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Stops and delayed starts: Iowa’s offense mirrors the weather in win over Nevada

Cole Thompson

By Cole Thompson

Published:

Ok, let’s try this again. No, for real this time.

Words like those likely were uttered multiple times at Kinnick Stadium during the nearly 4-hour weather delay that pushed Iowa and Nevada into the wee hours of Sunday morning. When things were looking up, downpour struck. Fans were left idly watching the lighting dance in the Iowa sky.

And sure, while the metaphor works for the outcome of Saturday’s game, it’s also works to describe quarterback Spencer Petras. He got the Hawkeyes home safely, but not before intermittent periods of boredom and scariness.

The Hawkeyes have been one of the Big Ten’s more stable programs over the past decade. They’ve reached the Big Ten title game twice since 2015 and consistently find themselves winning 8-10 games a year.

That number could be higher with the right quarterback. Pertas isn’t the one. The right guy to bring the Hawkeyes to glory likely isn’t on the roster. Petras might not lose you games, but he’s not going out of his way to win you them, either.

At this point, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz likely knows it. He also is just riding the average wave en route to probably yet another 8 or 9-win season in Iowa City.

It wasn’t as if the Hawkeyes were in danger of losing once play was back under way at midnight. The Wolf Pack were trailing by 17 prior to the first lightning strike.

Petras never regained his footing following what likely was his best start of the season. In the final quarter of action, Petras went 2-for-4 passing for 14 yards. In the second half, 46 of his 71 passing yards came on 1 play to wide receiver Nico Ragaini.

Petras finished Saturday — well, Sunday — 14-of-26 for 176 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown marked a first for the Hawkeyes’ passing game this season. In the previous 2 games, the Hawkeyes scored more safeties than touchdowns of any kind.

Whenever lightning is in the area, the game must halt in its tracks. It’s the same thing most times Petras’s arm goes into the throwing motion. A big play — or strike — would often be followed by a sack or an incompletion. Take for instance Saturday in front of the Hawkeyes’ fan base.

Petra connected with Arland Bruce IV for a 21-yard score in the closing seconds of the first quarter. His next drive? Back-to-back incompletions before a 32-yard connection to Gavin Williams. After that, back-to-back incompletions and a field goal instead of a touchdown. The same thing happened in the fourth quarter after Petras found Ragaini for a gain of 10.

Iowa’s offense has weapons. Tight end Sam LaPorta is one of the nation’s top playmakers at the position. Freshman running back Kaleb Johnson showed he’s more than capable of being a focal point of the offense with his 40-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

In total, 7 receivers tallied at least 1 catch from Petras. But for every throw made, another was missed. Flashes followed by booms of the bad variety. Opportunities to add points to the scoreboard stalled on multiple occasions. And much like the fans looking for shelter, Iowa still is looking for answers in its passing offense.

That won’t come with Petras. Switching over to Alex Padilla might not be the best choice moving forward since it’s clear Ferentz doesn’t completely trust him. Again, if Petras is the best answer to win through the air, how bad must Padilla be?

Iowa understands its predicament. Ferentz might not care anymore since he knows what his options past Petras are. If there was a better answer, he’d be taking snaps as QB1. There isn’t. And there won’t be anytime soon.

Lightning can turn things beautiful or create disasters. Petras and the Hawkeyes’ offense navigates that edge, but not well. And until the right quarterback walks through the door, that’s going to be the case.

Maybe next season, Iowa will be back in the driver’s seat. Maybe they’ll start anew.

No, for real this time.

Cole Thompson

Cole Thompson is a freelance writer for Saturday Tradition who has covered college football and the NFL for multiple websites. Thompson is currently based in Houston, Texas, and also can be heard daily on SportsMap National Radio's 'Just Sayin It' from 3am-6am.