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Hawkeyes offense with new play-calling looks to match defensive strength this fall

In Tim Lester's first season as offensive coordinator, Iowa hopes to see improvement on that side of the ball.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — After six seasons with Brian Ferentz as offensive coordinator, it's now the Tim Lester era. Lester has changed the playbook for a new-look 2024 offense.

"Coach Lester has really used the term 'learning by drinking through a fire hose', and that's kind of like what the overload of information has been over the course of the last couple months," said senior quarterback Cade McNamara. "So I think all of us are like trying to stay afloat."

New play-calling is one thing, but Iowa hopes to see better quarterback play from a now healthy Cade McNamara and improvement from an experienced offensive line. 

RELATED: Iowa's veteran defense plans on being even better this season

"All I know about Iowa football in my 36 years here, when our line play's good (and) our quarterback play's good, we have a chance, you know, we have a chance to have a good offense. And that's pretty much true of anybody," said head coach Kirk Ferentz.

The players have noticed a change in the offense.

"It's helping everybody's abilities, letting guys just be athletes out there instead of, you know, herky jerky sometimes," said senior offensive tackle Mason Richman. "We're taking advantage (of) a lot of things that we like and we will do so going into the season."

"Just the creativity and a lot of motion, a lot of more plays downfield, working on the mismatches, trying to create more mismatches at the end of the day, trying to put up more points on the board," said senior running back Leshon Williams.

Before facing any opponents, Lester and the new offense get to go up against Phil Parker's defense in practice.

"We get to go out there and cut our teeth against one of the top defenses in the country and they don't give up anything lightly," said offensive coordinator Tim Lester. "So we have to earn every single thing we get and and it's better that way, because I think it'll help us come game day."

Iowa opens the season at Kinnick Stadium against Illinois State on Aug. 31.

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