Three things to watch at Iowa’s West Des Moines practice
By Jordan Hansen | [email protected]
For the fourth-straight year, the Iowa football team will host an open practice in West Des Moines.
The Hawkeyes are coming off a Rose Bowl appearance and one of their most successful seasons in recent memory. Returning 14 starters, the team seems set up for plenty of success.
That said, there’s plenty to watch for tonight at Valley Stadium.
Kittle, VandeBerg, and …?
Iowa lost four of its top-six reception leaders from last season, which means there are plenty of shoes to fill.
The team does bring back wide receiver Matt VandeBerg and tight end George Kittle, who combined for 993 yards and 10 touchdowns a year ago. It softens the blow a little bit, but wideout Tevaun Smith and tight end Henry Krieger Coble won’t be easily replaced.
Both were playmakers and came up with receptions at clutch moments time and time again.
An entire off-season working with quarterback C.J. Beathard should help Jerminic Smith, who had some flashes last season. Smith has a bit of leg up — he played as a true freshman when Tevaun Smith missed time because of an injury — but the competition is likely far from over.
If he can put things together, he could be Iowa’s main downfield threat for the next three years. Other guys who seem to be in the mix for receiving position are Jay Scheel, Riley McCarron, and Adrian Falconer as well as tight end Jameer Outsey.
Offensive line shuffling
With James Daniels injured and missing all of spring practice, the offensive line is in a bit of a flux.
At this time last season, Iowa was trying to figure out how to replace two offensive tackles who are now in the NFL. Now, it’s trying to find two new interior linemen.
Boone Meyers and Sean Welsh were both listed as guards, and it originally seemed as if Daniels would take center. However, with Daniels out, Welsh has slid over to guard, leaving that spot open.
Iowa also suffered numerous injuries last season up and down the line, so flexibility is always key. Depth is something Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz preaches, and the Hawks will likely need it during the upcoming season.
Defensive question marks
The Hawkeyes bring back six starters on defense, with none bigger than consensus All-American Desmond King.
Finishing with 8 interceptions last season, it seems likely teams will do whatever they can to avoid throwing the ball his way. This means whoever is Iowa’s other corner (the depth chart lists Maurice Fleming) will be under a lot more pressure this season.
Greg Mabin, who was solid last year in the other corner position, is injured and will miss the entire spring training period.
The defensive line will also be something to watch; Matt Nelson is listed as a starter at end. At 6-8, the Cedar Rapids native is 6 inches taller than Nate Meier — the player he’s slated to replace.
In fact, Iowa is getting taller up and down the line. Anthony Nelson, a 6-7 Urbandale native, is listed as Park Hesse’s backup at the other defensive end.
The Hawkeyes also have a linebacker out (Ben Niemann) and will need to do some depth building at that position as well.