Four downs with the O-line

QUICK LOOK BACK: The Iowa O-line was supposed to be the shaky group in 2009. It wasn't. In fact, Iowa's average yards per carry went from 3.27 in 2009 to 4.30 last season. Some of that was Adam Robinson and, at the end, Marcus Coker, but a lot of that was the offensive line, which had a new center, right tackle and right guard (not to mention Riley Reiff switching to full-time left tackle, a position he saw three games at in '09).

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2010 -- 4.30

2009 -- 3.27

2008 -- 4.76

2007 -- 3.46

2006 -- 4.32

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Of course, rushing yards was dictated by game situation a few times in 2010, with the most noteworthy being at Arizona, when Iowa averaged just 1.12 yards a carry after falling behind 21-0.

The Hawkeyes were hit with 20 sacks last season, ranking seventh in the Big Ten. Arizona, again, was the anomaly. The Wildcats piled up six sacks in that game, including three on Iowa's last-chance drive. Cut that in half and Iowa would've finished in the top half of the Big Ten in this stat. Also remember, QB Ricky Stanzi is a classic dropback quarterback. Spread offenses give up fewer sacks. Also, not every sack is on the O-line.

Reiff and left guard Julian Vandervelde earned second-team all-Big Ten (I voted Reiff first team).

James Ferentz emerged and won the starting center spot from Josh Koeppel, who ended up playing right guard the final four weeks. Nolan MacMillan made six starts and Adam Gettis two at right guard, so there is some experience going into 2011.

After Bryan Bulaga left early for the NFL and Dace Richardson shunned a sixth season and tried the league, Markus Zusevics fit right in at right tackle.

FOURTH DOWN -- CONCERNS: Yes, Iowa needs to fill both guard spots, but that's only on paper.

MacMillan started six games and played well before a shoulder injury sidelined him for the season. He has dealt with a few health issues this offseason, but will not have surgery on his shoulder.

MacMillan got the first six games of 2010 because Gettis suffered an ankle injury in fall camp. After the Eastern Illinois game, coach Kirk Ferentz said, “If there was a highlight for us last week, it was probably Nolan,” Ferentz said. “Thought he was aggressive.”

Gettis made the two starts after MacMillan's season ended and suffered another ankle injury. He was replaced by Koeppel, who earned academic all-Big Ten and worldwide notoriety walking away from a moped-truck accident.

So, if MacMillan's health clears and Gettis double tapes his ankles, Iowa has two strong candidates for the guard positions. These two have made starts and if one of them would've finished the season, Iowa would've had four returning O-linemen instead of three.

There are plenty of bodies behind MacMillan (6-6, 288) and Gettis (6-2, 280) who might give Ferentz and O-line coach Reese Morgan something to think about.

Dan Heiar -- The 6-5, 285-pound juco does have a redshirt season to play with if he wants, but Iowa hasn't brought jucos in to sit. He's on campus and he's in the mix for a guard spot.

Drew Clark -- The 6-4, 288-pound sophomore from Marion was in the two deeps briefly last spring.

Conor Boffeli -- A 6-5, 285-pounder from Des Moines, Ferentz has loved him as a center. Playing time isn't happening there, so the focus goes to guard. He saw some mop-up time there late last season.

Matt Tobin -- The 6-6, 285-pound walk-on from Dyersville has traded with sophomore Brett Van Sloten as second-team right tackle. He could get a look inside.

Casey McMillan -- The 6-4, 305-pounder showed some life in 2010. At the end of the season, Vandervelde mentioned McMillan as one of the players who made some strides. He won a team leader award for the offense at the

team's banquet. Signs of life.

Brandon Scherff -- The 6-5, 310-pound redshirt freshman is probably a future tackle, but he could get his feet wet at guard in 2011.

Woody Orne -- The 6-5, 295-pound senior walk-on made a couple appearances on the two deeps in '10.

Austin Blythe -- Maybe seeing the field in his first season is a stretch for the 6-3, 285-pounder, but you saw the wrestling highlights. One of the top OL on Iowa's recruiting board last fall.

Jordan Walsh -- At 6-4, 260, Walsh probably takes the season to build his body.

That's 11 capable bodies for two open spots. The O-line depth chart might be the most healthy Iowa has along with quarterback.

No concerns at tackle. Iowa will have one of the best duos in the Big Ten in '11.

THIRD DOWN -- ADDITIONS/SUBTRACTIONS: We've covered Vandervelde's pro prospects in the "On Iowa" podcast. The 6-2, 300-pounder tested well at the NFL combine. He's smart. He'll crush the Wonderlich like a grape. He's made 5,000 read steps in the zone blocking scheme that so many NFL teams run. He's got a real shot to get drafted and maybe make a roster.

