Up next, a little R-and-R

IOWA CITY -- Not a lot of spring in Adam Robinson's step late Saturday night.

Iowa's sophomore running back kind of ambled into the interview room after the No. 15 Hawkeyes' 24-3 victory over Penn State. This wasn't an emergency situation. Robinson's ACLs and MCLs are fine.

This was general soreness. This was the product of a career-high 28 carries in a game that had physicality that belied the final score.

Robinson is definitely looking at a little I and I before the Hawkeyes (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten) enjoy some R-and-R during their bye week.

The "I and I" is ice and Ibuprofen, by the way, which should go along nicely with the "R-and-R," rest and relaxation.

"I'll go in for rehab and treatment and to get ice on the problem areas," said Robinson, who rushed 28 times for 95 yards. "Ibuprofen, ice, all that stuff. Whirlpool. I think the is the sorest I've been after a game this year, so yeah, the bye week came at just the right time."

Bye week, the great reset button of big-time college football. The Hawkeyes have a few spots that will benefit from a week off.

Robinson is the obvious. Against Ball State, freshmen Brad Rogers and Marcus Coker saw action in the second half, giving Robinson a break. In a game that really mattered -- just the Big Ten opener going into a bye week -- it was all Robinson.

This was Robinson's third game this season with 20-plus carries. In '09, he reached that plateau just three times, including his former career-high of 27 against Michigan State. Robinson finished with 181 carries last season. This year, he's at 98 and counting.

Iowa coaches know they have to preserve Robinson. They know to do that they have to develop a comfort level with Rogers and Coker and they have to do that fast.

"He [Robinson] could've gone 50 today," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said, maybe half in jest. "We've got the week off next week, so it's OK. But obviously we've got to get our young guys moving forward here. And I'm not saying he [Robinson] can't do it. Fred Russell did it and Fred wasn't as big as Adam. But we can't bank on one guy.

"We've got to develop and make some progress there."

A bye week should help middle linebacker fill up again.

Senior Troy Johnson started Saturday night because senior Jeff Tarpinian missed a ton of practice while resting a neck stinger suffered against Ball State. Then, in the second quarter, Johnson suffered what looked to be a concussion. He was out of action and on the bench without his helmet. Tarpinian maybe made it through a series before triggering the stinger.

That left true freshman James Morris to run the show.

He was a bundle of nervous energy, but he finished with seven tackles and a pass breakup. The reviews from teammates were positive.

"He's the man, he's going to be a good player here,” linebacker Jeremiha Hunter said. “He's hard on himself and he works hard. If Troy and Tarp don't get back, he'll be the guy.”

Kicker could change with another week, too. Senior Daniel Murray dressed for the first time this season Saturday night. He's nursed a hip flexor strain. Murray, who's made 32 career field goals, could unseat freshman Michael Meyer, who's made 2 of 3, with a long of 25.

As far as logistics, it's pretty simple. The players who've played a lot will have a light week. Underclassmen and reserves will be full-go.

Ferentz isn't normally a fan of bye weeks, but he's welcomed this one with open arms.

"This week couldn't be better," he said. "It's right in the middle of our season. We've been at this thing eight weeks, now we've got eight more from today. So, I couldn't find a better time for it."