Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Iowa Football: Quarterback Quandary: Iowa Football’s Dilemma

Starting point is 00:00:00 Do we have a controversy at the quarterback position in Iowa City? Brendan Sullivan against the incumbent, Cade McNamara. Where does Marco Lainez fit? Today, Locked On Hawkeyes. You are Locked On Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Hey, welcome in. I'm Trent Condon, and this is the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for making Locked On Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We're available wherever you

Starting point is 00:00:37 find podcasts, and you can also watch us on YouTube. While you're there, make sure you hit that subscribe button. Helps us get in front of more Hawkeye fans. Today's episode is brought to you by GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Well, on the heels of Big Ten football media days, we will hear from Elliot Clough from the Hawkeye rival site, hawkeyebeacon.com. He's going to join us here coming up in just a few moments.

Starting point is 00:01:05 But before that, an interesting storyline that developed and the question. The question is, is this going to be a real competition at the quarterback position going into August camp for Iowa football? Cade McNamara, an injury-plagued season a year ago, ending in the ACL tear against Michigan State. Very limited throughout the course of the year. And that was one thing that Kirk Ferentz mentioned during Big Ten media days, is we didn't get to see a healthy Cade McNamara. In fact, we've never seen a healthy Cade McNamara. Now, yes, we're only talking about a handful of games from a year ago,

Starting point is 00:01:39 but the injury that he sustained, that quad injury back in August camp at the open practice on kids day was substantial. As we told you leading into the first game of the year, it was touch and go. He was going to make it a go. But the knowledge inside the program is that he was not even close to 100%. And we never got to see that guy. You think of one of the plays he had the run against Penn State when everybody was covered

Starting point is 00:02:03 down the field and went there and you could just see how gimpy he was. I wasn't able to do quarterback sneaks. I wasn't able to do a big compliment of their offense a year ago. And we can argue the merits of that offense. And I think it's a valid conversation with the former offensive coordinator there. However, when you go through and you look at the way that they were built, the way that they want to do things and not having a guy that can push off, that doesn't have, because of that leg injury, the ability to do a quarterback sneak on third and one, to go up there and go quick. Even five and seven step drops or the play action game was incredibly limited because of his limitations physically a year ago when he was out there.

Starting point is 00:02:42 When he was out there, it wasn't good. There's no two ways about it. 46 of 90 passing, 51.1% completion percentage. This is a guy that completed 60% of his passes both years at Michigan. This was not the same guy. Four touchdowns against three interceptions, a long of 36 yards. That was in the first play. A quarterback rating of 106.2 in the college scale. That's absolutely brutal. And he was sacked eight times on top of it. 5.6 yards per attempt. This was not Cade McNamara.

Starting point is 00:03:18 If your expectations are the guy that you saw last September is the guy that I was getting this year or the guy that they're going to have this season, I think you're dead wrong. This is not to paint Cade McNamara as the next Heisman trophy winner. This is not to anticipate that he's going to throw for 3,500 yards and 30 touchdowns this year. I don't think that's the case either. I think we need to temper those expectations. This is definitely a both sides argument. I think there's one faction that goes too far with their love of Cade McNamara. There's the other side that thinks he's an absolute bum and and he's not a bum. This is, at minimum, a competent quarterback. They didn't have a competent quarterback for the final two months last year. And it leads to the conversation, will this be a real quarterback controversy, or are we talking about something where this is going

Starting point is 00:03:59 to be Cade McNamara's job? Brendan Sullivan will eventually become the backup. He's listed at number three in the initial depth chart. What do they do with Marco Lyon? Is it an ability that they still think that they can develop him? They think that he can push himself for the starting job next year in 2025. Sullivan will be around for another season, him and Lyon as battling, and then the newcomers at the quarterback position coming in. Is that what they're doing? Are they going to be looking at the portal again? Those are conversations, obviously, for the offseason. Kirk Ferentz said it, and I think it goes without saying, if you follow this program to any degree, and certainly if you're listening to this program

Starting point is 00:04:33 and get a guess that you do, you know that positions aren't given. They just aren't. It can feel that way. I know at times that incumbent is incredibly difficult to beat out, and that is true. It may be more difficult than other programs that are out there. Look, if you put in the sweat equity, you put in the work, you've done all the right things and you've got playing time and played even at a decent level, you've earned a lot in the world of Kirk Ferentz. We know that. We've seen players though that have been upended. In fact, we saw what on the opening depth chart with John Nestor being listed over to Sean Lee, who did a lot for Iowa's football team last year. The suspensions early in the season

