It’s always interesting when opposing coaches break down the situation your team is facing. Theoretically, it affords opposing coaches the opportunity to be brutally honest without the fear of having their name attached to it.
247Sports’ Brad Crawford shared what Big Ten coaches had to say anonymously about their league brethren. Here’s what an anonymous coach had to offer about the Iowa Hawkeyes.
“The last West team culture standing, although it’s probably the one that’s needed the most change schematically, and maybe culturally. We’re all anxious to see how they address those contract stipulations on the offensive coordinator and what they can actually get done. They portaled out a lot of their best offensive players, which is a really scary situation when you’re that bad to begin with, and it puts a stupid amount of pressure on (transfer QB) Cade McNamara to make something happen.” – Anonymous Big Ten coach to Crawford, 247Sports.
The last in the West, eh? Is Iowa a dying breed in a division built on offensive line play, rushing the football and great defense?
One thing’s for sure: The Big Ten West is going by the wayside, but that’s thanks to the incoming additions of UCLA and USC and the conference’s new Flex Protect Plus scheduling model.
Time will tell, but Purdue might actually be heading back Iowa’s direction with new defensive-minded head coach Ryan Walters. Matt Rhule and Nebraska don’t really scream air it out either. Wisconsin is definitely headed the direction this Big Ten coach is implying everyone else is under first-year head coach Luke Fickell and offensive coordinator Phil Longo, but that’s neither here nor there as it pertains to the Hawkeyes.
Crawford wrote this in response to what the anonymous Big Ten coach had to say about Iowa’s situation.
All fingers pointed at Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz after last year’s humiliating numbers offensively and he knows his tenure as the Hawkeyes’ play-caller on his father’s coaching staff is over with another repeat of that. McNamara does face pressure as the new leader of the program, alongside Michigan transfer tight end Erick All. The entire offensive line returns which is always a positive and sophomore ballcarrier Kaleb Johnson could be a difference-maker. – Crawford, 247Sports.
Hopefully, Cade McNamara doesn’t have to do as much as this coach or Crawford think. If the offensive line actually improves in 2023, then McNamara should be able to very effectively utilize play-action to connect with tight end targets Erick All and Luke Lachey. It will hopefully free up wide receivers Nico Ragaini, Diante Vines, Charleston Southern transfer Seth Anderson and Ohio State transfer Kaleb Brown.
Kaleb Johnson is a star in the making in the backfield and Iowa has another running back it really likes in Leshon Williams. But, all of this hinges upon the Hawkeyes’ growth up front. In short, there’s plenty of weapons in Iowa City even after Keagan Johnson’s departure to Kansas State and Arland Bruce IV’s exit for Oklahoma State.
Given improved offensive line play, McNamara will be a serious upgrade at quarterback and unlock the Hawkeyes’ offensive potential. The Michigan transfer passed for 2,576 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2021 while leading the Wolverines to the Big Ten title.
[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.
Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25439572/VRG_TEC_Textless.jpg "Charter will offer Peacock for free with some cable subscriptions next year")
