Iowa’s quarterback race is still too close to call as the Hawkeyes prepare to close out spring drills with a scrimmage on Saturday. Jake Rudock, Cody Sokol and C.J. Beatherd are vying to replace James Vandenberg under center. The quarterbacks have been rotating every two snaps in practice this spring.
Iowa offensive coordinator Greg Davis says they did that in individual time Saturday, and then they let the quarterback own the drive if they were moving the team. He says they will probably do the same thing Saturday so the quarterback who is moving the team will stay in for the entire drive.
Davis doubts a starter will be named at the end of spring as he says all of the quarterbacks have done good things, but there has not been any separation yet.
Davis talked about what will allow one of the quarterbacks to emerge as the starter. He says that will be guys who can make a play when things break down, a guy who will take care of the football and make plays.
Davis says it is possible more than one quarterback will need to play when the 2013 season begins to make a decision. “Because some things you can’t evaluate in practice because you can’t get hit,” Davis says. He says for instance, they blow the play dead in practice when the pocket breaks down and they need to see how they do in live action.
Davis says they may make a decision by August, but they may not. Davis says Saturday will be more like a game than practice. It will be four quarters of offense versus defense.