Last season, the Iowa football team boasted one of the strongest defenses in the country. In fact, in the Big Ten title game, they truly gave the eventual national champions, the Michigan Wolverines, a run for their money by limiting them to a mere 26 points. However, the Hawkeyes struggled to score any points themselves, which unfortunately was a recurring theme throughout the year. Essentially, the defense performed admirably, yet the offense simply failed to pull its weight.
The Iowa football team faced a setback early in the season with the injury of quarterback Cade McNamara, who had transferred from Michigan. Unfortunately, McNamara’s season was cut short in week five when he tore his ACL during a game against Michigan State. But now, he is back with the Hawkeyes, and Head Coach Kirk Ferentz has confirmed that he will be the starting QB.
According to a tweet from Brett McMurphy, Kirk Ferentz stated at Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday that none of us have witnessed him play at full speed in an Iowa uniform. However, he expressed that there is no one more eager than the player himself. Ferentz also shared some good news regarding the ACL injury, stating that players often come back with no issues. As a result, they anticipate a smooth recovery.
It’s possible that the Iowa offense could see a positive change this season with a healthy Cade McNamara in the mix. Having already experienced success in college football with Michigan, McNamara is eager to bring his winning spirit to the Hawkeyes. Coach Ferentz shares this optimism, believing that this year’s offense has the potential to perform well.
Ferentz expressed that the team has the capability to become a proficient offensive team.
It’s quite obvious that a head coach of a football team isn’t going to state that their offense will be lackluster at media day, a month before the season begins. Coach Ferentz does have faith in his unit to perform better, however, based on the team’s performance in recent years, it remains to be seen whether they will deliver on their promise.
Iowa football has a new offensive coordinator
Last season, the Iowa offense faced a double whammy – the injury to McNamara and the ineffective performance of their offensive coordinator, Brian Ferentz, who was also Kirk Ferentz’s son. Despite the lack of success under Brian’s leadership, Kirk was reluctant to let him go. However, after a long wait, Kirk finally realized that it was time to make a tough decision. Even though it was a difficult move to make, letting Brian go was necessary for the team’s progress and success.
Iowa football has brought in Tim Lester as their new offensive coordinator. Lester previously served as head coach for the Western Michigan football team from 2017-2022, and most recently worked as a senior analyst for the Green Bay Packers. With his impressive background, Kirk Ferentz has expressed his approval of Lester joining the Hawkeyes.
Ferentz shared his experience of going through the search process, describing it as interesting. He had the opportunity to talk to a small yet impressive group of people. He particularly appreciated Tim’s offensive background and expertise, having worked as a coordinator before. According to Ferentz, Tim brings with him a wealth of knowledge, which makes him an excellent addition to the team.
Iowa’s offense is expected to see a significant improvement this season, thanks to the return of their healthy quarterback and the departure of Brian Ferentz, who was in charge of their offense. With the quarterback back in action, the team can look forward to a more dynamic and efficient offense. Furthermore, the absence of Ferentz is likely to bring a fresh perspective and ideas to the table, which could help Iowa take their offense to the next level.