QB Battle: Jeremy Hecklinski appears to have passed Hank Brown on the Depth Chart. QB was NOT a Transfer Portal Priority per KF on Dec 18

[Jonesy5960]

I think his point is your just speculating just like everyone else is, but you post like neither guy could be effective. We don't know that at this point.

I think the gist of it is this:

Hank Brown has pretty much shat the bed at every opportunity in front of a crowd including recently at a dismal kids day showing. Now we're hearing that he's looked better than Hecklinski since that day which, in the minds of fans, says more negative things about Hecklinski than it does positive things about Brown. Fair or unfair, QB and the passing game has been a sore spot at Iowa too often for the fans not to be overly skeptical about this situation until proven otherwise.

 

[IowaCityLit]

I think his point is your just speculating just like everyone else is, but you post like neither guy could be effective. We don't know that at this point.

Fair. And true.

 

[IowaCityLit]

I think the gist of it is this:

Hank Brown has pretty much shat the bed at every opportunity in front of a crowd including recently at a dismal kids day showing. Now we're hearing that he's looked better than Hecklinski since that day which, in the minds of fans, says more negative things about Hecklinski than it does positive things about Brown. Fair or unfair, QB and the passing game has been a sore spot at Iowa too often for the fans not to be overly skeptical about this situation until proven otherwise.

That actually captures it perfectly.

 

[Heathen Raider]

Hank Brown every time He has played in front of the public has stunk, Auburn games He stunk and threw at least 5 balls late to the flat that against a good defense are pick 6s and showed a ball that hangs and was inaccurate, Indiana game, nuff said, Kids Day more of the same, If He is the best Iowa can throw out there barring a miracle in improvement in a 2 week span Iowa will not win 7 games , This choice in QB is textbook Kirk , The only thing that does excite me now is that NIU + 31 bet looks much better Today with news He was running the 1s almost exclusively .

 

[IowaCityLit]

Ugh.

We're gonna be sweating the NIU game, aren’t we?

 

[83Hawk]

I guess I’m more of a glass half full guy. There’s no reason to think they’ll be bad either until we see evidence of it in games. If that happens I’ll happily agree with everyone that we should’ve made moves in the portal. But as long as we don’t know, might as well be optimistic

I agree. I’m not an optimist by nature, but am cautiously optimistic the QB play will be serviceable this year. There is no reason yet to think otherwise.

 

[IowaCityLit]

I agree. I’m not an optimist by nature, but am cautiously optimistic the QB play will be serviceable this year. There is no reason yet to think

Good philosophy. I’ll wait at least 2 possessions without panicking.

 

[Franisdaman]

I have more faith in Lester than most posters on here. Doesn’t mean it’ll happen but I think a lot of the talk of “two QBs who wouldn’t start at any other P4 program” is overwrought nonsense. It’d be different if we’d already seen multiple terrible games but we’re not at that point yet

Under Lester,

* Scoring has gone way up

* We don't enter games knowing we are going to get killed

* Opposing coaches and players no longer say "we knew what was coming"

* We have Wide Receivers interested in playing at Iowa

* the QB room has gotten much better

 

[Franisdaman]

Bethard was garbage in practice, Stanzi was garbage in practice, but you know who wasn't purported to be bad in practice, Spencer Petras....The other statement I will make about practice, is that they are going up against a solid/great secondary. I am all for Hecklinski in this scenario, even if he is turnover prone.

It just seems that it's been Hecklinski's job to lose for a while now.....

It's great that they are both performing well in practice, but as many have stated, how do you do in front of 70,000? Or, in front of over 100,000 (at the Big House)?

 

[The Big Z]

Under Lester,

* Scoring has gone way up

* We don't enter games knowing we are going to get killed

* Opposing coaches and players no longer say "we knew what was coming"

* We have Wide Receivers interested in playing at Iowa

* the QB room has gotten much better

Better than what?

 

[Hawkeye1984]

This is starting to feel like it could be one of those frustrating seasons. If you have 2 QBs, it means you really don’t have one.

I don’t understand why, if you knew the situation at QB, you didn’t go to the portal…? If you weren’t confident on either QB at the end of last season that should have been priority number one….

Not necessarily for some college programs.

Certainly hasn't been for Iowa in many seasons

which programs have gotten into the college football playoff without a good one?

 

[Hawkeye1984]

It just seems that it's been Hecklinski's job to lose for a while now.....

