By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – There is plenty to dislike about the sputtering Iowa offense right now.

Iowa’s offense has only scored four touchdowns in two games, and that’s just one more touchdown than the Iowa defense has scored.

Junior quarterback Spencer Petras is only completing 50 percent of his passes and is averaging just 125.5 passing yards in the first two games. The best thing Petras has done so far is not throw an interception.

There also have been several dropped passes and Iowa’s receivers have combined for just 11 catches in two games.

It was thought that junior Tyrone Tracy Jr. was poised to have a huge season as Iowa’s go-to receiver, but he only has four catches for 27 yards, with his longest reception gaining just nine yards.

But even more alarming than all of those sobering statistics is the all-too familiar script in which the Iowa running game fails to produce.

Iowa only has 225 rushing yards heading into Saturday’s game against Kent State at Kinnick Stadium and is averaging just 3.0 yards per rushing attempt.

And yet, Iowa is 2-0 and ranked fifth in the Associated Press poll, making it easy to ignore the rushing woes.

Nearly one-fourth of Iowa’s rushing yards came on one carry when Tyler Goodson broke loose for a 56-yard touchdown on the fourth play from scrimmage against Indiana in the season opener.

Take away Goodson’s long touchdown run and the running game has been virtually non-existent.

And without a running game, Petras’ job becomes more difficult because he doesn’t have the luxury of using play action to keep defenses guessing, and he also lacks mobility.

It was reasonable to think that the running game might take some time to click due to having three new starters on the offensive line. Starting senior guard Kyler Schott also missed the first two games because of a foot injury.

But Iowa still has arguably the best center in the country in junior Tyler Linderbaum, who by the way, has been sensational in the first two games, along with Goodson, who made first-team All-Big Ten last season.

To expect the running game to be dominant would be asking too much because rarely has the Iowa running game been dominant under Kirk Ferentz, which is strange considering Iowa’s reputation as a running team under Ferentz.

But to be averaging just 3.0 yards per carry is unacceptable, and if that average doesn’t improve, Iowa could fall short of reaching its goals this season.

Petras being sacked six times has certainly hurt Iowa’s rushing average, but there is no denying that the running game has left much to be desired.

There is no one person to blame, and blame isn’t what’s needed right now.

What Iowa needs more than anything is for the running game to produce enough to provide balance and play action, let’s say 150 yards a game. The young offensive linemen, most notably redshirt freshman left tackle Mason Richman, sophomore right tackle Nick DeJong and sophomore guard Justin Britt, also need to grow up in a hurry because their future is now.

Goodson already has shown numerous times what he can do with just a little running room.

A running back at the Power Five level has to be able to make at least one defender miss, even with good blocking, and Goodson certainly has that ability, as does his backup, senior Ivory Kelly-Martin.

There still is a lot of season left, and plenty of time for the running game to develop and to deliver.

It could happen in the next two games against Kent State and Colorado State, but it’ll take success against Big Ten opponents for the running game to be validated and fully appreciated.

Defense and special teams can take a team a long ways, as Iowa fans have seen before with the legendary 1981 breakthrough season, and as they’re seeing now.

Some might say why focus on the running game when there is so many positive things to highlight about this Iowa team, and why do it this early in the season?

Fair enough.

But on the other hand, why ignore a part of the offense that should have a huge impact on how this season unfolds?

Iowa’s first two opponents were both pretty good, so maybe that’s why the running game sputtered.

But if that’s the case, it’ll be hard for this Iowa team to be special.

Iowa is the only team in the country with two wins over ranked opponents, and it earned that distinction despite having a sputtering offense.

That’s impressive, but also a concern.

Goodson is too talented to be averaging just 3.9 yards per carry.

This column is sort of like beating a dead horse because the Iowa running game so often has been more hype and reputation than productivity.

The current Iowa team is built to win in many ways with a top-notch defense, a Reggie Roby-like punter, and with a schedule that now looks pretty favorable.

But it’s so difficult to navigate through the Big Ten’s rocky waters with a sputtering and unreliable running game. Eventually, it catches up to you.

Petras has to play better, but he is who is, a 6-foot-5, 233-pound pro-style quarterback who is most comfortable staying in the pocket.

He needs play action to be at his best, but play action needs a running game to be at its best.