Starting point is 00:05:09 for Jamari Harris, the injuries to Cooper Dejean, he was thrust in there. He was ready to go, but it's not his job, at least at this point in time, according to the depth chart. And that's what you get. Kate McNamara is going to be your starter. Now, Brendan Sullivan, when you look at the statistical profile of him at Northwestern, it's really good. Last season, six touchdowns, two interceptions. Those for 714 yards, 63.6% completion percentage. The year before, 74% completion percentage, four touchdowns against three interceptions. But talking to some people that have seen Brendan Sullivan, the gap between him and Cade McNamara, at least as a thrower, is significant. Knowledge of the system, obviously McNamara has the leg up there.

Starting point is 00:05:50 Doing it at a high level for a longer time, McNamara has that. The equity inside the program, being here a year, McNamara has that. But as a passer, it's not particularly close. Again, you look at those statistical numbers, they paint a different picture than really the kind of quarterback he is. Sullivan, much better runner. Physical, big dude, 6'4", 220 pounds. He's got the size, the physicality, and he'll put his head down, and he will lay in there, and he will make a play with his legs, something you don't see out of Cade McNamara. Certainly at this point, coming off an ACL tear, that's not the expectation for him. A controversy, though? No, can't go there.

Starting point is 00:06:28 Cade McNamara will be your starter at game one. Our starter coming up is going to be Elliott Clough from the rival side. It's HawkeyeBeacon.com. Joining us as he made his way back from Indianapolis. Conversation with Elliott Clough, talking a lot of Iowa football. It's a football-heavy episode of the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Stay right there as we continue here in a moment. Today's episode of the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast is brought to you by GameTime.

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Starting point is 00:08:03 L-O-C-K-E-D-O-N-C-O-L-L-E-G-E for $20 off. Download game time today. Last minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed. Let's make our way to just outside of Indianapolis. He is Elliot Clough from Rivals.com, HawkeyeBeacon.com. A new name over there, Elliot, for the website as you guys continue to get your feet planted and continue to build things up over on the rival site with the Hawkeyes. Welcome in. How are you doing today? I'm great, Trent.

Starting point is 00:08:34 I tell you what, I've been on a few podcasts and radio shows over the last couple weeks, and you're the first one to get that rebrand right away. So you did your homework. Good job. I appreciate it. Absolutely. So Go Iowa Awesome is no more. Was this an edict that came down from the top down? I know Jacoby and the rest of the group over there, that's something that has been kind of their baby for a long time. If you can, take us in a little bit to the background and Hawkeye Beacon now. Yeah yeah well um i'm sure you're considering

Starting point is 00:09:07 you know you know adam and everything i'm sure you're familiar with the work they were doing before um now that we're part of the rivals network we're a little bit more uh a little bit more on the journalistic side so uh we we flipped the the name we made that plan starting in the spring and um rivals was happy about it, that's for sure. But, yep, we're moving forward with Hawkeye Beacon, with the rebrand, and we're happy about it. We're happy to say, you know, when we go to talk to Kirk and we get the mic and we talk to everybody beforehand, and we say, Elliott Club, Hawkeye Beacon, instead of Elliott Club, go Iowa Awesome. So I'm personally pretty happy about it to tell you the truth

Starting point is 00:09:45 absolutely well we learned some things that I was portion of the media day yesterday Kirk up on the podium and then the side sessions always some good things that come out of that and you know sometimes you're surprised by things this was not a surprise Kirk Ferentz will not be playing the new EA Sports College football game oh yeah, yeah. I tell you what. So going back and forth between media folks, I knew somebody was going to ask the question, and it was just like, oh, God. Have you heard Kirk Ferris talk to anybody about anything before?

Starting point is 00:10:16 Of course he hasn't played the video game. But, yeah, you know, stuff like that happens in big tech media days. Kind of laugh and shake it off. So one thing that jumped off with the depth chart being released, and I talked about this at the top of the show yesterday, is seeing a depth chart that has three wide receivers listed, a total of six wide receivers listed. I've been looking at depth charts in the whole Kirk Ferentz era.

