As Kirk Ferentz seeks next offensive coordinator, appreciation for ‘complementary football’ remains paramount

IOWA CITY — Kirk Ferentz, with reporters crowding around him at Iowa football’s indoor practice facility on Monday, hit on many of the points one would expect a coach to mention when discussing an offensive coordinator search.

Ferentz highlighted the importance of coaches being “good mentors.” Ferentz used the analogy of not caring whether Norm Parker employed a three- or four-man defensive front back in 1999. He mentioned having “total confidence” in bringing a “really good person here.”

The 25th-year head coach also went out of his way to say whoever he hires as offensive coordinator “has to have an appreciation.”

“We have won a few games,” Ferentz said. “I know sometimes we all forget about that. … I probably wouldn’t be standing here after 25 years if that weren’t the case. And complementary football is the best way to win here, in my opinion.”

A key aspect of Ferentz’s “complementary football” philosophy is avoiding turnovers.

“You’ve got to respect the ball,” Ferentz said. “Ball security is critical. We got away with it in ’09 a little bit, but there are certain things that are paramount.”

Six FBS teams gave up seven or fewer turnovers this season, and all six finished 13th or higher in the final College Football Playoff rankings. The trend is not exclusive to the top caste of college football.

The 73 non-reclassifying FBS schools that gave up the ball 17 or fewer times this season averaged 7.5 wins, as of Thursday evening. The 57 schools that turned the ball over 18 or more times averaged 5.3 wins.

Iowa’s offense has not fared particularly well in the turnover category, giving up the ball 19 times — 10 fumbles and nine interceptions. That is tied for 83rd in the FBS.

That rank is rosy compared to some of the offense’s other statistics.

The Hawkeyes rank 130th in yards per game, 130th in yards per play, 127th in points per game, 129th in passing efficiency and 127th in passing yards per game ahead of their Jan. 1 bowl game.

“I’m really not worried about points per game,” Ferentz started to say before catching himself. “Excuse me, passing yards per game.”

Iowa’s 323 passing attempts this season rank 10th in the 14-team Big Ten despite playing one more game than most conference foes because of the championship game in Indianapolis.

“People that just throw the ball around — it makes it tougher to win,” Ferentz said. “It makes it tougher to be good on defense.”

To Ferentz’s point, Iowa has experienced more success recently when it has not needed to throw the ball extensively. Since the start of the 2022 season, Iowa is 3-4 when attempting more than 30 passes in a game. When Iowa attempts 30 or fewer passes, it is 15-4.

Ferentz specifically took a shot at USC as he discussed his appreciation for “complementary football.” He did not mention the Trojans by name, but said “where Ronnie Lott played.”

“There’s a school on the west coast right now that’s going to recommit to defense,” Ferentz said. “Gave up (46) to Tulane in a bowl game. … Now, they’re going to think about defense.”

No. 17 Iowa is 10-3 ahead of its trip to the Citrus Bowl, whereas unranked USC is 7-5 ahead of its short drive south to the less-prestigious Holiday Bowl.

Ferentz’s jab at what will soon be a fellow Big Ten program loses some luster when looking at the not-so-distant past, though.

In the last seven seasons, USC has three 10-win seasons, three trips to New Year’s Six bowls and finished at No. 12 or higher in the final Associated Press poll three times. (That includes finishing No. 3 after the 2016 season.)

Iowa has three 10-win seasons since 2016 as well. However, the Hawkeyes have not gone to any New Year’s Six bowls during that span, and their highest finish in the AP poll was No. 15 after the 2019 season (ironically after beating USC).

A look across the college football landscape also shows plenty of teams that have thrown the ball extensively and experienced a high level of success as a result. Eight of the 12 teams to earn spots in New Year’s Six bowls — a feat that has eluded the Hawkeyes in the last eight seasons — averaged at least 30 passing attempts per game.

Not-so-subtle jabs and the minutiae of passing statistics aside, Iowa has been one of the most successful programs in the country from an overall win standpoint.

With the exception of Iowa’s 6-2 record in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, Iowa has won at least eight games in eight consecutive seasons.

Iowa has finished 11 consecutive seasons, including 2020, with winning overall records — a statistic Ferentz will surely have an appreciation for, as will Iowa’s next offensive coordinator.

“What is important is wins per game,” Ferentz said.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com