“I think at the start of the season probably expectations were probably a little higher internally here than they were on the outside, and I think that certainly helped us, and was a result of our players’ efforts, the good work that they did out there, their focus,” said Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, who enters year 24 leading the Hawkeyes. “We got off to a good start, really strong, a good string of wins there together, and rose in the rankings probably a little too high. But we faced a few challenges there at midseason. Really proud of the way the guys bounced back from that. They kept working, they kept fighting, and kept believing in themselves.
“What they achieved after a couple bumps to win the Big Ten West and go to Indianapolis, those are certainly significant accomplishments. We’ve still got a little work to do there in Indy, and that’s on the list, so go from there.”
Hundred years ago, Iowa had back to back 7-0 seasons in 1921 and 1922. Fast forward to twenty years ago, Iowa had three straight Top 8 seasons, including an 8-0 B1G season in 2002, with Ohio State in the Big Ten. Sadly, the Hawkeyes didn't play the Buckeyes in 2002.
Not the case in 2022. The Hawkeyes get the B1G 2 in October 2002, with Michigan at Kinnick in Week 4, and the Buckeyes in Columbis in Week 8.
Can we ask for anything more, with this year's schedule, including seven sell-outs at historic Kinnick Stadium?
“There’s a record number of experts out there right now critiquing what we do,” Kirk Ferentz said. “The game is not that complex. It really isn’t. Fundamentals of throwing a football, a lot of fundamentals carry over. But there are things — I’m not pretending — that are specific to that position. But it’s also learnable.”
The offense must be better from an execution standpoint. The offensive line, the running and passing game need to all improve.
Spencer Petras (left) with Alex Padilla in 2021. (Joseph Cress / USA TODAY Sports)
“It’s very rare after a loss that you can sit down and if you’re being honest with yourself as a competitor, could I have done more?” Brian Ferentz asked. “That’s the stuff that haunts you when you lose. It’s a lot easier after you win to not be that honest with yourself. I think the trick is as you get older in this business, in this profession, can you sit down win or lose, positive result, not positive results? Like if we’re going to tell the players to ignore the noise, can the coaches do that? Can we do that?”
Also, despite how good the defense has been under DC Phil Parker, Iowa needs to be better to get to a Championship level.
Did we see it in any of the four losses last year?
Phil Parker back in 2017, during the Ohio State talked about the importance of minimizing explosive plays. Plays defined as 25 yards or more.
And, we can't forget 22% of the game comes from special teams, and Iowa has some unknowns there in 2022, with losses at placekicker, return specialist and holder.
Hawkeyes returning production
“Probably don’t get enough credit,” assistant defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Seth Wallace said. “A lot of that is due to how we’re built. Defensively, we’re built back to front; we’re not built front to back. But then we also would be in the top five in the country during that time in terms of giving up big plays. So, we’re getting takeaways, we’re getting interceptions and we’re limiting the big plays. While all that’s going on, we’re still doing a pretty good job stopping the run.”
Iowa’s recruiting has enjoyed an uptick since 2015, when it ranked among the lowest Power 5 programs. In four of the last five years, Iowa finished in the top 40 nationally. Its No. 24 247Sports Composite ranking in 2021 was the program’s best since 2005. In December, a signing-day surge vaulted the Hawkeyes almost to the top 25 before settling at No. 31.
Dochterman mentioned he is bullish on the Hawkeyes for 2022. @TomKakert shared his positive vibe around the Fourth of July.
If a quarterback can elevate the offense in critical moments, a second straight divisional title and a New Year’s Six bowl are in play. If not, the Hawkeyes could find themselves on the wrong side of a few too many 17-13 games.
The 1981 team played in Iowa City and around the Big Ten 41 years ago. Like the 2002 team, the Hawkeyes didn't get Ohio State on their schedule.
Kirk Ferentz was an OL coach thirty-five years ago, when he tasted his lone win in Columbus. The 1987 Iowa Hawkeyes were a 10-3 team, who opened the season trying to figure if one of 3 guys could QB winning Big Ten football?
Iowa hasn't won a game in Columbus in 31 years. Hayden Fry's best team, who never played in a Rose Bowl.
“What they achieved after a couple bumps to win the Big Ten West and go to Indianapolis, those are certainly significant accomplishments. We’ve still got a little work to do there in Indy, and that’s on the list, so go from there.”
Hundred years ago, Iowa had back to back 7-0 seasons in 1921 and 1922. Fast forward to twenty years ago, Iowa had three straight Top 8 seasons, including an 8-0 B1G season in 2002, with Ohio State in the Big Ten. Sadly, the Hawkeyes didn't play the Buckeyes in 2002.
