Iowa offensive coordinator hire Tim Lester actually isn't terrible

The Iowa football offense has been the butt of a lot of jokes, especially in recent years. It led the departure of Brian Ferentz this offseason, despite another Big Ten West title.

Kirk Ferentz didn't seem all that happy about the move, which happened beyond his control. Something needed to change though. Iowa's offense has been too bad and frankly, the defense has been too good to go to waste.

Imagine if Iowa could ever get to a point where it's offense was even average. That has to be the dream to Iowa football fans and maybe former Western Michigan head coach Tim Lester is the guy to deliver it on offense because he's the new offensive coordinator according to Matt Zenitz of 247 Sports.

Lester was 37-32 as the head coach at Western Michigan and spent last season as an offensive analyst for the Green Bay Packers under head coach Matt LaFleur who is known as one of the most innovative minds in the NFL.

LaFleur runs the Shanahan system which is basically a mixture of west-coach principles. One thing that should appeal to Iowa fans is the ability to create explosive plays. A lot of that is based on the running game and using actual play-action -- meaning turning your back to the defense after a fake handoff, and throwing the ball down the field.

Iowa's expected starter Cade McNamara should do well in that system. He doesn't have the strongest arm but neither does Brock Purdy and he's making it work really well.

That's assuming that Lester will run that system. He was a college quarterback and probably has his own stuff. But the influence should really help and regardless, Lester feels like a guy that will bring Iowa up to speed on the offensive side of the ball for the first time in a long time.