A closer look at quarterback

First in a eight-part series looking at the University Iowa football team before the final spring practice on April 16.

Tomorrow: Defensive line.

FOURTH DOWN

Concerns: What is James Vandenberg?

He's 6-3, 213-pounder who led Keokuk to the Class 3A state title in 2007. The numbers he put up are legendary. He holds 12 different Iowa high school passing records.

During his freshman year at Iowa, Vandenberg replaced Ricky Stanzi after an ankle injury took him out of the last three games of 2009. Vandenberg stunk against Northwestern, but completed 20 of 33 for 233 yards, two TDs and three interceptions in a near-miss at Ohio State. His QB rating went from 51.43 the week before against Northwestern to 121.74 in what amounted to a Big Ten championship game at Ohio State, which the Buckeyes pulled out, 27-24, in OT.

Forget about the numbers. Maybe the take-away here is the fear factor. Vandenberg didn't seem to show any.

“He played with great poise, great mental toughness and great physical toughness,” Coach Kirk Ferentz said at the time.

What is James Vandenberg?

“James has grown up a lot, has made himself a better player,” offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe said. “If you're asking me to evaluate him on practice, I would say all of our guys are better in that regard. So, where that takes us after that, neither one of us know.”

THIRD DOWN

Additions/subtractions: Ricky Stanzi, the Americanzi and all other “anzi” iterations, is gone. The addition is Florida prep Jake Rudock.

Rudock comes in from St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), which he led to district, regional state and national championship with a 15-0 record. He completed 157 of 242 pass attempts for 2,827 yards and 36 touchdowns, with three interceptions.

Rudock sees himself as a pro-style quarterback. Iowa is a pro-style offense.

Will Rudock factor this year? Probably looking at a red-shirt, barring injury.

SECOND DOWN

Battles brewing: Given the fact that we don't know what is being said in the QB room, the battle for No. 2 is interesting. You have John Wienke, who'll be in his fourth season in the program. He has one career passing attempt. Then there's A.J. Derby, who red-shirted last season after enrolling early.

Derby has a chance to earn the No. 2 spot. It might not mean anything more than a “red jersey year,” but it would elevate him in practice with reps and preparation.

Remember what Ferentz said about Derby when he signed last February: “That's our intent is for him to play quarterback. We're eager to see how he can progress and improve.”

Should be one of the more interesting spring/fall camp battles.

FIRST DOWN

Prediction for 2011: For Vandenberg, let's go 18 TD passes and eight interceptions. That's fewer TD passes and assuming Iowa can run the ball.

Factors that could completely unplug that prediction: 1) Marvin McNutt. If he has a 1,000-yard kind of season, he could be a first- or second-round NFL draft pick. He's capable. 2) Two new guards might leave the middle of the offensive line shaky. When the middle is strong (2008), Iowa has a better shot at 5.0 yards a carry. Four teams averaged 5.0 or more a carry last season (Ohio State, Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan). Those four finished 21-11 in the Big Ten and all played in bowl games.