Starting point is 00:10:39 I can't remember a time seeing six players listed there with two deeps at three different positions there. I guess in a way, it creates a little bit of buzz, a little bit of excitement just knowing that, yes, an evolution looks like it's happening with this Iowa Hawkeye offense. Right. And I mean, obviously it all starts and ends with Kirk, but you look at what Tim Lester has done in bringing in his new offense. By the sounds of it, I really think that Lester is maybe not fully given the reins because no OC is really fully given the reins. Everything's up to the head coach, right, and especially with Kirk.

Starting point is 00:11:19 But I really do think Tim Lester is really given the opportunity to change some things on the offensive side of the ball. And, you know, I think it all starts with him as opposed to maybe, you know, who's on the roster. With the wide receiver group, it's a lot of fresh faces between the two transfers before last season and Caleb Brown and Seth Anderson. And then Jacob Gill, who was not listed on the roster, excuse me, on the two deeps of the depth chart. I wouldn't read into that too much. I think it's just because he's a transfer.

Starting point is 00:11:50 But a lot of fresh faces, man. I mean, Jerry at Bowie right at the top there of the depth chart, along with Dayton Howard. I just put a piece together yesterday and then included a bit on some of my five thoughts after the media date yesterday. And it really sounds like there's a lot of hope around the receiving core, but not a lot of expectation. Because, I mean, let's face it, it's a pretty unproven group between all the youth and the transfers and injuries, guys like Seth Anderson. So it's hopeful but not expected.

Starting point is 00:12:25 Yeah, definitely get that part of it and understand those portions of the wide receiver group if they can just be competent. And that's kind of what we're talking about as the offense as a whole. Another one that created, I think, at least some clicks, some generations, some impressions was that we see coming in. Brendan Sullivan is listed as number three. I didn't read a ton into that.

Starting point is 00:12:47 As he mentioned with Jacob Gill, a newcomer, didn't go through spring practice. I didn't read anything into it. After hearing Kirk, did you? No. Not even a little bit. I mean, of course, Marco had that entire spring. He got a ton of reps. And I think it comes down to that and the fact that Brendan just came in.

Starting point is 00:13:06 And I think that's also pretty obvious. I think it's really that simple. I mean, Brendan is experienced. He's had some success, you know, whether that's resulted in wins or not at Northwestern is one thing. But he's had some success. He's played the Big Ten level. I would frankly be pretty surprised if he's not QB2 by the start of the season.

Starting point is 00:13:28 And he gets that month of camp under his belt. He gets some reps. I mean, they went out and got him for a reason, right? Like, he's a seasoned vet. He's a guy who's had some experience in an RPO-heavy team. And it's just pretty clear to me that he's going to be more ready to see the field than Marco at this point in time. That doesn't mean

Starting point is 00:13:50 Marco's long-term trajectory isn't still on the up and up. It just means that Iowa really values that experience at the Big Ten level in terms of quarterback. I think it's pretty clear that Cade is QB1, but by the time we get to the end of camp and the beginning of the season,

Starting point is 00:14:07 Brennan Sullivan will be QB2. Right there with you. We're talking with Elliot Clough from Rivals. HawkeyeBeacon.com. Another thing that jumped out, defensive line position. It's been my biggest concern with this defense, certainly not with the starters, but the defensive line and just some of the lack of options.

Starting point is 00:14:24 Brian Allen, he's popped a some of the lack of options. Brian Allen, he's popped a couple of times at that open practice. We haven't seen it on the field. At defensive tackle, Jeremiah Pittman's played a little bit, but it's just that a little bit. Just the lack of depth at defensive line as a whole and listing 12 guys on that spot as they went three deep at each position says maybe they're still searching for some answers on that line, too? Yeah. I mean, I actually spoke with a source while the portal was still open,

Starting point is 00:14:48 and they wanted to go out and get another portal DT. And, I mean, you can tell that by the fact that they offered Division II defensive tackle out of the portal. They were looking at defensive tackle out of Wyoming, ended up at USC. So they really wanted to add something out of the portal. Now, it didn't happen for whatever reason, but they are prepared to roll with what they got. Jeff Bowie and Will Hubert and Luke Gaffney, two walk-ons and a scholarship guy who hasn't seen much,

Starting point is 00:15:17 if any, time on the field at this point in time behind those three on the interior. Of course, you've got Ryan Allen, like you mentioned, who's shown some flashes, has all the talent in the world. He's just got to put it together and really fall into what Iowa does on the defensive line because he is uber-talented. Like we've seen it. He was a four-star for a reason coming out of St. Thomas, more in Connecticut.

