Reaction time: Pass protection falters for Iowa

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- We have criticized Iowa's passing game under Greg Davis so much that there's hardly ever anything new to say about it. Jake Rudock doesn't throw downfield enough. Receivers run routes too short and aren't on the same page as the quarterback. Put in Beathard.

But it's not often that the Hawkeyes' pass blocking is as clear a negative as it was at Maryland today. Rudock was sacked four times and hit as he threw the ball several more. During one stretch in the third quarter of three straight three-and-outs, he hardly ever had a chance to let a route develop. All Big-Ten left tackle Brandon Scherff played what sure seemed like his worst game as a Hawkeye. ESPN's broadcast showed replays at least twice of Terrapin defensive end Andre Monroe or linebacker Yannick Ngakoue bull-rushing Scherff to pressure Rudock. Austin Blythe got burned by Maryland's Darius Kilgo as well, and the Hoosiers sent all three linebackers on a blitz on a few third-down plays.

It was an ugly performance, made worse by the fact that Maryland could pin back its ears for an all-out pass rush since Iowa needed to throw the ball to catch up. Rudock threw the ball 56 times, and he was under duress on far too many of those.

What was Iowa's biggest problem today?