Iowa is off this week after a much-needed road win over Washington, which gives everyone time to pump the brakes and reflect.
The Hawkeyes have played well in the first half, finishing 5-1 (2-1 Big Ten), and are near the top of the Big Ten standings. Iowa's toughest stretch is over, and the squad went 2-1 during a brutal three-game stretch against Michigan, Ohio State, and Washington. Before the second half of the schedule begins, we have grades for each position group and the coaching staff.
Running backs: A-
Iowa is very deep in the running back room, and we have seen flashes of brilliance all season. Three dominant performances against much weaker competition inflated the numbers, and inconsistency kept this group from earning an A or higher. Iowa is currently ranked No. 62 overall in total offense (403.2 yards per game), and the running game is a major part of that. The Hawkeyes rank No. 38 in rushing yards per game, bolstered by three big weeks in weeks one, three, and six.
If we looked at the averages alone, the group could receive an A, but the offense has struggled in the three games when the rushing attack was slowed. Iowa State showed a blueprint for slowing the run in week two, and Michigan and Ohio State nearly took it away completely. That can't happen to a team that relies heavily on the run, and it was the biggest reason this group earned its A-. The struggling rushing attack has more to do with the offensive line than the talent in the room, because when the blocking is good, the running game has exploded for 289 yards (week one), 422 yards (week three), and 263 yards (week six).
Moulton has led the backfield (519 rushing yards, 4 touchdowns) and is the first-half offensive MVP, and if the offensive line improves, the sky is the limit for this group.
Quarterbacks: B-
Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski fought an intense battle for the starting quarterback job in the offseason, and the battle continued into the regular season. Brown ultimately won the job after a 12/12 performance against Northern Iowa, but Hecklinski isn't going away quietly. Hecklinski entered the Ohio State game late in the third quarter after Brown left with a shoulder injury and finished 5/5 for 67 yards in the loss. Hecklinski earned his first career start against Washington and played very well, throwing three touchdowns.
With the quarterback position in flux, it's hard to grade both players, but the offense's inconsistencies have painted a clear picture. Iowa still isn't where it needs to be in the passing game, although it has made good progress from last season. The Hawkeyes currently rank No. 90 overall in passing yards per game (209.0), which is definitely better than last season. Iowa still hasn't had a 300-plus-yard passer since Nate Stanley in 2019, and the offense has struggled to convert third downs (ranked No. 80 overall) and red zone opportunities (No. 49 overall).
Although you can't put it all on the quarterback, it starts up front with the blocking and signal-callers and trickles down. Both quarterbacks have been good, not great, this season, which justifies an ok grade.
Offensive line: C
The offensive line is still finding its footing after sending three talented starters to the NFL last season, and the unit has had mixed results. The offensive line is judged by the strength of the rushing attack, and in three games, two against elite defenses, it has been nonexistent. Replacing three starters is never easy, but if any program is equipped to do it, it's Iowa. Kade Pieper and Trevor Lauck have been every bit as good as advertised, but Leighton Jones, Cael Winter, and Jack Dotlzer are still works in progress.
We have seen flashes of excellent blocking against Northern Illinois, UNI, and Washington, and the Iowa offenses put up big numbers. Iowa's only loss so far this season came when it put up a season-low 39 rushing yards against Ohio State. The offensive line has been a mixed bag so far, but it has a chance to prove itself again in week eight against Minnesota, which Purdue recently gashed for 305 rushing yards.
Ohio State and Michigan both have very good defenses, so hopefully those performances were flukes, and the unit has turned a corner.
Defensive line: C-
Phil Parker has gotten creative with blitzes, relying on his talented linebacker group to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Excluding Bryce Hawthorne and reserve Joseph Anderson, Iowa's defensive line has struggled to pressure the quarterback, and it's shown. Iowa has compiled 19 sacks in six games, but three of the top five leaders in that area are linebackers. Cam Buffington, Jayden Montgomery, and Preston Reis, had a solid first half of the season, and are helping the Iowa defense in multiple ways.
Of Iowa's four starting defensive linemen, three haven't recorded a sack: Iose Epenesa, Will Hubert, and Kenneth Merrieweather. Sack numbers are deceiving and don't truly reflect success, but the lack of pressure has shown up elsewhere. Iowa's pass defense allows 208.7 yards per game, largely because the linebackers and the secondary have been covering receivers for a long time. Quarterbacks have had too much time to throw, showcased by Washington's backup torching the secondary.
The defense has been solid against the run, allowing only 84.7 yards per game; otherwise, the grade would have been a lot lower.
Linebackers: A
Iowa has an extremely talented linebacker group, led by veteran Jayden Montgomery and rising star Cam Buffington. Preston Reis and Landyn Van Kekerix have been welcome surprises, and the unit as a whole is an obvious strength. The unit boasts three of the top five leaders in tackles and sacks, and has been vital in stopping the run and pressuring opposing quarterbacks.
The unit has been tasked with helping more in the running game, and the pass coverage has suffered as a result. Linebackers usually aren't great in coverage, especially when they have to be in the box to help pressure the quarterback. The linebackers are a major reason the defense has allowed few points (14.5) and yards per game (293.3), and the grade could be even higher if the overall defense hadn't fallen outside of the top 20 after bad games against Michigan and Ohio State.
The linebackers are the best defensive unit, and it's not close.
Secondary: B-
Deshaun Lee and Zach Lutmer lead a talented secondary that has struggled to force turnovers this season. The secondary has been gashed multiple times this season, largely because the defensive line hasn't gotten much pressure on opposing quarterbacks. However, it isn't all on the defensive line, and the secondary has earned some of the blame. Jaylen Watson has struggled and has been heavily targeted, with Lee on the other side. Iowa has also had a revolving door at safety, with Tyler Brown dealing with a lingering hamstring issue. Jacob Wallace and Xavier Styles have performed well, but the inconsistencies have hurt this group.
More pressure from the defensive front would solve multiple issues, but we can't ignore how bad Iowa's pass defense has looked at times. Iowa has forced four interceptions, but its overall pass defense is still ranked No. 90. Iowa has a talented secondary and just needs a few more things to fall into place.
Special Teams: A+
It's no surprise that Iowa's special teams are leading the program, even though the unit was completely rebuilt in the offseason. First-year special teams coordinator Chris Polizzi has pushed all of the right buttons early on, especially by inserting Braeden Jackson into the kick return unit. Transfer Evan James has also been stellar as a punt returner, leading to Iowa's high special teams ranking.
The biggest surprises from the unit are transfer punter Boston Everitt and walk-on kicker Caden Buhr, who have been amazing in the first half. Everitt has been one of the best punters in the Big Ten and continues Iowa's long-standing success with Aussie punters. Iowa's special teams unit has kept them in every game and has been the biggest surprise midway through the season.
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