By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – When asked what would be the downside to switching quarterbacks, Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz answered in the form of a short question.

“What’s the upside.”

That three-word answer from Wednesday’s press conference has drawn the biggest reaction from fans, and they didn’t like it.

Backup quarterback Alex Padilla probably didn’t like it, either.

Brian Ferentz’s answer gave the impression that he has little faith and trust in Padilla, and if Brian Ferentz has little faith and trust in Padilla, then Kirk Ferentz feels the same way because he ultimately decides who plays quarterback for the Iowa football team as its head coach.

As for trying to answer Brian Ferentz’s question; we don’t know what the upside would be, or if there even would be an upside to switching quarterbacks.

But fans certainly know the downside to sticking with fifth-year senior Spencer Petras, and it’s about as down as it can get.

Petras certainly doesn’t deserve all the blame for the offense’s historic dysfunction, but his performance has left much to be desired since the start of last season.

Iowa is ranked at or near the bottom of the nation in multiple offensive statistical categories, and it’s started to take a toll with Iowa having lost its last two games.

Iowa entered the bye week with a 3-3 overall record and 1-2 in the Big Ten, and faced with a serious threat of losing a third consecutive game with undefeated Ohio State the next opponent on Oct. 22 in Columbus, Ohio.

The Iowa offense has become a laughingstock and a punchline, with Brian Ferentz and Petras the center of attention, but for all the wrong reasons,

It’s an unpleasant storyline that will become more unpleasant if the offense continues to struggle as it did in last Saturday’s 9-6 loss at Illinois.

Fans, and some in the media, just don’t understand the refusal to give Padilla a chance under the dire circumstances.

Maybe he could provide a spark for an offense that so desperately needs one.

But barring an injury to Petras, we’ll probably never know.

Maybe this shouldn’t be surprising that Kirk Ferentz is so willing to stick with Petras despite the problems on offense, because this is the same Kirk Ferentz that had James Vandenberg take every snap at quarterback during the 2012 season when Iowa finished 4-8 due largely to a struggling offense under then first-year coordinator Greg Davis.

Padilla started three games last season when Petras was injured, and while Iowa won all three games and Padilla had some nice moments, he also completed less than 50 percent of his passes last season and was benched in the regular-season finale at Nebraska for the second half and replaced by Petras.

Padilla didn’t show enough last season to supplant Petras, and Padilla must not be showing enough in practice this season to convince the coaches to make a change.

Because that’s the only explanation that makes any sense at this point.

Petras just must be practicing and preparing throughout the week better than Padilla, and practice is Padilla’s only opportunity to make a statement.

Brian Ferentz also said Wednesday that redshirt freshman quarterback Joey Labas hadn’t narrowed the gap between third and second on the depth chart.

So, for those hoping for a change at quarterback, Brian Ferentz’s press conference on Wednesday was probably a huge disappointment.

His message was similar to what his father keeps saying in that the offense just has to get better.

It’s not about making changes. It’s about better execution.

The problem is that message is starting to fall on deaf ears because the offense shows very little signs of getting better.

Some fans are fed up because all they get to see are the games, and the games have shown an offense that has serious flaws.

Petras has made 25 career starts, but he doesn’t look any better now than he did a a first-year starter in 2020.

At this point, you have to wonder if there is an upside to the Iowa offense.