“He’s more confident. He’s more decisive. He’s doing everything better,” Ferentz said. “He’s worked really hard.”
The Hawkeyes’ incumbent signal-caller beat out sophomore Ricky Stanzi in a heated competition that lasted all training camp. When the first depth chart for the opener was released late last week, Christensen and Stanzi were listed as co-starters. Tuesday, Christensen’s name was alone atop the two-deeps.
“He came in as the starter, and I think he’s practiced well. He’s elevated his performance,” Ferentz said. “I thought he was better in the spring than he was in the fall and I think he’s continued to improve.”
Christensen, a junior, started all 12 games and played every meaningful snap last season. He threw for 2,269 yards and 17 touchdowns while limiting his interceptions to six, but he completed only 53 percent of his passes and led an offense that ranked at or near the bottom of the Big Ten in most statistical categories.
To make matters worse, the Hawkeyes went 6-6 and missed a bowl game for the first time since 2000.
Externally, a lot of the blame fell on the quarterback.
Internally, Ferentz opened up the quarterback competition, elevating Stanzi and giving him a chance to win the job.
“Rick Stanzi, quite honestly, a year ago, wasn’t really a factor in the race. I don’t think he was in the discussion,” Ferentz said. “In the spring, he improved … and he’s really performing well, too.
“I think both guys, right now, have the capability of moving our offense, and that’s a good thing. We went from a year ago not sure where we were at, period, to having two guys I think realistically can probably go in there and lead our team.”
Stanzi has attempted only four passes in his career, all in a 35-0 blowout win against Syracuse last fall, all of them incompletions. One of them was intercepted. Ferentz said he expects Stanzi will get a chance to improve those numbers playing in a reserve role Saturday.
BLOG: Click here to read how film study has helped Ricky Stanzi grow his game
Christensen had a class conflict Tuesday and was not available to the media. Stanzi was there and said he is confident that whoever plays quarterback will be capable.
“The competition has been exactly that — competition,” Stanzi said. “We know what we have to do, and we’re just really going out there and playing football. That’s really all we’re doing. We’re just going out and trying to execute and make plays.”
“Both of them bring a lot to the table,” added receiver Colin Sandeman, a sophomore from Bettendorf. “I’m comfortable with either of them. They know the offense in and out. I’m confident with whoever is in there.”
Eric Page can be contacted at (563) 383-2277 or epage@qctimes.com.