Starting point is 00:15:40 I asked Kirk about him potentially playing that three-tech defensive tackle position where we saw Logan Lee, effectively another defensive end on the field. He said, you know, maybe not. We probably see some of that, or probably not, rather. We could see some of that positional flexibility with a guy like Deontay Craig, which wouldn't surprise me this year considering he has a ton of experience at defensive end, and he's a little bit bigger, smoother athlete. He's another one of those guys that was a four-star prospect out of high school.

Starting point is 00:16:09 Wouldn't shock me if we see him at that three-tech defensive tackle position, here at Miami Pittman, more of a one-tech. But like you mentioned, starters are solid. It's just that second group. I believe in Maxwell Wellen. He's in that second group. We saw him a little bit last year. Ethan Hercut's going to be a starter this year with the departure of Joe Evans.

Starting point is 00:16:29 I wouldn't necessarily call it a top-heavy group, but I wouldn't be upset necessarily if somebody called it top-heavy. There's some real talent, especially on the interior with Wyatt and Aaron Grace. Those are NFL guys. But once you start reaching that second string, they like to have a rotation of eight guys who play the defensive line. How confident are you in it? It's a

Starting point is 00:16:54 question mark right now. You've got to see it on the field. So, going back a couple years ago when Jon Nestor got his offer and eventually committed to Iowa and a lot of eye-rolling, reading the message boards, reading Twitter. People, oh boy, here we go again. Now, some people said, hey, this is another one of the Phil Parker specials.

Starting point is 00:17:12 He's going to be a great safety for them. But at that point in time, as we were, what, still before Cooper DeGene as a quarterback, we were just coming on the heels of Riley Moss as a quarterback. To anybody who thinks that, no, he wasn't going to be a starter here a couple years in at safety, he was going to be listed as a starter as quarterback. I don't think many people had that. What an emergence. But I think we also knew early on Phil Parker had his eye on Jon Nestor.

Starting point is 00:17:35 Yeah, you know, it's funny. We've talked with Kirk a little bit about Jon prior to yesterday. Of course, we heard a little bit about him this week, too. But Kirk had said that he and Phil just kind of clicked right off the bat. They're both football guys. And when you hear that, it's like, oh, this kid's going to play. Like, done deal. This kid's going to play.

Starting point is 00:17:57 And, of course, we saw him on special teams last year out there. He was the only freshman that really got consistent snaps. I think he was the only freshman that burned his red shirt last year in that in that class because he was playing so consistently on special teams you might have to fact check me on that one but i'm but i'm pretty sure that's the case um and you know and passing to sean lee on the depth chart of course again this is the pre-camp uh depth chart can't read into it too much, but I think that there's a reason for that. Like, Deshaun was good in his time last year. He wasn't, you know, fantastic.

Starting point is 00:18:33 I mean, it's hard to follow up a guy like Cooper DeGene, right, when Coop went down. But Deshaun's going to be good, man. Like, you know, we consistently hear from the team, oh, he reminds me of Riley Moss, because apparently Phil Parker says that all the time. And you don't get compliments from Phil Parker unless it's deserved, right? Phil Parker is the defensive back whisperer. So I'm really excited about John. Do I think he's going to be the next Cooper DeGene? No, I think that's incredibly unfair

Starting point is 00:19:03 to put that on him, especially at this point in time. But I'm really excited about him. He's a good kid. He's smart. He loves football. And coming out of Chicago, Merritt, Iowa just got a commit out of that 2025 class from Merritt and Bradford.

