The Monday Kickoff: A Status Check Of What Is Good With The Hawkeyes

Two-game skid highlights Iowa's negatives, but there are some positives.

"Let's look at this thing from a... um, from a standpoint of status. What do we got on the spacecraft that's good?" — Ed Harris, "Apollo 13"

Here at The Monday Kickoff, we know that Iowa's current two-game losing skid has you looking at the negatives.

The offensive line is struggling. Nate Stanley is getting sacked or not getting rid of the ball in a timely manner. The running game is nonexistent. The play-calling is questionable.

You've gone through the checklist, and it's the same here — Sunday's analysis of the takeaways after the 17-12 loss to Penn State was a recitation of the Hawkeyes' troubles.

But this is a reminder that a.) Iowa is 4-2, b.) still nationally ranked and c.) still has a theoretical chance of winning the Big Ten West Division.

So let's look at what is good right now with the Hawkeyes.

They have one of the best defenses in the nation.

Iowa ranks fifth in Football Bowl Subdivision play in total defense (260.8 yards per game) and scoring defense (10.2 points per game).

These numbers aren't just from fattening up on the wins against Miami (Ohio), Rutgers and Middle Tennessee State. Against ranked teams Michigan and Penn State, and an Iowa State team that was nationally ranked at the beginning of the year, the Hawkeyes have allowed an average of 11.3 points. The three teams combined for just five touchdowns.

The Cyclones dinged the Hawkeyes for 418 yards of offense. But in the games against the Wolverines and Nittany Lions, Iowa has allowed an average 280.5 yards.

The Hawkeyes' linebackers have been good — Kristian Welch leads the team with 47 tackles, while Djimon Colbert is third with 30 tackles.

The defensive line has just 10 sacks, but also has 21 quarterback hurries. And while defensive end A.J. Epenesa has faced all sorts of double-teams, he still has three sacks and eight quarterback hurries and his presence is still something that consumes the thinking of opposing offenses.

The secondary is getting healthier — cornerback Matt Hankins started Saturday's game, and cornerback Riley Moss also played — so there is depth there that may allow the Hawkeyes to be more creative with their defensive packages.

This is one of Iowa's better groups of wide receivers.

Their recent numbers have been down a little bit because of the problems the Hawkeyes have had with protection, but this is a talented group of wide receivers.

For further proof, go back to the catch from Brandon Smith on the throw from Stanley in the fourth quarter on Saturday. 

Smith, Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Nico Ragaini each have 24 catches this season. Smith has four touchdown receptions, Smith-Marsette has three.

There are a lot of options for Stanley on the outside now. It's just a matter of protection, and better decisions.

Tyler Goodson is only a freshman.

We'll put aside Saturday's fumble that was converted into a field goal — Goodson had no chance against a surging Penn State line that buried him in the backfield.

Still, he has to hold on to the ball, as Ferentz said, and it's something that no doubt will be drilled into him this week.

But Goodson has rushed for 252 yards and has 92 receiving yards this season. There will be growing pains, but there is no doubt there is talent there.

He's been impressive so far, and there's room for growth.

There is life in the tight-end room.

Iowa's lone touchdown drive featured a 13-yard pass from Stanley to Nate Wieting on third-and-8 from the Hawkeyes' 15-yard line.

Wieting would later catch a 5-yard pass on third-and-10 from the Iowa 43, setting up a fourth-down conversion that kept the drive going.

Wieting also had catches for 25 and 11 yards on Iowa's final possession of the first half, a drive that led to Keith Duncan's second field goal of the day.

Iowa's passing game is always at its best when the tight ends are involved, and until the protection gets better, the Hawkeyes will need short options.

This was going to be a year of growth at the position after the loss of NFL first-rounders T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant, but the Hawkeyes may have found an option in Wieting.

This is still a veteran team.

And that's what the Hawkeyes will have to lean on in the coming weeks.

Ferentz was asked after Saturday's game if Stanley, a three-year starter, was "still growing."

"The bottom line is we've played two good opponents the last two weeks and had a chance to win on our last possessions, haven't been able to quite get over the hump," Ferentz said. "It's going to be guys like Nate that will help us get where we want to get if we keep our attitude right and just keep working and try to improve.

"That's the only formula there is in football. That's what we'll start on tomorrow."