Iowa receivers give boost in multiple phases against Illinois

IOWA CITY — Nick Easley could only laugh when it was brought up to him after Iowa's 45-16 win against Illinois on Saturday that the receiving corps wasn't exactly given high marks coming into this season.

No one in that unit plays to please or silence anyone outside their locker room, but his, Matt VandeBerg and Ihmir Smith-Marsette's play through the first six weeks is probably enough to do so.

'I don't think we're that concerned about (what anyone has to say), but yeah, a little bit,' Easley said. 'I'm proud of the way we've performed for the most part. I think we keep getting better. There's still plays out there we can make. Matt VandeBerg's doing a great job and we've got young guys that are coming along and I'm proud of the way the young guys have played. '

The walk-on receiver leads the Hawkeyes in catches this season with 27 for 281 yards and four touchdowns after grabbing seven catches (the second time this season he's matched that number) for 59 yards and a score against the Illini.

Wide receivers accounted for 10 of the 18 receptions on Saturday, too.

VandeBerg added two catches for 48 yards, one of which was a 39-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Nate Stanley at the start of the fourth quarter that essentially ended the game.

Both receivers talked about the group's ability to make plays this season, and both talked about their need to get better.

'As a young group, it's always being able to figure out what it is we're trying to do here, what coaches are expecting of us, things like that,' VandeBerg said. 'As well as being able to read coverages. People change it up and we need to be able to be ready for that.'

Ferentz called VandeBerg's touchdown a 'Kodak moment,' expressing happiness for VandeBerg to get back in the end zone after a long road to recovery of his own after season-ending injury last year. Ferentz like's the group's progress, saying they're 'coming along, too, and we still have a lot in front of us right now that we can get better at, but hopefully we use this week in front of us wisely and just keep getting a little bit better with every week.'

Freshman Ihmir Smith-Marsette had one catch for seven yards to round out the receiver contributions statistically, but that wasn't the only facet they added. The group blocked much better down field on Saturday, VandeBerg said, which boosted the running game.

Ferentz talks a lot about complementary football, and VandeBerg echoed that sentiment in talking about the receivers' improved blocking against the Illini. The senior said the 'pass game (and run game) feed off one other,' and that the two things doing so Saturday led to his touchdown.

'That's how we try to work things in is we can run it, run it, run it and then hopefully get a ball down the field,' VandeBerg said.

Easley continued his season-long habit of outplaying his scholarship status on the team, which he again was asked about — to downplaying laughs from the Newton native — afterward.

VandeBerg said 'he fits the culture here,' and that Easley being willing to do the things necessary for team success proves his selflessness and usefulness. Where it used to be VandeBerg — and then Riley McCarron — who went over the middle, Easley now has that role.

That's just part of it, he said. Spoken like a loyal Ferentz player.

'Sometimes it comes with a price, but you've got to do it,' Easley said. 'You've got to move the chains. I don't know, someone's got to do it. If that's your role on the team then you've got to do it, you've got to get first downs for the offense.

'Whether the numbers are there or whatever that is, that can be determined by game plan and opportunities sometimes. I definitely go out there and expect to play well every time.'

ILLINOIS PLANNED THE WAVE

During the first quarter wave to the Stead Family Children's hospital patients and families from Kinnick Stadium, another addition was seen Saturday: the Illinois football team.

Coach Lovie Smith's group turned and waved with the crowd of 69,894 at the end of the first quarter, and Smith said after the game it was planned ahead of time.

Illinois' team Twitter account even joined in, continuing from last week when Michigan State honored the new tradition as well.

'I was hoping it was all of them (who waved),' Smith said of his players. 'I think it's a great thing the University of Iowa does to bring a smile to some of those kids' faces who are going through quite a bit. We knew that coming in and wanted to be a part of it.'

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