Tim Lester valuing balance for Iowa’s offense as practice intensifies

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Although the Hawkeyes are approaching the finish line of fall camp, and will soon shift gears towards game preparation, their Offensive Coordinator remains positive about where his unit stands.

Tim Lester is feeling more comfortable leading Iowa’s offense in year two, and the way the different position groups are shaping up solidifies growth. Competition is fierce, and everyone has a handle on what Lester wants to accomplish on the field, so he now has options.

Iowa ran the ball 501 times last year, compared to 308 pass attempts. The ground game was successful with Kaleb Johnson as a battering ram. However, Lester is operating with different personnel at the skill positions this time around, and making it a priority to add more balance to the offense.

It all starts with the big boys up front, and many expect the Hawkeyes to field one of the Big Ten’s best offensive lines this fall. After all, there’s a ton of returning production from a group that were semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award. Gennings Dunker, Logan Jones are All-Big Ten performers, and Beau Stevens and Kade Pieper are due for great campaigns.

Lester often used an extra lineman instead of a tight end inside the redzone in 2024, because they were so effective. With an offensive line that knows how to maul defenders at the point of attack, Lester believes anything is accomplishable on the gridiron.

“They mean everything, they’re literally the most important group, and we have three seniors back,” Lester said. “We have four guys that can run, can hit, they push the line of scrimmage, and it’s amazing how many big runs you have when you get a little bit of push up front.”

All eyes are on the quarterback position though, with Mark Gronowski being the headliner, and receiving the majority of the reps through camp. Meanwhile Hank Brown, and Jeremy Hecklinski are battling it out for that backup spot. So having efficient blocking will go a long way in establishing confidence for whichever new quarterback Lester puts behind center.

Lester feels Gronowski is on schedule to be week one’s starter against Albany, and continues to make strides, despite the fact that he didn’t participate in physical throwing drills over the spring. Gronowski displays a fast learning curve, which Lester finds encouraging.

“Getting the mental reps in the spring really helped him, but there’s nothing like getting the physical reps he’s getting right now,” he said. “He’s seeing blitzes, our defensive rotations and making sure he’s making quick decisions, so good start and excited about where we’re headed.”

The wide receivers were a liability for the offense last season, with no deep threats or anyone that could stretch the field on defenses. Seth Anderson, Reece Vander Zee and Jacob Gill continue to raise eyebrows with their athletic ability. Not to mention All-Big return specialist Kayden Wetjen is transitioning smoothly into being a wideout.

It’s not all about catching passes though, and Lester wants great blocking from the wide receivers too. They’re all eager to learn more, and even watch film of Lester’s system at Western Michigan, and with the Green Bay Packers. There are more slot guys than normal, but Lester expects the receivers to run, be physical and appreciates the variety within the unit.

“I would like 6-foot-2 and super fast, because you have to have speed, and if you don’t have that it doesn’t matter,” the 48-year old said. “So obviously you’d love size and speed combination if you can get it.”

The tight ends are still unknowns, which is a head-scratcher to fans, considering the Hawkeyes claim they’re Tight End U. Regardless, Lester plans on getting them more involved, especially on short-yardage situations. It’s starting to look more like a running back-by-committee approach instead of one rusher getting the bulk of the carries. At the end of the day, Lester intends on keeping his backfield healthy.

Everything is starting to gel together for Lester’s offense, with Iowa posing a threat running or passing the ball. Defenses will no longer be able to just load up the box to stop the run, and must now account for the aerial attack. Lester will unleash some new weapons, with players emerging from the shadows, and expects to score in a variety of ways.

“The kids are starting to work really hard because they’re starting to see it come to fruition, it’s been good and we got a long way to go, but we’re excited about where it’s at.”