Iowa Hawkeyes: Keys To The Season, Top Game, Top Transfer, Fun Stats
Iowa Hawkeyes: Key To The 2022 Offense
The passing game has to improve.
When everything is humming, and the defense is rocking, and the ground game is grinding, and there aren’t any turnovers, there’s no need to take any chances with the passing attack. But when the Hawkeyes get behind and they have to rely on throwing the ball, forget it.
It’s been a while since Iowa did a lot through the air, but it has to at least pick a lane – is has to complete passes, or take shots.
The accuracy has been missing – the Hawkeyes haven’t hit 60% of their passes since 2015 – and there isn’t enough of a deep ball to overcome it. Past offenses were able to at least hit a few home runs, but the last few attacks have struggled to do that.
Start with this – just do enough to move the chains. Third down conversions have been a problem, and the veteran quarterbacks – especially with a reliable tight end in Sam LaPorta – should be able to keep things moving.
Iowa Hawkeyes: Key To The 2022 Defense
Just keep doing what it’s doing with takeaways.
Of course every team does better when it comes up with a ton of turnovers, but Iowa really needed them last year.
It was able to get by Iowa State with four takeaways, the seven against Maryland made it a rout, and helped by dealing with a backup quarterback, the four were a big deal in the 23-20 win over Penn State.
The D couldn’t help the O with takeaways against Purdue and Wisconsin – just one fumble recovery in the two games – and the Hawkeyes lost by a combined score of 51-14.
Iowa has only lost the turnover margin seven times over the last four years – it’s 1-6 in those games.
Iowa Hawkeyes: Key Player To The 2022 Season
C Logan Jones, Soph.
… if he’s the center. The starting quarterback is the real key to the season, but that’s still in question and the main man no matter who he is needs time to work.
No one’s replacing Tyler Linderbaum talent-wise, but if Jones can rise up and grab the gig, that opens up a whole slew of possibilities with what to do with the rest of the options in the interior.
Iowa Hawkeyes: Key Transfer
WR/KR Charlie Jones, Sr.
Usually the key transfer is a newcomer who’s about to make a massive impact. Since Iowa isn’t really diving into the transfer pool enough to be a big deal, let’s do this in the reverse – which lost transfer is going to hurt the most?
There are a whole slew of departures, but losing All-Big Ten return man Charlie Jones stings. He was a solid receiver, but he made his big impact as a good punt return man and averaging 25.4 yards per kickoff return with a score. Losing the 323 receiving yards and three scores hurts, too.
Iowa Key Game To The 2022 Season
Wisconsin, Nov. 12
There are a whole slew of big games on the Iowa slate, and there are a whole bunch of problems, landmines, and statement showdowns. Beating Wisconsin at home, though, is everything.
The Hawkeyes managed to get to the Big Ten Championship last year despite being stuffed by the Badgers, but that’s not happening this time around considering all the nasty battles in a tougher schedule.
Iowa Hawkeyes: 2021 Fun Stats
– Iowa 1st Quarter Scoring: 49 – Iowa 2nd Quarter Scoring: 123
– Red Zone Scores: Opponents 39-of-43 (91%) – Iowa 34-of-47 (72%)
– Penalties: Opponents 87 for 723 yards – Iowa 57 for 505 yards
O, D Breakdown | Season Prediction, What Will Happen
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