Howe: Critics Create Chip on Spencer Petras' Shoulder

[RobHowe]

Howe: Critics Create Chip on Spencer Petras' Shoulder

Iowa quarterback focused on earning respect of Hawkeye teammates, coaches, but impossible not to hear outside noise.

www.hawkeyenation.com

 

[Casualfan]

I hope I eat crow but I just don't think he has "it"

 

[trj]

I hope I eat crow but I just don't think he has "it"

Or maybe he ends being like Brock Purdy. He really does have a shot to accomplish just as much.

 

[HuckFinn]

Petras has had one season as a starter. In his first two games, the offensive game plan was a mess. Read lots of criticism by posters on this site, especially the game that put him in the spotlight by asking him to carry the team with a passing attack. That was pretty dumb.
After that, the Hawks won six in a row, probably would have added two more W’s, and were, I think, ranked #15 in the country. Balance in run/pass attack was achieved.
Spenser threw some bad passes, no doubt. Some looked almost comic. He sure had a tendency to fire the ball much more than was called for. His completion % was below 60, but when compared to other BT QB’s, there was not a lot of separation among them.
I am not going to jump him on long passes that were over thrown. Yeah. I wish he had done better. But watch pro QB’s over throw the long ball more times than they complete them.
In the last six games, Petras managed the games effectively. No, he was not dominating, and was not asked to be. It would be foolish to claim he did not improve. Yes, the jury may still be out. I recognize that COVID played havoc with prep time and team work last season. Because prep has approached normal for 2021, I grant that we should expect a major step forward. Maybe.
We start with two highly ranked teams, one in a very hostile environment. Petras will be expected to play a major role in winning them both.
I do think we are far short of good information that would lead us to believe that Petras is deeply flawed. We may be deep into the season before it is legitimate to decide.

 

[HawkeyeDenis]

Given the chaotic nature of last year it's tough to grade Petras. Few teams played to their normal level. Iowa won't be getting any tune ups to start out the year. So Spencer Petras will have to come out on the top of his game. That's a tough order for an experienced quarterback. If Iowa wins these first two games they can run the table or come very close. And that will be validation for Petras.

 

[HawkGold]

I'm not sure with that baby face anyone will see a chip.

 

[Motigerhawk]

Im happy to hear he has a chip. For an athlete that can mean great things ahead.

 

[Casualfan]

Or maybe he ends being like Brock Purdy. He really does have a shot to accomplish just as much.

I guess I don't get the comparison at all.

 

[trj]

I guess I am the opposite. The leash is pretty short with me. If the goal is to win the West(which it is and should be) then it is basically a 2 game audition. Iowa won’t win both but he has to at minimum look decent in both.

 

[Northside Hawk]

Petras has had one season as a starter. In his first two games, the offensive game plan was a mess. Read lots of criticism by posters on this site, especially the game that put him in the spotlight by asking him to carry the team with a passing attack. That was pretty dumb.
After that, the Hawks won six in a row, probably would have added two more W’s, and were, I think, ranked #15 in the country. Balance in run/pass attack was achieved.
Spenser threw some bad passes, no doubt. Some looked almost comic. He sure had a tendency to fire the ball much more than was called for. His completion % was below 60, but when compared to other BT QB’s, there was not a lot of separation among them.
I am not going to jump him on long passes that were over thrown. Yeah. I wish he had done better. But watch pro QB’s over throw the long ball more times than they complete them.
In the last six games, Petras managed the games effectively. No, he was not dominating, and was not asked to be. It would be foolish to claim he did not improve. Yes, the jury may still be out. I recognize that COVID played havoc with prep time and team work last season. Because prep has approached normal for 2021, I grant that we should expect a major step forward. Maybe.
We start with two highly ranked teams, one in a very hostile environment. Petras will be expected to play a major role in winning them both.
I do think we are far short of good information that would lead us to believe that Petras is deeply flawed. We may be deep into the season before it is legitimate to decide.

Ferentz coached QB's have hit the 60% completion plateau only a handful of times in his 23 year tenure. They are, to put it simply, coached not to force passes into dangerous places where they can get picked off.

This becomes even more pronounced in the red zone, where Kirk loses his shit if the ball is turned over when three points are already in the bag.

It has proven to be effective, if not aesthetically pleasing. I, for one have one issue with this strategy. I wish we would have used certain wide receivers' athletic ability to our advantage and let them go up one on one with the defender. Brandon Smith could have been dynamite in jump ball type situations.