Iowa is 6-2 but this is the worst 6-2 team in America. On defense, they have given up only 116 points, 14.5 a game and 31 of those points came against Penn State so they have given up only 85 points to the other seven opponents. On offense, Iowa only scored 156 points for an average of 19.5, considerably lower than what Brian Ferentz needs to keep his job and if you take out 41 they scored against Western Michigan, they only average 16.4 points.
The reality is that Iowa is at a turning point where it needs to change to keep on top of the better college teams or slip into mediocrity. Since Brian Ferentz became the offensive coordinator, the Iowa offense has been rather offensive and this year, it has reached a peak in total absurdity as the last four games, Iowa has yet to pass for more than 116 yards. Iowa managed to beat Wisconsin passing for only 37 yards.
The number one quarterback Cade McNamara went out with season ending injury along with top two tight ends, Eric All and Luke Lachey so that didn’t help. Deacon Hill showed that after four games, he is not ready to take over the offense and there has been no improvements over the four games he started and the question is why Joe Labus who did win a bowl game in his only game as starter not given a chance or the Marco Lainez who plays for the scout team. They couldn’t do worse what is being done now.
Iowa defense has been the key for the past three years, but stagnant offense has kept this team from going to another level. This year is no different. Iowa has a chance to win the Big Ten West, but the offense could keep them from winning the Big Ten West.
The question is the future, since Iowa will be in a new Big Ten that includes USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon, teams that emphasize offense. It was not that long ago, Iowa could occasionally beat Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State but the past three years a wider gulf has arrived between Iowa and the top teams in the Big Ten East. Their first appearance in the Big Ten championship, Iowa lost a close battle to Michigan State, but their second appearance was complete rout by Michigan. For Iowa football future, changes have to be made to stay competitive. The defense is championship caliber and Phil Parker is one of the best defensive coaches in the business but too often over the last three years, his defense has been called to keep Iowa in games while the offense flails. The past game with Minnesota shows Iowa problem as the offense scored 10 points but it was the defense that kept them in the game and should have won the game when a punt return touchdown called back on a controversial call (or I will say a really bad call). Iowa was one bad call from being 7-1 but the problem of the offense took away what should have been easy victory into a disappointing defeat.
The question is after the season, will Kirk Ferentz follow through on the deal that stated his son had to average 25 points to keep his job and replace his son as the offensive coordinator ? If he manages to win the Big Ten West, which is still in reach, it would be a fitting end to a good career and if he is forced to fire his son, why not simply say goodbye? Both Brian and Kirk would simply move on into the sunset and Brian would find a new job and begin his career anew. As for Iowa, it might be close to the time that Kirk Ferentz and Iowa part ways and allow Iowa to move forward.
Kirk Ferentz has had a good career as a head coach, he has won over 200 games as a coach, presently is 10-9 in bowl games, with five victories over southeastern conference foes and two Big Ten West titles. For the past three years, the question that has arisen is whether Iowa would move forward into the brave new of world of college football and become competitive in this world. With USC, UCLA, Washington, and Oregon added to a league that has Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan, means that Iowa must change its offensive philosophy to become competitive. And the real question is Kirk Ferentz that guy?
The Donelson Files 