Inside The Hawkeyes
  • 2 years ago
Iowa Quarterback
Transcript
00:00 Kate, two weeks in, kind of describe
00:02 the progression of the offense.
00:03 You feel like it keeps taking steps.
00:05 Yeah, I definitely do think we're
00:07 continuing to take steps.
00:09 I mean, I think one of the biggest things
00:11 that we were talking about after our first week was just kind
00:14 of stuff that we can control.
00:15 And I think we had a lot of false starts the first week.
00:18 We had some stuff that was in our control
00:21 that we didn't do a very good job of.
00:23 And we were able to clean all that up in the second week.
00:26 And I also thought we did a really good job
00:29 of-- I thought we ran the ball really well, too.
00:32 So I think now we're just trying to put the pieces together.
00:36 I think we're really close.
00:37 Two games in a row where the offense has started hot.
00:40 Third quarter, it just kind of cools off.
00:42 What do you guys do to address that and fix that going
00:45 forward?
00:46 To be honest, I mean, it's just coming down to execution.
00:48 I think we're getting the looks that we want.
00:50 And we're getting some of the stuff.
00:54 Some of it has been a little bit of a poor circumstance.
00:58 But also, I think as we're just continuing
01:01 to get closer with one another and get more comfortable
01:05 with one another, I think we're--
01:07 again, I think we're doing everything
01:09 we can to close the gap.
01:11 Looks like I saw a couple of passes
01:13 you had took a little off or went a little farther.
01:17 It would have gone for big plays.
01:18 Same thing with offensive line.
01:20 If there was one more block here.
01:22 Does that mean that there's progression there?
01:26 That you feel like things are going in the right direction?
01:28 Yeah, I mean, there are multiple times
01:30 that we're a foot away from having a big play.
01:34 And I think some of that stuff is just like--
01:40 I just think we're that close.
01:42 I think whether it's the first game or last game,
01:45 we're really close to the score being a lot different than what
01:48 it is.
01:48 And I think the guys are recognizing that.
01:50 We're seeing that.
01:51 And I think it's just going to come down
01:53 to us closing that gap.
01:56 I think we're all aware of that we're very close
01:58 and that we're gaining strides.
02:00 But of course, again, it's just really coming down
02:03 to the execution part.
02:05 Is it easy for you guys to balance being frustrated,
02:09 being that close, and just focusing on yourselves?
02:12 Or how would you classify that?
02:15 I mean, I don't think--
02:16 I think the only level of frustration
02:18 would be because of the expectations
02:20 we've set for ourself.
02:21 And I think the thing is that we've
02:25 seen it done in practice.
02:26 We've seen, honestly, constant repetition
02:29 of some of these things.
02:31 And again, I mean, it's not--
02:34 I mean, some of these things are not really big things.
02:38 They're just really close.
02:39 And I think us recognizing that, we
02:43 can do a lot of these things.
02:46 So if anything, there's a level of confidence that's like,
02:49 all right, we're getting close.
02:50 And once this thing starts clicking,
02:52 we're going to be really dangerous.
02:54 How's the quad feeling?
02:55 It's feeling really good.
02:56 I mean, this is the most healthy I've felt in a month.
02:59 So this will be my first full practice,
03:02 first full week of practice of not missing anything
03:05 and participating in everything.
03:06 So I mean, I'm excited to just be fully back in.
03:09 And it's a relief.
03:12 Being so close but not quite there yet,
03:14 do you think that's just a byproduct of missing time
03:17 right before the season started and you guys are still
03:19 working a little bit on that cohesion
03:20 as the season goes through?
03:23 I mean, I think it's just more of you're going to be better
03:26 and we're going to be better next month
03:28 than we are this month.
03:29 And I think this is our first time in game situation.
03:32 So yeah, I think--
03:36 I just don't think that this is going to be a continuous thing.
03:38 We're just going to continue to get better.
03:40 And I think we're getting a lot closer.
03:42 And I mean, over the course of the season,
03:44 I mean, we're going to look back and be like, wow,
03:46 we were messing that up.
03:47 And then in a couple of weeks, it's
03:50 going to be second nature.
