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Iowa Football: Grading the Hawkeyes Performance vs Rutgers
Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Grading each unit’s performance in the Hawkeyes win over Rutgers
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights battled the Iowa Hawkeyes tougher than anyone thought they would coming into the game. They trailed just 7-0 at the half and tied the game in the fourth quarter when Chris Laviano connected with Andre Patton in the end zone. Akrum Wadley ended up sealing the game for Iowa with a 26-yard touchdown down the sideline, giving them a 14-7 lead.
It wasn’t pretty but Iowa escaped their first road game with a win. Even though they weren’t in a super hostile environment like The Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the first road game of the season tends to cause problems for teams.
The good news is that the Hawkeyes didn’t suffer another devastating loss. Iowa is now 3-1 on the season and 1-0 in conference play as they stay level with the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Wisconsin Badgers in the Big Ten West.
Despite coming away with a victory, there’s a lot that the Hawkeyes can learn from this game. They didn’t cover their 13-point spread, in fact, it wasn’t even certain Iowa would win until LeShun Daniels Jr ran for 12 yards on a 3rd and 7 with a little over a minute left.
That being said, here’s a look at the Hawkeyes performance this past Saturday, with grades for each unit.
Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Offense: C-
The offense barely got the job done this week. The defense did about all they could to keep Rutgers off the scoreboard, and the offense did about all they could to not score. Whether it was the oddly high number of pass plays called, or C.J. Beathard‘s unwillingness to throw the ball away, the Hawkeyes managed just seven points in each half.
Iowa finished the game scoring as many points as FCS school Howard did, 14. In fact, even New Mexico scored 28 points against Rutgers a week ago. Simply put, the Scarlet Knights defense has been far from uncrackable, especially in the first quarter, but the Hawkeyes were unable to figure it out all game.
C.J. Beathard only completed 52.2 percent of his passes for 162 yards and a touchdown to George Kittle. Other than the 36 yard touchdown to Kittle, the Hawkeyes had a hard time moving the ball through the air. Receivers were unable to gain separation and it led to Beathard scrambling a lot and taking shots in the pocket on nearly every passing play.
As frustrating as it was, Beathard needed to throw the ball away at times instead of taking a sack or another big hit. While the offensive line wasn’t great, they were better and gave Beathard time to throw on multiple occasions. With Beathard already banged up, big hits are the last thing Iowa wants him taking every play. Plus, sacks drove the Hawkeyes back even farther, forcing them into more passing downs which wasn’t getting the job done.
When it comes down to it, 33 pass plays to just 26 run plays shouldn’t be the ratio for the Hawkeyes. Kirk Ferentz has always owned a run-heavy offense, although he’s been reluctant to pound the ball over the past couple of weeks.
Akrum Wadley and LeShun Daniels Jr averaged 6.4 yards per carry, and that was with inconsistent carries all game. Not to mention Daniels had another long touchdown run (75 yards) on the first play of the second half negated because of a questionable chop block call.
@ohcrapitspete @HawkeyeNation Here's the video of that chop block called back pic.twitter.com/YNxdUGgqTq
— Heavens! (@HeavensHawkeye) September 24, 2016
Ignoring their effective ground game, the Hawkeyes continued to try to force the pass instead of establishing the run to help set up play-action and create chances for Matt VandeBerg and Riley McCarron. VandeBerg finished the game with a measly four catches and 17 yards.
In the end, the goal is to score points and they didn’t do that. Iowa punted seven times and turned it over on downs once. If it wasn’t for a 36-yard touchdown pass and a 21-yard touchdown run, Rutgers mediocre defense would have shut out the Hawkeyes.
It’s evident that the Hawkeyes want to adapt to the high-scoring, air it out style of play many teams play. Although, that’s not how they’re built, and it’s not how they’ll win games. The pass game was atrocious against Rutgers and Iowa never fed their workhorse backs for more than a couple of plays.
If the run works then stick with it, but that’s not what the Hawkeyes did. They had a couple of costly penalties that halted drives, but for the most part Rutgers defense outplayed the Hawkeyes offense. No one is expecting Iowa to put up 40-plus points every week, but 14 points against Rutgers isn’t a good sign.
Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Defense: B+
Sure, the run defense was shaky at times and there was nearly another fourth quarter meltdown, however the defense did their job and held Rutgers to seven points. The fact of the matter is that the defense shouldn’t have been in a situation where a fourth quarter meltdown was possible. They shut out the Scarlet Knights for the first 47:15, and the offense only managed one touchdown up to that point.
The defense benefitted from costly penalties on Rutgers offense and a devastating injury to Janarion Grant, but the Hawkeyes took advantage of it. They didn’t allow big plays on third and long and honed in on stopping the run when Grant went down. After rushing for 59 yards in the first quarter, Robert Martin only gained 47 yards the rest of the game.
Even though Rutgers was successful running up the gut most of the game, they never committed to the run. Chris Laviano still threw 24 passes even though the game was close the whole way and he seemed lost without his top receiver in Grant. The Scarlet Knights had their two best drives of the game when they continuously pounded the ball and wore out the defense, though.
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Still, the Hawkeyes made big stops when they had to. Other than the Laviano to Andre Patton touchdown and Janarion Grant’s 76-yard reception, the defense didn’t allow any other big plays. In fact, the most impressive moment came after Grant’s reception when Rutgers was inside the five with first and goal.
They called four straight runs and got stuffed at the line each time by Josey Jewell. The defense knew the offense was struggling and that they needed to make a big stop. They did so four times and kept Rutgers off the scoreboard. It also drew attention away from Desmond King not being able to drag Grant down for about 20 yards on his big reception.
It helped give the Hawkeyes momentum and led to a 99-yard drive on the next drive for the offense. Not to mention the defense also set up the offense again in the second half when safety Brandon Snyder forced and recovered a fumble at Rutgers’ 21 yard line. It led to an Akrum Wadley touchdown on the next play.
Sure, the defensive line wasn’t dominating, and Rutgers might have won if Janarion Grant didn’t get hurt. However, the Hawkeyes held them to seven points. They made important stops when they needed to and that’s what matters the most. As long as the defense bends but doesn’t break, Iowa will be in good shape.
Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Special Teams/Coaching: B
When a punter is one of your more notable players of the game, you know it was a rough showing on offense. Ron Coluzzi punted seven times, averaging 42 yards per punt. He continued his impressive 2016 campaign when he booted a 56 yard punt on his first try of the game. More importantly, he kept the ball away from Janarion Grant in the first half.
In the Hawkeyes’ return game, Desmond King continued to nearly break a touchdown. Following Rutgers touchdown, King returned the kickoff 45 yards and only had the kicker to beat before being caught from behind. The offense didn’t do anything with the great field position, however it was exactly what the Hawkeyes needed after losing some momentum.
Keith Duncan made both of his extra points, however still only has one field goal attempt on the year. The Hawkeyes had an opportunity to give Duncan a short field goal attempt but Ferentz opted towards going for it on 4th and 5.
Considering the game was 0-0 at the time and it was the first time the offense moved the ball down the field, getting points on the board could have helped their offense gain momentum and confidence. Following an oddly called run play on 3rd and 8, the Hawkeyes tried to throw a jump ball to Jerminic Smith, who ran a fade route into the corner of the end zone. The play had no chance from the beginning and was a very tough throw to make on fourth down.
Despite the questionable fourth down call and the pass/run plays ratio, the play calling did have a couple of bright spots. When the Hawkeyes started a drive at their one yard line, instead of running it up the gut, C.J. Beathard kept it for a naked bootleg, gaining 13 yards.
Also, the Hawkeyes were in a near identical situation late in the game against Rutgers that they were in against North Dakota State. They held a small lead late in the fourth quarter on third down. Instead of calling a questionable pass play, they handed it off to LeShun Daniels Jr, who picked up the first down.
When it comes down to it, the coaching didn’t cost them or give them a definitive edge against Rutgers. Ron Coluzzi was phenomenal and Desmond King nearly won the game for Iowa. Special teams hasn’t been a problem for the Hawkeyes this season, and I’d expect the success to continue next week against Northwestern.
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