In the grand scheme of Iowa’s offensive line play over the years, 2022 is one to forget. Between youth and a lack of experience, the Hawkeye OL struggled mightily last season.
Oh, the difference a year can make — at least according to Kirk Ferentz.
“I think probably the most significant change on our team will be the maturity of our offensive line,” he said in his opening statement at Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday. “I’m looking forward to watching those guys compete.”
So what does that mean?
“I’ll give you two examples,” Ferentz began later in the day. “Connor Colby — I’m watching him yesterday and I said ‘This guy was in his second year last year, and we were treating him like he was a returning starter. That was his second year in college!’ There was a time when offensive linemen played in [year] four and five.”
“Same for Logan Jones,” he continued. “Logan probably should get a medal for the way he played last year. What he did was so difficult — moving [from defensive line] in March and then starting every game, and he played pretty well. This guy, everything he does is at such a high level. To think he’s not going to be better this year and next year, like, seriously? I’d say the same thing about Connor. I think he’ll be at a different level physically, certainly in maturity and he’ll understand coaching a little bit better. It’s asking an awful lot for a first or second year guy to go out there and play well. At that position especially. It’s really challenging. I would suggest Tristan Wirfs was better in year three than years one and two.”
That sentiment is maintained for nearly all the guys that return on the OL for the Hawkeyes in 2023.
“I feel good about the whole group that way,” Ferentz said. “I mean, I go right down the list. Every guy is a better player than they were — I can’t say that about Mason (Richman) because we didn’t have him out there this spring. But, he’ll be healthy this year, he’s a year more mature — I’m around him frequently — and he’ll play at a much higher level, too.”
“Gennings Dunker has great potential,” he added. “But, he’s missed a lot of time since he’s been here. Based on the limited stuff I saw in the spring — he was out there probably six or seven practices — there’s a lot to be encouraged about. Even when he was doing things wrong technically, it still looked okay. So if we can get him to do things the way he needs to do it, it might look really good.”
It doesn’t end with the incumbent offensive line members. The Hawkeyes will likely lean on OL grad transfers Rusty Feth and Daijon Parker this season.
“Both are mature and really operate at a high level,” Ferentz said. “We’ll learn more about them soon. Both of them are older guys, and they’re really focused on the right things. They’ve been really strong additions to our team that way, and anytime you lose players, to get guys with positive experience is a good thing.”
Ultimately the change from inexperienced to experienced on the offensive line comes from opening up a lineman’s vision, and honing his technique — two changes Ferentz hopes he’ll see in 2023.
“The difference between the two is looking left and looking right to see things,” he said. “Great players have vision. Johnathan Ogden playing left tackle knew what the safety on the other side of the field was doing. He just had that vision. That takes a lot of work. It takes a lot of time and repetition. That’s a big part of it.”
“Learning the technique — it’s hard,” Ferentz continued. “It’s very different than what most guys know. What we do is a little foreign. You have to learn how to do it. It’s hard work. That’s not to mention the strength and conditioning aspect. Stuff happens fast up there. Experienced guys process things faster. They react quicker.”
Lastly, he made sure to emphasize his belief in the O-line coach he hired in March 2021.
“George Barnett is an awesome coach,” Ferentz said. “I don’t know if he gets beat up on social media or not, but I’m a little discriminant about offensive line coaches. George is an unbelievable line coach.”
Though the lack of experience reared its ugly head last season, Ferentz believes his men upfront will change things in 2023.
“I don’t want to say we’ve just been surviving, but there’s a difference between doing your job and doing your job well — having some control,” he said. “I just think we’re closer to that point. We’re not there yet by any stretch, we really need a good month. I think we’ll have a chance to play at the standard we’re looking for.”
The Rosemount High School Marching Band is celebrating a big victory from a competition earlier this fall. In late September they took home the Class AAA Championship trophy at the Bands of America regional competition in Waukee, Iowa. Members of the band joined the FOX 9 Morning News to talk about the win and share how they are getting ready for another big competition this weekend at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Des Moines Register’s Top 10 Iowa high school football players in 2024
Here’s a look at The Register’s Top 10 Iowa high school football players in 2024.
(This story was updated to add new information)
It’s Week 7 of the Iowa high school football season. Check out our list of IHSAA scores from Friday night’s action.
Stream Iowa HS football on the NFHS Network
Scores are listed in alphabetical order by winning team
Friday’s games:
Thursday’s games:
The Iowa Hawkeyes are coming off of a 35-7 thumping at the hands of the Ohio State Buckeyes, and while a loss to Ohio State was expected, it was how Iowa lost that has Hawkeyes fans livid.
Iowa’s offense was absolutely lifeless, Cade McNamara looked lost and head coach Kirk Ferentz did not seem to have any answers.
Not only that, but Ferentz doubled down on McNamara remaining the starter after the game, saying that the quarterback actually showed improvement.
That’s why Ferentz’s reputation may actually be on the line when the Hawkeyes face the Washington Huskies this Saturday.
Iowa is just 3-2 on the season, as it also lost to the Iowa State Cyclones back in Week 2. A loss to Washington would drop the Hawkeyes to .500, and it would add more fuel to the “fire Ferentz” discussion that has been smoldering.
The Huskies are a new addition to the Big Ten and just beat the Michigan Wolverines, and while Michigan has not been as good as expected, Washington is no joke.
However, make no mistake: Iowa needs to beat these guys.
Here is the thing: barring a catastrophic remainder of the 2024 campaign at Iowa City, the Hawkeyes aren’t canning Ferentz. The man is under contract through 2029 on a hefty salary. It isn’t happening.
But Ferentz’s reputation is a different story.
The 69-year-old has been at the helm for Iowa since 1999 and is highly respected by the fans, but patience is running thin.
Last year, the Hawkeyes played three ranked opponents and lost by a total score of 92-0. They also just got destroyed by Ohio State. The Iowa fan base is tired with being second-best, and at this point, that is all Ferentz has offered them.
Sure, Iowa does not have the cachet or prestige of schools like Ohio State, Michigan or Alabama. It typically won’t land the very best recruits as a result. But the Hawkeyes’ inability to even put together respectable offenses over the years does reflect poorly on Ferentz, who is the longest-tenured coach in the country.
And Iowa fans are sick of it.
The Hawkeyes absolutely need to beat the Huskies this Saturday. Iowa should be better than Washington, and at some point, the Hawkeyes are going to have to display that they can consistently beat good teams.
Is all of the Ferentz criticism deserved? No, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that all of it is completely unfounded.
Ferentz can provide some nice pushback to all of the naysayers with a Week 7 win over Washington. Or, he can give fans more reason to complain with a loss.
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Charter will offer Peacock for free with some cable subscriptions next year
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