Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz delivered a blunt assessment of his quarterbacks on Tuesday, calling their play in last Saturday's 13-10 loss at Minnesota “not good enough” and warning that the mistakes will cost the Hawkeyes again if they are not fixed before this weekend's game against Wisconsin.
Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown combined to complete 20 of 37 passes for 198 yards and three interceptions in the loss, according to Yahoo Sports. Each turnover stalled a drive or wiped points off the board, and both passers missed open receivers on multiple occasions.
Ferentz Points the Finger at Himself Too
Speaking at his weekly press conference, Ferentz did not soften his evaluation of the position that has haunted Iowa for most of this decade. But he spread the blame well beyond his two young quarterbacks.
“I mean, not good enough,” Ferentz said. “Fair to say about our whole team and the coaching staff. We just didn't do enough to get the job done.”
“I've been saying it consistently. We believe in both players. I think both Hank and Jeremy are good young people, and they're good young quarterbacks. Neither one of them are really experienced right now,” Ferentz added.
He made clear the problems ran through the entire operation, coaching included.
“There are some things we could have done better, but that's true in every facet. A lot of things we could have done better. Coaching, too. We take ownership in that as well,” Ferentz said.
Loose Balls Top the Coach's Concern List
Ferentz saved his sharpest words for the ball security issue that surfaced in Minneapolis. Iowa coughed the ball up four times in the loss, including three interceptions and a costly late fumble, as Dear Old Gold reported.
“Probably the most perplexing thing was the loose ball dilemma. Turnovers and loose balls. Turnovers sometimes happen. You are never accepting of that, but loose balls, I just can't remember a game when it's been out that much, and I can't tell you why,” Ferentz said.
“That's something we're going to have to get corrected, or we'll pay for that on Saturday if we don't,” he continued.
A Win That Got Away
The frustration in Iowa City runs deeper than one rough afternoon. With even average production from the quarterback position, the Hawkeyes likely walk out of Minneapolis with the Floyd of Rosedale trophy and a 6-1 record. Instead, they returned home 5-2 with more questions than answers at the most important position on the field.
As Sports Illustrated noted, Ferentz did not mince words when asked to evaluate the play of Brown and Hecklinski against the Golden Gophers. It simply has to be better.
Brown Gets the Start Against Wisconsin
Iowa will turn to Brown as the starter this weekend when Wisconsin visits Kinnick Stadium. The redshirt sophomore has flashed at times this season, but the Minnesota loss exposed how raw he and Hecklinski both remain at the college level.
That inexperience is now the central problem for an Iowa program that has built winners on defense, the running game and special teams under Ferentz, only to watch quarterback play undercut the effort year after year. Hawkeye fans have seen this movie before, and the ending never changes unless the position stabilizes.
Another multi-turnover performance on Saturday, and a second straight loss becomes a real possibility. Ferentz has taken responsibility publicly. Now the question is whether his staff can actually fix the issue in one week of practice.
The stakes are simple. Iowa still controls its own path in the Big Ten West race, but that margin shrinks with every giveaway. The Badgers will arrive with a defense good enough to punish the same mistakes Minnesota did.
FAQ
What did Kirk Ferentz say about Iowa's quarterback play against Minnesota?
Ferentz called the play “not good enough” at his Tuesday press conference, blaming the whole team and the coaching staff, not just quarterbacks Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown.
Who will start at quarterback for Iowa against Wisconsin?
Hank Brown will get the start when Iowa hosts Wisconsin this weekend, according to USA Today.
How many turnovers did Iowa have against Minnesota?
Iowa committed four turnovers in the 13-10 loss, including three interceptions and a late fumble.