Kirk Ferentz dissects QB Deacon Hill’s accuracy, progress
As gameday arrives with the Floyd of Rosedale awaiting the victor, Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz knows he needs more from his offense.
The Hawkeyes had a stretch last week of six straight drives that netted just three total offensive yards. Ferentz knows he needs more from his new starting quarterback Deacon Hill, too.
Through two starts and three games of extended action, Hill has completed just 38.6% of his passes. The 6-foot-3, 258 pound signal-caller from Santa Barbara, Calif., has completed 27-of-70 passes for 311 yards with two touchdowns against two interceptions.
Obviously, Hill has some challenges he’s working against. Namely, his general lack of experience and the loss of this offense’s top two pass-catching targets in tight ends Luke Lachey and Erick All.
But, the show must go on, and Hill needs to come along in order for Iowa to run its consecutive wins streak over Minnesota to nine and for the Hawkeyes to eventually capture the Big Ten West.
Ferentz discussed Hill’s accuracy so far and how they can help him improve it.
“Throw it more accurately and catch it better, and protect better. Those are the things. I’m not even aware of those stats, quite frankly. I know this. We didn’t turn it over the other night, I know that. He had something to do with that. So, you just take it as it is. And we’re just trying to focus on his improvement, too. A little bit better tempo, this that. Footwork, whatever it may be.
“And, but first things first. Don’t get us in trouble. Don’t make bad decisions. Don’t press. All the things that you lose games real quickly if you start doing some things. So, taking care of that. And just the offensive stuff it will come when it comes and we’re working at it just as we would in a good statistical year.
“And it’s not like your approach really changes a hell of a lot. It’s just a matter of everything working together, I guess. That’s my experience in football at least,” Ferentz said.
Asked how far the separation is between Hill and sophomore quarterback Joe Labas, Ferentz gave a strong endorsement for Hill’s command of the starting role.
“I don’t know that I want to put a gauge on it. Game action determines everything eventually. I’ll say this, I know that discussion floated out there last year.
“I hate to say this in a negative way, but I think we all saw, when Petras got knocked out, we saw maybe why we were playing Petras, and went through that discussion last year. Petras was our quarterback in ’20. Looked pretty good with him playing back there. Offense is a team thing, takes a lot to go together to make it work. And defense is the same way. A lot of intricate things that work together and don’t work together. A delicate thing. A lot of factors go into it. Right now, it’s clear we have a one, two, and a three,” Ferentz said.
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