Koeppel -- have you heard about his crash? -- finished his career with four starts. OT Kyle Haganman spent five seasons as a walk-on and butted heads with Adrian Clayborn during many of those practices. That type of dedication, showing up to practice without the payoff of playing time, is the lifeblood of college football.

Iowa signed only three O-linemen in the 2011 class -- Blythe, Heiar and Walsh. Blythe and Walsh really were the top two O-linemen on Iowa's recruiting board.

“Yeah, both Austin [Blythe] and Jordan are guys that I think are really excellent high school football players,” Ferentz said. “Jordan comes out of a tremendous program and we have tried to recruit players out of that program unsuccessfully and we are just really excited to get Jordan.”

Walsh and Blythe were Iowa's top prospects on the O-line going into the 2011 recruiting season.

“When you look at this class and compare it to last year's class, it's two very similar classes,” recruiting coordinator Eric Johnson said. “I mentioned this is the best or one of the best we've had. Like last year's class, most of this class is guys who committed early and who we felt very comfortable with early.

“Guys who were tops on our list. We did end up filling some spots, but this class is a larger class than last year. We did end up filling some spots with some guys at the end, but when you look at Austin Blythe and Jordan Walsh, they were our top linemen that we had on our board.”

Heiar could bridge this year's class and the 2009 group, which could be two-deep ready this season.

“And Dan was semi-accidental in that we don't actively recruit junior college players but he came to our attention and liked what we saw on tape and thought that he would be a really good fit and we are excited about him, too,” Ferentz said.

The '09 class will be redshirt sophomores this season. If Heiar doesn't redshirt, he'll be a year ahead of them and he also could be physically ready to play at 6-5, 285.

“We kind of felt we were done, but then we saw Dan Heiar on tape and we felt so strongly about him,” recruiting coordinator Eric Johnson said. ”We could bring him in mid-year. He could help us boost some numbers and depth in, technically, his junior class, where the numbers weren't so big to start out with. We filled two needs right there, so we're very excited about the O-line in this class.”

SECOND DOWN -- BATTLES BREWING: Guard is a hotspot, but the bodies and competition there should yield contributors, even if a rotation sprouts out of this.

Center should be locked down the next two seasons after James Ferentz (6-2, 280) established himself with all 13 starts last season, with perhaps his best performance coming in the Insight Bowl. Ferentz was billed as an intense competitor who blocked up to and maybe a smidge past the whistle and he turned out to be just that. Center should be locked down until 2013.

Who shows up behind Reiff and Zusevics might be the story for the 2012 O-line. Zusevics will be a senior. Reiff will be a fourth-year junior next season and the call of the NFL will be loud for him. He's got the size (6-6, 300) and he'll have two-plus seasons as a starter, including two at left tackle, after 2011. Reiff didn't submit his name to the NFL draft evaluation committee last season, but he probably will this year. Don't freak out if he goes.

So, we're talking about the No. 2s who'll probably be No. 1s in 2012.

Andrew Donnal -- This might be the perfect season to break in the 6-7, 285-pound redshirt freshman. If he wins a backup role, he'd get a faceful of what it's all about without the real heat of having to do it under the lights.

Brett Van Sloten -- The 6-7, 290 pounder ended the season as the No. 2 right tackle behind Zusevics. He could make 2012 a no-brainer with strong practice film this year. (Of course, this is without injury to either of the starters. If so, Van Sloten might be the "next man in" as a possible No. 3 tackle.)

Scherff -- At 6-5, he has tackle dimensions and could very well end up there on the depth chart this season. He did make the depth chart at a few points as a true frosh last year.

MacMillan -- Ferentz said he was recruited as a tackle. MacMillan has tackle height (6-6), so could be a fit after what would be two seasons inside.

Tobin -- He's 6-6 and spent more time on the depth chart last season than off. Might be a fit at right tackle.

Heiar -- At 6-5, don't count him out. It's hard to make a comparison to Marshal Yanda, but there is a path for jucos to tackle and the NFL at Iowa.

Walsh -- If he measures 6-4, don't count him out. He would be a redshirt freshman in 2012, so a tackle spot might be a

stretch but not out of the realm.

So, in total, there are 15 O-linemen on the roster for 2011, with two of those being walk-ons.

FIRST DOWN -- "On Iowa" prediction for 2011: Let's take a shot at a two deep.

LT -- Reiff, Donnal (Enjoy Reiff's talents, but groom a backup for as early as 2012. Scherff could go here, too.)

LG -- MacMillan, Scherff (MacMillan, pending health, plays somewhere. Scherff might test Iowa's motto of "best five.")

C -- Ferentz, Boffeli (Not sure who center No. 3 is. Blythe?)

RG -- Gettis/Boffeli, Heiar (Don't automatically slot Boffeli as a center. He will test the "best five" and maybe stress on who's No. 2 center if he wins a guard spot.)

