Iowa vs. Maryland analysis: Hawkeyes’ offensive line faces tough test

COLLEGE PARK, MD. — No Big Ten team has sacked opposing quarterbacks this season more than Maryland.

At the same time, only three Big Ten teams have suffered more quarterback sacks this season than Iowa.

That presents an intriguing matchup at the line of scrimmage Friday as Iowa visits Maryland.

Granted, neither stat is perfect.

Some of those sacks allowed may have been throwaway passes on other teams. Quarterback Spencer Petras’ streak of 167 consecutive throws without an interception certainly trumps many of his Big Ten peers.

A handful of those Maryland sacks came against Howard and Kent State, two schools that don’t recruit the same talent Iowa does.

The lack of space for running back Tyler Goodson and Iowa’s lackluster offensive statistics suggest the offensive line has some work to do, though.

Center Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa’s stalwart on the line, acknowledged “a lot of mistakes” by the offensive line against Colorado State.

“But the best thing is you can learn from those mistakes,” Linderbaum said.

Iowa certainly has a reputation for steadfast offensive lines, but the group that started against Colorado State last week wasn’t exactly the most experienced head coach Kirk Ferentz has seen.

Outside of Linderbaum, who hasn’t missed a start since 2018, the other four combined to start 15 games.

The good news for the Hawkeyes? Help is on the way.

Ferentz said Tuesday offensive linemen Justin Britt and Kyler Schott have continued to progress from their injuries.

Britt, Ferentz said after Saturday’s win, was initially expected to rotate in off the bench against Colorado State. He did not play, but “had a little more practice” this week, Ferentz said on Tuesday.

Schott, the only senior listed on the Hawkeyes’ two-deep this week, has been continuing to recover after injuring himself while jumping off a pile of hay bales on his family’s farm in Coggon.

Schott was “very close to 100 percent” healthy on Sept. 21, he told reporters, but still needed to improve his conditioning. On Tuesday, Ferentz said he is “gaining ground” each week.

“With every week, we expect to see him play more and more,” Ferentz said.

Still, Ferentz acknowledged Britt and Schott’s improved health isn’t enough to single-handedly solve the offensive line woes.

“It should help us, but it’s not the total answer,” Ferentz said.

Barring any other injuries — from hay-baling or otherwise — Iowa will at least have more depth on the offensive line. Any improvement on the offensive line will likely benefit a running game that has been statistically one of the worst in the Big Ten.

Iowa’s ranks 13th in the Big Ten with 3.34 yards per carry in 2021. The only team with a worse average is Purdue at 2.94 yards per carry.

Sometimes low efficiency can be a result of high volume if defenses are expecting a lot of running plays. But less than a third of Iowa’s plays this season have been rushing attempts.

Ladell Betts, Iowa’s running backs coach, said the group is working to “to be more productive in the running game on a consistent basis.”

One of the things Betts pointed to in helping establish the run? “Everyone trying to finish their blocks as best as possible.”

The offensive line doesn’t get all the blame. Betts sees plenty of things for the running backs to improve on, too.

“Everyone shares responsibility in that,” Betts said.

How well the offensive line does its part could be a difference-maker as Iowa tries to keep up with the high-scoring Maryland Terrapins.

Comments: (319) 398-8394; john.steppe@thegazette.com