Notes from the Ferentz radio show (Blythe, Lowery update)

-- Brian Ferentz and his wife, Nikki, had a girl, Presley, on Tuesday, according to Gary Dolphin on the Kirk Ferentz radio show Wednesday night. Of course, this makes Kirk Ferentz a grandfather. I thought he seemed to be in a pretty good mood yesterday. Congrats to Brian and Nikki! "We've entered a new phase of our lives," Kirk Ferentz said.

-- KF said RB Damon Bullock has practiced, but the time he's missed, three weeks after suffering a concussion against Northern Iowa on Sept. 15, might factor into how much playing time he sees against Michigan State this weekend.

-- On guard Austin Blythe and cornerback B.J. Lowery: Hard to say, but the decision will probably be made tomorrow. Ferentz doesn't see either starting because they haven't practice much if at all so far this week. If they can travel and help, great, he said, but right now they're not counting on them.

Blythe and Lowery suffered foot/ankle injuries against Central Michigan. Both missed the Minnesota game.

Sophomore Andrew Donnal started for Blythe at right guard; senior Greg Castillo started for Lowery. That'll be the plan against Michigan State if Blythe and Lowery can't play.

Going into Thursday's practice, I'd say they are doubtful.

-- On Bullock and keeping the RB job: Generally, that is true (you can't lose your starting job because of injury), unless the guy who replaces you is averaging 7 yards a carry (Mark Weisman).

Can't fault that logic.

-- On Weisman, "We plan to have him really tired at the end of every game. . . . We want the other team to be tired, too. Tired of seeing him." Dolph: Weisman has just 4 negative yards in 74 carries.

-- On passing game: "It's looking more and more like we want it, but it's got a ways to go."