybe he will do better here? I vote we just let Lainez run loose and just dual threat?

 

[desihawk]

really hope dakin is good enough to be a dark horse heisman candidate and complements the defense to power ugly iowa to cfp.

 

[herkyhawk00]

Not a hot take but Sullivan wasn't good at NW. Maybe he will do better here? I vote we just let Lainez run loose and just dual threat?

Ummmm, the guy completed 63 and 71% of his passes the last two years at NW! Granted, he wasn’t a full time starter. Let me give you a painful reminder that the last QB we had that finished with at least a 61% completion in a season was CJ Beathard in 2015. Those numbers should excite you.

 

[MitchLL]

really hope dakin is good enough to be a dark horse heisman candidate and complements the defense to power ugly iowa to cfp.

Punting is Winning!!!!

 

[Birky]

Not a hot take but Sullivan wasn't good at NW. Maybe he will do better here? I vote we just let Lainez run loose and just dual threat?

His career QBR is better than Nate Stanley and CJ Beathard.

 

[ShonnDeereGreene]

Didn’t see the scrimmage, but I have to believe there’s still a cumulative issue here with WRs being less than stellar in getting separation. Yes we’ve heard a lot about this offense intentionally getting WRs more involved and 3 WR sets. But that doesn’t magically make them better. IMO, the jury is still out on the OL, WR, and the QBs collectively.

McNutt, DJK, Mo Brown, ISM, and Ed Hinkle aren’t suiting up for us this year. Who’s gonna become a go-to playmaker in that group that can consistently get good separation?

 

[Beattheohiostate]

For one thing, Iowa's offense has to go against one of the nation's top defenses every day. Iowa's D-backs and LBs are as good as any in the country. And as was noted in the Press-Citizen recently, Iowa's offense looked horrible in the fall open scrimmage in 2015 despite having CJ Beathard at QB. But, as you may recall, Iowa went 12-0 in 2015 and came within 37 seconds of winning the Big Ten title and making the four-team national playoff.

I have to believe that Lester, if KF lets him, will come up with a decent QB or two and that the Iowa offense will show marked improvement. And I think we'll see clear signs of that in the first game in three weeks.

A visit to the way-back machine reveals that Hayden Fry took over an Iowa team that had gone 2-9 in 1978. Eight months later he put an offense on the field that was a well-oiled machine. It was led by Phil Suess at QB, who had been a 5th-string D-back under Bob Commings. In Hayden's very first Iowa game in 1979--against a good Indiana team, not Illinois State--the passes were crisp and on target and delivered BEFORE the receiver made his break. The receiver turned his head and the ball was there. Not even all-American D-backs can do much when your passing attack is that precise. Lester may not be another Fry, but given the freedom to do so, I think he'll turn this offense around.

After all, every one of Iowa's QBs is mobile, which is a huge upgrade from the last four seasons under the statues known as Petras and Hill. The top two QBs also are experienced--Big Ten experienced--so improvement can happen fast, especially since both have solid track records. So I wouldn't give up on the Iowa offense just yet. There'll be plenty of time for that. But I still believe we'll be pleasantly surprised come August 31.

BTW: Jackson Stratton, the QB transfer from Colorado State, isn't getting any mention, but don't forget about him. He, too, is mobile and has a strong and accurate arm. So unlike the last four years, Iowa has at least four athletes to work with at the QB position rather than one guy they snagged from Fordham and who's now at Utah Tech (look it up).

 

[2D_]

Actually, Lester purposefully called boring vanilla plays and the QBs purposefully played bad to throw off our opponents who were watching. We'll be a totally different offense when the season starts.

 

[jonesy5960]

Actually, Lester purposefully called boring vanilla plays and the QBs purposefully played bad to throw off our opponents who were watching. We'll be a totally different offense when the season starts.

Right??? Kirk's playing 3D chess while everyone here is playing checkers!! Obviously !! Pfft!!

 

[desihawk]

Actually, Lester purposefully called boring vanilla plays and the QBs purposefully played bad to throw off our opponents who were watching. We'll be a totally different offense when the season starts.

yep, KF 4.0 = show a bungling offense through the ooc stumbling to close wins but once b1g season starts casually 50 point everyone.

