Daniels, D-line face life without Kaczenski (Quick slants here, too)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Iowa's defensive coaching staff went through a little transition just before the team charter hit the runway to the Insight Bowl.

Last week, defensive line coach Rick Kaczenski accepted a job in the same position at Nebraska. Iowa announced the move before it was made official at Nebraska. Kirk Ferentz wanted to get Kaczenski's temporary replacement, LeVar Woods, on the practice field as soon as possible.

Defensive tackle Mike Daniels referred to the sudden change as "adversity" at Iowa's practice on Tuesday.

"Next man in," the senior said. "LeVar Woods has stepped in and has done a heck of a job. We just have to progress through it. It's adversity, but we just have to keep on going up."

Daniels was coached by Kaczenski, who started as full-time D-line coach in 2007, for his five years at Iowa.

"He taught me everything I know, it was definitely hard to swallow," said Daniels, who has a career-high seven sacks this season. "But I saw how the [2007 D-line] persevered when coach [Ron] Aiken left, and I just learned to take it from there."

Woods, a native of Larchwood and a former Hawkeyes linebacker, might be be in line for a permanent position on Iowa's staff. Could it be D-line? Woods played linebacker his entire career, including 88 games in the NFL.

"LeVar knows defenses, he's played in this defense," Daniels said. "He's defensive-minded, knows leverage and hand placement and stuff like that. He knows a lot more about defensive line than I thought he did."

Quick slants

-- Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz didn't answer whether or not cornerback Shaun Prater spent time in an area hospital on Monday. Prater didn't answer the question on Tuesday.

"I'm not sure I'm supposed to answer these questions," Prater said. "Only about football."

-- The Arizona Cardinals had scouts at practice on Tuesday. Yes, the Cardinals are local, but their postseason quest ended last week and now the organization is into the draft. The Cardinals focused on Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff.

-- Freshman running back De'Andre Johnson went through full practice, which was in shorts, pads and helmets. When Iowa practiced Friday, Johnson, who's very much in the mix for playing time in Friday's Insight Bowl, wore a red no-contact jersey.

-- Linebacker Dakota Getz, who suffered a torn ACL in week 2 against Iowa State, was out in T-shirt and shorts and running through warmups.

-- Defensive end Dominic Alvis (ACL) and linebacker Shane DiBona (Achilles) also were out in T-shirt and shorts. They were less active.

-- Tight end Brad Herman didn't practice. His status for the bowl is up in the air. Ferentz said Monday that a couple of players are iffy for Friday's game.

-- Defensive end Broderick Binns practiced with a brace on his right elbow. He laughed it off. "I just like wearing it," he said. "Doesn't it look cool?"