Tuesdays with Torbee
Thank goodness, the “revenge factor” can be a genuine advantage.
In his post-game interview moments after Iowa freed Floyd of Rosedale from unjust captivity via a 31-14 steamrolling of the Minnesota Gophers, star running back Kaleb Johnson admitted he took last season’s controversial loss “personal.”
Public service announcement for future Iowa opponents: don’t tick off Kaleb Johnson.
The current Doak Walker Award front-runner galloped and gashed for 206 yards and three touchdowns on only 21 carries. Iowa all but abandoned a serious passing game, understandable when you are rushing with impunity, but a cause for concern as the season progresses.
I know many fans were fuming at halftime – and my television remote may have been tossed when Kirk Ferentz again chose to regroup rather than try to score trailing at the end of the second quarter – but I did have a nagging feeling the Hawkeyes could and would look better after the half.
So far the best thing Tim Lester has brought to the program as new offensive coordinator is genuine and effective halftime adjustments. While it’s been frustrating to see the team flail at times early, Lester has proven he has Hayden Fry’s old ability to “scratch where it itches” and find opponent vulnerabilities.
Against foes Iowa State and Illinois State, the Hawkeyes were caught flat-footed and gave up uncharacteristic explosive pass plays. While Minnesota’s rent-a-quarterback did get hot for two straight touchdown drives in the second quarter, the longest completed pass in both was 28 yards, one of which appeared to me on replay to have been incomplete. Not perfect, but not nearly as concerning as the blown coverages and lack of defensive backfield communication from the previous two games.
One of the reasons I remained optimistic despite Iowa trailing 14-7 at intermission was a feeling the Hawkeye defense would be angry and out to shut down the Gophers after giving up consecutive scoring drives. And boy did they deliver. The Gophers couldn’t even muster 70 yards of total offense in the second half as a little mixed in blitzing and a clamp down secondary kept Minnesota from ever sniffing the end zone again.
Although it lacked some of the boa constrictor elements of a true Ferentz choke-out, in many ways this latest rivalry battle was a classic KF special. The Hawkeyes committed only one penalty, did not turn the ball over and took it away from Minnesota twice, including an interception that set up Iowa’s first touchdown.
That is winning football, Iowa style, and it should be sustainable even as the passing offense very much is still a work-in-progress.
I think it’s fair to say that Iowa has a good – perhaps even a very good – football team this season, despite the heartbreaking last-second loss to the Cyclones. The million-dollar question is can they finally evolve to great. Ferentz has consistently delivered competitive, winning teams – but recently blue bloods and bully programs have handled them with ease.
Now, the Hawkeyes have a bye week to prepare for what many pundits believe is a national champion caliber Ohio State squad. Beating the Buckeyes in Columbus, even with a very good team, is a tall ask and Iowa will be a significant and deserved underdog. What I’d really like to see – win or lose – is fire and competitiveness. In it’s last three match-ups against ranked marquee opponents – Tennessee, Michigan and Penn State – the Hawkeyes have been hamblasted to the tune of 92-0. That isn’t competitiveness, that is pathetic.
If Iowa shows a spark against Ohio State, avoids a blowout and builds some confidence, a sliver of hope will remain that it can run the table with an outside shot at a playoff appearance.
Thus far, Iowa has not put together a full, 60-minute game of good football. If it can gain some consistency, however, I believe it has enough talent on the roster to do so.
It doesn’t sound exciting, but that’s what it takes to progress from “good” to “great.”
Follow me on X @torybrecht and the 12 Saturdays podcasts @12Saturdays.
