The Hawkeyes football program is on the home stretch of preseason camp.
Iowa kicks off the season on August 31 under the lights at Kinnick Stadium against Miami of Ohio.
Coordinators Brian Ferentz and Phil Parker met the media to discuss their offense and defense ahead of game week.
Football is in the air once again in Iowa City as the Hawks are just 11 short days away from the season opener. One question mark coming into camp was the interior of the offensive line.
Offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz addressed that on Tuesday, saying that the guard positions are likely to be a rotation once the season starts.
As far as center is concerned — that’s Tyler Linderbaum’s job and he’s taken it and run with it.
“You’re looking for guys who are tough, smart, physical, aggressive… finishers,” Brian Ferentz said. “I think he shares those qualities with some of the better players we’ve had here at that position. So you’re encouraged by that, but again we’re talking about a guy who’s never even played a game, let alone started a game. So we’re excited to see him, but he’s gotta go out there and do it. In the past, we haven’t been afraid to have a rotation or get different guys experience and reps. I see us doing that the same way. The thing I know for sure on the offensive line position is that we’re not probably gonna finish with the same five we start with. That’s been the M.O. We have to make sure we’re building depth. It’s one thing to build it in practice, it’s another thing to make sure guys are getting game repetitions and getting the experience that’s gonna help them play when they’re further along in their careers.”
The Iowa offensive coordinator wasn’t naming any names as far as that guard position is concerned, but it’s a pretty good bet that Cole Banwart, Levi Paulsen and Landan Paulsen will be the ones who get the first crack against the RedHawks.
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