‘It’s going to be good for our offense’: Iowa’s Spencer Petras channeling conviction
Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras has won plenty of football games over the course of the past two seasons. Still, a general lack of consistency with the Hawkeyes’ offense in 2021 has fans clamoring for more from Iowa’s quarterback play.
While Petras has probably heard or picked up on plenty of the criticism of his own play from the fan base over the course of this offseason, really, he’s his own biggest critic. He shared some of his thoughts at Iowa Media Day as the Hawkeyes get set for their 10th training camp practice live in front of fans at Kids’ Day.
Conviction is key
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“I think the more and more I watch myself, to me, visually, I can see when I throw with conviction. When I know, when I’m 100 percent sure where I’m going and I throw it, and I way more oftentimes than not really like how the play ends up. And I think any time I see myself not playing with conviction, more often than not, I don’t like how the play ends up. And so, I’ve been, that’s definitely been something I’ve been aware of, it’s something that I have certainly improved on and I feel good about that.
“That’s kind of part of what I enjoy about having such a plan for each play is that I can play with great conviction because I know exactly what I’m doing every single second of every play. And that’s not to say that there’s (not) going to be times where I screw up, and I forgot, ‘This variation of coverage, I should do this.’ Or whatever. It’s obviously going to happen, but I think that the more I can be playing with outstanding conviction, just that I know where I’m going and I’m planning it and I’m ripping it, it’s going to be good for me, it’s going to be good for our offense,” Petras said with Hawk Central.
Why he's been busy training all offseason
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It’s been well documented the work Petras has undergone with quarterbacks trainer Tony Racioppi and his time at the Manning Passing Academy. Petras was asked why he’s been so busy this offseason.
“I personally feel like there’s no other way to do this than to give everything. Why else would I play football if I’m not? I love this game. I want to give it everything I have. That’s how our players feel, all of our players, because, really, there’s no sense in doing it any other way. Whether that means Nico and I missing spring break, big whoop. I can go to South Padre when I’m 40 and probably have a pretty good time, but you only get so many years playing football. It’s a sport I love, this is a team I love, program I love. Yeah, just giving it my all,” Petras said.
Progression of the offense
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“I’ve been really happy with how the offense has progressed. You know, that’s a really good question, because I don’t know either. Just know that this is one practice out of like what 26 that we’re going to end up having before the first game. I hope the offense kicks the defense’s ass tomorrow, but it might be the opposite, it might be very neutral. I don’t know, but camp as a whole is generally very competitive between the offense and the defense. It’s usually a lot of fun, but, yeah, I wouldn’t (get carried away). I don’t know, because it’s all you get to see, so you might as well go with it. That’s how the season is going to go,” Petras said.
Confidence of the team heading into 2022
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“We are all excited to get out there and compete. You never know how good a team is going to be until you get out there and the bullets are really flying. I am proud of the guys for how we have done so far. We still have quite a bit of improvement left to go, quite a bit of time really. Three weeks before the first game is more time than you think to improve. We are all focused on that. We’ll see where it gets us,” Petras said.
Which offensive players might be primed for big seasons
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“We have a lot of guys practicing really well. Everyone’s working hard. Start with Arland (Bruce) and Nico (Ragaini), the receiving room, two guys that have played a lot. Arland not as much, but that’s just because he was a freshman last year. Sam (LaPorta) and Luke (Lachey) in the tight end room, the two vets. Happy with how they have done thus far. Leshon (Williams) and Gavin (Williams), they’re the veteran running backs to this point, where I still think of them as young. They’re working hard running the ball hard. I am excited to see what they can do this year,” Petras said.
How much you can take away from Kids' Day
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“Yeah, like I don’t think that our group that’s going to be with the first 12 personnel tomorrow is going to be set in stone. Just because we showed it in the scrimmage doesn’t mean it’s set in stone until January. But, again, that’s all you guys get to see, so I don’t blame you. I just think it’s another practice, it’s another opportunity to get better and I hope we just go out there and kill them tomorrow,” Petras said.
Picking up disguises of the defense
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“I’m getting better with our defense. They’re really good at disguising. They’re better than any team we play probably. Wisconsin does a really good job of disguising, too. But, yeah, with our own guys, three years of going against the ones, you start to really get a good feel. But, even sometimes it’s like, ‘I can’t tell if this is cover zero or if it’s like they’re dropping everyone. I can’t tell.’ And, at that point, you’ve just got to react and trust your fundamentals and things like that. I’ve definitely gotten a better beat, but coach Parker and those guys do a really good job, so it’s hard sometimes,” Petras said.
Petras further described how it gets him ready to play teams like Wisconsin and others.
“It forces a quarterback to have really disciplined eyes. They’re not going to show you what they’re doing. They’re going to hold it to the last possible second. It’s great to go against a defense like that. They have a lot of really good athletes. A lot of good players. So if I’m sloppy with ball placement or timing, they make you pay. And that’s good because it’s the same way in Kinnick Stadium on Saturdays,” Petras said.
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