Four downs with the O-line

QUICK LOOK BACK: Nothing was easy for Iowa's 2009 offensive line. First, Kyle Calloway sat out the UNI game with a suspension after missing much of fall camp with an IT band strain. That caused some shuffle and the Hawkeyes nearly paid for it with a loss to the Panthers. Then, going into the showdown at Iowa State, all-Big Ten left tackle Bryan Bulaga sat out after suffering a thyroid illness that sent him to the hospital. He missed three games and didn't feel like himself until week eight. Dace Richardson, arguably Iowa's best OL during the early part of '09, suffered a broken ankle against Michigan State and missed the rest of the season, save for a few series in the Orange Bowl.

Guard Julian Vandervelde tore a pectoral muscle and had surgery in early summer. He missed all of fall camp and the UNI game while recovering. He came back and started four games at right guard. After Arkansas State, he was demoted into a rotation with Richardson. After Richardson broke an ankle against Michigan State, Vandervelde started the final five games.

Riley Reiff emerged as Iowa's next great lineman, at least potentially. He replaced Bulaga at left tackle and had solid starts against ISU, Arizona and Penn State. For the Orange Bowl, Reiff moved from guard to Calloway's tackle spot. It sounded like more than a battlefield promotion from coach Kirk Ferentz.

“I think Riley has played as well as any lineman on our football team, quite frankly,” Ferentz said. “He really had a tremendous season, securing the depth up in Ames when we had to throw him in there. I think we had about three days to know he was going to play. He went in and competed as hard as he could. A week or two later, we're up in State College (Pa.) and he's doing the same thing.

“This guy has just played well all season long,” Ferentz said. “He's done it very quietly, but it hasn't gone unappreciated by the staff.”

Bulaga and Calloway will be drafted. Richardson left a potential sixth year on the table and could be drafted in April. Center Rafael Eubanks had his best season and might end up being the toughest OL to replace in '10.

FOURTH DOWN -- CONCERNS: When I wrote this in January, the overwhelming opinion was this: Yes, there are

holes that need to be filled, but Kirk Ferentz is on the case. No worries.

The track record is there, certainly, but the '10 O-line will be young, have fewer years in the weightroom and won't be 300-plus.

The 2008 O-line had center Rob Bruggeman and guard Seth Olsen. They were fifth-year seniors who relished their time in the weightroom. Last season, Calloway and Richardson were fully sized fifth-year seniors. Bulaga was 6-6, 312 with an NFL-ready body.

Next season's right tackle will be playing his first real minutes and will likely be less than 300 pounds. Not a dealbreaker, but not the recipe Iowa has followed the last two seasons. Going into the winter workout sessions - when Iowa players generally put on weight - there is no 300-pounder at tackle. The strength factor could loom here. Five years in the weightroom is five years in the weightroom.

Iowa is looking for three replacements on the OL. Center might be the most important. Iowa's lines seem to hum that much better with an experienced center. Fifth-year senior Josh Koeppel seems to be the next in line. He might be a bit on the smallish side at 6-foot(ish) and 265, but he's had five years of S&C coach Chris Doyle.

The guard spot opposite Vandervelde is up for grabs. It could go to Adam Gettis, a 6-4, 280-pounder who started the UNI game and then didn't see meaningful game action. Or it could go to a future contender at tackle, maybe a Nolan MacMillan. Bulaga and Reiff played guard before making the switch.

THIRD DOWN -- ADDITIONS/SUBTRACTIONS: It wasn't a shock when Bulaga announced a day after the Orange Bowl that he decided to enter the NFL draft. The real setback might've been Richardson. No, it wasn't a slam

dunk that he would've gotten a sixth year of eligibility, but he did miss two seasons with knee problems. That fits the criteria. Doesn't matter, though. He announced after the Orange Bowl that he wanted to enter the draft.

An O-line of Reiff and Richardson at tackle would've been light years ahead of a line Reiff and question mark. Not downgrading any of the candidates, but Richardson was all-Big Ten last season and was a very versatile performer. He would've fit nicely on the '10 unit.

Several redshirt freshmen and a transfer come on line this spring.

Woody Orne, a junior transfer from South Dakota State,  was SDSU's lone representative on the 2008 Missouri Valley Conference all-newcomer team. He played in nine games with seven starts, playing right tackle the last five games of the season. He set strength and conditioning records at SDSU with a 32-inch vertical jump and a 9-1 broad jump. He's listed 6-5, 295 on Iowa's website. Originally from Fairfield, he seemed to grow into his own and take off at SDSU. He should be a junior with two to play two this fall.

MacMillan nearly had the redshirt taken off during fall camp, but remained a redshirt. The 6-6, 288-pounder had an undisclosed injury during the Orange Bowl practices and didn't participate. Redshirt freshman Brett Van Sloten, a 6-7, 270-pounder from Decorah, and Drew Clark, 6-4, 270 from Marion, might have shots at the depth chart this year.

Count Cody Hundertmark as a newcomer to the O-line. The junior made the switch from defensive end before the Orange Bowl. He's 6-4, 280. If he makes waves on the depth chart, it'd be a credit to his athleticism. He's climbing over a lot of bodies. Conor Boffeli will be a redshirt freshman center next season.

SECOND DOWN -- BATTLES BREWING: I think center could be an interesting battle.

Koeppel has been a consumate program guy. He walked on, earned a scholarship and has marked his time in the

weightroom. Then, there's James Ferentz. He's on the shortish side, but he's in the 270 range and will give Koeppel a run for the job. Whoever wins, Iowa will have a first-year starter at center. And, what about Vandervelde here? I doubt it happens now, but it was in the works before his injury last summer.

Gettis might have the inside track to the guard spot opposite. He'll be challenged by Hundertmark and whomever loses out at right tackle.

Right tackle is a wide-open dogfight, in my mind. Maybe the coaches have the depth chart cemented, but a brand-new starter will be in place here on Sept. 4. I believe Orne, junior Markus Zusevics and senior Kyle Haganman are the candidates, with MacMillan and Van Sloten pushing.

FIRST DOWN -- "On Iowa" predictions for 2010: Reiff will anchor a line that has some question marks. There should be massive competition, so while, yes, there is uncertainty, the five best will have survived a month-long audition in August. That's the positive on having three positions open. Orne is an interesting athlete. He was a basketball prospect at first who found his way to the weightroom and outgrew South Dakota State. Zusevics has built his body to the 280-range after coming in at 240. Don't count out James Ferentz. He could come through at center. Could an incoming freshmen make a dent on the depth chart? Not out of the question, but probably not likely.

I'm still stuck where I was in January:

LT -- Riley Reiff

LG -- Adam Gettis/Nolan MacMillan/Cody Hundertmark

C -- Josh Koeppel/James Ferentz

RG -- Julian Vandervelde

RT -- Woody Orne/Markus Zusevics/Kyle Haganman