Kirk Ferentz shares blueprint for Iowa to beat Michigan
Going into the Big Ten Championship Game, there is an assumption that Michigan is going to beat Iowa. However, Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz has a blueprint for beating the Wolverines.
Ferentz explained that it won’t be easy but forcing mistakes and focusing on playing mistake-free football is going to be key for Iowa.
“Just what I’ve been saying,” Kirk Ferentz said. “We’d have to do everything right and probably force a couple mistakes. You can’t worry about all those things. You’ve just got to worry about what you can do and your performance. That’s what the week’s for. It’s us trying to know our opponent really well.”
This season at Iowa has been overshadowed by the offense’s struggles and offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz‘s contract stipulating that he needed to score 25 points per game this season. At 124th in scoring offense with 18 points per game, the Hawkeyes fell well short. However, those struggles have overshadowed an excellent defense and special teams unit.
Still, Kirk Ferentz knows that beating Michigan this season is going to take a lot of near-perfect execution from Iowa.
“I’m not too worried about us having the respect it takes to win a game, in this game. I’m not worried about that one, but just knowing our opponent, knowing what we have to do, and doing it with real precision, like a real high level of precision. I think, too, when you get into a game like this with an opponent like this, it’s got to be right on the — Raymond Berry said, you don’t aim for the bulls-eye. It’s the center of the bulls-eye,” Ferentz said.
“And it’s really appropriate in a game like this because if you’re off a little bit, chances are it’s not going to be good for you. A little bit of heightened awareness, I guess, and not so much appreciation but awareness and detail on what you’re doing, steps, footwork, eye discipline. All the things you have to do to be a good football player.”
Michigan opened as a 21.5-point favorite against Iowa.
Kirk Ferentz sounds off on Michigan sign-stealing scandal
Michigan has been embroiled in a sign-stealing scandal this season. Ahead of the Big Ten Championship Game, Kirk Ferentz shared his thoughts on the scandal.
“Full disclosure, I really haven’t paid that much attention to it. We’ve been in the middle of the season and we’ve been fighting for our lives every week. So that’s kind of where our focus has been, that’s where it’ll be this week. And I think that’s kind of, it’s a separate category. It really doesn’t affect our team, our players. And we’ll try to be as smart as we can, moving forward here with those things in mind,” Ferentz said.
“But it’s not going to really impact us. What I’ve been impressed with is how their players play on the field. Those guys are — they’re very aggressive, they’re very well-coached, good technique and they’re very talented. And again, that’s not a new phenomenon for Michigan. But that’s where our focus is and I think we’re gonna have our hands more than busy and more than full just trying to take on what they do so well.”