The revamped Iowa offense was a focal point all offseason as people across the globe wondered how first-year offensive coordinator Tim Lester would revitalize an unit that may have caused another global pandemic had it been allowed to continue any longer. Through four games, things are going pretty well. The Hawkeyes are 3-1 and averaging 32 points per game.
But what if I told you the answer to Iowa’s woes wasn’t Lester but somebody who was already in the building? A player so explosive that he should come with a warning label. A back so capable of getting out of a tight spot that it’d make Andy Dufresne blush.
That’s right, I’m talking about Kaleb Johnson.
The fact of the matter is that while Iowa’s passing offense has improved in 2024, it’s more the result of having an incredibly low bar to clear. Last season, the Hawkeyes averaged 118.6 yards per game with a passing efficiency rating of 91.15. So far this season they’re averaging 147.5 yards with a rating of 120.16. Those numbers still rank 17th and 14th in the Big Ten, respectively.
But because of Johnson, it hasn’t mattered.
Through four games, Johnson has rushed for 685 yards and nine touchdowns. His 171.25 yards per game rank second nationally behind Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, and it’s not the byproduct of being a workhorse. Johnson certainly carries the ball a lot — his 82 carries is the third-most in the country — but he’s averaging 8.35 yards per attempt anyway. His explosive rush rate of 20.73% ranks 19th among backs with at least 7.5 yards per carry, but it’s far more impressive than that 19th-place standing suggests.
Only two backs with a higher explosive rush rate than Johnson have had more than 50 carries. None have had more than 70. Again, Johnson is at 82. For visual…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/b1g-time-unlikely-key-player-fueling-iowas-offensive-resurgence-uscs-silver-lining-from-michigan-loss/
Author : Tom Fornelli
Publish date : 2024-09-24 15:36:08
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