Hawkeye Football: What We Learned from Iowa’s Spring Game

The Iowa Hawkeyes closed out their spring follow season on Saturday with a session open to the general public. A number of thousand Iowa followers flocked to Kinnick Stadium to absorb some lovely sunshine and their one shot at catching a glimpse of the Hawkeyes earlier than subsequent fall.

As we’ve come to anticipate, this yr’s iteration was under no circumstances a spring sport and really a lot an open follow. Nonetheless, there have been a slew of injured Hawkeyes to shut out spring follow and the session general was a bit extra temporary than in years previous. In step with prior years, there isn’t plenty of concrete takeaways and there are actually most likely extra questions than solutions.

Nonetheless, that doesn’t imply there weren’t some issues to remove from the day. Listed here are 4 takeaways from Iowa’s last follow of spring.

QB Controversy? QB Controversy.

Let’s get this out of the best way proper off the bat. If you happen to went into Saturday hoping and wishing the Iowa teaching employees would transfer on from Spencer Petras, you aren’t shifting any nearer to the Petras facet of issues. The senior-to-be didn’t have an awesome day throwing the ball, ending simply 7/16 for 52 yards in keeping with The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman.

Extra troubling for Hawkeye followers than the uncooked stats was the missed throws. That included a number of misses that weren’t all that shut on throws down the sector (it’s price noting – and never for the final time – that it was very windy in Iowa Metropolis on Saturday) and a depressing throw into the flat within the face of strain that was nowhere close to a large open Arland Bruce.

In brief, Petras didn’t look totally different than what we’ve seen out of him for the previous two seasons. Right here’s a have a look at every of his throws from Saturday.

In distinction to Petras, each 2nd stringer Alex Padilla and third stringer Joe Labas accomplished at the least half their throws and every topped Petras in whole yardage. It’s price noting that Labas was largely going towards a 3rd workforce protection that was suffering from guys even additional down the depth chart with so many gamers within the two-deeps resting.

That stated, Padilla completed the day 5 of seven throwing for 66 yards, once more per Doc. It’s a lot too small of a pattern dimension to make any actual conclusions, however that completion proportion is in stark distinction to the 49% completion proportion Padilla completed with a season in the past and if he can persistently be in that 55-60% space he has an actual probability at taking the beginning job.

Head coach Kirk Ferentz stated when requested within the post-practice presser that Petras IS forward of Padilla as of now, however he reiterated they’re conserving an open thoughts and it’s price noting that Padilla was getting reps with the primary workforce offense, even subbing in for Petras mid-series after the blown scorching learn to Bruce.

Right here’s a have a look at all of Padilla’s throws from Saturday.

One factor you’ll discover from the above video, which carries over much more to Labas, is simply how totally different the play designs appear when Petras isn’t on the sector. No one goes to say that both Padilla or Labas are twin menace guys, however each are vastly extra cellular than Petras and offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz did so much to maneuver the pocket with every on Saturday. We noticed that within the restricted time Padilla bought a season in the past as properly and with the accidents on the offensive line, it was a a lot wanted facet that Petras doesn’t deliver.

Right here’s a have a look at all of the throwing reps for Labas, who Doc had ending 7 of 12 for 93 yards (it’s price noting right here once more the distinction between the 1s and the 3s and in addition price calling out a number of accomplished passes after clear sacks).

Floor Recreation Grounded

Apologies for persevering with to bang this drum however I’m going to maintain doing it each time I get behind a keyboard to speak soccer: the Iowa offense isn’t itself when it can not set up the run. That was a serious subject in 2021. It began with accidents up entrance and was seemingly exacerbated by Tyler Goodson, gifted as he’s, having certainly one of highest TFL charges of any Hawkeye again the final 20 years.

One of many main hopes for 2022 is that the offensive line, even with out Tyler Linderbaum within the center, can achieve some expertise and cohesion to get the bottom sport going. Sadly, that’s not what we noticed on Saturday.

The Hawkeyes had each Gavin and Leshon Williams out there, however each had been held to restricted reps presumably in an try and maintain them wholesome as third teamer Devin Hilson was on crutches with an harm that will have him out into the autumn. Neither was capable of do a lot of something as Iowa’s entrance seven had been repeatedly within the backfield, typically as backs had been taking a handoff with nowhere to go.

