Floyd is going back to Minneapolis for the foreseeable future. The No. 15 Hawks outgained Minnesota 288 to 209, held the Gophers to 72 rushing yards, and still lost 13-10 on a 46-yard field goal as time expired. How do you lose a game where your defense only gives up 209 yards? When your offense randys around with with boneheaded turnovers, a blocked punt, and a quarterback carousel with less talent than Drake's roster. Just like that, stubborn Kirk's refusal to recruit a portal QB in the offseason single handedly erases any realistic hope of making the playoffs.
Turnovers, Turnovers, Turnovers. The stats don’t lie. Iowa turned it over 5 times (3 interceptions, a lost fumble, and Watson's low IQ lining up offsides penalty after a huge goal line stop on 4th down). Minnesota’s defense was so busy catching Iowa passes it barely needed to tackle anybody. The most painful one came when Iowa was driving inside the Gopher 10 and threw a pick at the 2-yard line. That’s a minimum of 3 points left on the field in a game decided by 3.
The QB Carousel Hits Rock Bottom. As IowaLaw noted in the Midterm Report Card, Hecklinski’s numbers in limited duty were better than Brown’s. Well, staff took Law's advice and finally gave him the start. He responded going an embarrassing 9 of 16 for 62 yards and a horrific interception at the goal line. That’s 3.9 yards per attempt. Iowa doesn't have a QB controversy. It has an all too familiar QB crisis. Check Down Brown came in late in the second quarter and went 11 of 21 for 136 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs...but 94 of those yards were on two back to back passes that were all on the receivers run after catch. Combined, Iowa’s QBs threw for 198 yards, 1 TD and 3 picks. Seven games into the season, this staff still doesn’t know who its quarterback is. Neither do I.
Where Did the Running Game Go? Minnesota has the Big 10's eleventh ranked rush defense. Iowa came into this game leading the entire Big 10 at 6.09 yards per carry. That's a recipe for a great game, right? Nope. The Hawks had 30 carries for 90 yards, 3.0 per carry. Moulton, whom IowaLaw has said is overrated for the past two years, had 10 carries and averaged just 2.2 yards per carry before getting hurt. Phillips and Williams were better, averaging 3.6 yards per carry, but that just wasn't good enough. When your offense’s whole identity is the run game and it disappears in 50% of the games, you need a passing game to fall back on.
The Defense Deserved Better. Phil Parker’s crew did everything you can ask. Minnesota managed just 209 total yards and 2.06 yards per carry. Iowa had 3 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, and 5 three-and-outs. Deshaun Lee picked off a pass and returned it to the Gopher 21. The defense even stuffed Minnesota at the goal line in the third quarter...until Jaylen Watson's brilliant offside penalty gave the Gophers another shot, and Darius Taylor punched it in on 4th and goal out of the wildcat. That’s the only touchdown Minnesota scored all day. But I can’t give this group an A. After the offense finally tied it at 10 with 3:46 left, the defense gave up a 39-yard completion to Jalen Smith that set up the game-winning kick. One stop, and we’re in overtime.
Special Teams: No Longer the Gold Standard. Iowa’s first punt of the day was blocked, and Minnesota recovered at the Iowa 13. Iowa’s punts netted just 30.9 yrds per kick, and Minnesota returned 3 punts for 59 yards (19.7 a return). Evan James, who continues to show flashes of brilliance, fumbled another punt return that was wiped out only because Minnesota lined up in an illegal formation. There was a time when Iowa won games like this because of special teams. Today, special teams are a big reason why we lost.
Outcoached. The defense held Minnesota to 209 yards, so this one is on the offense and the staff. A low octane passing game that averaged 4 yards per attempt...and just one reception for our lone high dollar portal acquisition. A run game that vanished with zero adjustment and very little misdirection. Just 3 points from 2 red zone trips due to some horrible play calling. In its four Big 10 games, Iowa averages just 21 points per game (approaching Brian Ferentz territory). Hawk fans were told Lester is an offensive genius despite getting fired from his previous job and his super impressive 6 month stint as an NFL analyst. Instead, it’s de ja vu all over again.
