Notable quotes in Dan Lanning's weekly press conference before the Iowa Hawkeyes game
The Oregon Ducks have had their way with unranked opponents all season long, but that isn’t expected to be the case on Saturday. The Ducks will travel to Kinnick stadium to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes in a game where bettors have Oregon favored by less than a touchdown.
Of course, betting odds mean very little when two teams lace up their cleats and hit the field, but it’s a clear indication that the Ducks have their work cut out for them. They’ve started slow for a few games consecutively now and wins just haven’t been as easy to come by for this team compared to the start of the season.
Head coach Dan Lanning has mentioned that there are a multitude of things for his team to clean up and they are coming off a bye week where they’ve had ample time to do that. Now, let’s take a look at what Lanning said to the media as he and Oregon gear up for their battle with the Hawkeyes.
Opening Statement
Lanning:Great to be back on game week. It was a good weekend this past weekend, watching our cross country teams dominate and go into Big Ten, and got to visit with Rob about that a little bit this past weekend, when we were on the road recruiting and obviously basketball season kicking off. Our women are winning right now. We're at Matthew night and guys teeing off tomorrow. So excited for this part of the season. For us, our guys have been working really hard. I've got a ton of respect for this Iowa team. You see veterans across the board, you know, and how they play, they're a real complete team, and they're a team that beats you in all three phases, really tough and special teams with the return play. They have, probably the best returner in college football right now. Their defense, you know, they choke you out. They do a great job of taking away easy access. Their defensive line really stands out to me on film with the technique they play with, just in general, the way they fly to the ball and then they run the ball really well. They have a quarterback that's dynamic with the ball in his hands. So it's going to be a real challenge for us in a great environment in Iowa. And obviously coach Ferentz does a really good job.
Building on the Bye
Q:What was the main focus for your team during the bye?
Lanning:Yeah, I really like the work that our guys got in this past week. I think we found some things that we could grow from. We talked a little bit about it last week, just our ability to jump into some self scout, attack some things that we felt like we could improve, and then really identify what's going to show up with these upcoming opponents. In my mind, we're kind of in the third quarter of the season with what we're facing, and there's some some great teams that we're going to see over the next few weeks. And Iowa certainly sets that off. You know, I'm shocked this team isn't ranked. If you look at the way they've been playing, especially recently, in the job that they've done, they jumped out really fast against a Minnesota team that plays good football, had a big win this past weekend. So I think this team probably is not getting near enough credit that they deserve for the kind of team that they are.
Transfer Portal
Q:What are your thoughts on Jahlil Florence transferring?
Lanning:Thrilled with Jahlil’s contribution to our team, was a positive teammate. I'm wishing him nothing the best thing. I think he was looking for a reset and wish him, you know, a great, great future.
Scouting the Competition
Q:What have you seen from Iowa’s starting quarterback?
Lanning:Their run game is really good, and they do a great job complementing the run game with the play action game. They're as good as any team that we've played so far in the screen game as well. And he's got some weapons that he can throw to but he’s able to push the ball down the field, and then he can make you accountable with his legs. If everything's covered, he can take off with it, and he carries it in critical situations. He's obviously been a winner in the past, and is operating really well for them.
Dominant Defense
Q:What makes the Hawkeyes’ defense so good?
Lanning:Well they're extremely well coached. I mean, that shows up. There's not weaknesses. They're very sound like I said, I think it all starts with their defensive line, and the way they play up front. They eat up a ton of blocks up front. They're really aggressive. They're hard to get to the second level on because they do such a good job with the defensive line. Their safeties do a great job supporting the run, and their backers scrape and fit really well. And, you know, they put their guys at times on islands, and you don't see people take advantage of it, because they perform really well outside. So it's just tough. It's a suffocating defense. They do a good job.
No Explosives
Q:What do you make of Iowa’s defense not allowing many explosive plays?
