Spring Practice: Football Is Back!

March 23, 2011

Hawk Fans: Football Is Back! Well, kind of. Today starts spring football for the Iowa Hawkeyes as they start the road to the 2011 season.

Coming into the spring alot of Iowa fans have questions about how good Iowa will be, quarterback concerns, defensive issues and if things can be turned around from a year of less than stellar performances.

Here are some of my thoughts heading into spring football.

James Vandenberg

Is James Vandenberg our guy?

Gosh I hope so. To be honest though count me as an Iowa fan who is glad we scheduled Tennessee Tech, Pittsburgh at home and Louisiana-Monroe as 3 of the first 4 games.

Vandenberg should be able to get his feet wet and get into rhythm with the offense. A lot of people believe due to his game vs Ohio State that Vandenberg will be great but his performances against Northwestern and Minnesota were less than stellar.

A good spring with the #1 guys should get VBerg into the right spot.

Is Marcus Coker ready?

I don't think so, yet. Coker was a very fresh running back in his appearances vs Indiana, Minnesota and Missouri last year. Do I think he is good, yes. So I think he can handle a full big ten schedule, no. Adam Robinson is gone but he was a workhorse.

I expect Iowa to use Coker as the primary back but to also include De'Andre Johnson and possibly incoming freshmen Rodney Coe and Mika'il McCall. Another year of stable for the Iowa running back crew.

Will Marvin McNutt be a #1 WR for the Hawks?

Yes, yes he will. McNutt is big, like Randy Moss big. 6,4, 215 lbs McNutt is a gazelle on cleats. I expect “McNutt Go Deep” to be utilized to its fullest extent this year especially with a young QB. McNutt is out for the spring recovering from thumb and shoulder surgeries. McNutt will be back in the fall and I expect big things, big big things.

Who will be the #2, #3, #4 WR's?

Keenan Davis, Jordan Cotton and our new 3-named WR Kevonte Martin-Manley. The old 3-named WR DJK has given Davis glowing remarks on his twitter as Iowa's next big thing. I believe him. Davis has the size and speed to stretch the field and hopefully keep double teams away from McNutt.

Cotton and KMM should cement roles and Colin Sandemann type WR's very quickly also. Incoming recruits Jacob Hillyer and Marcus Grant could also be in the mix.

Whose new at the Defensive Line?

Carl Davis and Darian Cooper. I am telling you right now this is Iowa's next duo that will make offensive lines cry. Davis is a beast(6'5, 300 lbs) and Cooper is an incoming true freshman with a chip on his shoulder. In an interview I did with Cooper he stated “I want to be a Freshman-All American.” I believe he can be.

There will be a drop off from the level of the defensive line of last year, that is obvious. But, Davis and Cooper will help Iowa start a new DLine that we will expect big things from.

Who is in the secondary?

He will not be apart of spring ball but Nicholas Law should have Hawk fans excited. Law will just flat out hurt you. Law, 6'3, 193 lbs will easily add 10-15 lbs once he gets to Iowa in June and be a force for the Hawkeyes. Think Bob Sanders but bigger.

Along with incoming recruit Jordan Lomax and returnees Tanner Miller, Jordan Bernstine and Mycah Hyde Iowa should be good to go.

Sidenote:

Many of the 13 players who were involved in the Rhabdo situation were eithr LB's or secondary players, hopefully they have recovered fully and are ready to go now.

Players Name to Remember:

Jordan Canzeri. I have a hunch that Canzeri will see the field as a true freshman for the Hawkeyes on special teams, specifically a a punt and kick returner. Dude is fast, like really fast. If Iowa is looking for an X-Factor, this would be it.

Players to keep an eye on:

Bruce Davis, C.J. Fiederowicz, Austin Blythe, De'Andre Johnson and James Morris.

Good luck to the Hawkeyes as they begin spring practice today. No injuries and getting better is all we can hope for.

Joseph Larsen

Community Contributor