For most of this decade, the Iowa football program has suffered from ugly quarterback play. Those issues resurfaced over the weekend.
The Hawkeyes didn't get good quarterback play in their 13-10 loss at Minnesota last Saturday. Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown combined to go 20-of-37 for 198 yards and three interceptions. Each turnover was brutal, taking points off the board and ending drives before they could even get started. Both guys missed open receivers on multiple occasions, leaving big plays on the field.
If Iowa got just average production from its quarterbacks, it probably would have left Minneapolis with the Floyd of Rosedale and a 6-1 record. Instead, the Hawkeyes left with more questions than answers at the most important position
in sports. And Kirk Ferentz knows it.
Speaking at his weekly Tuesday press conference, Ferentz was asked for his thoughts on the quarterback play last weekend. He didn't mince words.
"I mean, not good enough," Ferentz said. "Fair to say about our whole team and the coaching staff. We just didn't do enough to get the job done. I've been saying it consistently. We believe in both players. I think both Hank and Jeremy are good young people, and they're good young quarterbacks. Neither one of them are really experienced right now.
"There are some things we could have done better, but that's true in every facet. A lot of things we could have done better. Coaching, too. We take ownership in that as well. Probably the most perplexing thing was the loose ball dilemma. Turnovers and loose balls. Turnovers sometimes happen. You are never accepting of that, but loose balls, I just can't remember a game when it's been out that much, and I can't tell you why. That's something we're going to have to get corrected, or we'll pay for that on Saturday if we don't."
Ferentz was honest about how his quarterbacks performed. It wasn't good enough. But, he was also quick to blame himself and the coaching staff for their shortcomings. He also mentioned the turnovers were a big factor in the loss, some of which go beyond the quarterbacks.
Iowa will turn to Brown to start this weekend against Wisconsin. They'll need him to bounce back, or another loss will be a real possibility.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: 'Not good enough': Kirk Ferentz laments Iowa's QB play vs. Minnesota
