By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Don Patterson has some simple advice for Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz: open things up on offense.

With Iowa having lost back-to-back games against Purdue and Wisconsin by scores of 24-7 and 27-7, respectively, and with the offense continuing to sputter, Patterson thinks it’s time for Iowa to start running what he describes as more explosive plays.

Patterson would like to see Iowa take more chances down field, and to have more targets for freshmen receivers Keagan Johnson and Arland Bruce.

“You can’t steal second with your foot on first base,” Patterson said Monday on the Hawk Fanatic radio show and podcast. “You can’t be afraid to cross the street.”

Patterson wasn’t being critical of Brian Ferentz.

But as a former offensive coordinator under Hayden Fry at Iowa, Patterson has a unique insight.

He still likes Iowa’s chances of winning the Big Ten West Division, and he still thinks the offense has potential, although, it’s been hard to tell in the last two games.

Iowa had two weeks to prepare for the Wisconsin game, and yet, there didn’t appear to be any new wrinkles on offense. It was mostly just the same running plays and the same short passing routes and the same plays on 4th-and-1.

Seldom did Iowa try to throw downfield, even though Wisconsin often loaded the box with eight and nine defenders just daring Iowa to throw.

Being cautious and predictable on offense is one thing when you’re winning.

But when you’re cautious and predictable and your team still loses, it’s probably time to make some changes.

That was basically Patterson’s message on Monday.

Opponents don’t seem to respect Iowa’s ability to throw down field.

And why would they under the circumstances?

Iowa’s inability to sustain a rushing attack, coupled with Spencer Petras’ lack of mobility, has created a difficult situation on offense.

Petras was sacked six times against Wisconsin and he also committed one of Iowa’s three turnovers when he was hit in the pocket and fumbled.

Opponents know that Petras is no threat to run, or even to escape from the pocket, so a defender doesn’t have to shadow him all over the field.

Keagan Johnson has shown in limited duty that he can make big plays in space and stretch defenses.

He just needs more chances to showcase his skills, and to make plays downfield.

It would also be nice if Iowa could get junior receiver Tyrone Tracy Jr. more involved in the passing game.

But if not Tracy, then somebody else.

Junior tight end Sam LaPorta has led Iowa in receiving throughout the season and is a reliable target for Petras.

But it’s hard for a tight end to stretch defenses by himself.

That’s what receivers are supposed to do, but Brian Ferentz for some reason, has been reluctant to take chances by throwing to receivers down field.

One concern with trying to throw downfield is that it could lead to more sacks. And that’s a legitimate concern after what happened against Wisconsin.

But on the other hand, Petras still was sacked six times without throwing downfield very often. He either held on to the ball for too long, or didn’t have enough time to wait for a receiver to get open, even on shorter and safer routes.

Brian Ferentz almost seemed afraid to take chances against Wisconsin and look what happened.

The good news is that Iowa won’t face another defense this season that compares to the Badgers.

Iowa’s next game is Saturday at Northwestern, and to say that the Wildcats are struggling on defense would be an understatement.

Hopefully, Brian Ferentz will open up his playbook and take some chances down field.

And hopefully, his father, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, will allow it to happen.

Because right now, the Iowa offense seems to be playing not to lose instead of playing to win and that conservative approach has backfired.

Brian Ferentz is the one calling plays and running the offense, but his father still is in charge of everything, including the offense.

So, hopefully, Brian Ferentz can convince Kirk Ferentz to open things up on offense because the current strategy of being safe and conservative certainly isn’t working.

This isn’t the first time that Iowa’s offense has been criticized for being too predictable and too conservative under Kirk Ferentz. It also happened when Ken O’Keefe and Greg Davis were the offensive coordinators.

So, the one constant has been the head Hawk.

And while it’s easy to question the play calling with hindsight, the results speak for themselves.

Iowa performed woefully against Wisconsin on offense, but didn’t seem to make any adjustments.

One of Iowa’s biggest plays in the 23-20 victory over Penn State was a 44-yard touchdown pass from Petras to receiver Nico Ragaini in the fourth quarter.

The Penn State defenders seemed surprised and were out of position when Petras rolled to his right and threw across the field to a wide open Ragaini.

That’s the kind of explosive play to which Patterson is referring.

And, of course, there is always the chance of throwing an interception from being more aggressive downfield.

But that isn’t any worse than going 3-and-out on offense with safe and predictable plays, as Iowa did repeatedly against Wisconsin.

At least by throwing downfield, the offense would have a chance to make a big play.

And right now, Iowa desperately needs more big plays on offense.