 

[Iron Doc]

For one thing, Iowa's offense has to go against one of the nation's top defenses every day. Iowa's D-backs and LBs are as good as any in the country. And as was noted in the Press-Citizen recently, Iowa's offense looked horrible in the fall open scrimmage in 2015 despite having CJ Beathard at QB. But, as you may recall, Iowa went 12-0 in 2015 and came within 37 seconds of winning the Big Ten title and making the four-team national playoff.

I have to believe that Lester, if KF lets him, will come up with a decent QB or two and that the Iowa offense will show marked improvement. And I think we'll see clear signs of that in the first game in three weeks.

A visit to the way-back machine reveals that Hayden Fry took over an Iowa team that had gone 2-9 in 1978. Eight months later he put an offense on the field that was a well-oiled machine. It was led by Phil Suess at QB, who had been a 5th-string D-back under Bob Commings. In Hayden's very first Iowa game in 1979--against a good Indiana team, not Illinois State--the passes were crisp and on target and delivered BEFORE the receiver made his break. The receiver turned his head and the ball was there. Not even all-American D-backs can do much when your passing attack is that precise. Lester may not be another Fry, but given the freedom to do so, I think he'll turn this offense around.

After all, every one of Iowa's QBs is mobile, which is a huge upgrade from the last four seasons under the statues known as Petras and Hill. The top two QBs also are experienced--Big Ten experienced--so improvement can happen fast, especially since both have solid track records. So I wouldn't give up on the Iowa offense just yet. There'll be plenty of time for that. But I still believe we'll be pleasantly surprised come August 31.

BTW: Jackson Stratton, the QB transfer from Colorado State, isn't getting any mention, but don't forget about him. He, too, is mobile and has a strong and accurate arm. So unlike the last four years, Iowa has at least four athletes to work with at the QB position rather than one guy they snagged from Fordham and who's now at Utah Tech (look it up).

"... Lester, if KF lets him..."

-----------Key Question #1

 

[jonesy5960]

Not a hot take but Sullivan wasn't good at NW. Maybe he will do better here? I vote we just let Lainez run loose and just dual threat?

Sullivan might not have been great by any stretch, but he was still way better than anyone wearing an Iowa uniform last year.

 

[Hawkeye Marching Band]

Actually, Lester purposefully called boring vanilla plays and the QBs purposefully played bad to throw off our opponents who were watching. We'll be a totally different offense when the season starts.

The first part no doubt is true. Base plays only.

 

[Stoopsbrother]

Can’t even blame Brian for Sullivan.

What is it about Iowa City that turns quarterbacks to shit?

So, what I’m reading is this is going to be a long season. 😒

It's payback for all the good one's we had in the 80's & 90's

 

[NorthernHawkeye]

The thing that bothers me most about this news is the tendency of Ferentz to dig in hard with his initial starter. It takes way too long for him to move in a different direction.

I'd even take a QB by committe at this point. Let them settle it on game day.

 

[LarryMullenJr.]

The thing that bothers me most about this news is the tendency of Ferentz to dig in hard with his initial starter. It takes way too long for him to move in a different direction.

I'd even take a QB by committe at this point. Let them settle it on game day.

I’d pay money for that but we all know “looks good in practice” is the clincher.

 

[Zooropa_NCR]

If offense struggles this much with Base plays, then they won’t be able to do the more exotic

And that’s been the most baffling part of all of this. Iowa looks like they can’t even do the basics.

Snap the ball
Block
Run
Catch

Every play, even the most basic vanilla appear to be difficult

 

[NevadaHawk]

Not a hot take but Sullivan wasn't good at NW. Maybe he will do better here? I vote we just let Lainez run loose and just dual threat?

I've seen nothing to suggest Lainez is a good enough passer to be considered a true dual threat QB. Besides, the opposing defense would quickly adjust to a QB who only runs.