03:51 So I mean, as I said, we're just doing everything
03:54 we can to just get as best as we can.
03:57 A lot of teams out there probably
03:59 wish they were 2-0 at this point.
04:01 A lot of guys talked about a good vibe in the building.
04:03 How would you describe that general feeling
04:06 after the 2-0 start that you've got going right now?
04:09 Yeah, I think the guys feel like we're in a really good spot.
04:13 As Coach Ferenc has said, 2-0 is the best
04:15 we could be at this point.
04:16 So we're sitting here at 2-0 and we're just
04:19 focused on getting 3-0.
04:22 How much of the playbook do you think
04:23 you've had to put on the shelf for a little while
04:26 because of your injury?
04:27 I mean, Iowa traditionally likes to do bootlegs off
04:30 a lot of play action and then hit the tight end on a cross
04:35 and stuff.
04:35 And you haven't really done any of that.
04:37 Is that probably because of your injury
04:40 or is that just a change of the playbook?
04:43 Well, I mean, there's a lot of the different plays
04:46 that we could get to.
04:47 But some of it doesn't fit the schematics of the defense
04:49 that we're playing.
04:50 So I mean, there's multiple different ways
04:54 to take advantage of a defense.
04:55 And sometimes-- I mean, I'm not going
04:58 to say that I've been able to fully sprint
05:00 the last two weeks.
05:01 So of course, maybe some of my movement,
05:04 some of the movement in the pocket has been--
05:07 I mean, we weren't able to QB sneak on 3rd and 1.
05:10 But I think from now on, those are
05:13 going to be things that as I'm getting closer to 100%
05:16 that we'll be able to incorporate.
05:18 But as far as the play calling goes,
05:20 I mean, we're just running the best plays
05:22 that we can to take advantage of the defense.
05:24 Western Michigan is pretty aggressive, defensively
05:28 blitzing a lot.
05:29 They're going to come at you.
05:31 How do you combat that?
05:32 Yeah, I think our level of communication up front
05:35 and with me, the backs, and really everyone just
05:39 being on the same page.
05:40 Because we know these guys are going to come a lot.
05:44 I mean, there's--
05:45 [LAUGHTER]
05:47 That was-- but no, but they have like a 78--
05:53 they're in a high 70% pressure.
05:55 So I'd appreciate it if you guys posted a video of that.
05:58 [LAUGHTER]
06:01 But yeah, I mean, we have to be on key with our hots.
06:05 We got to be on key with our protection.
06:07 So--
06:07 [LAUGHTER]
06:11 Damn it.
06:12 I was not expecting that.
06:13 But yeah, we'll be--
06:16 yeah.
06:17 Too much creative writing.
06:18 [LAUGHTER]
06:20 Maybe not enough.
06:21 [LAUGHTER]
06:24 Completing 55%, 56% of your passes so far,
06:28 how much do you think that could improve?
06:30 And is some of that why it hasn't been higher?
06:32 Is that partially injury-wise or more so schematics?
06:36 No, I mean, I definitely think it should be higher.
06:38 And it's a combination of a lot of things.
06:41 I mean, completion percentage has--
06:44 I mean, it can be my footwork.
06:46 It could be where the ball's going.
06:47 It could be a lot of different things.
06:49 I mean, I've had to throw the ball away maybe a couple more
06:52 times than I would like to when I would usually scramble.
06:54 But yeah, I mean, I got to improve on that.
06:58 When you had surgery at the end of last year,
07:00 was that the longest you've ever been
07:02 without playing football from that kind of recovery time?
07:06 This is the most amount of time I've ever
07:09 been away from football.
07:10 I've been throwing footballs yearly.
07:14 I mean, around every single month,
07:16 every week for the last, I don't know, like 15 years of my life.
07:22 So this is definitely the longest
07:24 I've gone without playing football.
07:25 And there's a lot of things that I'm pretty relieved as in,
07:31 I still have a lot of my second nature things.
07:33 But I mean, I'm still--
07:35 now I'm excited because, I mean, just like even
07:37 though I've been away from football for so long,
07:39 this is my first week of being in a--
07:42 practicing for a game in a year or so.
