UNI football still in “chaos” mode 5 practices in

CEDAR FALLS - Monday marked one week into spring practice, and the Northern Iowa football team still is in 'chaos” mode.

That's not to say things are going poorly, rather Coach Mark Farley and his football program are still trying to get the myriad new pieces into place and turn it into something that can make another run to the FCS Playoffs.

There are three new coaches: offensive coordinator Joe Davis, who has installed a whole new offense and has sole possession of the keys to that unit this year with Bill Salmon now associate head coach and running backs coach, shedding the co-offensive coordinator title; tight ends and offensive tackles coach Ben Barkema and wide receivers coach Jason Ray.

There's going to be a new starting running back and either a new starting quarterback or a return to Sawyer Kollmorgen as the lead signal caller. There's a new corps of receivers with Kevin Vereen, Chad Owens and Brett LeMaster gone to graduation. There's going to be a new middle linebacker and nose tackle.

Add all that up and what you get is one of the most important springs in Farley's time in Cedar Falls.

'We're still chaos right now. We're trying to get guys lined up. What I do see, though, is improvement from day to day,” Farley said. 'This was the first day the offense got a little rhythm to it, and now the effectiveness of the up-tempo took effect today.”

Change is never easy, and through one week, that's definitely proven true for the Panthers.

But rather than seeing that as a negative five practices in, Farley sees the silver lining pretty clearly.

'What I like on offense is we've got Joe Davis, Ben Markema, and Jason Ray, and then on top of that we've got a new offense, so Bill Salmon and Rick Nelson, they're all tied. And when you're going something new and different, everybody's got to be on the same page, everybody's learning something every day. And you take that to the field,” Farley said. 'It just gives you that energy. You're just more efficient. Even though some guys don't quite know what they're doing yet, you've got their attention because it's new to them and they're learning every day.”

Energy and enthusiasm were the two buzzwords thrown around by everyone at practice on Monday because that's what the staff asked the players to bring under the new system.

Davis, who comes to UNI from Shippensburg (Pa.) College, carries both those traits in how he coaches, barking instructions and sprinting back and forth to players in an effort to get his message across. He enters as some guy named David Johnson leaves. Not having to build an offense around one player can be a little liberating, and Davis has been able to begin to shape the new system the way he wants it, all while bringing along players eager for a chance now that the star running back is off to the NFL.

'We know they're not going to be perfect at a new system yet, and it is new. Everything from the ground up is brand-new,” Davis said. 'But our effort has been outstanding, our enthusiasm has been outstanding. At this point, with five practices under our belt, very pleased with where the offense is at.

'I can only coach the guys that are here. I didn't coach (David Johnson), but I know a lot about him and what kind of finished product he is. I don't think you replace a guy like that. We're not trying to fill his shoes. We're just trying to find the best 11 guys we can.”

So while it's 'chaos” right now, Farley expects that to fade away - and soon.

As practices six and seven come and go, the coaches will start to push the players a little harder and expect more from them in the way of knowledge and performance.

'This week is to now take the coaches out of it a little bit. The players have to be far enough along they can start taking responsibility of getting things done on their own,” Farley said. 'We'll turn more of the crowd noise on, use that as a factor and work that into it, start working the down and distance decisions they have to make, start letting them take charge of the offense while still trying to add the things we need to get in.”

QUARTERBACK BATTLE

Senior Sawyer Kollmorgen is no stranger to competition. He's never seen a camp - fall or spring - where there hasn't been another quarterback there to push him or try to take his job.

His ability to channel his inner Taylor Swift and shake off the criticism from the outside and earning the starting spot, then losing it and then returning in the middle of a playoff game has impressed his coaches and made his name the first out of their mouths when discussing the position.

Davis mentioned him as the standout so far, and Farley elaborated on his admiration for a kid who's taken his lumps but never let it stop him.

'What you notice about him is he's had his ups and downs, but he comes out here and competes every day,” Farley said. 'We've had equal opportunity for quarterbacks, but he's risen to the top with his progress through this camp. That's what a competitor does. You don't worry about who you bring in or who you hire. You just do what you can with your talent, control what you can control, and go play. That's what he's doing.”

Kollmorgen faces the stiffest competition, likely, from junior college transfer Dalton Demos. Demos is no contact this spring while recovering from surgery on his injured left knee, and will not play in the Spring Game on April 25.

There's no active depth chart - something that's long been a staple under Farley while in camp - but for the time being, Kollmorgen is taking the majority of reps with the first team.

It's the goal of every program to mold players into guys who thrive on competition and make the affect a positive one. And while every coach and player will say that's the case, with Kollmorgen's years of working through it, it appears to be more than just lip service.

'For me, as a senior, or any age, really, I've always been pushed to get better,” Kollmorgen said. 'I'm always going to be the guy to come in and watch the most film, be the first guy in, last guy to leave. I don't hide from the competition, I embrace it. I'm going against a great group of guys.

'It's fun. We all get along and then come out and compete. It's pretty rare.”

SWITCHING POSITIONS

Former Iowa running back Barkley Hill has a new position: linebacker.

Last year's Panther fullback switched sides of the ball starting in spring ball, mostly out of necessity on defense and a surplus on offense. Hill, who rushed 17 times for 83 yards and caught two passes for six yards and one touchdown in 2014, has been getting reps as the first team 'Mike” linebacker between Brett McMakin and Jared Farley.

Farley said the switch isn't permanent yet, but likes what he's seen out of the former Hawkeye so far in his new role.

'We moved Barkley because we're lean at linebacker and thick at running back,” Farley said. 'So this gives him an opportunity to find out if that's instinctively his position, or we can move him back to running back because that's what he's been since he was in kindergarten. Right now, it looks to me like he can make a great impact as a linebacker.”

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