Iowa’s head coach Kirk Ferentz gives brutally honest assessment on the Oregon Ducks as the two teams are set to square off this Saturday in a top 25 match up
Iowa’s head coach Kirk Ferentz knows that the Oregon Ducks will present a serious challenge.
As Iowa prepares for one of its toughest matchups of the season, head coach Kirk Ferentz didn’t hold back in his praise for the Oregon Ducks, calling them one of the most complete and well-coached teams in college football. With Saturday’s contest looming, Ferentz offered a detailed breakdown of what makes Oregon such a formidable opponent in all three phases of the game.
“In football, really tape is your résumé,” Ferentz said this week. “If you look at Oregon tape or watch them on TV, obviously they’re a good football team in all three phases, do a great job. I think the bottom line is they’re an aggressive football team. They’re sound, talented, and well-coached. Coach Lanning has done a great job there in a short period of time. Specifically, you look back the last two years, there aren’t many losses on their résumé. They’ve been playing at a high level.”
Mutual respect
Under head coach Dan Lanning, Oregon has risen into the national spotlight with a fast, physical brand of football. Ferentz noted how the Ducks have managed to maintain success despite roster turnover, blending experience with fresh talent. “That’s with some new players this year, too. That’s been impressive,” he said. “They’ve recruited extremely well. They have a veteran team, but they’ve also got a lot of young guys that are involved, too, especially in the back end. Skill positions, guys that are freshmen that are playing big, big roles and doing a good job. It’s an impressive mix and array.”
Ferentz was equally complimentary of Oregon’s offensive balance, highlighting a deep and dynamic unit that can attack in multiple ways. “Offensively, I don’t even know where you start,” he said. “They’re good up front, which allows them to do a lot of things. Good quarterback play, good line play, and then they’ve got good skill positions. The tight ends, they got a two-deep there. It’s impressive. Receiver corps is extremely talented, and then they have three backs that are clipping right along and doing a great job there.”
Defensively, Oregon’s aggressive front seven and disciplined secondary have stood out on tape, and Ferentz expects them to bring pressure early and often. “They’re a disruptive team. Very aggressive, very talented, very disruptive,” he said. “Again, well-coached on that thing.”
Ferentz also pointed to Oregon’s strength on special teams, rounding out what he described as a complete program. “They have good specialists and a lot of good core players that clearly take a lot of pride in what they’re doing. It will be a big challenge for us certainly, and look forward to that coming up on Saturday.”
With high praise from one of college football’s most respected coaches, it’s clear that Iowa knows the test ahead – and Ferentz’s Hawkeyes will need to be sharp in every aspect to hang with a talented Oregon team.
Oregon Ducks News
Oregon has a clear path to victory against Iowa but it will be easier said than done
Oregon must stop the run against Iowa if they hope to win the game.