 

[Hawkfan_08]

I've seen nothing to suggest Lainez is a good enough passer to be considered a true dual threat QB. Besides, the opposing defense would quickly adjust to a QB who only runs.

Maybe I'm misremembering his stats but I thought he did most of his work as a game manager who couldn't throw?

Saying he is better than anyone else we had is setting the bar really, really, really low.

I just haven't seen enough of Lainez throw but his high school numbers were fine.

 

[pistachio1999]

7 or 8 days in.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

What? You mean despite all of the wishful thinking on this forum Iowa's qbs didn't magically look great in their first public appearance. I'm shocked.

 

[herkyhawk00]

The thing that bothers me most about this news is the tendency of Ferentz to dig in hard with his initial starter. It takes way too long for him to move in a different direction.

I'd even take a QB by committe at this point. Let them settle it on game day.

I think that is the only thing you can do. You can’t say Cade is the same qb from three years ago. Sullivan is a capable guy. If you want qbs to come in the future, you best give them an opportunity if there is little to no separation. That is just my opinion

 

[BigOHawk]

I'm not sure the offense has ever looked "good" or "above average" in ANY Kid's Day practice/scrimmage in the last 25 years. Many reasons including the D seeing the O daily, knowing the vanilla plays, Kirk's method of slow, steady improvement, not showing your cards (although what the heck are you really saving), etc...

 

[pistachio1999]

I'm not sure the offense has ever looked "good" or "above average" in ANY Kid's Day practice/scrimmage in the last 25 years. Many reasons including the D seeing the O daily, knowing the vanilla plays, Kirk's method of slow, steady improvement, not showing your cards (although what the heck are you really saving), etc...

I would say the OL did look better. I recall a play where our backup FB got blown up and missed his block and would have gotten the QB killed.

 

[MeetTheFerentzes]

Right??? Kirk's playing 3D chess while everyone here is playing checkers!! Obviously !! Pfft!!

KF is extremely patient. He has been holding back the offense for over 4 years now. He even threw two BTCG's and has purposely looked bad against every good team we've played as part of his master plan. Ready to release the Kraken at any time now.

 

[squeezebox]

I've seen nothing to suggest Lainez is a good enough passer to be considered a true dual threat QB. Besides, the opposing defense would quickly adjust to a QB who only runs.

His arm strength is the most concerning aspect, he did have nearly 80% completion in high school though.

Edit: This looks pretty legit

 

[BigOHawk]

I would say the OL did look better. I recall a play where our backup FB got blown up and missed his block and would have gotten the QB killed.

Good point and Kirk was bullish on OL for a few weeks now and the scrimmage is proving it out a bit. Now, with a healthy OL group with 155 career starts the time is now...a loaded RB room and a strong OL will go a LONG way into improving the offensive attack.

Fair or not, the kids day intel just stirred up a hornets nest but if you notice Kirk never has NOT recently stated that "100% Cade is the starter" or "there isn't competition" etc and THAT tells me a lot. Normally he'd lock into the starter and all else is a moot point....now I think he sees Cade rust which is normal after this amount of time (not to mention a new offense) plus the intriguing option of having a viable backup + Lester in his ear which complicates the #1 reps and snaps in camp + Iowa's plan....all in all, I think the long game is a good thing. Lean on the run game early and from a schematic standpoint, I saw some social traffic from some league analysts saying Iowa is running some new stuff and it will work..interesting.

 

[BonzoFury]

I just had to jump in here and give kudos to Adam for the proper use of the apostrophe. Well done.

 

[BirdistheWord]

Ummmm, the guy completed 63 and 71% of his passes the last two years at NW! Granted, he wasn’t a full time starter. Let me give you a painful reminder that the last QB we had that finished with at least a 61% completion in a season was CJ Beathard in 2015. Those numbers should excite you.

TBF Stanley completed 59.3 and 59.4 his last two seasons. Not great but right on the cusp of 60%.

 

[herkyhawk00]

TBF Stanley completed 59.3 and 59.4 his last two seasons. Not great but right on the cusp of 60%.

Yes, I know. Lol….. That wasn’t 61%.