Tag: Brian Ferentz

Iowa senior quarterback Spencer Petras started 17 consecutive games dating back to the 2021 season before a shoulder injury sidelined him ahead of the Minnesota game. That injury opened the door for junior Alex Padilla to start three games against Minnesota, Illinois and at Nebraska.

Petras returned to rescue Iowa in the Nebraska game, rallying the Hawkeyes from a 14-6 halftime deficit and beating the Huskers 28-21 after leading three second-half scoring drives and plunging in from two yards out for the game-winning score. Petras started the final two games of the season, but the results were middling.

Iowa was routed in the Big Ten championship game by Michigan, 42-3. In the loss, the Hawkeyes were held to just 279 yards of total offense. Petras completed 9-of-22 passes for 137 yards before being replaced by Padilla for the game’s final five series.

The San Rafael, Calif., native returned as the starter versus Kentucky in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl and Petras completed 19-of-30 passes for 211 yards with a touchdown. He was intercepted three times against the Wildcats, though, and the Hawkeyes lost 20-17.

Petras’ status as the team’s unquestioned starting quarterback has been in limbo after a season in which he completed just 57.3% of his passes and finished with 1,880 passing yards with 10 touchdowns against nine interceptions.

“I think the good news is that we feel they’re both capable of playing really good football for us. And our goal is to try to get them to play a little bit better and everybody around them helping a little bit more. I think really that’s the story of our offense right now,” Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz said of the ongoing quarterback competition.

Petras does own a 13-6 mark as a starting quarterback and helped lead Iowa to the Big Ten west division title last season. Still, he understands that he and the offense need to improve in 2022.

“I think the biggest thing looking back is that I’m too smart of a player to not take advantage of coverage better than I did. Probably specifically would be, my completion percentage was at whatever it was, 57 percent. And like some games it’s, you know, you’re playing Wisconsin, if you can get 50 percent, that’s not a bad day. But for me, with how fast I can identify coverage and how fast I can get the ball out of my hands, you know, if I’m getting a soft coverage where the things that are there are going to be underneath, I need to take that more. That’s just an example, but things like that,” Petras said to start the spring.

If Petras winds up being the guy again in 2022, Iowa simply has to be better offensively. The Hawkeyes finished the 2021 season as the nation’s No. 121 total offense, averaging 303.7 yards per game. Their rushing numbers and passing numbers were dismal, too. Iowa ranked No. 102 nationally in rushing offense at 123.6 rushing yards per game and No. 109 nationally in passing offense at 180.1 passing yards per game.

Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: San Rafael, Calif.

Ht: 6-5

Wt: 233 lbs

Class in 2022: Senior

247Sports Composite Ranking

2018 three-star / No. 19 pro-style quarterback / No. 50 in California

Career Stats

Fifth-year Iowa senior quarterback Spencer Petras isn’t focused on the fact that there’s a quarterback competition taking place for the Hawkeyes. Petras detailed as much in his media availability with Inside the Hawkeyes’ Rob Howe and other reporters.

“I really don’t, I’m not worried about that at all. When I said competition, I’m more talking about our work on the field. We’re working really hard against the defense every single day. For myself, I’m focused on myself. I’m focused on improving the things that Brian (Ferentz) wants me to, you know, whether that be completion percentage, things like that. Any energy spent on anything else is a waste,” Petras said.

Petras started the first nine games of last season and 11 overall. He also came off the bench to help Iowa rally from a second-half deficit at Nebraska to end the regular season. Petras passed for 1,880 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, but he was intercepted nine times and completed just 57% of his passes.

The 6-foot-5, 233 pound quarterback feels he’s capable of playing better than he did at times last season.

“I think the biggest thing looking back is that I’m too smart of a player to not take advantage of coverage better than I did. Probably specifically would be, my completion percentage was at whatever it was, 57 percent. And like some games it’s, you know, you’re playing Wisconsin, if you can get 50 percent, that’s not a bad day. But for me, with how fast I can identify coverage and how fast I can get the ball out of my hands, you know, if I’m getting a soft coverage where the things that are there are going to be underneath, I need to take that more. That’s just an example, but things like that,” Petras said.

