Ferentz talks about Hawkeyes’ troubles, Indiana game
Here’s what Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz had to say this morning on the weekly Big Ten teleconference. …
On Iowa’s loss to Michigan State and Saturday’s match-up with Indiana: “We had a tough loss this past weekend, played a very good Michigan State team that played well. We competed hard. We go back on the road this Saturday against Indiana, which is playing very good football as well. It will be another challenge.’’
On off-field incidents and if he is concerned that it tarnishes the reputation of the Big Ten: “I think you have to look at everybody across the country if you are going to do comparisons. Nobody here has been in denial. We had an awful year off the field. We had a similar year in 2001. That’s two years in a decade. We ask people to look at what this team has done starting March 1, when this roster took shape and this year’s team has done an exceptional job off the field.’’
On Tony Moeaki’s injury: “His leg is still strained and it is doubtful that he will play this week. Maybe we’ll find some pixie dust somewhere, but it’s unlikely. I feel for Tony. It’s his second injury this year. He missed last year. It’s been tough.’’
On how he gets it across to players that the team is improved with no win to show for their work: “We need the win. In a lot of areas, we’re playing well, but in some areas we are not playing well enough to win. It starts with the turnover discussion. If we can concentrate a little better, we certainly would increase our chances to win.’’
On his thoughts of the 40-second rule: “The only notable difference is when you get inside four minutes and you’re down as we have been for the last three weeks, it’s not a real comfortable situation.’’
On close losses: “I think as much as anything you can track it to poor special teams play, penalties, turnovers. One positive out of last week is that our special teams looked healthy again. Our penalty situation has been pretty good for all but one game. Our ball security has been the issue. We have six games left and if we can’t improve there, it’s not realistic to think that we’ll win.’’
On red-zone play: “We’ve unfortunately turned the ball over in the red zone. The last two weeks, we’ve drove the ball down, fumbled inside the 25 on opening drives. Those are two pretty good illustrations of what our challenges are. If we do a better job of protecting the football, some of that is traceable to inexperience, but we’re six games into this now.’’
On Shonn Greene’s play: “We thought Shonn was a very good football player and felt that he would do well. That would be like me saying that Aaron Kampman would be a multiple-time all-pro with the Packers. I knew he’d be good, but how good, I couldn’t say that. Shonn has been consistent. He’s been the same guy every play. He’s been the same guy every week and he’s playing extremely well for us.’’
On Indiana: “We haven’t had much luck against Indiana. They’ve beaten us two straight and they’ve given us difficult games since I’ve been here. At first, we had the pleasure of playing against (Antwan) Randle El and now, Kellen Lewis. He’s very capable back there. … They’re a very dangerous football team that has skunked us out the last couple of years. It’s going to be a big challenge for our football team.’’