I actually don’t even really feel like writing about this recreation, or giving this workforce any consideration proper now. All credit score to South Dakota State. They don’t seem to be a pushover regardless of their FCS standing they usually performed laborious on protection. They had been overmatched on offense, which was at all times going to be a probability with the expertise on Iowa’s protection, however they certainly had been proper there to cease Iowa’s offense.

Was that South Dakota State taking part in out of their minds, or Iowa simply being an entire catastrophe? You can also make your personal judgement, however I do know what my alternative is.

I don’t care that they’re an excellent FCS opponent, this Iowa workforce went into the season with aspirations of constructing it again to the Massive Ten Championship recreation! That’s the way you begin out the season at house?! It was a humiliation, it was a shame, and a disservice to each fan that sat by way of that mess in Kinnick Stadium Saturday. Ferentz and his employees must determine it out, or that is going to be a protracted, lengthy season.

That stated off the highest, let’s take a look at 5 of the largest takeaways for the Hawkeyes versus South Dakota State.

A lot for an improved Spencer Petras

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports activities

All offseason there was speak in regards to the enhancements senior quarterback Spencer Petras made. “He cleaned up all the straightforward issues! He’s taking part in with extra confidence this yr!” Spencer Petras seemed the worst he’s ever performed towards the Jackrabbits! I get it, the offensive line was not good (we’ll get to them subsequent,) and Iowa was lacking an excellent quantity of weapons. Nonetheless, Spencer Petras seemed incapable of doing something towards South Dakota State! Missed throws, missed reads, dangerous selections, he checked off each field on the quarterback ineptitude guidelines.

It stated rather a lot that Kirk Ferentz determined to punt the ball on fourth-and-3 on the South Dakota State 37-yard line. That was early within the recreation, too! He threw a horrendous decide over the center within the second quarter, one thing we’ve seen earlier than. He almost threw one other one, forcing a move into double protection to fullback Monte Pottebaum.

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Yr three and it’s the identical actual dangerous quarterback play from Spencer Petras. I don’t care that it’s week one and the workforce’s making an attempt to gel, nor do I care that there have been a variety of accidents.  Groups don’t worry Spencer Petras to make any throws, and I don’t know the way the Iowa teaching employees has any religion in him to take action. How lengthy does this need to maintain taking place for a change to be made?

The offensive line nonetheless stinks

Joseph Cress/Iowa Metropolis Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

Talking of one other unit that was alleged to be so improved this offseason, the offensive line performed horrible. Whether or not it was instantly letting strain hit Petras or their full lack of ability to create any holes for operating again Leshon Williams, this was in all probability the worst recreation performed by an Iowa offensive line in years. The inside bought completely no push within the run recreation, regardless of all of the speak about how a lot greater the road was this yr.

Instantly in week one it was clear to see that heart Logan Jones is certainly not Tyler Linderbaum. They may have the same story of transitioning from defensive deal with to heart, however there was an enormous drop off in expertise inside. He seemed like, nicely, a defensive deal with taking part in heart. He can’t have one other efficiency like this and count on to take care of his position as a starter.

This was an especially discouraging efficiency from the offensive line. They seemed dangerous towards an opponent they need to have dominated. Iowa couldn’t run the ball, which meant they couldn’t do something on offense with Ferentz’s archaic offense. In the event that they bought bullied towards the Jackrabbits, what are they going to do towards groups from the Massive Ten?

Tory Taylor for Heisman

Joseph Cress/Iowa Metropolis Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

How horrible is it that Iowa’s punter put the workforce in a greater place to attain factors than the offense did? Whereas the offense couldn’t sniff the Jackrabbits’ finish zone, Tory Taylor continually had South Dakota State pinned close to it. Taylor needed to punt 10 instances. Ten instances! That’s completely ridiculous. Taylor pinned South Dakota State close to their very own aim line a number of instances, organising the game-winning security. Seven of his punts landed contained in the 20-yard line. Give Taylor the sport ball.

At Least the protection seemed nearly as good as marketed

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports activities

Coming into the sport with excessive expectations, there was a variety of disappointment on Saturday. The advance promised from the offense, the offensive line, and the quarterback play was not discovered in any respect. Nonetheless, the protection was precisely what they had been marketed as.

What an excellent workforce ought to do is dominate the groups they need to dominate. No disrespect to South Dakota State, they’re a formidable FCS contender, however they’re nonetheless an FCS faculty. They shouldn’t be an issue for the most effective defenses within the nation, they usually had been completely eradicated.

The Jackrabbits solely managed 120 yards of whole offense. The one factors they scored, a discipline aim to finish the primary half, was off of Petras’ interception. They couldn’t run the ball or get something going within the air.

It’s laborious to single out only one efficiency, however linebacker Jack Campbell definitely lived as much as his preseason hype. He brought about the primary of two safeties for the Iowa protection. He rushes to the ball service like a missile and makes use of all of his 6-foot-5, 246 pound body to stage rushers.

Noah Shannon additionally had a standout recreation on the defensive position. Security Quinn Schulte had a unbelievable debut at security with 4 move breakups.

A minimum of one half of the workforce confirmed as much as play at the moment.

This season simply bought rather a lot scarier

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports activities

They are saying to not overreact to the primary recreation, however how are you going to not after that efficiency? No disrespect to the Jackrabbits, however it’s South Dakota State! They’re an FCS workforce, you’re a Massive Ten contender. You shouldn’t be escaping by the pores and skin of your enamel with a win from your personal stadium towards an FCS opponent, particularly once you simply made the Massive Ten Championship final yr. On offense, the Hawkeyes seemed uninspired, they had been overmatched, they usually seemed like they might barely have the ability to rating towards the UMass’ of the world.

That is alleged to be the simple a part of the schedule! Apart from perhaps Nevada, it solely will get tougher from right here. You’ve a large rivalry recreation towards Iowa State, and picture the fan response if Iowa places in one other efficiency like that. Rutgers simply beat Boston Faculty, a good ACC opponent. They don’t seem to be the gimme opponent anymore. Then, you actually get to brass tacks with the Massive Ten schedule.

For those who can’t transfer the ball towards South Dakota State, how can we count on you to do something towards Illinois, Minnesota, or Wisconsin? This isn’t even mentioning the huge matchups towards Michigan and Ohio State.

You’ll not be taking part in an FCS offense each week. Irrespective of how nice the protection is, they can not maintain each workforce to 3 factors. If that is who Iowa is, then we’re in large hassle this yr. Issues have to be found out instantly and a few modifications have to be made. This higher not occur within the combat for the Cy-Hawk Trophy subsequent week.

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Story initially appeared on Hawkeyes Wire