It's great that they are both performing well in practice, but as many have stated, how do you do in front of 70,000? Or, in front of over 100,000 (at the Big House)?

I feel like we are getting a Spencer Petras with Hank Brown.

 

[Max Rebo]

Suppose that instead of transferring from Wake Forest to Iowa, Jeremy Hecklinski had transferred to a G5 or mid-major program. I think there’s a good chance he could have been very effective at that level. Maybe he puts up big numbers. Maybe he has a really good season and establishes himself as one of the better quarterbacks in that league.

The same could be said for Hank Brown. His time at Auburn wasn’t particularly successful, but if his next stop had been at a lower level, I could easily imagine him producing impressive numbers there, too.

Now suppose one or both of those guys did exactly that. They spent a year at a lower-level program, played well, put up big numbers, and then entered the transfer portal again. And suppose they eventually landed at Iowa.

Would certain Iowa fans be more excited about their potential as the Hawkeyes’ quarterback?

I think the answer is unquestionably yes.

Because the portal is sexy.

There’s something inherently appealing about a player who has already gone somewhere else, proven himself, and is now coming to Iowa to take the next step. The portal creates the possibility of a sudden surge to the “next level.” Every year, there are stories about transfer quarterbacks who transform their new teams, and as fans, that idea is intoxicating.

But here’s the thing: a quarterback who spent a year developing as a backup at Iowa isn’t necessarily any better or worse than a quarterback who spent that same year starting and putting up big numbers at a lower-level program.

We tend to give the portal player extra credit simply because his path feels more exciting.

And I think Iowa fans need to get past some of that allure.

There is no reason to believe that success has to come from a quarterback who arrives through the transfer portal with a résumé that already feels impressive. There is just as much potential for success in a guy who has spent a year developing within the program, learning the system, getting stronger, improving his decision-making and gradually becoming ready to play.

It might not be as sexy. It might not generate the same buzz as announcing a transfer quarterback with a bunch of impressive statistics.

But that doesn’t mean the ceiling is any lower.

Sometimes the next Iowa quarterback doesn’t need to be found somewhere else. He just needs to be developed.

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

I agree. I’m not an optimist by nature, but am cautiously optimistic the QB play will be serviceable this year. There is no reason yet to think otherwise.

Obviously you're not reading the posts here. We'll be lucky to have a winning season.

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

Good philosophy. I’ll wait at least 2 possessions without panicking.

And thats generally all it takes for the downers to come out in full force here on game day, so new season, same stuff right?

 

[Heathen Raider]

I feel like we are getting a Spencer Petras with Hank Brown.

Deacon Hill

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

I think the gist of it is this:

Hank Brown has pretty much shat the bed at every opportunity in front of a crowd including recently at a dismal kids day showing. Now we're hearing that he's looked better than Hecklinski since that day which, in the minds of fans, says more negative things about Hecklinski than it does positive things about Brown. Fair or unfair, QB and the passing game has been a sore spot at Iowa too often for the fans not to be overly skeptical about this situation until proven otherwise.

I guess. It must suck though to go through life always expecting the worst possible scenario much of the time. We all know there will be plenty of time for the gnashing of teeth starting the first drive on Sept 5th should things look rough.

 

[MeetTheFerentzes]

Suppose that instead of transferring from Wake Forest to Iowa, Jeremy Hecklinski had transferred to a G5 or mid-major program. I think there’s a good chance he could have been very effective at that level. Maybe he puts up big numbers. Maybe he has a really good season and establishes himself as one of the better quarterbacks in that league.

The same could be said for Hank Brown. His time at Auburn wasn’t particularly successful, but if his next stop had been at a lower level, I could easily imagine him producing impressive numbers there, too.

Now suppose one or both of those guys did exactly that. They spent a year at a lower-level program, played well, put up big numbers, and then entered the transfer portal again. And suppose they eventually landed at Iowa.

Would certain Iowa fans be more excited about their potential as the Hawkeyes’ quarterback?

I think the answer is unquestionably yes.

Because the portal is sexy.

There’s something inherently appealing about a player who has already gone somewhere else, proven himself, and is now coming to Iowa to take the next step. The portal creates the possibility of a sudden surge to the “next level.” Every year, there are stories about transfer quarterbacks who transform their new teams, and as fans, that idea is intoxicating.

But here’s the thing: a quarterback who spent a year developing as a backup at Iowa isn’t necessarily any better or worse than a quarterback who spent that same year starting and putting up big numbers at a lower-level program.

