Did KF choose the wrong QB . . . again? Heck yes.

DukeSlater

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2023
2,204
4,950
113
The ONLY time all day that Iowa's offense looked like it belonged on the field vs. Ohio State was when Hecklinski came in and drove the team 75 yards for Iowa's ONLY touchdown of the day. Hecklinski was something like 6-6 and looked every bit that good. Every pass was on target and on time.

Brown was off all day, missing wide open receivers repeatedly, especially in the first half--not to mention his TWO killer turnovers, the fumble right off the bat and then the INT. If Hecklinski doesn't start vs. Washington, there should be an investigation.

BTW: Why did KF not use his timeouts late? Was it because he didn't want to see any more of Hecklinski? He'd rather let OSU run out the clock than give Hecklinski any more time to prove he should have been the QB all along. What we saw at kids' day wasn't a fluke after all.
 

Outbackbowl2017

All-Conference
Dec 4, 2016
1,783
2,921
113
Hank didn’t have it today. tOSU was playing prevent as the game was over by then so he didn’t face the bullets like HB did. But at some point you’ve got to make a change sooner. Credit to Heck for leading the team to a score. Brown is risk averse which KF loves. Heck is a gun slinger which KF hates. Same old same story old.
 

HawkBlocker

Junior
Nov 27, 2011
98
308
53
Good Boy Awww GIF by Sealed With A GIF
 
  • Haha
Reactions: TheDude75

HawkBall23

Heisman
Oct 6, 2001
5,338
10,122
113
The move to Heck was too little, too late. And it was only because Brown got dinged up. We all know it.

The drive and TD was great to see, just to see the offense do something in the game, but let's be perfectly honest. It was basically a garbage time TD.

OSU might have had its D starters still in, but they were up 31-6 in the 4thQ and now facing the backup QB. They weren't in a "nothing surrendered" do or die mentality out there.


That drive did very little in determining who should be starting and playing more.
 

Herky T Hawk

Senior
Feb 5, 2003
402
957
93
I said in the game thread that his passes, other than the pass interference call in the endzone, were all perfect where the defense couldn’t do anything about them. The difference was the WRs got open against OSU’s softer defense and Heck had enough time to make those throws. He had enough time because OSU didn’t seem to be blitzing combined with the throws being quicker developing routes.

But 6 of the 7 times he threw the ball on that drive were absolutely on the money perfect.
 

ottumwan in tx

All-Conference
Jun 10, 2025
1,770
1,362
113
I said in the game thread that his passes, other than the pass interference call in the endzone, were all perfect where the defense couldn’t do anything about them. The difference was the WRs got open against OSU’s softer defense and Heck had enough time to make those throws. He had enough time because OSU didn’t seem to be blitzing combined with the throws being quicker developing routes.

But 6 of the 7 times he threw the ball on that drive were absolutely on the money perfect.
Hank brown on the money perfect to venderzee last week
 
  • Haha
Reactions: TheDude75

Kceasthawk@77

All-American
Feb 2, 2005
4,191
7,328
113
Brown just has a low ceiling.

He had a strong final drive against Michigan that was a TON of luck. But also made a money throw at the end.

Kirk will reward Hank for that Michigan TD by naming him the starting QB even after he graduates.
Brown just has a low ceiling.

He had a strong final drive against Michigan that was a TON of luck. But also made a money throw at the end.

Kirk will reward Hank for that Michigan TD by naming him the starting QB even after he graduates.
He's already graduated........
 
  • Haha
Reactions: TheDude75

Hurricane88

Redshirt
Mar 13, 2024
24
25
3
Brown is better than Hecklinski. You watched a kids game and based your thoughts on that. It's easy to sit here and point out every flaw and complain about every mistake. But, Hecklinski didn't look great in his chances during the season earlier. He played an Ohio St defense that had the game won and were just looking to prevent any big play downfield. His time will come, but I don't think it's this season.
 

Herky T Hawk

Senior
Feb 5, 2003
402
957
93
I went back and watched. According to their depth chart it was only a couple at most. Basically all starters still in the game including D line and top defensive backs.
Yeah, they had their starting offense in the game to finish it off. The only way we were going to make that game close was by beating their defense quickly for some scores. I don’t think he’s dumb enough to have thrown many backups in on that drive that we scored on. They just went with less pressure up front and a zone coverage in the defensive backfield. Their job was to chew up clock even if they let us score. They didn’t really do a good job of that though.

