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Joey Labas discusses contributions of Spencer Petras, says injured QB is ‘like a third coach’
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Joey Labas is gearing up for his first career start at Iowa during the Music City Bowl against Kentucky. Despite Spencer Petras being sidelined with an injury, Labas says the veteran quarterback is still chipping in during practices.
According to Labas, Petras is “like a third coach” with how he’s helping Labas prepare for the game. Petras speaks with Labas between every play in practice, and Labas could not be more appreciative of Petras’ leadership.
Spencer Petras remains a model teammate even as he sits on the sidelines after shoulder surgery.
Says Joe Labas: “He’s like a third coach out there, another quarterback coach. He talks to me after every single play. And I need that. He’s been great. I really appreciate him.”
— Chad Leistikow (@ChadLeistikow) December 22, 2022
Labas will try to soak up all he can in practice before the bowl game. With Petras unavailable due to injury and Alex Padilla transferring, Labas is likely to take every rep despite not making any starts before the bowl game.
As for the playbook, Labas said the Hawkeyes are preparing to roll out some stuff the team has never used before. Those plays are a product of Labas’ ability to be more mobile outside of the pocket.
“We’ve added some stuff to the playbook that we’ve haven’t ran ever,” Joe Labas says. That’s a result of his mobility.
— Chad Leistikow (@ChadLeistikow) December 22, 2022
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.