We tend to give the portal player extra credit simply because his path feels more exciting.

And I think Iowa fans need to get past some of that allure.

There is no reason to believe that success has to come from a quarterback who arrives through the transfer portal with a résumé that already feels impressive. There is just as much potential for success in a guy who has spent a year developing within the program, learning the system, getting stronger, improving his decision-making and gradually becoming ready to play.

It might not be as sexy. It might not generate the same buzz as announcing a transfer quarterback with a bunch of impressive statistics.

But that doesn’t mean the ceiling is any lower.

Sometimes the next Iowa quarterback doesn’t need to be found somewhere else. He just needs to be developed.

While I don’t disagree with any of this per se, the fact remains that Iowa is taking a QB approach that is different from essentially everyone else this season. With Iowa’s recent history of dreadful QB performance, KF and TL have put a lot of pressure on themselves to make their strategy work. They’re counting on upgrades at the other skill positions working to make last year’s transfer QBs better. I’m not necessarily against their approach, but it will certainly be questioned if we have poor performance from our QBs yet again….

 

[yrunvs]

And thats generally all it takes for the downers to come out in full force here on game day, so new season, same stuff right?

Looking forward to laughing at the usual hand wringing gaggle of posters who **** their pants on the game day threads and then show up later like nothing happened after the Iowa victory. We all know who they are.

 

[Jonesy5960]

I guess. It must suck though to go through life always expecting the worst possible scenario much of the time. We all know there will be plenty of time for the gnashing of teeth starting the first drive on Sept 5th should things look rough.

This isn't life. It's college football. Perspective.

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

This isn't life. It's college football. Perspective.

Lolol.. So, that same post couldn't be said about many of the Debbie downers on here be it the upcoming season or many of the past?

 

[Jonesy5960]

Lolol.. So, that same post couldn't be said about many of the Debbie downers on here be it the upcoming season or many of the past?

I don't understand this comment or which post you're referring to. No one can dispute that Brown has been terrible at every opportunity. We were told that as good as Heck looked at kids day he looked that bad the following practice.

To take what limited evidence there is and surmise that a huge question mark surrounds the QB position today isn't walking through life in misery as you suggest. It is simply using critical thinking skills. Even the Big10 guys said that the QB's had a rough day on their visit. Are they also going through life with a miserable outlook?

On the other hand we have good reason to be optimistic in regards to all of the other offensive positions. More skill and depth than we've seen in many years at wide receiver and tight end. The OL and running backs look solid. There's really just one huge question that remains.

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

I don't understand this comment or which post you're referring to. No one can dispute that Brown has been terrible at every opportunity. We were told that as good as Heck looked at kids day he looked that bad the following practice.

To take what limited evidence there is and surmise that a huge question mark surrounds the QB position today isn't walking through life in misery as you suggest. It is simply using critical thinking skills. Even the Big10 guys said that the QB's had a rough day on their visit. Are they also going through life with a miserable outlook?

On the other hand we have good reason to be optimistic in regards to all of the other offensive positions. More skill and depth than we've seen in many years at wide receiver and tight end. The OL and running backs look solid. There's really just one huge question that remains.

Lolol, try reading your post #620, and the next one which was my response to THAT post. That was my only statement about your previous post. "Its not life, it's college football". Then why do posters here start losing their Sh-- the first time we have the ball in games.

 

[HMB Trumpet]

Deacon Hill

Neither Petras nor Hill. Brown at least has decent mobility, so that should open some opportunities that didn't exist for those two guys.

 

[squeezebox_1]

which programs have gotten into the college football playoff without a good one?

Last year alone, and this isn't even to mention TT based on injuries.
2025
Alonza Barnett wasn't great for JMU
John Mateer was anything but spectacular last year

 

[Franisdaman]

Suppose that instead of transferring from Wake Forest to Iowa, Jeremy Hecklinski had transferred to a G5 or mid-major program. I think there’s a good chance he could have been very effective at that level. Maybe he puts up big numbers. Maybe he has a really good season and establishes himself as one of the better quarterbacks in that league.

The same could be said for Hank Brown. His time at Auburn wasn’t particularly successful, but if his next stop had been at a lower level, I could easily imagine him producing impressive numbers there, too.

Now suppose one or both of those guys did exactly that. They spent a year at a lower-level program, played well, put up big numbers, and then entered the transfer portal again. And suppose they eventually landed at Iowa.

