Kirk Ferentz opens up what new OC Tim Lester brings to Iowa offense

Kirk Ferentz likes what new offensive coordinator Tim Lester brings to the table. For an Iowa offense that was practically stuck in the mud over the last few years, Lester can tow them out.

And maybe more if it all works out. Cade McNamara is back healthy at quarterback and if Lester can unlock some of his Michigan magic, Iowa could look much better.

Ferentz opened up how the Iowa offense was up against it last year before transitioning to Lester.

“We haven’t been where we want to be offensively for a couple of years,” Ferentz said at Big Ten Media Days. “And you know, as a coach, you have to evaluate things and be realistic and certainly last year wasn’t easy. … You know, if you’d asked anybody last year at this time, who are our top three offensive players were, they weren’t there, basically, when we started conference play. So we paid for that.”

But Lester was the guy that really took hold of the process and was the best fit for Iowa.

“Tim just really stood out,” Ferentz said. “I think he’s a really good fit for us. Whether he talked about his personality, obviously his offensive background, his expertise. Played quarterback, coached quarterbacks, has been a coordinator that had a rare opportunity last year to really almost take a coaching sabbatical, if you will, and worked with the Packers and got great exposure to a lot of people offensively. 

“(He) helped out on the defensive side. So he comes with a wealth of knowledge. One thing I do appreciate you as a former head coach that wasn’t a requisite but … I think he’s got a deep appreciation for how football works and offense can complement defense, special teams.” 

Lester has a “Shanahan-style” offense and when asked about it at the podium, Ferentz detailed what Lester will implement.

“Every exposure is good, whether it’s us implementing it and installing it during spring practice or watching other people do it at a proficient level,” Ferentz said. “Every offense has its different styles and whatever, but really to me success in offense still gets down to execution. The guys up front have to block, and the receivers have to block, and then somebody’s got to do a good job of getting the ball where it’s supposed to, and the passing game is the same thing. People have got to get open. They’ve got to make tough catches, and the quarterback has got to be able to deliver into all sorts of protection.

“It’s not like you’re inventing anything. It’s going to be a little bit different certainly, but I think our players took to it quickly … The players just move on pretty quickly. It’s kind of been that way this way too. It’s been a good transition. All that being said, we’ve got a lot of work to do the next four weeks.”