Iowa football summer check-in: Quarterback Spencer Petras taking command

IOWA CITY — When junior quarterback Spencer Petras addressed the media this past spring, he said he didn’t care what the fans thought, he’s going to get better.

“No offense to the fans, but I could (not) care less about what they have to say about our performance,” Petras said in April. “I’m focused on improving and having a great spring.”

Like any young quarterback, he’s under a microscope, but this year he has more time to prepare for his second season as the leader of Iowa’s offense.

“I will say his timing is better, his leadership is better, accuracy is better,” junior wide receiver Tyrone Tracy said Tuesday. “Last year he kind of was timid, he really didn't command the field, but I feel like this year, he's definitely gaining the respect of his teammates. He's one of the hardest workers, so I feel like that's another way he's going to gain a lot of respect.”

Tracy added Petras has been passing to him three to four times a week during the past three weeks of summer conditioning, and as the new leader of the wide receiving corps has focused his energy on strengthening that chemistry off the field.

Part of that, senior wide receiver Nico Ragaini adds, is taking advantage of the communication they didn’t have last offseason.

“Sometimes routes don’t look the way he wants them to look and we talk about it,” Ragaini said. “It helps just knowing what each other wants and how to get the ball.”

The biggest concern with Petras last season was his completion percentage, which stood at No. 9 in the Big Ten at 57.1 percent, his passing efficiency (quarterback rating) of 119 being No. 10. The Hawkeyes dropped their first two contests en route to a 6-2 season, when Petras stepped into a position with little offseason training.

“He definitely got put in a strange season, for sure,” senior offensive lineman Kyler Schott said. “He's the first one in the building, last one out. So he sets the bar at what everyone looks up to and what it takes to get to that first-string position.”

The game against Northwestern on Oct. 31 was among his worst, with three interceptions, a passer rating of 82.9 and completing only 52 percent of his passes.

His best games came at the back end of the season in December, against Illinois, where Petras completed 64.3 percent of his passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns, receiving his highest quarterback rating of the season at 165.6. His second-best outing was against Wisconsin the following week.

In the spring, Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz said striving for accuracy on deep passes can hinder an offense from advancing down field. That means focusing on passing in flats on the perimeter of the defense, where there aren’t any defenders.

“I think what we tried to stress with Spencer and all our other quarterbacks is in the opportunities we have to place that ball and extend plays for the receiver, we need to do that,” Brian Ferentz said.

But fans were thirsty for glimpse of other options at the open practices — like sophomore Alex Padilla or redshirt freshman Deuce Hogan.

Iowa quarterbacks coach Ken O’Keefe said at the beginning of the spring there was a true quarterback competition, even though Petras had the edge because of his experience. He commended Padilla’s quick feet and Hogan’s deep-ball accuracy.

But by the end of spring, and at the news conference Tuesday, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz seemed firm on Petras as the starter.

“We're going to keep an open mind for every position, but Spencer clearly has that experience,” Ferentz said. “He did a good job through spring practice start to finish. Probably the real story is the other two guys — Alex was not doing well. He flatlined for the first two weeks, and then that last half, he looked a lot more comfortable.”

The consensus from the players was Petras has the undisputed command in the locker room and on the field this offseason.

“I've never seen someone watch as much film and study the game like he does,” Ragaini said. “I have all faith in him and know that he'll continue to grow as he experiences more.”

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