Starting point is 00:19:18 That's a really good football program. And they bring out guys like Nestor from time to time. And it's really hard not to be excited about John. With that, we are out of time. But for people that want to get involved, see what you guys have over there at the Rivals Network, HawkeyeBeacon.com, again, part of the Rivals Network. Fill us in a little bit, Elliot,

Starting point is 00:19:40 and people getting ready for football season. Oh, yeah. We got a ton of content fresh off Big Ten Media Days. Hopefully it's posted by now. I sent it to my editor. We just got five thoughts, including intel from sources following media days

Starting point is 00:19:55 regarding depth chart, how things are going to shake out this season. Really, really good stuff there on the homepage for us at iWithoutRivals.com. If it's not up yet, at this moment, it will be here shortly. We got some really good stuff there on the homepage for us at iowadontrivals.com. If it's not up yet, you know, at this moment, it will be here shortly. We got some really good stuff from Kirk yesterday about the receivers, about the offensive line. So a ton more content coming from me and the rest of the guys at Hawkeye Beacon.

Starting point is 00:20:16 I stopped and watched one of the commits, Cam Heron, at Warren Central in Indianapolis, watched him work out, talked to his head coach, got some really good intel on what the expectations are for him at Warren Central. Tons of official visits coming up for men's basketball, including Brady, I think it's Kaler, just released his top five from Indianapolis Cathedral. And Iowa's part of it. And so there's just a ton of content coming right now, a ton of content coming the rest of the week.

Starting point is 00:20:45 And, of course, with camp coming up, we're going to have a bunch more. And don't forget about Yose Epinesa, too. His commitment coming sooner rather than later. So we're doing our best to get all the intel there. So tons of stuff, man. It's an exciting time at Iowa and an exciting time for us at Hawkeye Beacon. Appreciate it. Thank you for your time today, Elliot.

Starting point is 00:21:05 Yeah, thanks so much, Trent. Safe travels home. Elliot Clough making his way back from Indianapolis in Big Ten Football Media Days. Always appreciate the time of all of our great guests here on the Iowa Beat on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Elliot doing some great work over on the rival side of things. Brian Ferentz has a new job.

Starting point is 00:21:23 We heard about it at Big Ten Football Media Day. He's with the Terps. Iowa faces the Terps. A little intrigue there as we come back. Lockdown Hawkeyes. Trent Conner back with you one final time on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. As always, thanks for making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. Here across the Lockdown Network, it is your team every day. We have you covered. Your favorite NFL

Starting point is 00:21:49 team as training camps have started up. MLB is we're in the heart of the season. NBA, NHL, offseason, we have you covered with your team. And not just that, we have our national shows, Lockdown Big Ten, Lockdown College Football, Lockdown College Hoops, Lockdown Women's Hoops, you name it, we got it here on the Locked On Network and appreciate you being here with us. Well, Brian Ferentz has a new job, as we talked about a few weeks back. He is now helping out at Maryland and hearing Mike Loxley, you know, talk about his respect of the Ferentz family. Look, we can make jokes, we can scoff, and we've done plenty of that over the last few years. He was in over his head, and there was no counterpunch to Brian Ferentz.

Starting point is 00:22:29 We saw scripted plays, pretty good. In the heart of a game, not great. But in the role that he now has at Maryland, this is probably the right spot. As an offensive line coach, he has proven to be a good coach. As a tight end coach, he had a lot of talent in New England, but at minimum, you can say he proved to be a good coach there. Yes, talent helps, but what he did putting together an offense, being the head of the offensive staff, he wasn't good enough. It's as simple as that. And when the Maryland game comes up later this season, there's going to be a lot of articles, a lot of ink spilled, and I'm sure conversations right here on Locked On Hawkeyes about it. I think everybody that's listened every day, as you know, my opinion of Brian Ferencz as an offensive coordinator, it's not real high. It wasn't personal. It wasn't

Starting point is 00:23:16 anything like that. To me, it was about him and in a way how he handcuffed this Iowa football program. That's where my frustrations lie. It's not him as a person. It was him as an offensive coordinator. And did that take my view? And was I maybe too hard at times? You can make that argument. I disagree, but I understand that vantage point.

Starting point is 00:23:36 The good news is for us, that is gone. We do not have to worry about the nepotism and the other angles here. It is over. Brian Ferentz, now at Maryland. With that, we will be back with you tomorrow for another edition of Lockdown Hawkeyes. We continue our preview of the Iowa football position groups. We've done quarterback, we've done defensive line. We still got a lot more to go. Busy one coming up here for you

Starting point is 00:23:58 on a Friday edition. As always, thanks for making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We'll talk to you again tomorrow. Go Hawks!

Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Iowa Football: Quarterback Quandary: Iowa Football’s Dilemma

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