If the Iowa football team wants to improve upon last season’s 6-6 record it will start with an anemic Hawkeye offense that struggled for much of 2007. Iowa averaged only 18 and-a-half points per game, converted only 28 percent on third down in Big Ten play and quarterback Jake Christensen was sacked 46 times during his first season as a starter.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says Christensen is a young guy who played young, and didn’t have a lot of support. Christensen was not solely responsible for the troubles on offense there are plenty of areas in which he can get better. Ferentz says there are a lot of things Christensen can do better, as can a lot of players. He says Christensen works hard and is serious about what he does. Ferentz says it’ similar to Matt Rodgers who struggled in 1989 before having a good season.
Competing with Christensen this spring are sophomore Ricky Stanzi and redshirt freshman Marvin McNutt. Ferentz says almost every position will need some help from the bench, although he says it will be difficult for a freshman to come in and play at quarterback. The Hawkeyes will conclude spring drills with a practice that is open to the public on April 19th.