That’s not on the Williamses, that’s an offensive line subject that merely can’t persist. Now, a few of it could have been harm associated because the Hawkeyes had been with out Justin Britt, Nick DeJong, Gennings Dunker, Griffin Liddle and Mike Myslinski. That left Mason Richman, Tyler Elsbury, Logan Jones, Connor Colby and Jack Plumb as starters from left to proper.

It’s a comparatively younger group and with Jones going from defensive sort out to 3rd string heart to eventual starter all within the span of some months, it’s a comparatively inexperienced one as properly. The Hawkeyes have to see enchancment right here between now and September 2nd or the offensive struggles we noticed a season in the past will linger no matter who’s beneath heart.

Protection Wins Championships

The previous adage has confirmed true at Iowa time and again (OK, maybe not championships however definitely video games) and primarily based on what we noticed Saturday it’s going to have to be true once more in 2022. The protection all the time seems to be higher than the offense in spring, however this group seems to be poised to be very, superb.

The Hawkeyes had been with out a number of key gamers on protection, like just about each place, however the entrance 4 was down solely Jeff Bowie and Joe Evans and so they regarded the half. Very a lot the half.

Lukas Van Ness has gotten loads of buzz this spring and he appears poised to make the leap in 2022. Iowa wants him to step into a serious position with the departure of Zach Van Valkenburg, together with bump ups from Joe Evans and John Waggoner on the surface. Deontae Craig is one other man that basically seems to be like he’s able to step into a serious position on the sting.

One factor we didn’t see on Saturday was Iowa’s stellar group of linebackers as all three projected starters (Jack Campbell, Seth Benson and Jestin Jacobs) had been sitting out together with promising teen Justice Sullivan. However Jay Higgins continues to flash and the Hawkeyes have a secure of linebackers able to step in when requested with Kyler Fisher, Logan Klemp and now Jaxon Rethroth who has moved down from security.

Right here’s a have a look at a few of the defensive highlights from Saturday.

Not So Particular Groups?

Say it ain’t so! It (most likely) isn’t. LeVar Woods has been super as Iowa’s particular groups coach and the expectation is that excellence will proceed in 2022. However there have been some points on Saturday.

Or maybe extra precisely, there have been points when it got here time to place factors on the board. A season in the past, the Hawkeyes relied on Caleb Shudak to place factors on the board from all around the plus facet of the 50 and he delivered time and time once more. Saturday, none of Iowa’s kickers able to bail out a struggling Hawkeye offense.

The unofficial counts had each freshman Drew Stevens and redshirt sophomore Aaron Blom at round 50% on discipline purpose makes an attempt, however reviews additionally had Stevens going 0-fer on kicks past 40 yards. Once more, it was a really windy day in Kinnick, however these numbers are a possible main subject heading into the autumn and one thing to regulate.

Outdoors the sector purpose proportion, the Hawkeyes additionally had a 40-yard try blocked – one thing Iowa has hardly ever seen the final a number of seasons and one other concern in an space the place issues have been extremely regular.

One place the place there have been no considerations was at punter. Tory Taylor continues to seem like Tory Taylor and he was benefiting from the wind at occasions to growth 70-yarders. He’s an absolute weapon and the one silver lining to a doubtlessly depressing offense repeatedly going three and out.

Last Ideas

It’s price repeating: this was one open follow in the midst of spring in a shortened format with a slew of fellows sitting out. Issues will change and issues have little doubt regarded totally different each time the Hawkeyes have strapped them on this spring.

Having stated that, this seems to be one other group with an excellent protection, a ho-hum offense and highs and lows in particular groups. At first look, this seems to be like your common Kirk Ferentz particular: 8-4 with a second place end within the West.

However there are playmakers ready within the wings. The protection has all of the items to be particular. And if we truly get cohesion up entrance, this workforce has sufficient in place to make one other run to Indianapolis. We’ll have a number of months to now dissect each clip from Saturday earlier than we begin to get the gradual drip of fall camp reviews and actually begin to kind an opinion on this yr’s workforce.

Till then, take the follow reviews, video clips and tweets with a grain of salt.