Zero era, Ferentz ball doesn’t work yet | football

Further preparation for Iowa to play its biggest match of the year has resulted in another disappointment. A promising, competitive 7-0 first half at Ohio State resulted in a discouraging 35-7 score in a game that many had hoped would provide an opportunity to score some College Football Playoff points. This type of loss has been a theme for Iowa over the last four years – beating weaker opponents only to be eliminated by ranked teams.

Of course, no one expects Iowa to beat every top-five team it faces. However, there is an expectation that they can at least compete with top teams in one of these final 10-win seasons.

It’s hard to be disappointed with the number of wins Iowa has racked up in recent years, but since the start of the Spencer Petras era there has been a bad taste left in Iowa fans’ minds that has only gotten worse.

Is it the style of play? Why is Iowa able to win so many games while simultaneously giving the impression that they don’t belong on the field in those big games? Ferentz ball.

Ferentz-Ball is all about complementary football. It’s about winning in all three facets of the game. Attack, defense and special teams. You will hear many trainers talk about doing the “little things” right. That’s what Iowa is all about.

The philosophy is similar to the way commentators describe Iowa’s defense. It’s pretty simple, but beneath the surface is complexity. On offense, the goal is to run the ball effectively to set up the pass and not to turn the ball over. In defense, keep the ball up front, no big plays over the top. The top seven is enough to stop the run, allowing help in the secondary. The philosophy of special teams is similar to that of defense: they don’t allow big plays and provide solid coverage.

However, it goes deeper than these simple concepts. The team philosophy is about being part of something bigger than yourself. The soccer team has an accountability program dedicated to implementing this idea. This is why the Zero Era and the Ferentz Ball don’t mix. Paying student-athletes to come to your program doesn’t attract the same recruits you built your program with, and the Hawkeyes are still trying to get used to that.

The Ferentz Ball method has been one-sided against top teams and the rest of the roster lately. I believe this is not due to the Ferentz Ball concepts, but rather the lack of implementation. Let’s look at the recent loss against a top team, Ohio State.

Although the defense managed to do its job limiting points in the first half, this was largely due to forced turnovers. Ohio State was able to move the ball down the field in the first half, but a timely forced fumble, an interception and a big stop on fourth down gave Iowa chances to tie or take the lead early in this game.

However, the special teams and offense did not do their job. A missed opportunity at the quarterback position stands out in the first half. On third down, Kaden Wetjen flew open deep in Ohio State territory, but Cade McNamara was unable to make the 35-yard throw.

A great throw can end in a touchdown. With a decent throw, Iowa takes the lead and sets the tone in this game. Instead, Iowa was forced to punt and Ohio State responded with an 88-yard touchdown drive.

Those opportunities are few and far between against a team as talented as Ohio State. The failure to capitalize brings us to the main reason why Iowa has failed to compete against top teams in recent years. Quarterback game.

What finally put the game out of reach in the second half were three turnovers by McNamara. As Ferentz said after the game, you’re not going to beat anyone who turns the ball over three times in a half, especially not Ohio State.

It’s no secret that quarterback play wasn’t even close to what was expected at the University of Iowa. Nobody says it’s easy. A team’s quarterback is arguably the most difficult position in all of sports. It combines strenuous mental preparation with physical prowess that few are fortunate enough to possess.

But there’s something to be said that the current quarterback, brought in on a big NIL deal, has yet to throw a touchdown against a power conference opponent. This follows the Deacon Hill and Spencer Petras/Alex Padilla era. There has to be some responsibility for Iowa’s lack of success, no, failure to produce a quarterback who can run this offense.

It doesn’t have to be a 6-foot-3, 250-pound quarterback with a huge arm. It doesn’t have to be a dual threat that can do a read option. It has to be a quarterback who can throw down the field and take care of the ball.

Ferentz ball can work. This has happened in the past. But you need a captain at the helm. The team that was once a tough opponent and that the top ten teams feared in their schedule is no longer there.

Iowa has a chance at home against a good Washington team on Saturday and is the favorite in most games the rest of the year. A game in which Iowa shows it can play the type of football they were taught will go a long way toward getting this season back on track.

Things seem bad right now, but this should be a low point in a season to look back on and remember how Iowa persevered despite the pessimism to build an upward trajectory in the program.