Not the case in 2022. The Hawkeyes get the B1G 2 in October 2002, with Michigan at Kinnick in Week 4, and the Buckeyes in Columbis in Week 8.
Can we ask for anything more, with this year's schedule, including seven sell-outs at historic Kinnick Stadium?
“There’s a record number of experts out there right now critiquing what we do,” Kirk Ferentz said. “The game is not that complex. It really isn’t. Fundamentals of throwing a football, a lot of fundamentals carry over. But there are things — I’m not pretending — that are specific to that position. But it’s also learnable.”
The offense must be better from an execution standpoint. The offensive line, the running and passing game need to all improve.
Spencer Petras (left) with Alex Padilla in 2021. (Joseph Cress / USA TODAY Sports)
“It’s very rare after a loss that you can sit down and if you’re being honest with yourself as a competitor, could I have done more?” Brian Ferentz asked. “That’s the stuff that haunts you when you lose. It’s a lot easier after you win to not be that honest with yourself. I think the trick is as you get older in this business, in this profession, can you sit down win or lose, positive result, not positive results? Like if we’re going to tell the players to ignore the noise, can the coaches do that? Can we do that?”
Also, despite how good the defense has been under DC Phil Parker, Iowa needs to be better to get to a Championship level.
Did we see it in any of the four losses last year?
Phil Parker back in 2017, during the Ohio State talked about the importance of minimizing explosive plays. Plays defined as 25 yards or more.
And, we can't forget 22% of the game comes from special teams, and Iowa has some unknowns there in 2022, with losses at placekicker, return specialist and holder.
Hawkeyes returning production
| CATEGORY | PERCENT RETURNING | TOP RETURNER |
|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | 99 | Petras, 1,880 |
| Rushing yards | 23 | G. Williams, 305 |
| Receiving yards | 83 | LaPorta, 670 |
| OL starts | 42 | Richman, 12 |
| Tackles | 77 | Campbell, 143 |
| Tackles for loss | 66 | Van Ness, 8.5 |
| Sacks | 82 | Evans & Van Ness, 7 |
| Interceptions | 60 | Moss & Harris, 4 |
Defense wins championships 🏆 the old saying says.
Collecting turnovers is nothing new for Iowa’s defense. Since 2015, the Hawkeyes’ 117 interceptions are the most among Power 5 programs and second most overall. Their 168 takeaways over that span rank second only to Alabama (171). - Scott Dochterman's article in The Athletic pointed out in his State of the Program series.“Probably don’t get enough credit,” assistant defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Seth Wallace said. “A lot of that is due to how we’re built. Defensively, we’re built back to front; we’re not built front to back. But then we also would be in the top five in the country during that time in terms of giving up big plays. So, we’re getting takeaways, we’re getting interceptions and we’re limiting the big plays. While all that’s going on, we’re still doing a pretty good job stopping the run.”
How the Hawkeyes recruited from 2019 to 2022
Iowa’s recruiting has enjoyed an uptick since 2015, when it ranked among the lowest Power 5 programs. In four of the last five years, Iowa finished in the top 40 nationally. Its No. 24 247Sports Composite ranking in 2021 was the program’s best since 2005. In December, a signing-day surge vaulted the Hawkeyes almost to the top 25 before settling at No. 31.
Dochterman mentioned he is bullish on the Hawkeyes for 2022. @TomKakert shared his positive vibe around the Fourth of July.
Final assessment by Doc
With its defense, Iowa will stay in most games. The schedule becomes more difficult with a home crossover game against Michigan and the Hawkeyes’ first trip to Ohio State since 2013. Still, the Hawkeyes’ chances of competing in those games and repeating as Big Ten West champions come down to offensive improvement and quarterback play.If a quarterback can elevate the offense in critical moments, a second straight divisional title and a New Year’s Six bowl are in play. If not, the Hawkeyes could find themselves on the wrong side of a few too many 17-13 games.
The 1981 team played in Iowa City and around the Big Ten 41 years ago. Like the 2002 team, the Hawkeyes didn't get Ohio State on their schedule.
Kirk Ferentz was an OL coach thirty-five years ago, when he tasted his lone win in Columbus. The 1987 Iowa Hawkeyes were a 10-3 team, who opened the season trying to figure if one of 3 guys could QB winning Big Ten football?
Iowa hasn't won a game in Columbus in 31 years. Hayden Fry's best team, who never played in a Rose Bowl.
