Gridiron Heroics
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • “Can Somebody Get Me A CFB Code”: Breece Hall Makes A Public Demand Ahead Of College Football 26 Launch
    • LOOK: Michael Irvin Spotted Reuniting With Son Elijah ‘Tarantino’ 7 Months After Explosive Feud On A Lavish Lake Cruise
    • Breaking: Cowboys Cheerleader Marries Rival NFL Starter, Fans Erupt
    • BREAKING: Cowboys’ Legendary Tight End Abruptly Passes Away (Report)
    • Cleveland Browns: Former UDFA Set for Full-Time Role in 2025
    • ‘Our Hearts Are Broken’: Kansas City Chiefs Owner Confirms Death Of 9 Y.O. Family Member In Texas Floods
    • Indiana and the Five Best Potential Sleeper Squads in 2025
    • ‘I’ve Got To Keep The Secrets’: Patrick Mahomes Hiding Details From Meeting With A Las Vegas Raiders Owner
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Our Writers
    • Write for Gridiron Heroics
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Gridiron Heroics
    SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES
    • NFL
      • AFC East
        • AFC East
        • Buffalo Bills
        • Miami Dolphins
        • New England Patriots
        • New York Jets
      • AFC North
        • Baltimore Ravens
        • Cincinnati Bengals
        • Cleveland Browns
        • Pittsburgh Steelers
      • AFC South
        • Houston Texans
        • Indianapolis Colts
        • Jacksonville Jaguars
        • Tennessee Titans
      • AFC West
        • Denver Broncos
        • Kansas City Chiefs
        • Las Vegas Raiders
        • Los Angeles Chargers
      • NFC East
        • Dallas Cowboys
        • New York Giants
        • Philadelphia Eagles
        • Washington Commanders
      • NFC North
        • Chicago Bears
        • Detroit Lions
        • Green Bay Packers
        • Minnesota Vikings
      • NFC South
        • Atlanta Falcons
        • Carolina Panthers
        • New Orleans Saints
        • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
      • NFC West
        • Arizona Cardinals
        • Los Angeles Rams
        • San Francisco 49ers
        • Seattle Seahawks
    • Fantasy Football
    • College Football
    • NFL Draft
    • PODCAST
    Gridiron Heroics
    Home»College Football»Iowa Hawkeyes»3 Questions Facing the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2022
    Iowa Hawkeyes

    3 Questions Facing the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2022

    Joe FisherBy Joe FisherAugust 11, 2022Updated:April 18, 2024No Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Seth Benson Iowa football
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    The Iowa Hawkeyes are fresh off appearing in the Big Ten Championship last season but to get back to that game there are hurdles they need to overcome. The schedule ahead is difficult and the West Division has its share of contenders. These are the three questions the Iowa Hawkeyes face this season.

    Where is the run game?

    Gavin Williams Iowa Hawkeyes

    Listen, Iowa is always going to be a run-first team. More often than not, Iowa is going to be good on the ground too. That is its bread and butter. But in 2021, the run game was not what the Hawkeyes are used to.

    The Hawkeyes averaged 123.8 yards rushing per game last season. By itself that does not sound bad. For an NFL team it would be a recipe for winning football. This is not the NFL. It’s the Big Ten. Iowa’s production on the ground was only good for ninth in the conference and 102nd in the nation. If Iowa is going to grind through this season, the run game has to come along.

    Can the defense force turnovers again?

    Iowa football defense ISU

    Of course Iowa’s defense is going to force some turnovers, but what it did in 2021 was on another level. The Hawkeyes led college football with 25 interceptions, returned 3 for touchdowns and scored on a fumble recovery.

    It is no secret the offense struggled last season. That tells you how much this defense really made up for those struggles. Takeaways and stops were the key in several games, notably against Iowa State and Nebraska. If the offense is not going to greatly improve, the defense will again have to make up for it with short fields, takeaways and forcing punts.

    Will Petras show growth?

    Spencer Petras iowa

    This is the one Hawkeye fans are chewing over the most. While Spencer Petras takes the brunt of the criticism online, there are several factors that stymied the offense last season. One, which was mentioned above, was the lack of a run game.

    This speaks to a lack of creativity and adaptability in the offensive scheme. Offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz has heard his share of criticism as well, no doubt. Do not expect the scheme to change though. Just look at what an anonymous Big Ten coach had to say about Iowa’s offense.

    “They do what they do, they do it well and they do not care if you think they should do it different.”

    The truth is Petras does need to improve on progressing through his reads, listening to his internal clock and reacting to pressure. At the same time, the offensive line needs to hold up, especially on the interior. The running backs have to hit their assignments in pass protection and the receivers need to find a rhythm with their quarterback. If that comes together, even marginally better than a year ago, Petras will look like a different player.

    Get the latest Pro and College Football news, analysis, and breaking stories on the NFL, NCAA, Fantasy Football, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, so you never miss a story from the football field.

    2022 Iowa Hawkeyes Iowa Football
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Avatar of Joe Fisher
    Joe Fisher
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn

    Joe Fisher is an experienced journalist in the realms of sports and news. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism in 2017. At the time he was already published by The Des Moines Register and working for the Big Ten Network - Student U. After graduation he immediately began his first full-time journalism job with an award-winning newspaper, The N'West Iowa REVIEW. Joe has since become a freelance writer. He shares time between news and sports. He is passionate about basketball and football in particular. He began writing for Gridiron Heroics in the summer of 2022, covering Iowa collegiate football and the Big Ten.

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    New York Jets

    “Can Somebody Get Me A CFB Code”: Breece Hall Makes A Public Demand Ahead Of College Football 26 Launch

    By Ernest Leo HernandezJuly 8, 20250
    NFL

    LOOK: Michael Irvin Spotted Reuniting With Son Elijah ‘Tarantino’ 7 Months After Explosive Feud On A Lavish Lake Cruise

    By Ernest Leo HernandezJuly 8, 20250
    Dallas Cowboys

    Breaking: Cowboys Cheerleader Marries Rival NFL Starter, Fans Erupt

    By McQuade ArnoldJuly 7, 20250
    Dallas Cowboys

    BREAKING: Cowboys’ Legendary Tight End Abruptly Passes Away (Report)

    By McQuade ArnoldJuly 7, 20250
    Gridiron Heroics Writers
    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    READ MORE
    Aaron Rodgers Baltimore Ravens Bill Belichick Buffalo Bills Caleb Williams Chicago Bears Chiefs Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns College Football Cowboys Dak Prescott Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Deshaun Watson Detroit Lions Donald Trump Football Green Bay Packers Joe Burrow Josh Allen Justin Fields Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New Orleans Saints New York Giants New York Jets NFL NFL Draft nfl news NFL Rumors Patrick Mahomes Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers Russell Wilson San Francisco 49ers shedeur sanders Tampa Bay Buccaneers Taylor Swift Tom Brady Travis Kelce Washington Commanders
    Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Editorial Process
    • Contact Us
    • Corporate
    © 2025 Gridiron Heroics.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.