07:45 I'm just really happy that I'm in this situation
07:48 now that I can really put the gas pedal down and get
07:52 after these weeks in the preparation.
07:54 Is there an adjustment in trying to feel
07:57 like the game slows down again?
07:58 Like is it when you haven't played for so long
08:01 and you get back on the field, what
08:04 is that just like of trying to get back to where you were?
08:08 I mean, I don't think there's a--
08:11 I mean, I think just as you're continuing as a player,
08:14 you're just wanting to get better as much as you can.
08:17 And I think there are things that I'm doing right now
08:21 that I was doing better than before I got hurt.
08:24 There are some-- there are obviously some things
08:26 that I think I could get better at.
08:28 So I think over the course of this year,
08:32 I've been able to focus on a lot of things due to my injury
08:35 that from a strengthening standpoint,
08:38 from a mechanic standpoint, that probably I
08:40 wouldn't have been able to do if I didn't get hurt.
08:43 So there's good and bad to all of it.
08:46 Your offensive coordinator has generated a lot of discussion,
08:51 I guess, partly because of his contract and what have you.
08:54 But what's been your feel of working with him?
08:57 And what do you think of the game plans he's put together?
09:01 I mean, I have total belief in Coach Brian.
09:04 And I think the rest of the guys do, too.
09:06 I think what we've been able to do in practice
09:09 and what we've shown some signs of in the game
09:11 is that we can be an explosive offense
09:13 and push the ball down the field and, while at the same time,
09:17 run the ball really well.
09:18 And I think we all know how hard Brian works.
09:22 And we all have a tremendous amount of respect for him.
09:25 Cade, with the running game, you hit the big play with jazz.
09:28 But then there's some other areas where it kind of bogs
09:30 down.
09:31 Is consistency the big thing right now
09:33 with getting the running game going on a more consistent
09:35 basis?
09:37 I mean, we're always going to shoot
09:38 for trying to be as consistent as we can.
09:40 And I think a lot of that has to do
09:44 with different parts of the game.
09:45 I mean, it's going to be tough to run the ball when
09:48 the defense knows we're going to be running the ball
09:50 like at the end of the game.
09:52 So there's going to be times that it
09:54 is going to be more difficult. And I think, especially
09:58 last game, we were able to run a lot of play action
10:01 on some of those situations.
10:02 And that really paid off for us.
10:04 So I mean, there's give and take.
10:05 But as I said, we're just trying to just get better
10:09 in every aspect, whether it's a run game or a pass game.
10:13 I know you guys have taken some shots down the field.
10:15 Maybe not all of them have connected.
10:17 But how much of a point of emphasis
10:18 has that been just during the week of trying to-- whoever
10:21 it is, Nico, Luke, Deontay, just testing the defense deep?
10:25 Yeah, I mean, that's been a point of emphasis for us,
10:27 that we have a lot of belief in those players.
10:29 And I mean, if you're going to push the ball down the field,
10:32 it's going to be pretty difficult to be 100%
10:34 on all of those, just because the level of difficulty
10:37 only increases as the yardage increases.
10:41 So I mean, honestly, I think we're
10:43 hitting probably like every other, in my opinion.
10:47 So I think just the more chances that we just
10:51 keep getting at getting the looks that we want,
10:53 and us connecting on those, I mean,
10:56 it's just going to be huge for our offense.
10:58 Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't
10:59 think a wide receiver had a catch in the first half
11:02 against Iowa State.
11:03 Has that been something that you guys have talked about,
11:05 or been an emphasis, that you guys
11:07 do want to spread the ball around a little bit more?
11:09 I mean, I didn't know that.
11:12 I'm not really--
11:13 I mean, of course I'm concerned about everyone.
11:17 I'm just trying to put the ball where it's supposed to be.
11:19 How would you describe Jazz?
11:21 Jazz?
11:22 That dude is relentless.
11:23 I think he is--
11:25 he's willing to give up his body,
11:27 no matter if there's a gap there or not.
11:30 I mean, he runs so hard.
11:31 And one play that sticks out in my mind
11:34 was we had a play-action play, and we had two guys coming off
11:38 the edge.
11:38 And Jazz literally dove and took out two guys at one time.
