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Hawkeyes Looking to Shore up Offensive Line
IOWA CITY (AP) — It's tough to look at the talent Iowa brings back at its offensive skill positions and not get excited about their chances of competing for the Big Ten title next fall.
None of those Hawkeyes stars will have much space to work with, though, if the Hawkeyes can't get their offensive line sorted out. Iowa lost three starters from last season's stellar unit, including projected first-round NFL draft pick Bryan Bulaga, and finding capable replacements has been a major focus during spring practice. Iowa, which finished 11-2 and beat Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl last season, wraps up spring ball on Saturday with an open practice followed by a short scrimmage at Kinnick Stadium. "We're young. I think we have a very physical mentality. Right now we're trying to figure out where everyone's best spots are," offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe said Tuesday. Iowa brings back a ton of talent. The group includes quarterback Ricky Stanzi, the impressive sophomore running back trio of Brandon Wegher, Adam Robinson and Jewel Hampton — who missed last season with a knee injury — and standout wide receivers Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and Marvin McNutt, who led the team with eight TD receptions despite starting just five games. But the Hawkeyes will miss the big guys who did the dirty work up front. Iowa lost both tackles, Bulaga and Kyle Calloway, along with center Rafael Eubanks, the talented but oft-injured Dace Richardson and tight end Tony Moeaki, whose formidable receiving skills often obscured the fact that he was also an excellent run and pass blocker. The offensive line will be anchored by tackle Riley Reiff, who more than held his own as a freshman last season and will likely move over to Bulaga's all-important left tackle slot. Guard Julian Vandervelde will be Iowa's most experienced lineman in 2010 with 24 career starts. The center spot is up for grabs, with senior Josh Koeppel and sophomore James Ferentz, son of coach Kirk Ferentz, in a close battle as spring ball draws to a close. Right guard Adam Gettis, who is currently listed atop the depth chart, played sparingly after starting the season opener in 2009. Junior Markus Zusevics, the early favorite to occupy the vacant tackle slot opposite Reiff, doesn't have a ton of experience, either. But O'Keefe said that Gettis is developing quickly, and he singled out Zusevics as the most improved lineman so far this spring "He's a guy who's been in the shadows a little bit because of Calloway and Bulaga, but right now appears to really be hungry and to have paid attention to what was going on the last few years and has had a very good spring," O'Keefe said of Zusevics. The good news for Iowa is that it returns eight defensive starters — including all four defensive ends and tackles from what should be one of the nation's best lines — from a group that allowed just 15.4 points in 2009. The potential is certainly there for the offense to improve on 23.2 points a game it scored last year, but that'll only happen if the line takes shape. "A football team is very similar to an empty bus in the beginning. We want to make sure we get the right guys on the bus, and then once get them on the bus, you've got to make sure they're on the right seats, so to speak," O'Keefe said. "That's really what spring ball is about for our offensive line right now." More Good Stuff |
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