Lanning:Yeah, I think they know the strengths and weaknesses of what they do, and they probably work those weaknesses a ton of practice. I can't speak to how they practice or what they do, but I think they understand that they're going to put guys, at times, in position where they got to go make plays, and those guys consistently make those plays. I think you see a defense that's always aware where the ball's at. They attack the ball, they get an opportunity, they create a lot of takeaways. I mean, that happened obviously in the Minnesota game for them, they just do a really good job of attacking the ball and winning their one on one opportunities.
Injury Update
Q:How is Dante Moore doing?
Lanning:Yeah, doing great. He's been at every practice.
Fast and Furious
Q:How important is it to start fast on offense?
Lanning:Well, it's not the most important thing, you know, but I think it's always easier when you start off fast. But a team like this, it can be tough, you know, to create winners, and they've won, you know, a lot with field position. They've always been really good in special teams. So just as important as making sure, you love to go down there and score quick. But that's not the way it always plays out. I do think it's important that we win in a lot of the phases that they're really good at, we got to be good in special teams. We got to be able to run the ball effectively, stop the run. Got to protect the ball. In any of those categories, if they do a really good job in those areas, it makes it hard for us to have success.
Getting Healthy
Q:What kind of a lift does it give you having some guys come off the injury report?
Lanning:Yeah, doing good. I think it's always a benefit when you have more than one player, or two players that can play, you know, winning football. So, each guy has a different dynamic, they do different things well, but we have a group there that's, you know, been really well prepared by Coach Mike. They work really hard, and if they can help us, we want them out there on the field for us.
Home, Sweet Home
Q:Does Iowa feel like a home game since it’s so close to your actual home?
Lanning:I can promise you, being at Kinnick before as a GA when we were at Pitt and we played them, it's not going to feel like a home game. It's a cool environment, though. This is one of those ones that you excited to get the opportunity to play in front of, and I'm sure I'll have some family and friends there. But this environment, it's a great one. They do it the right way. Obviously, the Children's Hospital, a lot of their pieces, pink locker rooms, right? There's a feel to this one, and it means a lot to the people in Iowa. They turn out really well for this game. So I'm expecting a great crowd.
Trenches
Q:How do you deal with a dominant defensive line like the Hawkeyes have?
Lanning:Yeah, I think it starts with a look we get in practice, and we have to give an outstanding look with our look teams, you know, that do a good job. And then the good on good periods that we have, I think that's where it starts, good to press in those areas. Then we have to be able to, this is a game where you're gonna have to carry a variety of plays to figure out what's going to be successful. And then once you figure it out, that's something, you have to come back to.
Return Game
Q:What makes Iowa’s return game so special?
Lanning:Yeah, I think it starts these fearless you know, especially in punt return, when he catches everything, and he's not looking to fair catch. He's looking to take off. But his stop go is really impressive. He's a really strong runner. Obviously, he's been dynamic for them in the passing game as well. They find ways to get him touches early, but the ability to stop and go, you know, similar like Tez was running full speed in five yards for us a lot, this guy can be running full speed in five yards. He doesn't need 20 yards to get to full speed and change the direction. Strong runner, big lowers and then fearless as a return let to catch the ball. He's looking to create dynamic plays, and has done that for them.
Bigger Than Sports
Q: How cool is Iowa’s partnership and emphasis on sick children?
Lanning:Oh, it’s gotta be one of the greatest traditions in college football, you know, to realize that just, you know, a few yards away from you, there's some guys that are fighting a battle that matters a lot more than the game, but you know, for a Saturday, every week that they get to, you know, maybe be somewhere else than in that hospital is a pretty cool moment.
Self Reflection
Q:Were there trends you picked up on during self scout?
Lanning:Yeah, moreso we were able to see issues and why there were issues, not necessarily just dictated by opponent, but that's the way football is. When you play better opponents, it can be tougher.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Notable quotes in Dan Lanning's press conference before Iowa
