Despite a three-turnover day in Iowa’s 35-7 blowout loss at then-No. 3 Ohio State, Hawkeye head football coach Kirk Ferentz says there’s no quarterback controversy involving Cade McNamara.
McNamara played a big role in Iowa unraveling in the second half against the Buckeyes. On each of the Hawkeyes’ first three possessions of the second half, McNamara turned the football over.
McNamara sandwiched a pair of strip-sack fumbles around an interception on a pass intended for freshman receiver Reece Vander Zee.
“We evaluate every position week to week, but we’re comfortable. I think Cade’s improving. I really do. It sounds funny with the turnovers today, but I think he seems more comfortable, his timing seems better. He was getting the ball out really well in the first half. We have to improve as a collective offense, but we’ll evaluate everything,” Ferentz said.
Backup quarterback Brendan Sullivan, a junior transfer from Northwestern, led Iowa’s lone scoring drive of the day. It included a 30-yard run from Sullivan.
“I figured that would trigger something today. A lot of bad things happened today and that would probably be one of them. Not that I wasn’t glad to see Brendan run. He can do that and he’s done a good job in practice, but we’re not ready to I think have a controversy at that position,” Ferentz said.
Ferentz discussed what he saw on Iowa and McNamara’s three turnovers.
“I think one or two of them were tipped I believe. The other one it looked to me like the ball just came out of his hand, it looked like he lost the grip on it. You’ve got to be really careful to get too emotional in evaluating things like this, because when you get in a game like this, things usually seem a lot worse than they are in reality.
“We’ll assess that tomorrow when we look at the film and kind of go from there. We’ll watch the tape and see what’s fixable, what isn’t and then reassess things and kind of move forward. I’m sure there’s some protection involved. I’m sure probably could’ve done a better job of getting open. That’s usually what goes on when you have miscues. Run or pass,” Ferentz said.
Ferentz was also asked what he’s seen that makes him feel that McNamara is making strides.
“I just think he’s more comfortable and more decisive and quicker getting the ball out, which he was doing a really good job of that in the first half. They were rushing the pass pretty well too then and I thought he got the ball out. We just have to get better collectively and run the ball better will help us in that regard, too.
“I don’t want to say I’m not disappointed. Obviously we wanted more yards and more points. But, I’m optimistic in that I think we can get better and I think we will get better. I think we have two guys that are capable of hopefully moving our football team with both quarterbacks, but I think Cade will be fine,” Ferentz said.
McNamara finished 14-of-20 passing for 98 yards with an interception.
Iowa hosts a Washington (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) team this coming Saturday that beat then-No. 10 Michigan, 27-17, in Seattle this past weekend.
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