Would certain Iowa fans be more excited about their potential as the Hawkeyes’ quarterback?

I think the answer is unquestionably yes.

Because the portal is sexy.

There’s something inherently appealing about a player who has already gone somewhere else, proven himself, and is now coming to Iowa to take the next step. The portal creates the possibility of a sudden surge to the “next level.” Every year, there are stories about transfer quarterbacks who transform their new teams, and as fans, that idea is intoxicating.

But here’s the thing: a quarterback who spent a year developing as a backup at Iowa isn’t necessarily any better or worse than a quarterback who spent that same year starting and putting up big numbers at a lower-level program.

We tend to give the portal player extra credit simply because his path feels more exciting.

And I think Iowa fans need to get past some of that allure.

There is no reason to believe that success has to come from a quarterback who arrives through the transfer portal with a résumé that already feels impressive. There is just as much potential for success in a guy who has spent a year developing within the program, learning the system, getting stronger, improving his decision-making and gradually becoming ready to play.

It might not be as sexy. It might not generate the same buzz as announcing a transfer quarterback with a bunch of impressive statistics.

But that doesn’t mean the ceiling is any lower.

Sometimes the next Iowa quarterback doesn’t need to be found somewhere else. He just needs to be developed.

And now our QBs have an actual QB coach guiding them so Lester can focus even more on the offense overall

 

[r_desihawk]

I feel like we are getting a Spencer Petras with Hank Brown.

petras who had heart and a good arm was hampered by nonexistent twitch and subpar OL. that said he did deliver stellar passes in the clutch a few times to engineer wins against psu, mn, ne (could be a few more that didn’t immediately pop into my mind)
hank by all accounts isn’t a plodder and will have a better OL but if he can’t handle mental pressure petras would be the far superior option

 

[Franisdaman]

petras who had heart and a good arm was hampered by nonexistent twitch and subpar OL. that said he did deliver stellar passes in the clutch a few times to engineer wins against psu, mn, ne (could be a few more that didn’t immediately pop into my mind)
hank by all accounts isn’t a plodder and will have a better OL but if he can’t handle mental pressure petras would be the far superior option

it really is crazy what George & Tim had to overhaul

and many on here wanted George fired, not realizing the mess he inherited

 

[Franisdaman]

I think the gist of it is this:

Hank Brown has pretty much shat the bed at every opportunity in front of a crowd including recently at a dismal kids day showing. Now we're hearing that he's looked better than Hecklinski since that day which, in the minds of fans, says more negative things about Hecklinski than it does positive things about Brown. Fair or unfair, QB and the passing game has been a sore spot at Iowa too often for the fans not to be overly skeptical about this situation until proven otherwise.

I think you start Heck and hope for a blow out. Then put in Brown and see what he can do for you. (pun intended)

 

[Passing Is For COMMIES]

All I ask for is 2000 yards, with a 60% completion percentage, and a YPA of 7+. That's all I want.

We haven't had a 2k+ passer in the 2020's yet.

 

[squeezebox_1]

All I ask for is 2000 yards, with a 60% completion percentage, and a YPA of 7+. That's all I want.

We haven't had a 2k+ passer in the 2020's yet.

Petras would have in 2020, but I see your point. If the bar is that low with this group of talent surrounding the QB, we are cooked.

 

[Passing Is For COMMIES]

Petras would have in 2020, but I see your point. If the bar is that low with this group of talent surrounding the QB, we are cooked.

If the QB puts out that line they win at least 9 games IMO.

If you up the yards to 200 a game they’re going to the playoffs.

 

[2D]

In the court of public opinion, Heck has won the day. Kirk knows this, and I believe that's why he'll trot him out first. Every opportunity Brown has had in front of fans has been negative, while Heck has only been positive. If Heck somehow looks bad against NIU in the first few drives, it'll be easier to sub him out for Brown.

Ultimately, reading between the lines from Kirk's interviews, I firmly believe this is a Lester decision and Kirk will support it. Kirk knows he's struck out a few too many times when selecting a QB, so I think this time he'll defer to Lester who is much more knowledgeable, especially considering how close this race supposedly is. And if it is Lester's choice, he'll go with Heck because Lester prefers a gunslinger willing to extend the play and take risks rather than a safe check down charley.

