{"id":46471,"date":"2022-10-17T13:00:03","date_gmt":"2022-10-17T17:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/?p=46471"},"modified":"2022-10-17T03:58:53","modified_gmt":"2022-10-17T07:58:53","slug":"whats-wrong-with-iowas-offense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2022\/10\/17\/whats-wrong-with-iowas-offense\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s Wrong With The Iowa Offense?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What\u2019s wrong with the Iowa offense? According to offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz<\/strong>, the offensive struggles this year \u201cdon\u2019t have a root cause.\u201d At the halfway point of the season, Ferentz\u2019s offense is dead last in the FBS in total offense (238.8 yards per game) and first downs per game (13.3). The unit is among the 10 worst teams nationally on the year in scoring offense (14.7 points per game), red zone attempts (12), third-down conversion percentage (29.6%), and scrimmage play of more than 10 yards (48).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There isn\u2019t one obvious area that needs attention in this offense. Lack of depth at wide receiver, youth at the offensive line, and failure in critical down situations have been among the reasons Iowa has struggled this season. It doesn\u2019t all fall on one person, but the entire unit together. More than anything, the 2022 season might just be more of a rebuilding year than originally anticipated.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Change for Change\u2019s Sake<\/strong><\/h3>\n

At Wednesday\u2019s coordinator press conference, Ferentz made an interesting comment in response to questions about his starting quarterback. Chad Leistikow<\/strong> of the Des Moines Register asked him what the downside would be of making a switch at the position and going with Alex Padilla<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The junior from Colorado has been the number two guy all season. He has yet to take a snap despite the continued lack of production on offense. A switch in the position is something that would at least provide a change of scenery, something we thought would be reasonable<\/a> nearly a month ago.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The first words of Ferentz\u2019s response were, \u201cWhat\u2019s the upside?\u201d Immediately, the answer seemed to discredit Padilla and signal an overall resistance to change. Ferentz and his father, head coach Kirk Ferentz<\/strong>, have continually expressed confidence in Padilla as a backup. This response indicated otherwise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking deeper, the question that needs to be asked is which quarterback, given the circumstances of the Iowa offense, gives the team the best chance to win football games. It\u2019s apparent through what we\u2019ve seen on the field and bluntly confirmed by Ferentz in his press conference, that Spencer Petras<\/a> is that guy. Petras is the most equipped to handle the lack of receiver depth, the young offensive line, and the difficulties these present for an offense. The offensive coordinator addressed making a change for change\u2019s sake, saying that he doesn\u2019t disagree with that philosophy. However, there are times when that kind of change makes sense and times when it may not. Right now, given the circumstances of a young, and not quite cohesive offense, it doesn\u2019t make sense to the coaching staff to make that kind of change.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>