Kirk Ferentz often refers to the phrase “cleaning up” when describing a segment of his Iowa teams that need improvement. After a loss at Arizona the Hawkeyes special teams need a heavy scrubbing as those units had several breakdowns in a 34-27 loss to the Wildcats.
Arizona blocked a punt to open the game that led to a touchdown, returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score and the Wildcats also blocked an extra point that would have given the Hawkeyes there first lead of the game after they tied it at 27 on a Broderick Binns interception return for a touchdown.
Ferentz says it was really disappointing that the kicking game wasn’t better, especially the blocked punt, as it was something they had seen on film and practiced it during the week. He says if they’re not good on special teams, then they are going to have trouble winning. Ferentz says he was glad to see they made a comeback, but Arizona made the plays the needed to make to win the game and his team did not get it done.
Iowa is now 2-1 and closes out pre conference action this weekend at home against Ball State which is 1-2 after a 24-13 loss to Purdue.