Iowa football: Five observations from victory over Minnesota

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IOWA CITY, IOWA- NOVEMBER 16: Quarterback Nate Stanley #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes rushes up field on a keeper during the second half in front of linebacker Thomas Barber #41 of the Minnesota Gophers on November 16, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

Iowa played to win the game

On Friday, I wrote an article about what the Iowa football team could do to fix their offense in 2020. I know Brian Ferentz doesn’t read my articles, but it sure seemed like he did as they displayed a few things that Hawkeye fans have been yearning for all season.

Dynamic back Tyler Goodson got the start and got a heavy workload early as he averaged 7.2 yards on 13 carries for 94 yards and 1 touchdown.

Brian Ferentz’s play-calling was on point and deceptive throughout the evening. There was a reverse, there was a quick pitch, a Nate Stanley designed run, end-arounds, and more effective goal-line play-calling all around. It wasn’t the same old stagnant Iowa offense last night.

And there was the aggressiveness that we have been missing since last season. The Iowa football team played to win last night’s game, not to stay in it or not lose. On a 4th and 1 on the Minnesota 32, the Iowa football team went with a QB sneak, which has easily been the most effective (and quite possibly the only effective) short-yardage play in Iowa’s arsenal this season instead of kicking the field goal with Lou Groza Award contender Keith Duncan who has been lights out this season. By no means was the field goal a “gimme” as it would have been a 49-yard kick, but going for it made all of the difference in a game the Hawks won by 4.

As Iowa built a 20-3 lead, it made me wonder what could have been this season had Iowa displayed this type of invigorated offense earlier in Big Ten play.

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