Anonymous Big Ten coach calling from the Hawkeyes

It’s always interesting when opposing coaches break down your team’s situation. In theory, it allows opposing coaches to be brutally honest without fear of having their name associated with it.

247Sports’ Brad Crawford covered the Big Ten coaches had to say anonymously of their league brethren. Here’s what the anonymous coach had to offer about the Iowa Hawkeyes.

“The last western team culture, although it is probably the one that needs to change the most schematically and perhaps culturally. We’re all eager to see how they handle the terms of the offensive coordinator contract and what they can accomplish. They would port a lot of their best offensive players, which is a really scary situation when you’re that bad to begin with, and it puts a stupid amount of pressure on (transfer QB) Cade McNamara to make something happen. –Anonymous Big Ten coach for Crawford, 247Sports.

Last one in the west, huh? Is Iowa a dying breed in a division built on offensive line play, rushing football and stellar defense?

One thing’s for sure: The Big Ten West is going sideways, but that’s because of UCLA’s upcoming additions and USC and the conference is new Flex Protect Plus schedule model.

Time will tell, but Purdue may actually be heading back toward Iowa with new defensive head coach Ryan Walters. Matt Rhule and Nebraska don’t even Scream air it. Badger State is definitely going in the direction this Big Ten coach implies everyone else is under first-year head coach Luke Fickell and offensive coordinator Phil Longo, but that’s neither here nor there as it relates to the Hawkeyes.

Crawford wrote this in response to what an unnamed Big Ten coach had to say about Iowa’s situation.

All fingers pointed at Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz after last year’s humbling offensive numbers, and he knows his tenure as the Hawkeyes’ playmaker on his father’s coaching staff has ended with a repeat of that. McNamara faces pressure as the new leader of the program alongside Michigan transfer tight end Erick Alli. The entire offensive line returns, which is always a positive, and second-year first baseman Kaleb Johnson could be the difference maker. –Crawford, 247Sports.

Hopefully Cade McNamara doesn’t have to do as much as this coach or Crawford thinks. If the offensive line really improves in 2023, McNamara should be able to use play action very effectively to connect with tight ends Erick All and Luke Lachey. That will hopefully free up wide receiver Nico Ragain, Diante Vines, Charleston Southern transfer Seth Anderson and Ohio State transferred by Kaleb Brown.

Kaleb Johnson is a star in the backfield, and Iowa has another running back it really likes in Leshon Williams. But all of that depends on the growth of the Hawkeyes. In short, Iowa City has plenty of weapons even after Keagan Johnson left for Kansas State and Arland Bruce IV left for Oklahoma State.

With improved offensive line play, McNamara is a serious upgrade at quarterback and unlocks the Hawkeyes’ offensive potential. The Michigan transfer passed for 2,576 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2021 while leading Wolverines to Big Ten title.

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