11:42 And it gave me just enough time to get the ball to Eric.
11:44 And I think that just shows his level of unselfishness
11:49 and what he's willing to do for this team.
11:50 And I know I definitely appreciate it.
11:53 Did you see that happen live, or was that something
11:55 you didn't see until you went back?
11:57 No, I mean, as a quarterback, you're
11:59 not looking down at the rush.
12:01 So I was able to watch it when we got into the film room.
12:04 And I was like, oh my gosh, I didn't even
12:06 know that even happened.
12:08 Even when Jazz isn't going horizontal through two games,
12:11 I'm sure you're happy with the path protection.
12:13 I mean, you've had a big pot back there.
12:15 Yeah, I mean, I think there's some things that I could still
12:18 kind of get used to.
12:21 I mean, it's sometimes secondary pressure.
12:24 Those are the guys you're looking at from a quarterback
12:27 standpoint.
12:27 So when those guys come, you usually
12:29 feel like you can sense their emotion around you
12:32 a little bit more.
12:33 So I mean, Jazz did such a good job
12:36 of picking up corner blitzes and a lot
12:39 of those secondary pressures.
12:40 And I mean, those are tough blocks for a back to make.
12:45 And he's consistently making them right now.
12:48 Going back to when you just had surgery
12:50 and weren't able to do things physically, what did you do?
12:54 Did you watch a lot of film?
12:56 Like, what did that look like when you couldn't throw or run?
13:00 How did you kind of--
13:01 Well, I kind of did--
13:03 well, I would-- whatever I could do, I would do.
13:06 And then I'd evaluate that.
13:08 I mean, I can't--
13:09 I wasn't able to watch--
13:11 like, I don't think watching a lot of particular film,
13:16 like if it went in terms of learning a new offense
13:19 or something, like, I first had surgery.
13:21 Like, I was still at Michigan.
13:25 So I knew the playbook and everything.
13:27 And I wasn't able to play.
13:31 So I wasn't looking at as much opponent film as I would,
13:34 usually.
13:35 But I think I would still look at film
13:38 to try and help the other guys and everything.
13:41 But I think I just did everything I could,
13:45 whether it was from a walking standpoint,
13:48 just trying to make my movements more efficient.
13:51 And that was something that I was able to pick up a lot
13:53 when I was able to get the crutches off and be
13:56 able to be weight-bearing and all that stuff.
13:58 I mean, there's a process to everything.
14:00 But there was a time that it was just,
14:02 I'm not worried about football.
14:04 I'm just worried about if I can bend my knee to 60 degrees
14:06 by next week.
14:08 And I think me looking--
14:10 me having those short-term goals really
14:12 helps me get through it.
14:15 How valuable was it for the offensive line
14:16 and the running backs keeping you
14:17 clean these first few weeks?
14:18 How valuable was that for your recovery?
14:21 You said it's the best you felt in the month.
14:23 Yeah, I mean, it's huge.
14:24 And I think these guys are just continually to just--
14:28 I think everyone has such a growth mindset right now.
14:31 And they're playing very hard.
14:33 And I just think I just truly appreciate that,
14:37 because there's a huge level of respect
14:41 when it comes to the offensive line.
14:43 And when we're able to spread the love,
14:46 and I want to make sure that those guys know that--
14:49 not just me, but the other skilled players on this team--
14:51 appreciate them.
14:53 What is key to connecting on those downfield throws?
14:55 Like the one to Vines, the one to LaChe in the last game,
14:58 like you just barely missed those.
14:59 So what's key to making that connection happen?
15:03 I mean, repetition.
15:06 [INAUDIBLE]
15:07 In the last couple of weeks, I see so's in there.
15:10 I mean, he's such a positive guy.
15:13 And he is, well, very similar to Jazz.
15:15 I mean, he just goes in and just rams whoever's in the hole.
15:20 I mean, he just blocks--
15:24 I mean, he just comes downhill, too.
15:25 And I think he's just--
15:27 we appreciate him on this team, too.
15:29 I mean, there's a lot of guys right now
15:30 that are playing very unselfishly.
15:32 And he's definitely one of those guys.
15:35 All right, thank you, Kane.