Even though Iowa's offense struggled again in the passing game last season, it found success in a previously underutilized area.
The Iowa program has traditionally used a run-first offensive scheme under Kirk Ferentz, but that has started to shift with offensive coordinator Tim Lester. Lester has repeatedly tried to open up the playbook, but hasn't had the pieces in place to balance the offensive scheme. Iowa heavily relied on the run again last season, but worked in the quarterback run more than ever before. After finding success with quarterback Mark Gronowski using his legs last season, Lester is headed back to the drawing board, but not for negative reasons.
Lester is so confident in Iowa's RB and TE groups that he is shifting the offensive scheme
As part of their fall training camp tour, the Big Ten Network (BTN) stopped in Iowa City and got an up-close look at an Iowa fall practice. While Iowa's offense struggled during BTN's stop on campus, it has had some good moments throughout camp, and Lester admitted the offensive scheme will look a little different than it did last season.
Tim Lester said QB’s have similar skill-sets. Won’t have as much QB run as last yr. He likes run game & they are high on TE’s. DJ Vonnahme is a stud, Addison Ostrenga is healthy & Thomas Meyer was on receiving end of biggest play I saw – play-action completion from Hecklinski. pic.twitter.com/arFgk1ZY4V
— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) August 24, 2026
Lester admitted that both quarterbacks have similar skill sets, and they won't use quarterback runs as much as they did last season. That is to say, Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski can't use their legs, but it is more of a nod to the depth of the running back and tight end groups. Both groups are extremely deep and well-positioned to help the Iowa offense escape the black hole it has been in for a while. DJ Vonnahme looks poised to become the next great Iowa tight end, and with Addison Ostrenga healthy and Thomas Meyer making plays in camp, the group is set up for success. Iowa's running backs have also looked good in camp, with transfer LJ Phillips looking like a great complement to projected starter Kamari Moulton.
With both groups poised to take a leap forward, Iowa won't have to use the quarterback run as much, something Lester is embracing. Iowa's offense hasn't popped like most people thought it would after Lester came aboard in 2024, but it has visibly improved, and Lester has shown a willingness to shift the scheme to better fit the program's personnel. Lester being extremely high on the running backs and tight ends is great news, because Iowa has found success when both groups are strong.
The sticky situation is still not knowing who the starting quarterback will be, but they do have the added comfort of not needing to deviate too much from the playbook or run more than they want to. Hecklinski is a slightly better runner, but that doesn't mean Lester is going to completely revamp the playbook if he doesn't win the job. All signs point to the competition lasting up until the first week of the regular season, if not beyond, and while that could hurt the offense's production early on, the running backs and right ends are primed to weather the early storm.
Lester's admission that the offense probably won't run the quarterback as much is great news for the running back group that can go at least four deep, and even though a lot of Iowa fans want to see them air it out, getting the running game going early and often will set the squad up for success as the season goes on.
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