Tag: Joey Labas

Iowa Hawkeyes 2023 Positional Breakdown: Scouting the quarterbacks

It’s the story of the offseason for Iowa. Our positional preview series begins with a new and improved look under center for the Hawkeyes.

Iowa football desperately needs better quarterback play in 2023. Thank you, Alex. I’ll keep going with “Things every Iowa fan already knows” for $400, please.

Seriously, the struggles Iowa has seen over the past couple years at the quarterback position are not a real big secret. Fans have been complaining for years about the lack of an aerial attack, jealous of the high-scoring offenses all around them in college football. Last year the team became a meme across college football fandom for just how bad the offense was, particularly the passing attack.

Things cannot continue this way. You know it, I know it, and fortunately, head coach Kirk Ferentz knows it. There’s a reason why Iowa finally figured out that they need an upgrade at the position, searching for answers in the transfer portal. Probably a year too late, but at least they finally figured it out.

Now, quarterback actually poses a bit of excitement for Hawkeye fans heading into the season. Fans will look to finally have an offensive attack worth cheering about, and it all starts with the quarterback.

Iowa Hawkeyes 2023 Snapshot Profile: QB No. 5 Joe Labas

Joe Labas directed the Black and Gold to a bowl victory over Kentucky. Does he wind up as QB2? His 2023 snapshot profile.

When looking at the quarterback position for the Iowa Hawkeyes, do not forget about sophomore Joe Labas.

While much attention has been given over the offseason to transfer additions Cade McNamara and Deacon Hill, the Hawkeyes still have a returning backup candidate in Labas. Though his playing time wasn’t extensive over the past few seasons in Iowa City, Labas has been able to learn the offensive system. He’s spent more time with Brian Ferentz than any other quarterback on the roster and has been groomed into his system over the past couple of seasons.

Also, this goes without saying, but Joe Labas is the only quarterback currently on the roster who has actually thrown a pass for the Black and Gold. He started and saw his first career action in the Hawkeyes’ 21-0 Music City Bowl victory over Kentucky. While his stats were not spectacular in his first outing for Iowa, he did manage to throw a touchdown and limit the bad plays.

Much of what Iowa asks from their quarterbacks is to game manage and simply not mess up. Labas sort of already showed that he can do that, albeit in some weird circumstances. Kentucky really looked like they were just there for a scrimmage in that bowl game.

With the competition for the backup quarterback slot behind Cade McNamara heating up, here is a look at Joe Labas.

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247Sports plummets Iowa in Big Ten starting quarterback rankings

247Sports has plummeted the Hawkeyes in their recent rankings of Big Ten projected starting quarterbacks prior to the 2022 season.

Tell me if you have heard this song and dance before. There is minimal faith in the Iowa Hawkeyes’ quarterback play as we rapidly approach the 2022 college football season. It seems that tide isn’t going to change any time soon, even as we see some evidence otherwise.

In the most recent rankings from 247Sports regarding projected starting quarterbacks in the Big Ten, the Hawkeyes have come in at No. 11, ahead of just Rutgers, Illinois, and Northwestern. They are trailing Wisconsin and Indiana, two quarterback situations they may be better than due to the inconsistency. The thoughts from 247Sports’ Nick Kosko are below.

Petras might be what he is at this point. He’s in line to start again but really didn’t show much improvement from 2020 to ‘21. Sure, Hawkeyes fans could hope, or pray, that he takes a big jump in his third year as the starter, but the team might have to go back to Alex Padilla, again. Padilla saw some action in 2021, but Petras is the guy, until he isn’t. It looks like Iowa might be held back by the quarterback position again. Yet the Hawkeyes still made a Big Ten championship game in 2021. – Kosko, 247Sports.

While the word from Iowa’s program is that the quarterback situation is more of an open competition, there seems to be an ever-growing belief that it is Petras’ job to have unless proven otherwise more so than it is a truly open competition.

Alex Padilla has the experience in the program and has shown his ability to step in and lead the Hawkeyes to wins should his number be called upon. There is also the young gun, Joey Labas, who has a smaller, but loud, contingent of Hawkeyes fans clamoring for him to get the nod. He has a rocket arm and makes things happen, but when push comes to shove, history has shown us it is less than common for Kirk Ferentz to go with the young guy.

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Opinion: My thoughts on the Iowa Hawkeyes’ quarterback room ranked No. 10 in the Big Ten

The Hawkeyes’ quarterback room has been the biggest question mark. Ranked No. 10 in the Big Ten, up is the only option entering 2022.

It’s been reported by every outlet, discussed by every fan, talked about by anyone who has a clue about Iowa football. The glaring question mark entering 2022 is the quarterback play and if it can take the next step. I think it is time to talk about that. And for the first time on this site, let my opinions come out.

I have yet to put out an opinion piece on here as I am extremely close with some current Hawkeyes on a very personal level. Texting, Facetiming, going to dinner and hanging out with them postgame type of close. Due to that, I stay black and white, give the facts, and talk ball. This is different. It’s time for an open discussion about the Iowa quarterback room.

