The Iowa Hawkeyes are far more interesting than you think
Have you ever heard the phrase, ‘they’re so good it’s boring’ in relation to a sports team?
That might be the case with the Iowa Hawkeyes, as college football fans and pundits don’t seem to be impressed by Kirk Ferentz and his undefeated, 10-0 squad. So many are living in denial that Iowa is not a team worthy of being in the top four of the CFB playoff standings, even if they win out, but there’s no question that they control their own destiny at this point.
As if the committee is going to leave out an undefeated Big Ten team…
The Hawkeyes have a really long way to go before we start talking sure-fire CFB playoff spots, but coming in at 5th in the latest poll, they are right where they want to be, and they have respect from exactly who they need it from — the committee.
Iowa ranks 5th, ahead of the likes of Oklahoma State (10-0) and Oklahoma (9-1) who are both playing great football right now. Iowa is just on the heels of Notre Dame, which has a quality loss this season against Clemson and always plays a good non-conference schedule.
Ohio State, the other undefeated Big Ten team, is in the top four (3rd) likely based on some other factors but right now, they are staring at a tough couple of games to end their regular season before a possible matchup with the Hawkeyes in the Big Ten championship game.
So what makes the Hawkeyes an interesting team? Well, for starters, they have two wins against current top 25 teams with no losses, something that neither Oklahoma State nor Oklahoma can boast. But I think there are a number of reasons Iowa is one of the best kept ‘secrets’ in the country despite their high ranking. They have all of the elements needed to make a CFB championship run this season, despite the fact that many might think that’s a laughable concept. Let me explain…
Elite Coaching
Iowa has some of the best coaching in college sports, forget football for a second. Kirk Ferentz and his staff are second to none when it comes to maximizing talent at the college level, and he’s done a commendable job of adapting his style to the team he has this season.
Ferentz has gotten more aggressive while still sticking to what he knows how to do best. He has taken more risks this season that have paid off. He seems to be pushing all the right buttons with personnel decisions. Everything is clicking for Ferentz this year after many (including myself) were calling for his head at the end of the Hawkeyes’ abysmal season in 2014.
Playmaker at QB
C.J. Beathard is 11-0 in his Hawkeye career as the starter. He’s a phenomenal field general and game manager, but more than that, he’s making all the right decisions.
Beathard hasn’t put up crazy numbers in terms of passing touchdowns or yardage or anything like that, but he knows how to move the football downfield. He knows how to move the chains. He’s a really good runner when the play breaks down. His arm strength is top notch, and he distributes the ball to different receivers.
The way Beathard plays the quarterback position is something the Hawkeyes have been missing for a long, long time. He is an aggressor, someone who takes it upon himself to put the team on his back when needed, but he also knows his limitations and has a great football IQ. The way he plays the game is going to be critical with the Hawkeyes in position to make a CFB playoff run.
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Three-headed Monster at RB
The Hawkeyes have three running backs that have scored three rushing touchdowns in a single game this season. Jordan Canzeri, LeShun Daniels, and Akrum Wadley have combined this season for 22 rushing touchdowns, while the aforementioned Beathard has six and Derrick Mitchell Jr., a former wide receiver, has added a pair of his own on the ground.
But this section is dedicated to the trio of Canzeri, Daniels, and Wadley, which has been dynamic for the Hawkeyes this season to say the least.
Canzeri is the team’s leading rusher, and while he was struck by an ankle injury in the team’s blowout win against Northwestern, he earned Big Ten offensive player of the week honors the week prior against Illinois for a scintillating performance in which he rushed for 256 yards on 43 carries. He scored four touchdowns in a win against North Texas, and has proven this season that he can be effective with his quickness both between the tackles as well as on the perimeter. He’s a heck of a receiver as well.
LeShun Daniels is the team’s grinder, a powerful back with good feet that can get you tough yardage but also proved this past weekend that he is capable of ripping off big runs as well. Daniels has received 13, 23, and 26 carries in each of the last three games respectively after battling through injury earlier this season, and rushed for 195 yards and three touchdowns against Minnesota.
Wadley is the team’s smaller/speed back who is extremely hard to track down when he gets out on the perimeter. When Jordan Canzeri went down and Daniels was still nursing his injury, Wadley came in and had a huge impact with six touchdowns over his last three games played including a 204-yard, four touchdown performance in relief of Canzeri at Northwestern.
These guys are legit.
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Disciplined, Opportunistic Defense
The Hawkeyes are nothing if not opportunistic defensively, but again, they are really well-coached and have playmakers at every level. They responded to adversity with Drew Ott going down with a season-ending injury, and have had to get pressure on the QB by committee up front.
Linebacker Josey Jewell looks like a star in the making, but the real front man of this unit is cornerback Desmond King, who leads the team and the nation with eight interceptions. His next interception will be an Iowa Hawkeyes record. Quarterbacks simply can’t throw the football in the general region of King, because he’s like a receiver out there for the Hawkeyes.
This Iowa team has made plays when it needed to, and they’ve been consistent. They know how to get off the field, with the exception of some poor play against Minnesota.
They have won with Special Teams
Iowa has not only won with an impressive offense, they have not only won with a defense that knows how to take the ball away, but they have won with their special teams. Kicker Marshall Koehn gave them a big early-season victory over Pittsburgh with a 57-yard boot to win the game. Desmond King has been a game-changing return specialist. Dillon Kidd has done a fine job as the punter and the Hawkeyes are once again really sound in all facets of their special teams.
Bottom Line
This is just a good team. So many are choosing to ignore that fact because Iowa doesn’t have a legitimate Heisman contender, and they don’t have the glamorous coach like a Nick Saban or the national support of a team like Notre Dame. There’s not really much drama out in Iowa City. For the most part, they have been quietly taking care of business and winning games by being just a really balanced team in every area.
And that alone might make them one of the scariest of all.