Iowa football notebook: Iowa receivers taking pride in downfield blocking; Heflin on Ferentz’s compliment
By Tyler Devine
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The production of senior receivers Brandon Smith and Ihmir Smith-Marsette is not at the level many predicted it would be this season.
After combining for 81 catches for 1,161 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2019, the two receivers have combined for 29 catches for 316 yards and three touchdowns in 2020.
Part of that is a lack of games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a struggling first-year quarterback and Iowa is running the ball effectively.
“The run game is at a high point right now,” Smith-Marsette said. “So, that’s what we focus on, getting the ball out into the running back’s hands and we’re going to let them showcase their talent. Why turn away from something that’s working?”
The offensive line will get most of the credit for Iowa’s success on the ground, especially during Iowa’s four-game winning streak in which it has averaged over 191 yards rushing.
But some of that credit can be attributed to the downfield blocking abilities of the Hawkeye receivers.
Iowa ranks sixth in the Big Ten with almost 173 rushing yards per game and sophomore running back Tyler Goodson ranks second in the conference with 564 yards.
“It’s always good because, as a receiver, the typical receiver stats are catches and touchdowns and everything,” Smith said. “But something that can be overlooked sometimes is the blocking aspect of the game. I definitely do take pride in springing the running back for explosive runs, because blocking is every bit as important as catching the ball.”
The average yards per game for the two receivers are also down, and a big reason why is that Iowa’s downfield passing game as been virtually non-existent.
The longest reception by an Iowa player this season is 40 yards by Goodson in which he turned a short pass into a long gain.
Neither Smith nor Smith-Marsette have a reception longer than 20 yards, a surprising statistic considering the big play ability of the two, particularly Smith-Marsette who is known for his speed and explosiveness.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Smith averaged 48.7 yards per game in 2019 versus 23.8 this season, while the 6-foot-1, 179-pound Smith Marsette averaged 55.5 yards per game in 2019 versus 34.6 this season.
“When the deep ball comes, it’s going to come,” Smith-Marsette said. “Until then, we work with what’s working.”
Smith-Marsette also was a factor in the running game last season, scoring three touchdowns on 11 carries.
This season, the Newark, N.J., native has 12 yards on four carries.
“(Opposing defenses) just have a knack for defending it, I guess,” Smith-Marsette said. “It’s part of our game plan, so it’s something that has given teams the ability to prepare (for) and study and being able to get a jump on. I’m pretty sure when certain guys move in motion or come across the formation teams are alert.”
Howdy, neighbor: During a news conference earlier in the season, head coach Kirk Ferentz compared senior defensive lineman Jack Heflin to a 45-year-old next door neighbor.
Heflin, who is in his first season with Iowa as a graduate transfer from Northern Illinois, was a mixture of confused and flattered by Ferentz’s words.
“When I saw that, I was like ‘I don’t know where he’s coming from with all that,’” Heflin said. “I guess I’m just – I’m the guy who always comes and just asks people how they’re doing. I just talk to people and ask how their family is doing, stuff like that. I guess that’s where he gets it from, but I’ve always been that way. I mean, I wouldn’t say I’m that mature. I would like to think I am, but I’ve got a long way to go. Even my mom, she asked me about it, and I was like ‘Mom, I don’t know’. But I’ll take a compliment any way I can get it, I guess.”
The 6-foot-4, 312-pound Heflin has started five games at defensive tackle this season and 18 tackles, including two for loss and a sack.
The Prophetstown, Ill., native was named second-team All-MAC in 2019 and was named Northern Illinois’ Defensive Player of the Year.