Let’s forget, for a moment, that Iowa won 11 games and the Big Ten West during the 2021 season. If the Hawkeyes want to succeed in 2022, there are a handful of areas in which the Hawkeyes offense will need to improve.

These are 5 things that went wrong and that need to be fixed for Iowa.

Total yards on offense

303.7 yards per game, 121st of 130 teams in FBS

Iowa ranked 121st among Football Bowl Subdivision teams in total offense, amassing 2,521 yards rushing and 1,731 passing. The per-game average was the program’s worst since 1999, when the Hawkeyes averaged 300.3 ypg.

Consistency and versatility in the quarterback corps needs to improve. Alex Padilla and Spencer Petras split time last season, but is settling on one starter the answer to the problems on offense? Petras got the majority of the starts. Offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, who is also the quarterbacks coach, wouldn’t rule out redshirt freshman Joe Labas in the quarterback competition.

Third-down conversion rate

37.4%, 110th

Iowa ranked 110th in third-down conversions during the 2021 season, succeeding only 68 times in 200 tries.

Creating two-tight scenarios could be an option to increasing third-down conversions.

Sophomore Luke Lachey and senior Steven Stilanos, a transfer from Lafayette, need to offer contributions that will allow the Hawkeyes to use a two-tight end scenario.

They’ll need to complement senior Sam LaPorta. The veteran standout was the top-ranked Big Ten tight end with 53 catches for 670 yards. 

Red zone conversion rate

72.34% scoring rate, 122nd; 40.4% TD rate, 128th

Iowa ranked 122nd in red-zone conversions, scoring points on 34 of 47 trips.

Iowa’s offense scored touchdowns on only 40.4 percent of its trips inside the opponents’ 20-yard line, settling for field goals or nothing at all more than half the time (19 TDs, 15 FGs, 13 empty trips). The TD conversion rate ranked 128th, better only than New Mexico and Arizona.

This performance is not normal for Iowa, which tied for 10th in conversion rate and 37th in TD rate in 2020 (24 touchdowns, 9 field goals on 36 trips). During the 2019 season, the Hawkeyes were ranked 4th and 83rd (24 touchdowns, 16 field goals on 42 trips). Yep, that’s way too much settling for field goals.

Tackles for loss allowed

6.36% of tackles, 119th

Iowa tied for a 119th rank in TFLs allowed. The Hawkeyes allowed 96 for 350 yards.

The offensive line, fullbacks and tight ends will all need to be better blockers, especially since All-America center Tyler Linderbaum is now in the NFL.

Rushing offense

123.64 ypg, 102nd

The Hawkeyes had 507 carries for 1,731 yards, 3.41 yards per attempt (108th), and 18 touchdowns (79th).

The Hawkeyes hadn’t been that bad on a per-game basis since 2012. The running game tends to be the offense’s strength in typical seasons, but not so much last year.

The Hawkeyes look to replace the rushing yardage of Tyler Goodson and Ivory Kelly-Martin with a big boost from sophomore running back Gavin Williams, who posted 333 rushing yards in 2021.

But Williams will need help, and sophomore Leshon Williams could be a complementary piece. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz also said he likes the work ethic shown from freshman running backs Kaleb Johnson and Jaziun Patterson.