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Kirk Ferentz evaluates Deacon Hill’s outing, says Iowa didn’t consider a change at QB
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Kirk Ferentz and Iowa are moving forward this season under new starting quarterback Deacon Hill. After Cade McNamara went down with a season-ending injury, Hill was tabbed as the starter for Week 6.
Iowa did win that game, a 20-14 final score against Purdue, but there were multiple growing pains throughout. Hill did make some nice throws but finished 6-for-21 through the air for 110 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
After the game, Ferentz was asked to evaluate that performance. He noted some of Hill’s throws likely came from pressing or trying to do too much but also said the Hawkeyes have to do a better job of making the plays that are makable.
“You guys saw him throwing. I’m certainly not an expert on QB play, but I know from throwing baseballs, if you press or try to do too much, sometimes the ball sails, and I guess that’s what it was,” said Ferentz. “But I thought he kept his composure, a couple we can help him on. We gotta make the makable plays, we didn’t always do a great job of that.”
Overall, Ferentz praised the player for doing a great job of maintaining his composure and finding Erick All for a clutch touchdown late in the game.
“But, he hung in there, kept doing a good job, and that last one he threw down the right side looked good to me,” Ferentz explained. “I was hoping it was gonna be a little more open from where I was standing, but looked like the guy did a pretty decent job covering and an excellent throw.”
Asked if there was ever a thought of going to Joey Labas in place of Hill, Ferentz called the idea of making a chang “silly” and reiterated Hill is the team’s starting QB.
“No. The answer’s no,” Ferentz claimed. “I mean Deacon’s our QB, and that’s no offense to Joe, but that would be kind of silly to make a change.”
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.