Petras has a target in mind, too.

“I know how to attack coverage. That completion percentage needs to be much higher, because it’s not a talent issue with me, it’s not a talent issue at receivers. It’s more so my own mindset with each concept right. If it’s first and 10 and I know what I’m getting, which most of the time I’m going to know what I’m getting because I study this quite a bit. How can I improve that number from 57 up to 65, around that area? And that’s what Brian has been really great at harping on as well, because that’s huge for our offense. It’s efficiency in the pass game and efficiency in the run game. And for the pass game, it looks like 65 percent. Not to say that I can’t, I’m not going to take shots, because coverage will tell me where the ball should go, but when I know that the coverage is giving up a short pass and that’s what we need, I need to take it,” Petras said.

The San Rafael, Calif., native is zeroed in on upping his completion percentage and directing Iowa’s offense to more consistent results. Petras and Iowa started the season 6-0, but finished just 10-4 after a loss in the Big Ten Championship game versus Michigan and a loss to Kentucky in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl. The Hawkeyes scored just three points against the Wolverines and then Petras was intercepted three times against the Wildcats.

“Yeah, I mean, I know obviously we’re happy to win our division, but I don’t think anyone on the team’s happy with going 10-4, especially with how we started and I think offensively specifically. For myself specifically, you know, we left a lot out there that we could have done a lot better offensively. As good as our season was last year, there’s still plenty to improve on. A lot higher of a ceiling that we can reach, so right now it’s just making sure that we’re improving on the things that showed up in the self-scout, the points of emphasis that we found when we reviewed the tape. Staying super focused on that because the work we do now will pay off in the fall,” Petras said.

It will be interesting to see how the spring plays out between Petras, junior Alex Padilla and redshirt freshman Joey Labas. One thing is for certain, though. Petras is talking and acting like someone with something to prove and someone that doesn’t plan on losing his starting quarterback job.

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Iowa started two different quarterbacks last season, senior [autotag]Spencer Petras[/autotag] and  junior [autotag]Alex Padilla[/autotag]. Before Padilla earned the starting nod versus Minnesota, Petras had started 17 consecutive games in a row for Iowa dating back to the start of the 2020 season.

Padilla initially stepped in at Northwestern after Petras started but a lingering shoulder injury limited his effectiveness. Padilla led three scoring drives, completed 18-of-28 passes for 172 yards and the Hawkeyes beat Northwestern, 17-12. After throwing for 206 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his first official start against Minnesota, Padilla passed for just 83 yards versus Illinois. Then, at Nebraska, Padilla was replaced by Petras in the second half after completing 6-of-14 passes for 76 yards.

Though he was replaced in the third start, Iowa did win all three games Padilla started. Petras owns a 13-5 career record in his own right. Iowa head football coach [autotag]Kirk Ferentz[/autotag] noted that Iowa has won with both Petras and Padilla in his first spring press conference.

“We’re going to let them both play. I think the good news is that we feel they’re both capable of really playing good football for us and our goal is to try to get them to play a little bit better and everybody around them to help them a little bit more. I think really that’s the story of our offense right now,” Ferentz said.

Petras was listed as the starting quarterback with Padilla as the backup in the initial spring depth chart that Iowa released. Redshirt freshman [autotag]Joe Labas[/autotag] was also listed as the No. 3 quarterback for the Hawkeyes as spring begins.

After a season where both Padilla and Petras saw serious action and Labas’ name is mentioned on the first depth chart, it has the makings of a legitimate spring quarterback battle. Athlon Sports’ Steven Lassan listed Iowa among his top 2022 spring quarterback battles.

As evidenced last season, the Hawkeyes don’t need a prolific passing game to win the Big Ten’s West Division. A standout (and opportunistic) defense, combined with a few timely plays on offense, was good enough to get to 10-4 last fall and might be enough to claim the division crown again. However, relying on turnovers isn’t a sustainable formula, and Iowa’s offense could relieve some of the pressure on its defense by upping its production (4.5 yards per play in Big Ten games last year). Petras (11 starts) threw for 1,880 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, while Padilla (three starters) contributed 636 yards and two scores through the air. Both quarterbacks had moments of production, but the two players combined to complete 55 percent of their throws and tossed 11 picks. Also, Iowa’s offense generated only eight plays of 30-plus yards in ’21. Padilla and Petras are back in the mix, with Labas, a redshirt freshman, a wild-card name to watch. – Lassan, Athlon Sports.

