Iowa notes: Red-zone efficiency, Lomax revisits Gordon play, injuries

IOWA CITY - Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz's off-season checklist included several areas of improvement. Scoring points when the offense drove inside the 20-yard line sat chiefly among them.

The Hawkeyes (4-0) finished last season ranked 13th in red-zone efficiency among Big Ten teams. The Hawkeyes converted just 44 of 56 chances (78.6 percent) with 36 touchdowns. It became a trend after ranking 11th (of 12 teams) in 2013 and 10th (of 12) in 2012.

'That was one of the areas we didn't do well enough last year,” Ferentz said.

This year, Iowa has scored with almost shocking efficiency from inside the opponents' 20-yard line. The Hawkeyes rank first in the Big Ten by converting 15 of 16 trips inside the 20. Fourteen of those drives resulted in touchdowns, good enough for third nationally in red-zone touchdown rate.

'We've spent a lot of time on it in terms of scheme, but more importantly in practice,” Ferentz said. 'You just never know when that's going to show up or if it's going to show up or if it'll continue to show up. But I think at least our guys are a little bit more comfortable down there, and they've done a great job. Ultimately it gets back down to the players. Players with their execution and guys are really doing a great job so far.”

In Iowa's 28-9 loss to Wisconsin in 2013, the Hawkeyes came away with field goals when drives stalled at the Badgers' 11, 4 and 12. Iowa center Austin Blythe described that game as a motivator this week.

'We need to go out and finish drives,” Blythe said. 'Two years ago (against Wisconsin) we were in the red zone three times and didn't score a single touchdown.

'That's been a big emphasis for us all year, all off-season and I think that's the key, finishing plays, finishing drives and ultimately finishing the game.”

Iowa has run 46 plays in the red zone and only one has lost yardage. Quarterback C.J. Beathard has completed 8 of 11 passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns. Iowa has rushed for 136 yards on 38 red-zone carries and 12 touchdowns.

'Your focus has got to be laser-sharp in the red zone and there's no room for error down there,” Blythe said. 'I think that's where we've been better, just an attitude of ‘we're going to punch this thing in.'”

NIGHTMARE PLAY

When Iowa safety Jordan Lomax revisits last year's game against Wisconsin, one play stands out and trolls him.

Wisconsin led Iowa 19-17 with 8:59 remaining and faced third-and-13 at its 32-yard line. As quarterback Joel Stave dropped back, All-American running back Melvin Gordon stepped toward Lomax, who rushed toward the line of scrimmage. Gordon ran around Lomax, Stave found him open and Gordon sprinted 35 yards for a first down. That led to another touchdown and ultimately a 26-24 Wisconsin victory.

'That's a play that I definitely lose sleep over,” Lomax said. 'I definitely haven't forgotten about it, but it's made me a better player because it's helped me not make the same mistake twice. It was a great learning experience.”

Lomax said it was a correctable mistake.

'I've seen the play so many times over and over again just where we go back on film and see what hurt us going over the past year and see what other teams would do to us,” Lomax said. 'That happened to be a play that keeps coming up.”

INJURY TIME

Ferentz has yet to rule out any players from this week's game at Wisconsin, but several are hampered with nagging health concerns.

Cornerback Greg Mabin, strong safety Miles Taylor and tackle Boone Myers left Saturday's game against North Texas and were described as 'limited” by Ferentz on Tuesday. Defensive end Drew Ott (elbow) started last week and running back LeShun Daniels (ankle) carried five times for 21 yards but both are still recovering from earlier injuries.

'We had a few guys have different issues during the course of the game,” Ferentz said. 'My guess is it's going to be like that all season long. We haven't had anybody eliminated yet, so we'll just keep moving forward.”

Tight end Jake Duzey played several snaps in the second half in some two- and three-tight end formations. Duzey, who had surgery last spring on a torn patella tendon, led Big Ten tight ends in receptions last year.

'He's hardly full speed yet, but he made a beautiful grab (Tuesday), by the way, a wild catch,” Ferentz said. 'But that doesn't mean he's fully healthy yet, either. He's cleared, he's moving forward, making progress, but I think this is going to take a little bit of time. But it's great for him to get out on the game field.”

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