The First Half: The Receivers

Iowa's wideouts are showing their experience, and the tight ends are starting to emerge.

A first-half breakdown of Iowa's position groups.

Iowa's passing game was all about the tight ends last season. Which, of course, is understandable given the two players, T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant, went on to be first-round picks in the NFL draft.

This year, it's about the receivers, and there is balance.

Wide receivers

Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Brandon Smith and Nico Ragaini each have 24 receptions to lead the team, if you want to talk about the Hawkeyes' balance.

Smith, who has 301 receiving yards, leads the team with four touchdown catches, while Smith-Marsette, who leads the Hawkeyes with 386 receiving yards, has three. Nine of the Hawkeyes' 16 touchdowns have come via the pass.

"Us doing good is not the goal that we want," Ragaini said. "We want the 'W' and that's what we need to work on. Getting the win and getting in the end zone."

It's a deep room. Tyrone Tracy Jr., has 12 catches for 190 yards and a touchdown. Oliver Martin, who transferred from Michigan in the summer, has five catches for 28 yards and a touchdown.

Tight ends

Nate Wieting had four catches for 54 yards in Saturday's 17-12 loss to Penn State. He came into the game with just two catches.

Shaun Beyer, the other primary tight end, had just four catches over six games for 57 yards, and three 

The season

Best game — Smith-Marsette had a two-touchdown game with 113 yards receiving in the 30-0 win over Rutgers on Sept. 7. Two weeks later, Smith, Smith-Marsette and Tracy combined for 13 catches in the 48-3 win over Middle Tennessee State.

Worst game — The receivers really haven't had one. It has been consistent production.

Second-half outlook — Martin's playing time is growing a little bit, so that makes that position group deeper than it has been in a long time. Smith's touchdown catch on Saturday was one of the best of the season.

Wieting's production on Saturday, and in key situations, is a good sign. Iowa's passing game is going to need shorter routes if the lack of protection up front continues, so there may be more passes to the tight ends.