Can the Iowa Hawkeyes offense continue to grow, develop, and produce? Another year, another series of the same questions rearing their head.
Last year, Iowa took a large step forward on offense, going from being competent to scoring 40 or more points on multiple occasions. The defense didn’t have to hold every opponent to 10 points or less to win the game.
This year, the Hawkeyes will look for a new lead back as All-American running back Kaleb Johnson left for the NFL. Iowa will also be seeking a more efficient and stronger passing game. Fortunately, Iowa has upgraded its roster via the transfer portal, and that includes offensive help.
How those additions mesh into the scheme and produce leads to CBS Sports’ biggest overreaction of Iowa and asking if their offense is truly fixed yet.
Iowa
OK, we’re serious this time, the offense is fixed: What is this? The third year in a row I’ve made this Iowa’s spring overreaction? To be fair, we saw improvement last year! Tim Lester’s new offense was much better than Brian Ferentz’s, but it was largely dependent on Kaleb Johnson and the run game. Johnson is gone, and while Iowa will always look to run the ball, the hope is transfer QB and Chicago Bears superfan Mark Gronowski will finally end the search for competent QB play in Iowa City. – Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports
Should Iowa get stable quarterback play from Mark Gronowski, that will be a lever they can pull on offense that they had not been able to in recent years.
Gronowski’s ability to not just throw the ball well, but also tuck it and run, also opens up a dimension that Iowa explored last year with Brendan Sullivan, which led to scoring success in the red zone.
It may be an overreaction at the moment, but the pieces are in place and Iowa looks the part on paper. If things can fall into place, the offense may actually be fixed, and not just an overreaction.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football’s offensive output among CBS Sports’ Big Ten overreactions
Reporting by Riley Donald, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
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