NFL Combine: Iowa O-linemen surprised by Reese Morgan's move, upbeat about Brian Ferentz

INDIANAPOLIS - Two former Iowa offensive linemen said Thursday they were caught off guard at the staff changes to the Iowa football offensive coaching staff.

Offensive line coach Reese Morgan shifted to the defensive line, and former New England Patriots tight ends coach Brian Ferentz now will coach Iowa's offensive line. Former guard Adam Gettis said he was surprised, mainly because of how much respect he has for Morgan.

“Oh my gosh,” Gettis said at the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. “I'm not a big fan of it, but you've got to do what's best for the team. I believe that's what (Morgan's) doing. He's a great coach. He's brought through linemen such as Julian Vandervelde, (Marshal) Yanda, those guys. I know he's going to do that for our D-line.”

Former Iowa tackle Riley Reiff, who is projected as the second tackle available in April's NFL draft, also was surprised with the move.

“I actually was,” Reiff said. “Pretty excited. (Morgan will) do great. He's a great coach, a great guy. He'll succeed.”

Both players said they were familiar with Brian Ferentz - a former Iowa center and team captain - both personally and as a football coach. Gettis said Ferentz will bring a different style to the offensive line and Morgan will help develop Iowa's young defensive linemen.

“When (Morgan) gets after you, he gets after you,” said Gettis, a second-team all-Big Ten guard in 2011. “But he's a real cool, calm, collected guy if you're doing the right thing. He's going to bring a lot of talent to that side of the ball. There's going to be a lot of learning done for the D-line, and there's going to be a lot of teaching done. That's going to help us overall.

“(Brian Ferentz) came and talked to us all the time. I've been there five years, so he's been in and out of the building like all the time. I believe that's a great pick for the offensive line coach. The older guys were saying that if anybody would come in and be the offensive line coach, it would be Brian Ferentz. That's what we truly believe.

“(Brian Ferentz) likes to yell and get after guys a little bit more than Coach Morgan, but that's a good thing. It only helps make you better.”

Reiff was a former roommate of James Ferentz, Iowa's current center and Brian Ferentz's younger brother. Reiff said Brian Ferentz always seemed to be instructing players.

“He gave us some pointers, how to get rid of guys, what to look for,” Reiff said. “He's a great guy off the field, too. Just give me advice, what to look for and stuff.”

Brian Ferentz helped develop the NFL's most prolific tight end tandem in Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, who combined for 169 catches, 2,237 yards and 24 touchdowns this year. New England has yet to line up his replacement.

“I've got a lot of respect for Brian,” said Nick Caserio, New England's director of player personnel. “Brian is a great coach, he's been in our program, he actually started in personnel and worked his way over to coaching.

“But it's a good opportunity for Brian. I'm sure he's excited; you probably don't get a chance too often to work with your father and coach your brother at the same time. Brian did a good job for us while he was here.”

Iowa officially has one other coach opening. Longtime offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe left Iowa after 13 years for Miami as the Dolphins' wide receivers coach. Joe Philbin, who worked at Iowa as offensive line coach under Kirk Ferentz and alongside O'Keefe, said O'Keefe brought both tangibles and intangibles to the job.

“The No. 1 criteria I was looking for when we assembled this staff was a guy who was a great leader,” Philbin said, “and I think Ken O'Keefe is gonna set a great example of professionalism in that room, of how you conduct your business, on the field, off the field.

“He's been an offensive coordinator and a head coach, so he's got a very good knowledge of offensive football and I think he's gonna do an outstanding job with our wide receivers.”

When asked if convincing O'Keefe to come to Miami was a tough sell, Philbin said, “He might be the better one to ask whether it was hard to convince him to come or not. But I'm obviously delighted he's on our staff.”