RT -- Zusevics, Van Sloten (Zusevics played well in his first season. Strong attitude. Van Sloten keeps growing.)

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Illinois -- The Illini will return three starters, RT Jeff Allen (6-5, 305, Sr.), RG Hugh Thornton (6-5, 310, Jr.) and C Graham Pocic (6-7, 305, Jr.). Rating -- Second-team all-Big Ten. Guts are there for another strong rush offense. Replacing the left side is never easy.

Indiana -- The Hoosiers will return four starters, C Will Matte (6-2, 283 Jr.), T Andrew McDonald (6-6 295 Sr.), G Justin Pagán (6-5 312 Sr.) and G Aaron Price Price, Aaron (6-4 288 Jr.). Rating -- Second-team. This unit has experience and could raise an offense that will have a new head coach, scheme and QB.

Iowa -- Iowa has five O-linemen back who've started, including a potential first-team all-conference left tackle in Riley Reiff. The Hawkeyes have a lot of bodies at this position. Rating -- First-team. This unit has a chance to be among Big Ten's best. Also, should benefit from great depth.

Michigan -- The Wolverines return four starters including center David Molk, who earned first-team all-conference and a spot as a Rimington Trophy finalist. Also, LT Taylor Lewan (6-8, 294, So.), RG Patrick Omameh (6-4, 299, Jr.) and RT Mark Huyge (6-6, 306, Sr.). Rating -- Conference MVP. Sure, the Michigan OL benefits from blocking for Denard Robinson, but the production speaks for itself.

Michigan State -- The Spartans return two starters with guard Joel Foreman (6-4, 310 Sr.), an all-Big Ten honorable mention, leading the way. Rating -- Third-team. The Spartans will be young up front. David Barrent, a 6-8, 305-poounder, should get first shot at left tackle. He's from West Des Moines and originally committed to Iowa.

Minnesota -- The Gophers return just one starter from their final game of 2010, left guard Chris Bunders. Rating -- Honorable mention. New coach, new QB. Looks as though there's four new starters, too. That's a lot of new.

Nebraska -- Tim Beck is the Huskers new offensive coordinator. He wants a "read" type of offense, one that thinks and reacts and just doesn't run plays. Center Mike Caputo (6-1, 275 Sr.) and both left tackles (Jeremiah Sirles, 6-6, 310, soph. and Jermarcus Hardrick, 6-7, 320, Sr.) in an "either/or" situation in the Holiday Bowl return. Rating -- Second-team. There will be some new faces, but NU has potential and will be energized entering the Big Ten.

Northwestern -- Led by senior Ben Burkett (6-4, 300), the Wildcats return four OL starters who helped QB Dan Persa menace the Big Ten last season. Others include LT Al Netter (6-6, 310 Sr.), LG Brian Mulroe (6-4, 295) and RT Patrick Ward (6-7, 305). Rating -- Second-team. This unit made NU's offense something to contend with last season, but it needs to help build a running game.

Ohio State -- The Buckeyes will be missing first-team left tackle Mike Adams (6-8, 300 Sr.), who's suspended for the first five games of 2011, but their OL is loaded with senior center Mike Brewster (6-5, 293) and right tackle J.B. Shugarts (6-7, 297 Sr.). Rating -- Silver football. Adams' suspension will hurt, but OSU will build depth with Marcus Hall (6-5, 321 So.) the frontrunner to take Adams' place.

Penn State -- Tackles LT Quinn Barham (6-3, 290 Sr.) and RT Chima Okoli (6-4, 291 Sr.) will give PSU a start, but the Lions will have to rebuild the inside trio, with Johnnie Troutman in the doghouse after an offseason DUI. Rating -- Third team. Penn State RB Silas Redd has the potential to be one of the league's best, but PSU is in building mode up front.

Purdue -- The Boilermakers return four starters -- center Peters Drey (6-6, 300 Jr.), LT Dennis Kelly (6-8, 301 Sr.), RT Nick Mondek (6-5, 300 Sr.) and RG Ken Plue (6-7, 358 Sr.). Rating -- Third-team. That's a lot of beef and returning experience, but Purdue's running game will need a running back.

Wisconsin -- Replacing LT Gabe Carimi and G John Moffitt will be troublesome, but there is young talent in the pipeline. Look for Ricky Wagner (6-6, 332 Jr.) to move to left tackle from right tackle to replace Carimi. With senior-to-be Josh Oglesby (6-7, 335) recovering from a torn ACL, Casey Dehn (6-6, 317 So.) should get the first crack at right tackle. Junior center Peter Konz (6-5, 313) also returns with G Kevin Zeitler (6-4, 315 Sr.).

Rating -- First-team. There is some newness, but UW will push OSU for top OL in the conference.