I just don’t see them risking destroying their season by leaving in their star wide receiver, starting quarterback, and starting running back risking injury to them to try to ice the game at the end put pulling their defense earlier in the game.
 

Jayb01

Senior
Jul 3, 2025
296
588
93
Because of a garbage time touchdown? Don’t get me wrong. Hank Brown looked like crap, but you can’t judge the record of quarterback competition based on a garbage time touchdown.

but yes, we need something new because the O is stale.
Likewise it's hard to judge brown who exclusively got all the opening series. If it was ever a real competition Hecklinski would have gotten the same opportunity. But he didn't, and another year where it turns out Michigan was a fools gold win (with a new coach that came in as a re-tread), Iowa state still sucks and just became Penn State and likely didn't improve with replacement players, and the remaining two opponents will struggle to get wins against ****** D1 teams.

I would have loved to see Hecklinski come out of the box as a starter and get the opening drive in one of those early games, but we all got what Ferentz decided weeks earlier. What major conference team has quarterback controversies year over year with such abysmal players. Seriously, shouldn't we have a diamond in the rough by now on pure accident alone?
 
  • Like
Reactions: BlIIlken2

Hawkfan_08*

All-American
Jul 2, 2025
3,646
9,716
113
Heck was also bad against UNI and NOU
Could just simply be a case of a guy who plays to the level of competition.

Bad vs NIU & UNI but good vs OSU.

🤷‍♂️


Although if that is really the issue, its a no-brainer to see why Lester and KF went with Brown as their QB1.

Consistency is everything for this staff.

I'm pretty bummed about Brown's performance today. Heck also was going against some 2 deeps but also playing prevent.
 

hahkize

Senior
Feb 7, 2007
349
529
93
Heck was also bad against UNI and NOU


Consistency is everything for this staff.

I'm pretty bummed about Brown's performance today. Heck also was going against some 2 deeps but also playing prevent.
There's no reason for them to play prevent when Brown's at QB. He's not accurate enough or strong enough arm to put it back there. ISU did the same thing.
 

hahkize

Senior
Feb 7, 2007
349
529
93
I was talking about OSU with Heck. They just sagged off and kept it in front.
That's what I was talking about. OSU and ISU didn't seem too worried that Hank would be very capable to beat them deep if he was being pressured....and...he's not very quick or fast or accurate when he's scrambling.
 

eyesofhawk

All-Conference
Apr 17, 2011
3,492
3,366
113
The ONLY time all day that Iowa's offense looked like it belonged on the field vs. Ohio State was when Hecklinski came in and drove the team 75 yards for Iowa's ONLY touchdown of the day. Hecklinski was something like 6-6 and looked every bit that good. Every pass was on target and on time.

Brown was off all day, missing wide open receivers repeatedly, especially in the first half--not to mention his TWO killer turnovers, the fumble right off the bat and then the INT. If Hecklinski doesn't start vs. Washington, there should be an investigation.

BTW: Why did KF not use his timeouts late? Was it because he didn't want to see any more of Hecklinski? He'd rather let OSU run out the clock than give Hecklinski any more time to prove he should have been the QB all along. What we saw at kids' day wasn't a fluke after all.
I like Heck quite a bit.

But if he's clearly the best option, where were you guys last week?

And nothing that Heck could have done in the last few minutes would have proven a thing.

And your conspiracy theory is really sad. And comes from the same anger that you have in your heart for KF, that many of your takes come from.

And the "KF choosing wrong QB" narrative is pretty laughable
 

o_waterboy4582

All-Conference
Jan 1, 2023
1,775
2,416
113
Still not sure why both don’t play. Brown obviously isn’t good enough to move the offense most of the time, a couple good throws here and there, same as Spencer Petras.
 
Hawkeye Report

Latest

  1. 01 Hawkeye Report Football Iowa Football News and Notes
  2. 02 Hawkeye Report Football Five Things: Breaking down the Hawkeyes loss to Ohio State
  3. 03 Hawkeye Report Football Hawkeye Report Podcast
  4. 04 Hawkeye Report Football Kirk Ferentz talks loss to Ohio State
  5. 05 Hawkeye Report Football Jeremy Hecklinski steps in at quarterback