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Iowa’s struggling receivers crippling Hawkeyes offense

Sports

November 2nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s offense has typically revolved around the idea that a strong line and interchangeable running backs will open up the passing game. The Hawkeyes didn’t expect its receivers to be so ineffective that their entire offensive identity would be compromised.

Iowa (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) heads into November with a serious deficiency at wide receiver. Only one of them, senior Riley McCarron, is among active Hawkeyes in the top four on the team in catches — and Iowa is just 107th nationally in passing offense (180.3 yards per game). That statistic is even more glaring given that the Hawkeyes have a senior quarterback, C.J. Beathard, who many pegged as among the Big Ten’s best entering this season.

Iowa, which is coming off its bye week, plays at No. 20 Penn State (6-2, 4-1) on Saturday. The Hawkeyes might take on a different look this weekend, as back Akrum Wadley said Tuesday that he occasionally worked as a slot receiver in practice during the bye.