Ricky Stanzi is a quarterback of two halves.
"I think the main thing is I need to settle down, let the game come to me," Stanzi said during his Wednesday conference call. "But it's not something I'm really worried about."
The junior Iowa quarterback has a habit of strong finishes countering slow starts. Four of his five touchdowns this season have come in the second half, and the Hawkeyes have scored 17 more points in the latter half through the first three games.
Stanzi attributed the sluggish starts to feeling out the defense and learning tendencies. He also believes it's easier to handle all the different looks from the second time onward, thus making it easier to settle down.
Penn State saw Stanzi's late-game capabilities first-hand last season when he made a dramatic turnaround in the third quarter.
Stanzi was just 2-for-4 passing with 22 yards at the end of the half and tossed an interception in the first series of the second half.
After that, it was like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
The quarterback went 11-for-18 with 137 yards and a touchdown after the pick, including leading the Hawkeyes on a 57-yard drive to get deep into field goal range to set the stage for Daniel Murray's game-deciding kick on the second-to-last play to win, 24-23.
"Obviously last year we learned he's a good football player on the last drive. He's not flashy, he's not one of those kids that just sits back in there," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said during his Tuesday press conference. "He's a guy you'd love to coach because he knows what he's supposed to do, knows what's going on."
Despite being faced with obvious passing downs on that final drive, Stanzi threw for 37 yards while also getting an assist on a pass interference call against the Nittany Lions' Anthony Scirrotto.
This season, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said Stanzi's slow starts could also be because of the injury bug inflicting the team.
Stanzi's top target, wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos -- who had 89 yards and a touchdown in last season's Penn State game -- is dealing with an ankle injury and wasn't listed on the depth chart earlier this week, along with offensive lineman Bryan Bulaga and tight end Tony Moeaki.
Now, Bulaga isn't expected to play this week with the other two having a chance, Ferentz said on his radio show as reported by The Gazette in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
"Some years you go through where there's no excitement injury-wise," Ferentz said during a conference call this week. "This year, it's just the opposite. There's no explanation for either case. It's fair to say the quarterback is affected by that."
As for Josh Hull, the linebacker sees Stanzi as a quarterback with the ability to stand in the pocket and throw strikes.
But Stanzi also adds patience to his physical attributes.
"You go with the gameplan, you try to execute the best you can and whether you have a few off plays in the first half isn't really something we get down on because the game's 60 minutes," Stanzi said. "You got to be able to play both halves."
