The View From Iowa City: Scouting the Iowa Hawkeyes

How is Iowa preparing for Saturday's game at Penn State? Our Hawkeyes insider explores the scene in Iowa.

Penn State coach James Franklin scouted Iowa as the model for playing to your strengths. "They do what they do and they do it extremely well and have been doing it for a long time."

So that's the general view of the Hawkeyes, who visit Penn State on Saturday for their first White Out since 2009. But what should fans really expect from Iowa at kickoff (7:30 p.m. ET on CBS)? We asked Rob Howe of FanNation's Inside the Hawkeyes for the scouting report.

Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz (left) talks with quarterback Cade McNamara during the Hawkeyes' game against Iowa State :: Jeffrey Becker/USA Today Sports

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Question: How has Iowa looked through its first three games? What were the highlights and lowlights?

Rob Howe: The Hawkeyes have been consistently inconsistent through three weeks. That’s been standard operating procedure around here for quite awhile. The highlights have been improving defense after big losses to NFL and an ascending rushing attack powered by an aggressive offensive line. The lowlights have been the injury to star tight end Luke Lachey and inconsistencies in the passing attack.

Q: How has quarterback Cade McNamara assimilated into the offense?

Howe: It’s been an uneven early season for McNamara, which can be explained in part by a balky quad that stole a lot of preseason reps. He’s not shown the accuracy displayed when he played for Michigan, which makes you wonder how much of it is timing. Iowa offensive players have been telling us for a few weeks that they’re close to clicking. That didn’t happen against Western Michigan, when offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz appeared to lose his cool on the sideline following a McNamara interception.

Q: Seems like there have been a bunch of offensive injuries. What's their impact?

Howe: Tight end Luke Lachey’s injury removes the team’s best offensive player from the lineup. The position is deep, which should mitigate the loss to a degree, but it’s not like the Hawkeyes are thriving on that side of the ball. Iowa has started a different running back in each game so far. Two of them have been ruled out for this week in Kaleb Johnson and Jaziun Patterson. The third back, Leshon Williams, is available and very capable. The other two options are true freshmen. That’s a concern more in pass protection than rushing.

Q: Defensive back Cooper DeJean is one of the best defensive backs in college football. How can he impact this game?

Howe: Opposing offenses have limited DeJean’s opportunities in the passing game. They’ve picked on the team’s other cornerback and stayed away from him. He’s still finding ways to make plays, including in run support. He’s a dangerous punt returner, too.

Q: Penn State fans still are hot about the 2021 game, when Iowa fans booed injuries and Kirk Ferentz said "they smelled a rat." Any lingering residue from Iowa's perspective about that?

Howe: What is said publicly and privately in these situations often is different. That said, I think this story line describes the feelings of Hawkeye fans more than it does the team. Don’t get me wrong, Iowa doesn’t look back fondly on what it perceived as shaky tactics by Penn State in ’21. I don’t think the Hawkeyes are leaning into it much, if at all, for motivation this week however.

For everything Iowa football, visit Inside the Hawkeyes.

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AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.