Iowa State vs Iowa football: Getting to know the Hawkeyes offense
By Brian Spaen
It was a shaky start for former Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis, but the Iowa Hawkeyes improved from being the 117th-best offense two years ago. But how has it looked so far in the young 2014 season?
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Starting lineup:
- SE (split end): Tevaun Smith (4, Jr)
- LT: Brandon Scherff (68, Sr)*
- LG: Sean Welsh (79, RFr)
- C: Austin Blythe (63, Jr)
- RG: Jordan Walsh (65, Jr)
- RT: Andrew Donnal (78, Sr)
- TE: Ray Hamilton (82, Sr)
- WR: Kevonte Martin-Manley (11, Sr)
- WR: Jacob Hillyer (17, Jr)
- QB: Jake Rudock (15, Jr)
- RB: Mark Weisman (45, Sr) or Damon Bullock (5, Sr)
- FB: Macon Plewa (42, Jr)
Iowa State will be focused on its third offense that isn’t the same as the other two, but will obviously try to run the ball to set up the pass… Or will they? It hasn’t been smooth so far.
Mark Weisman, who blasted through with 100-plus yard performances in four of his first five games last year, has just 16 carries for 47 yards in his first two games combined. His backup, Damon Bullock, has one more yard than him on just 12 carries and could start over him.
Perhaps the struggles on offense has led to more passing. In uncharacteristic fashion, the offense is passing more. Jake Rudock already has 93 pass attempts in his first two games this season — 52 in an ugly win over Ball State. He had 88 total in the first three games last year.
Are the Hawkeyes purposely moving toward a pass-first offense? You wouldn’t think they’d have the same game plan heading toward a defense that’s recently struggled to stop any sort of a running attack, especially a team that’s hailed to have a stable of running backs.
But we all know that stables of running backs could ultimately lead to disappointment.
*On Tuesday, it was reported that Brandon Scherff had knee surgery and would be out for 2-3 weeks. Head coach Kirk Ferentz would not confirm nor deny the reports of surgery, but said he was day-to-day.