It was a perfect storm for the Hawkeyes as they dropped a winnable road game against Minnesota.
The Hawkeyes entered the game as a slight 7.5-point favorite, but looked like anything but. The offense was clunky, special teams had a punt blocked, and nothing seemed to go right in Minneapolis. The biggest headline from the weekend was the poor quarterback play and how the team managed the situation. Both quarterbacks played against the Golden Gophers, with equally bad results. After a bad showing by both Hank Brown and Jeremy Heclinski, we graded each of their performances.
Jeremy Hecklinski: F
After a stellar performance against Washington before the bye week, Hecklinski earned his second straight start. It was very telling that Hecklinski got the start over a healthy Hank Brown, and Kirk Ferentz made the decision early in the week during his press conference. Hecklinski finished the Washington game with 202 passing yards and three touchdowns, tying three other quarterbacks for the most touchdown passes in a debut. Everyone was high on Hecklinski heading into a pivotal rivalry matchup against Minnesota, and he didn't deliver.
The offense was clunky from the get-go, and Hecklinski had a costly red-zone interception that killed any potential momentum. Hecklinski completed eight straight passes before the interception, and it clearly got to him. After the interception, Hecklinski went 2/7 and was pulled in favor of Brown. Hecklinski isn't fully to blame, with some of the blame placed on Tim Lester's strange playcalling and Ferentz pulling him with a few minutes left before halftime. Nothing was working in his favor, but finishing 9/16 for 62 yards and 1 interception isn't good, and his grade reflects it.
If Ferentz had more confidence in him and left him in, who knows what would have happened. Sadly, we will never know.
Hank Brown: D+
Hank Brown entered the game with about four minutes left in the second quarter and played for the rest of the game. Brown completed three of his first four passes, but then made one of the wildest interceptions you'll see. Brown failed to feel the pressure, stepped up into the pocket, and shot-putted an interception to DL TJ Bush Jr. That killed Iowa's final first-half drive. Brown didn't do much better after that. Iowa started the second half with two straight three-and-outs, followed by two costly turnovers, including another Brown interception.
Iowa's defense did everything it could to keep the game close, and Brown finally capitalized on an opportunity with a four-play, 98-yard touchdown drive to tie the game. Brown went 2/2 for 94 yards and a touchdown pass on the drive to briefly get Iowa back in the game. Iowa's elation didn't last long after another late punt and a seven-play, 44-yard drive set Minnesota up for the game-winning field goal. Brown finished 11/21 with 136 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
Brown led the best drive of the game, a long, game-tying touchdown drive, but it was the only bright spot in an otherwise poor outing. It is unclear who will start against Wisconsin, as Ferentz said they are reassessing the situation.
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