As Ferentz touched on, Padilla and Petras have a leg up in the experience category.

“Obviously, two guys have a real distinct advantage knowing what to do. So just getting up to the line and getting the ball snapped and having us in the right place. That’s a heck of a start. And it sounds pretty routine and easy. But that for Joe right now, there’s a process to that like any first-year guy. Tate was on, he was the backup as a true freshman, so there’s an exception to the rule.

“But usually if a guy redshirts, like that’s part of the thing right now, is him processing, reading things and just all the ABC stuff. So he’s in a little different category as far as the learning process. It’ll be really interesting for us to watch how much he can pick up and how fast in 15 days. Whereas, both Alex and Spencer have a little bit, obviously an edge there. They’ve played and they’ve been out there when games start and they’ve been there when the games end,” Ferentz said.

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Iowa started multiple quarterbacks last season. Of course, senior quarterback Spencer Petras had started 17 games in a row dating back to the start of the 2020 season before an injury sidelined him ahead of the week 10 game versus Minnesota.

That’s when junior quarterback Alex Padilla stepped in and started three games in succession before Petras started the final two versus Michigan in the Big Ten Championship game and against Kentucky in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Joe Labas was also listed on the Hawkeyes’ initial spring depth chart.

Now, as Iowa begins spring practices, Petras is listed atop the depth chart with Padilla as his backup. Redshirt freshman quarterback Joe Labas was also listed on the Hawkeyes’ initial spring depth chart. Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz evaluated where his group stands entering the spring.

“Obviously, two guys have a real distinct advantage knowing what to do. So just getting up to the line and getting the ball snapped and having us in the right place. That’s a heck of a start. And it sounds pretty routine and easy. But for Joe, right now, there’s a process to that. Usually if a guy redshirts, that’s part of the thing right now, is him processing and reading things and all the ABC stuff. So he’s in a little different category as far as the learning process. It will be really quick or interesting for us to watch how much he can pick up and how fast in 15 days; whereas, both Alex and Spencer have a little bit, obviously an edge there. They’ve played. They’ve been out there when games end.

“I think the good news is that we feel they’re both capable of playing really good football for us. And our goal is to try to get them to play a little bit better and everybody around them helping a little bit more. I think really that’s the story of our offense right now,” Ferentz said.

Asked if it was accurate to say that it’s Petras’ job to lose, Ferentz didn’t commit to that idea.

“I think everybody’s competing right now. And on one hand, he’s got an edge or things he does better than Alex, but I can flip that around saying there’s some things Alex does a little bit better, too. We’re just going to ride it out and see where it all goes, but we’ll get it figured out certainly and the good news is I think both guys are totally capable,” Ferentz said.

The hope is that either Petras or Padilla will see a big enough leap in their play throughout the spring to make it a clear decision for the Hawkeye coaching staff.

“I know it wasn’t Spencer’s second year. I mean, this is his third year coming up, but it wasn’t his best year and I think he’s got room and I think he feels that. I think there’s some things we probably can do from our standpoint, the coaches, to give him a little bit, set him up for more success if you will. Play to his strengths when he’s in there and Alex whatever his strengths may be. If they differ, you know, lean left or right depending on who’s in there, but I think both guys have an opportunity to be better players this year,” Ferentz said.

He pointed out that one of the positives for Iowa’s quarterbacks is that his team has had success with both quarterbacks. Still, Ferentz is hoping the offensive line, skill players and the coaching staff can help make life easier for either Petras or Padilla.

“We’ve won with both of them, so that’s kind of exciting. But I also know this, we’ve got to help them more. You know, like I said, I’d like to gain an edge up front, not just try to break even, but gain an edge. Obviously, we’ll be more veteran at receiver than we were last year,” Ferentz said.

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