Kirk Ferentz downplaying Deacon Hill’s struggles in the pocket
Iowa quarterback Deacon Hill attempts to throw a pass downfield off his back foot during the first quarter against Purdue Saturday October 7, 2023 at Kinnick Stadium. (Lynn Harrington/stayaliveinpower5)
IOWA CITY, Ia. — The sophomore quarterback led Iowa to a come-from-behind victory over Michigan State, and followed that up with a win over Purdue in his first career start.
Although the Hawkeyes are 5-1, and currently in second place in the Big Ten West standings, Decon Hill is having some growing pains with the offense. He was thrown to the wolves after Cade McNamara was lost for the season, and been a good game manager up to this point. If Iowa wants to win at Wisconsin next Saturday, Hill will have to improve his accuracy though, and no one understands that more than Coach Kirk Ferentz.
After all, Hill has completed 18 of his 48 passes for 215 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions over the past two games. Nearly 70,000 fans in attendance at Kinnick Stadium watched as he overthrew several receivers against the Boilermakers. There were a lot of dropped balls too, including a pass that ricocheted off a receiver and into a defender’s hands for an interception.
Ferentz knows defenses are going to try and blitz Hill because of his inexperience. Which is why he wants the signal-caller to take what the defense gives him, and not try to force his throws when he’s in the pocket.
“If you press or try to do too much sometimes, the ball sails and I’m guessing that’s probably what it was,” Ferentz said. “But I thought he kept his composure, and a couple of them, we didn’t help him on again. ”
Hill did display some bright spots to build on. The Californian connected with tight end Erick All for a 22-yard touchdown. The score ignited the Homecoming crowd, and Ferentz thought it did a lot for Hill’s confidence.
“I told him maybe I thought he was pressing a little bit and just to relax, just keep playing and you’re going to be okay,” the 68-year old coach said. “Don’t squeeze the club, you know, whatever it is.”
Ferentz needs Hill to take advantage of an effective rushing attack, by making defenses pay with the play-action pass. After Kaleb Johnson’s 134-yard rushing performance, defenders are going to load the box to stop the run, and make Hill beat them with his arm. Ferentz is certain his offense has a slim margin for error, so Hill can’t be missing open receivers, especially when he has adequate time in the pocket.
Starting off with some short passes, and screens will boost his confidence, and get Iowa’s offense into a rhythm. It’s no mystery that the Hawkeyes are more dangerous when they have a balanced attack, and that’s the direction Ferentz wants from the unit. Purdue exposed some limitations in Iowa’s aerial attack, and Hill looked like a deer in headlights at times. Still, everything comes down to execution, and Ferentz expects Hill to improve in that area.
“Got to make the makeable plays and we didn’t always do a great job of that,” he said. “But he hung in there, kept doing a good job, and the last one he threw down our right side, it looked pretty good to me.”
The stakes will be higher for Hill next Saturday when he goes up against his former team. Not to mention the Heartland Trophy will be up for grabs, and a first place spot in the West when the Hawkeyes square off with the Badgers. Ferentz want his top-two quarterbacks to be ready for a physical dogfight.
Joe Labas, who led Iowa to a victory over Kentucky in last year’s Music City Bowl, is ready to step up to the plate whenever his number is called. Ferentz just wants his players to embrace that next man up mentality. Regardless, College football’s longest-tenured coach feels his offense is in good hands with Hill at the helms. Now Ferentz wants the gunslinger to spread his wings.
“Deacon is our quarterback right now, and that’s no offense to Joe, but that would be silly to make a change.”