Listening to Lester's numerous media interviews, it's clear his goal this year is to bolster the passing game. I think this is something that has stuck in his craw since getting here. And now that he finally has QBs who have been in his system for more than a year, he wants to take that next step. Not to mention some actual receiving threats too. If the right guy is chosen, or if one of them comes into their own, Lester could really break this offense open like he's wanted to. He's cited he has a book full of plays he's yet to touch because we haven't had the personnel to pull them off, now we do, and he's been working on it all year.

 

[HMB Trumpet]

As someone has already noted, Kirk bringing up Chuck Hartlieb could indicate that Heck will get the nod. Looks better in games than in practice.

 

[squeezebox_1]

If the QB puts out that line they win at least 9 games IMO.

If you up the yards to 200 a game they’re going to the playoffs.

Do you think these qbs are going to put up 500 yards rushing?

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Passing Is For COMMIES]

Do you think these qbs are going to put up 500 yards rushing?

No. I don’t really get where you’re going with that either.

Gronowski put up 2300 total yards and Iowa won 9 games with less offensive talent and a harder schedule.

 

[squeezebox_1]

No. I don’t really get where you’re going with that either.

Gronowski put up 2300 total yards and Iowa won 9 games with less offensive talent and a harder schedule.

I'll address each point, 2300 yards with 550 coming from rushing and -96 yards in sacks. So Gronk had rushed for 646 yards last year. I do think the RBs pick up some of those yards, but I'm not sure it replicates. With regards to 2k in passing yards, that is a really low bar, and they are going to hang some numbers on teams like Purdue, NIU, ISU, UNI. There is no reason they shouldn't hang at least 250 if not 300 yards on each of those teams. The TD/INT ratio is going to need to significantly improve from last season as well, if they expect to be a playoff team.

The schedule being harder is certainly debatable. Thankfully we get OSU at home this year, but Washington and Michigan on the road is certainly more difficult.

 

[Passing Is For COMMIES]

I'll address each point, 2300 yards with 550 coming from rushing and -96 yards in sacks. So Gronk had rushed for 646 yards last year. I do think the RBs pick up some of those yards, but I'm not sure it replicates. With regards to 2k in passing yards, that is a really low bar, and they are going to hang some numbers on teams like Purdue, NIU, ISU, UNI. There is no reason they shouldn't hang at least 250 if not 300 yards on each of those teams. The TD/INT ratio is going to need to significantly improve from last season as well, if they expect to be a playoff team.

The schedule being harder is certainly debatable. Thankfully we get OSU at home this year, but Washington and Michigan on the road is certainly more difficult.

It would be incredibly hard to debate this years schedule is even comparable. Going into the season last year the schedule was ranked 16th hardest, this year its 36th. I think Illinois is going to be down this year as well. Most outlets have this as one of the top 5 easiest schedules in the B1G. People have already forgotten ISU was cruising to a 10 win season before their entire secondary got hurt. And that PSU team was still top 10 in the country talent wise. Add in Oregon and USC and it's not close IMO.

I see what you mean with the other point, but we will pack it in once we are up by 3 scores as per usual. We will also be rotating QB's the first 3 games or so. The number will be low even if the eventual QB battle winner ends up being pretty good. I didn't mention INT's but I assumed that was implied. However if we're going to add MG's rushing yards I think it's fair to add his rushing TDs as well, which gives you 26 TD/7 INTs, which is a pretty solid ratio.

 

[squeezebox_1]

It would be incredibly hard to debate this years schedule is even comparable. Going into the season last year the schedule was ranked 16th hardest, this year its 36th. I think Illinois is going to be down this year as well. Most outlets have this as one of the top 5 easiest schedules in the B1G. People have already forgotten ISU was cruising to a 10 win season before their entire secondary got hurt. And that PSU team was still top 10 in the country talent wise. Add in Oregon and USC and it's not close IMO.

We will also be rotating QB's the first 3 games or so.

Iowa State fell off last year, and I would happily debate that Washington this year is better than last years USC team. so substitute Oregon with Ohio State. Michigan for Indiana, although Indy came out being much better than most expected. None of this even mentions how good Illinois could be this year, Wisky will be improved, Minnesota will be improved. Pretty sure most of the outlets I've read leaves Iowa right in the middle of the pack for schedule strength.

first 3 games? According to what exactly? Kirk has already stated next week a qb will be chosen to take the reps with the 1s, I expect both qbs to see playing time game one, but I would be surprised as **** to see significant playing time for both qbs in all 3 opening games.