Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says Drew Tate will return to the line-up on Saturday when the Hawkeyes host Northwestern in Big Ten play. The senior quarterback missed last week’s game against Northern Illinois after having surgery to repair the injured thumb on his non-throwing hand.
Ferentz says Tates will wear a splint to protect the thumb. Ferentz says Tate took some snaps and was able to take them from under center and in the shotgun. He says he doesn’t want to minimize the problem, but says it appears the worst is behind Tate.
Ferentz does not feel the splint will cause Tate problems, as he says it’s built so the football should fit in there. Ferentz says the only thing that is a little tough is the one handed handoffs. Ferentz expects Tate to be able to start the game, and he says the good news is Tate’s arm should be lively after having a week off.
Iowa’s receivers continue to drop passes and Ferentz says that is one of several areas that needs to get better. Ferentz says they need to grow as a team and improve their concentration level, as he says they’re not palying the level of football they thought they would at this state at every position.
Iowa has played some of its best football during the month of November but Ferentz says that does not mean it will happen again. He says what has happened in the past is in the past. Ferentz says they need to kick it up another gear to play better.