Cade McNamara defers lack of WR involvement queries to OC Brian Ferentz
After being shutout in Happy Valley, questions, critiques and national commentary about the Iowa Hawkeyes‘ offense is as loud as ever before.
The Hawkeyes mustered up just four first downs and only 76 yards of total offense in its 31-0 shutout loss at No. 7 Penn State.
One of the storylines that has gained traction in the days since is the inability of Iowa to get its wide receivers involved in the offense. Iowa wide receivers have just 14 catches for 148 yards with two touchdowns through the season’s first four games.
While that’s not necessarily something new in Iowa City, the hope this offseason was that a pair of transfer portal additions in Seth Anderson and Kaleb Brown along with the return of Diante Vines and Nico Ragaini would mean improved production from the Hawkeye receivers.
Instead, it’s been more of the same. Iowa starting quarterback Cade McNamara was asked on Tuesday if the lack of involvement by the Hawkeye receivers was due to game plan or if there was a way to get the group more involved.
“I mean, I’m just a quarterback. I’m not calling the plays or doing any of that. That’s not my decision. I’m just going to run the play, and I’m going to throw it to the open guy,” McNamara said, deferring any explanation to his embattled offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz.
Cade McNamara on getting #Iowa’s wide receivers involved after just 14 catches through four games.
“I’m just the quarterback, I’m not calling the plays or doing any of that.” pic.twitter.com/NG3mLKxKUt
— Eliot Clough (@EliotClough) September 26, 2023
Perhaps the most puzzling development with Iowa’s receivers is Kaleb Brown’s inability to impact things. The Ohio State transfer has seen only 41 total snaps this season per Pro Football Focus and has only two targets.
McNamara was asked what the best way to get Brown individually more involved would be.
“Whatever Brian thinks is the best way to get Kaleb Brown involved, I’m all for it,” McNamara said.
Despite the frustrations from this past weekend and the slow start to the season, McNamara reiterated that he has complete trust in his receivers.
“I mean, I’m extremely confident in them. They know how confident I am (in them), and I know that they’re confident in me. I don’t really care about anything other than me and theirs relationship and I know how we both feel about one another,” McNamara said.
Iowa’s next chance to shore things up comes on Saturday night as the Hawkeyes welcome in Michigan State for a 6:30 p.m. CT kick on NBC.
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