By Danny Payne
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Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz speaks with the media each Tuesday during the football season. Every week, The Daily Iowan‘s Pregame Staff will post highlights, interesting quotes and lines from Ferentz’s press conference.

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• Kirk’s first word — “Welcome” (We’re going to keep track of every opening word this season.)

• Ferentz says he’s pleased with his team’s progress during the preseason. Says they’ve remained healthy. First week of school without a game was nice, etc.

• Captains are Drew Ott, Jordan Lomax, C.J. Beathard, and Austin Blythe.

• “Nobody in the two-deep is expected to miss any time.”

• On Illinois State: “They’re really veteran up front on the defensive time, they’re going to be a challenge for us.”

• On eliminating FCS opponents: “Might have been nice if we had started that last year.” Iowa had Northern Iowa last year, Illinois State this season, and North Dakota State scheduled this year.

• Ferentz says there are four wide receivers they’re really confident in. Tevaun Smith, of course, Matt VandeBerg, Jacob Hillyer, and Riley McCarron. Says true freshman Jerminic Smith will play this season. Sixth WR spot is up in the air. Says it “certainly didn’t help” Jay Scheel’s case because he was nicked up last week.

• Jerminic Smith and offensive lineman James Daniels are the only true freshmen Iowa has decided to pull the redshirt off this year.

• On Iowa’s offensive line and Austin Blythe: “For what we do, it’s really important. He’s our signal caller up there … Particularly since June took off, he’s really taken the role of being a leader.”

• On running backs: “LeShun will start the game, Jordan’s done a great job. I think you have to talk about the two on the same line.”

• Also mentions Derrick Mitchell, Jr. is “clearly our third running back right now.” Akrum Wadley is also in the mix.

• Punt return: Desmond King, followed by Riley McCarron. Same goes for kick return.

• On the changes this season: “We met in January, nobody was happy with the way last year ended.”

• On the switch to morning practice from afternoon practice: “Our players have really enjoyed it … We’ve had quality practices.”

• If defending the run has improved: “We’ll find out … We’ll get tested this week for sure.”

• “We’re all eager to get on the field for sure and start playing … I think everybody’s done a pretty good job of taking it one step at a time.”

• “We haven’t stubbed our toe [in practice yet], hopefully that doesn’t happen tomorrow or at the end of the week.”

• Ferentz says short pass, long run pass plays are his favorite types of pass plays. Says he hopes Tevaun Smith can get a few of those this season.

• On what will determine a successful season, outside of wins: “How do we play, how do we maximize what we have and how we are.”

• On Jake Duzey and Darian Cooper: Working towards recovery, “too early to prognosticate.”

• On the offensive line: “I wasn’t sure if we had any depth back in the spring.” Says there are now “seven or eight guys I could see going into the game and playing well.”

• Said former Hawkeyes Jason Baker and Dallas Clark have been in Iowa City recently. Clark had to sleep at Baker’s place last week because a hotel fell through.