Some pointed Iowa football observations from Kirk Ferentz

IOWA CITY — Iowa has arrived at the midpoint of the 2017 season. The Hawkeyes are 3-2 and 0-2 in the Big Ten. Close losses the last two weeks have left everyone frustrated.

Everyone.

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz opened his Tuesday news conference with some criticisms of what he saw in last week's 17-10 loss at Michigan State. He doesn't usually do that.

'As we turn our attention toward this week, it's all about us trying to improve on very obvious points right now,' Ferentz said. 'Just going down the list, obviously ball security, the turnover issue is something we're going to have to address, handling the blitz and then just overall developing a kind of confidence and grit it takes to be successful home or away.'

There was more.

'The other part is just being ready mentally to go for kickoff,' he said. 'I'm not sure that we were last Saturday for whatever reason, so that's a challenge, and that's something we'll have to learn, as well.'

Part of this is purpose pitch. The Hawkeyes started their Big Ten schedule as underdogs, against No. 4 Penn State and at Michigan State. Illinois (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) is not on that level, but you've seen the Hawkeyes and you know that they can't take anything for granted.

So, the veteran coach move is to rattle the improvement cage, which is basically the same as the 'improvement button' Ferentz referenced in the Michigan State postgame.

Consider that done.

Now, let's unspool the specifics.

Turnovers are bad and Iowa had way too many of them to beat teams on Penn State and Michigan State's level. Quarterback Nate Stanley has fumbled six times this year, losing four of those, with one coming last week inside MSU's 10-yard line in the third quarter. Wide receiver Brandon Smith compounded it with another fumble on the next series. Against Penn State, running back Akrum Wadley was victimized by a perfect hit at the end of a run that would've had Iowa inside PSU's 30 in the second half.

The Hawkeyes are 87th nationally in turnover margin at minus-2. Iowa's nine giveaways are 90th in the country and tied for 11th in the Big Ten with Northwestern and Rutgers. The eight lost fumbles are 126th in the country, with Oregon State (10) and San Jose State (11) the only schools with more fumbles.

'It's human nature to get frustrated,' said Stanley, who still only has one interception (133 passes). 'You have to find a way to harness that and use it in a positive way.'

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And while we're here, no, Ferentz hasn't come close to benching Stanley. Stanley has done way too many positive things. Stanley and the offense need to put a tourniquet on turnovers.

'I think all of us are really impressed and pleased with what he's done so far,' Ferentz said. 'He's working hard, he's conscientious. He's made some errors that are going to come with inexperience in my mind, and that's kind of been our judgment.'

Let's group Ferentz's 'handling the blitz' with where Iowa's running attack stands right now. No, Ferentz didn't put that on his list, but he was asked about it.

At 128.2 yards per game, the Hawkeyes are 12th in the league in rushing. At 3.39 yards per carry, Iowa is 107th in the nation and 13th in the league. Rushing yards was maybe the most un-Iowa number coming out of Michigan State. The 19 yards were the fewest in a game since having minus-9 against Ohio State in 2005.

'I see different things,' running back Akrum Wadley said. 'Sometimes, I see daylight. Sometimes, I don't.'

We've been over the injuries square dance that Iowa's O-line is trying to cope with right now. Illinois happens to be the worst rush defense in the Big Ten (179.5 yards a game). Ferentz is probably past the point of caring and just wants to see some clean execution up front. Iowa does still have three of the top five B1G rush defenses (Wisconsin, Minnesota and Nebraska) on its schedule.

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'It's just all about trying to develop more consistency, being able to sustain a little bit, and part of that is we've just got to keep working and get our lineups settled in and get the guys working together a little bit more cohesively,' Ferentz said.

The one big ding on the defense last week was its start. Michigan State took the opening drive 75 yards on seven plays in 3:10. The Spartans saw one third down and it was a third-and-2. The first quarter ended 14-0 MSU. After that, the Spartans were happy just running the clock.

'It's just kind of a demoralizing fact and it's going to happen so you've got to come back from it,' Ferentz said. 'It doesn't decide the game, but you'd like to start out with a little bit better tempo and try to force them to punt the ball and give you a little bit of better field position.'

Quick Slants

— The where and how much junior safety Brandon Snyder plays are yet to be determined, but Ferentz said Snyder is likely in this week. Snyder suffered a torn ACL in April during spring practice.

'He was cleared last week, so we're trying to move him forward,' Ferentz said. 'We'll see what the week brings here. He's doing a good job in practice, and I think it's fair to say he may be out there. How much, I don't know yet.'

— Sophomore cornerback Manny Rugamba suffered a lower-leg injury against Penn State and sat out last week's game. Ferentz said he hasn't practiced yet, but is improving. Sophomore Michael Ojemudia is in line for the start if Rugamba can't go. Michigan State threw at Ojemudia with success last week.

At first, it was feared that Rugamba suffered a broken bone.

'Good news is they did the test, everything is fine, so it's just a matter of soft tissue healing,' Ferentz said.

— Cornerback Josh Jackson wasn't happy with his decisions on punt returns last week. Before Iowa's final drive, he fielded a punt on Iowa's goal line and returned it to the 7. The play was waved off after MSU was hit with an illegal formation penalty.

This was another area where some inexperience leaked out. That was Jackson's fourth game as a punt returner. He's returned three so far this year.

'I don't want to get into specifics, but as you might imagine, we try not to field the ball on the 1,' Ferentz said. 'That's pretty obvious. There are certain parameters that you give every player, and in that circumstance certainly they were well-spelled out. I think what you saw was just inexperience there, too, so we're paying for that a little bit.'

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com