Ferentz: ‘We’ll find a way to get through this game’

IOWA CITY — Roster-wise this week, the Hawkeyes are really spinning plates, while on a unicycle, on a tightrope, over a volcano, filled with sharks.

During his Tuesday news conference, head coach Kirk Ferentz ran down this list. Deep breath, here you go: Wide receiver Tevaun Smith (sprained knee), left tackle Boone Myers (neck/shoulder stinger), running back LeShun Daniels (high-ankle sprain) were out last week and will remain out this week.

Defensive end Drew Ott suffered a torn ACL in his right knee and his season is over. Right tackle Ike Boettger (high-ankle sprain) walked around Iowa City with a boot on his left leg. He's out this week, too.

No one will confirm that quarterback C.J. Beathard (hip/groin) is missing some practice this week, but he admitted Tuesday that he's not right.

So, to run that down in depth chart numbers, the No. 17 Hawkeyes (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten) are going into a Big Ten West Division showdown at No. 21 Northwestern (5-1, 1-1) without both of their No. 1 offensive tackles, a No. 1 defensive end (who also happens to be one of the Big Ten's best pass rushers), No. 1 wide receiver (Iowa's best, most expreienced deep threat) and the running back who started the season as No. 1.

Senior Jake Duzey, the Hawkeyes No. 1 tight end last two season, is making up ground with his torn patellar tendon suffered in March, but isn't all the way there.

The question was on Beathard and his health, but Ferentz's response perfectly sums up the challenge this week.

'We've got a lot of guys banged up right now,' he said. 'I'm not going to give you a count, but we have more than a couple. It's that time of year. We'll find a way to get through this game and then we'll go from there, but hopefully everybody will be able to make it for the game.'

The 'hopefully' part of that statement was meant for Beathard, who took 11 hits last week against Illinois after surviving four sacks and at least seven hits the week before at Wisconsin. Beathard said he's playing. Ferentz said he's counting on it.

'I feel good, I feel like I'll be out there for sure, yeah,' Beathard said.

Ott's absence is a big blow. His right knee buckled while in on a punt safe call in the third quarter. The immediate fear was a torn ACL, a source told The Gazette, and that was confirmed with an MRI on Monday. He was tied for sixth in Big Ten in tackles for loss (7.5) and sacks (6.0).

Redshirt freshman Parker Hesse (6-3, 240) will replace Ott. Hesse isn't a complete newbie. He started against Pitt after Ott suffered a dislocated elbow. He also is a regular in Iowa's 'raider' package, a personnel group designed for third down pass situations.

'Stressing out about it isn't going to help you at all,' Hesse said. 'You've got to focus on what you can control, that's playing the game and preparing for the game.'

Last Tuesday, Ferentz was asked about true freshman James Daniels seeing time in practice at right offensive tackle. The 6-4, 285-pounder had only played guard up until last week. Against Illinois, Daniels went in for Jordan Walsh at guard. When Walsh returned from a shoulder injury, Daniels went in for Boettger, who pulled up on Iowa's second play of the third quarter.

This Tuesday, Ferentz was asked who the next next tackle would be. Considering that junior Cole Croston replace Myers and now Daniels is poised to become the first true frosh to start at tackle in Ferentz's 16-plus seasons as Iowa's head coach, it's a salient question.

Junior Ryan Ward is one of several offensive tackle candidates, Ferentz said. He also said he hopes there are no emergencies.

'I don't mean it disrespectfully to those guys but I hope we don't have to see them on Saturday,' Ferentz said.

Despite super-mega plate spinning last week, the Iowa rush offense produced a pair of national awards. Running back Jordan Canzeri was named Football Writers Association of America offensive player of the week with a school record 43 carries for 256 yards and a pair of TDs. Offensive line coach and run game coordinator Brian Ferentz was named the offensive line coach of the week by CoachingSearch.com.

The Hawkeyes rushed for 278 yards against Illinois, averaging 5.5 yards per carry and chewing up nearly seven minutes on a fourth quarter drive that included 11 consecutive Canzeri rushes for 59 yards.

'Thing I was most pleased about with that whole group was the way they settled down that fourth quarter,' Kirk Ferentz said. 'That drive was really pretty, and it came at a great time.'

After Northwestern, the Hawkeyes have a bye week. They probably could use a bye month, but that's not happening.

Ferentz genuinely bristles at injury talk. It doesn't seem to come from a place of gamesmanship, either, but that probably is a byproduct. After running through a fairly grim medical report, Ferentz said Ott will be on the sideline at Northwestern and 'will be a great leader for us.'

He also said, basically, play on. That's kind of the message you have to send.

'It doesn't do any good to cry about what you don't have and what could have been and all that stuff,' Ferentz said. 'It's really kind of counterproductive. So, there's really no sense talking about it. I know our guys get the best medical care possible and that's really important. We've got to push on, too.'

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