Iowa Football: Joe Labas Is Critical To Hawkeyes’ West Run
If Iowa wants to reclaim first place in the Big Ten West, Joe Labas must practise with the first team all week.
The Iowa Hawkeyes are on bye this week, which gives Hawkeye supporters a break. There will be no forced viewing of the country’s worst offence. We can all watch games across the country on Saturday morning without fear of poking our own eyes out.
But, as the week draws to a close, we get closer to the start of next week, which means the return of Hawkeye football. We know that week will come with offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz still in charge of the Iowa offence. That’s not going to change this season, and it’s unlikely to change this offseason, even with the well-publicized drive to 325.
That doesn’t imply there won’t be any change next week. And it doesn’t mean we have to keep doing the same thing every Saturday.
While we saw one of the worst offensive performances of the year from the nation’s worst offence a week ago, it’s easy to forget that the Hawkeyes showed some flashes of life in the running game two weeks earlier. Iowa rushed for more over 190 yards per game against Purdue and Wisconsin. Yes, those numbers are boosted by two long touchdown runs. But those runs happen, and the absence of explosive plays is exactly what has plagued Iowa’s offence over the previous… well, a long time.
Along with the running game, there will be opportunities in the passing game. Brian Ferentz attempted to get it going early in the first half against Minnesota with some quick rhythm throws for Deacon Hill. For whatever reason, he seemed to have forgotten they existed after the first few series. We also didn’t see Ferentz the younger use play-action for much more than a few really long-developing throws that never seemed to materialise.
The outcome was devastating, and it is now evident who Deacon Hill is. That will not alter this year. He possesses a big arm, but he lacks touch and gets too focused on a single receiver, making late decisions to compensate.
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On the season, he has completed less than 38% of his passes, which is shockingly low and completely unacceptable at the power five level. He’s now thrown three interceptions in four games, and his two fumbles versus Minnesota (each more perplexing than the last) bring Hill’s turnover total to more than one per game. With the defence they have and the running game we saw developing leading up to the Minnesota game, that’s really the only way Iowa can lose.
That is, it is Joe Labas time. There is no longer any reason not to act. Hill is not safeguarding the ball, and with his dismal completion %, he is not enabling anything to happen in the passing game, which is destroying the running game.
Based on the small sample size of Labas, that appears to be rather straightforward. Labas performed everything Iowa needed him to do in his only career start last season in the Music City Bowl. He accomplished what we had hoped Hill would.
The Ohio native completed 58% of his passes against Kentucky. His yards per attempt were mediocre at 5.8, but both of those stats are winning when the ball is not turned over. Labas failed to score in 24 attempts, and the Hawkeyes triumphed easily.
Did they rely largely on the defence, which scored two goals of their own? Yes. Is there any difference this year? No. And with only two weeks to prepare the team, there’s no excuse for not switching to a player who has done just enough to allow Iowa to win.
Aside from that, Labas displayed pockets of pocket presence that Hill lacked. That was never clearer than on the two strip sacks Hill surrendered a week ago. He also provides the opportunity to be more versatile in the rushing attack. While Hill has a large frame and resembles former Hawkeye Nate Stanley, he is immobile and has been flat.
Labas, on the other hand, delivers more than just evasion; he also brings a genuine danger to run the ball. We witnessed Brian call a read-option versus Minnesota, which Hill promptly declined to no one’s surprise. Labas can actually keep that read and produce first downs with his legs.
Iowa hasn’t had such mobility at quarterback in years, but it’s something Brian has certainly been seeking for on the recruiting trail. It’s also what the fanbase has been hoping for for years. Every truly successful Iowa team under Ferentz’s tenure has had a mobile quarterback. Banks, Tate, Stanzi, and Beathard. Everyone may flee. Everyone won.
At the very least, it gives the fanbase reason to hope. A fanbase that appears to have lost faith in this squad.
Despite the path sketched out earlier this week, in which Iowa remains largely in control of its own destiny, less than 30% of Hawkeye supporters questioned believe Iowa will win the Big Ten West.
As previously stated, Wisconsin and Minnesota both have scheduled games against Ohio State. That’s this weekend for the Badgers. As a result, Iowa just needs to win against teams that are all flawed in the same way that the Hawkeyes are.
However, when the offence appears to have no chance of moving the ball at all, there appears to be little chance of winning. Unless, of course, your surname is Ferentz.
Following a week off, the Hawkeyes will face Northwestern the following week. This game will be played at Wrigley Field and will be streamed live on Peacock. This week, the Wildcats will host Maryland at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
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