Akrum Wadley shares something big with the media on Tuesday
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa running back Akrum Wadley is a reporter’s best friend because much of what he says is unfiltered, sincere and to the point.
The New Jersey native was the highlight of Tuesday’s weekly press conference because Wadley acknowledged that he has been playing at the same time with fellow running back LeShun Daniels in recent practices, only with Wadley lined up in the slot.
That is big news around these parts and maybe shows that Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, whether he wants to admit it or not, has a stronger sense of urgency heading into the ninth game of the regular season at Penn State on Saturday.
Iowa's weekly press conference is arranged so the players meet with the media before Ferentz does. So it didn’t take long before Ferentz was asked on Tuesday to respond to what Wadley had said about an hour earlier.
“It's really a wildcat, and we've got a triple option with a pass off of it,” Ferentz said jokingly. “All kinds of razzle dazzle stuff. So we're just fooling around with different looks and what have you. Nothing major.”
That was Ferentz’s way of trying to be funny and sarcastic about something that he probably doesn’t consider funny at all.
It is reasonable to think that Ferentz would’ve preferred that Wadley not let the cat of the bag. But by the time Ferentz took the podium at approximately 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday, it was too late.
Reporters already had their story, while Iowa fans finally had what they wanted, which was more effort to get the elusive Wadley in space in order to help a sputtering offense.
Iowa offense coordinator Greg Davis first mentioned the possibility of Wadley and Daniels playing at the same time in a press conference last Wednesday during the bye week.
That led to Wadley being asked about it on Tuesday.
“We have a few plays with me and LeShun in at the same time,” Wadley said. “It’s been looking good out there, looking good.”
Looking good would be a significant improvement for an Iowa passing attack that mostly has looked out of sync to this point.
Wadley already has shown as a running back that he has a gift for making defenders miss in space. He also has shown decent hands, including catching seven passes for 72 yards during the 17-9 loss to Wisconsin on Oct. 22 at Kinnick Stadium.
“Whether it’s from the backfield or from the slot position, anyway to help the team out best, I’m comfortable,” Wadley said.
The only downside to Wadley playing running back is that it comes at the expense of Daniels, being that they share the position. When one is in the game, the other isn’t. And that always leaves Iowa with one of its most dynamic offensive players standing on the sideline.
That could change on Saturday, but even Wadley tried to downplay his expanded role when asked Tuesday how much he has had to learn about the slot position.
“Not that much,” he said. “We install first and we’re taking it one play at a time until we get everything down pat. They’re not just going to drop the whole load on me.”
The whole load doesn’t need to be dropped in this case. But what’s the harm in creating a package or two for Wadley in the slot?
Ferentz probably wasn't thrilled with the amount of attention given to Wadley's comments because Ferentz is proud and confident in his way of doing things, but also because he didn’t want Penn State to know about it.
Fans are naïve to think that Ferentz would abandon his style of play just because the offense has struggled more than what was expected. Ferentz is a firm believer in staying the course and working hard each day to get better without having to rely on gimmicks or gadget plays.
Expanding Wadley’s role hardly would be a gimmick, though.
It would be a more creative way of staying the course and using your best resources. Iowa needs to get its best players in space in order to ignite the offense before it is too late.
But that doesn’t mean abandoning the running game.
The Iowa offense is lost without a running game, and that wouldn’t change with Wadley playing some in the slot. The best way to help Wadley be productive in the slot is to have a productive rushing attack to create play action passing.
“You can put him anywhere on the field and he has the ability to make plays with his feet,” Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard said of Wadley, who leads Iowa with 636 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. “Clearly, he’s an explosive player, so anytime you can get him the ball in space, it’s good.”
And now is that time, at least for Wadley, it seems.
As for Desmond King, Iowa’s All-America cornerback said Tuesday that he didn’t spend any time during the bye working on offense.
It’s hard to know whether to believe him or not, considering King also told reporters before the Iowa State game on Sept. 10 that he would be matched exclusively against Cyclone star receiver Allen Lazard when King knew that wasn’t the case.
Wadley, on the other hand, seemed to be telling the truth on Tuesday.
The question is, did he tell reporters too much?
That was hard to tell from Ferentz’s response.