Recently, 247Sports shared that Athlon Sports’ annual magazine named Iowa the 10th-best quarterback situation in the Big Ten, only ahead of Indiana, Illinois, Northwestern, and Rutgers. In my mind, it’s no question Iowa is in a better spot than those four. No real argument.

Here is 247Sports’ Mariah Guzman’s reaction regarding the Hawkeyes’ ranking:

Spencer Petras will be spending his fifth season with Iowa this fall, his third as a starter. Petras showed flashes of excellence in the first half of the 2021 season, allowing Iowa to start out strong with a six-game win streak. He struggled after the streak, compiling seven interceptions to just one touchdown the rest of the season, and Iowa went 2-4 the rest of the way. The Hawkeyes return multiple starters from the 2021 season, with Keagan Johnson and Nico Ragaini hoping to flourish in a more involved role at wide receiver. If Petras can perform like he did the first six weeks of 2021 compared to the final six weeks, Iowa could stun the Big 10. Petras threw for 1,880 yards, 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions in total, in 2021. – Guzman, 247Sports.

Let’s talk about a certain statement in there. The part that says “Iowa could stun the Big Ten” stands out. This year’s Big Ten West is wide open. Spencer Petras has been working nonstop this offseason, showcasing his arm strength at the Manning Passing Academy. He is all in for the Hawkeyes. I have even previously talked about why 2022 may be the best Petras yet.

I think Spencer Petras not only stuns Hawkeyes fans this fall. He stuns the Big Ten.

I think we see him surpass Wisconsin’s Graham Mertz who is inconsistent. Casey Thompson is stepping into a beyond hostile situation in his first season in Nebraska and any struggles will be magnified. Taulia Tagovailoa has the talent, but his inconsistency has proven to be a crutch.

Spencer Petras doesn’t have to win every game by himself for Iowa. He has a defense that returns some firepower and looks to pick up where they left off in 2021. He won’t need to score 35 points every week. Gavin Williams and Leshon Williams are a downhill duo in the backfield. Sam LaPorta, Keagan Johnson, Nico Ragaini, and Arland Bruce IV give Petras the necessary weapons in the passing game.

All of the noise is against Spencer Petras. The talk is how he has held this team back. Hawkeye fans have questioned him and called for replacements. The cards are stacked against him. And while all of this has gone on, there’s been nothing but hard work, bettering himself, and a consistent effort to do his part for this Hawkeyes team from Petras.

Never wavering against adversity. Not afraid to face the music. Ready to take everything head on and show his leadership. Give me that guy 10 out of 10 times. Spencer Petras takes the next step in 2022 and shows why Iowa is in a much better spot than the No. 10 best quarterback room in Big Ten.

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Iowa Hawkeyes at No. 23 in 247Sports’ post-spring football rankings

The Iowa Hawkeyes have come in at No. 23 in 247Sports’ post-spring college football rankings.

In the most recent top 25 rankings from 247Sports, the Iowa Hawkeyes find themselves making the cut and coming in at No. 23 in the country. In the previous rankings, the Hawkeyes found themselves at No. 16.

Rankings after spring practices should always be taken with a grain of salt and this case is no different. Iowa chose to rest some of their key players due to injuries and preserving them for the fall. As you can see below, the list of inactive players was littered with key contributors.

That said, the Hawkeyes’ slide in the rankings is explainable. Their spring practices saw a quarterback competition heat up that looks like it will continue into the summer and training camp. The voters may look at that as uncertainty at the most important position and knock Iowa a bit for that.

While it is a quarterback competition, it could lead to improved play across the board at the position. In what appears to be a three-man race between [autotag]Spencer Petras[/autotag], [autotag]Alex Padilla[/autotag], and [autotag]Joe Labas[/autotag], it could spark each of them to perform at the next level giving Iowa a boost at the quarterback position voters may not be accounting for.

The Hawkeyes find themselves in the top 25 in large part to their defensive and special teams units. Each of these units have consistently been solid for Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz.

Defensively, Iowa will have experience returning and quite a bit of it. At linebacker they get [autotag]Jack Campbell[/autotag] and [autotag]Jestin Jacobs[/autotag] back leading the charge. [autotag]Riley Moss[/autotag] plugs in at defensive back coming off of a 2021 where he was named Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year.

The defense will be its usual self under defensive coordinator Phil Parker and can be expected to keep the Hawkeyes in games.

On special teams, Iowa has one of the best weapons in the entire country. Punter [autotag]Tory Taylor[/autotag] is a special asset that can change a game in one play. At the open spring practice, Taylor had multiple punts that exceeded 65 yards. His ability to flip the field will give the Hawkeyes the field position advantage more often than not.

Rankings now are always a little bit suspect, but nonetheless it is nice to see the Hawkeyes getting national respect as a top 25 team. Should the quarterback competition enhance that group’s play, Iowa’s ranking may climb much higher than No. 23.

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