Prater, Miller 'animals' on kick coverage

IOWA CITY - Shaun Prater has become a lion on a special teams unit that has played like a lamb.

Prater, a starting junior cornerback, lines up behind the left side on the kickoff team. His job is flying to the football once it's kicked. That's it.

“No lane responsibility,” said Prater of his “lion” role. “I just have to knife to the ball and make the tackle.”

Prater is a newbie on the kickoff unit, one of several changes made after a disastrous game two weeks ago in Tucson, Ariz. He volunteered for the spot to linebackers/special teams coach Darrell Wilson after recovering a fumble on a punt against Arizona. Prater was inserted as the lion last week against Ball State.

Opposite Prater, with comparable duties on the right side, is freshman safety Tanner Miller, who plays the “ram” position. Neither opened the season in those spots. Some changes are because of injuries, others are performance-based. Either way, the unit has the complete attention of the team and Coach Kirk Ferentz.

“I'll say what I said a couple weeks ago. I think we're capable; we're just not consistent,” Ferentz said. “I think we've got guys that can do it. We've done it very well at times, then there have been other times where we didn't look like we had any idea what we were doing.”

Iowa's kickoff unit struggled mightily during the non-conference slate. The Hawkeyes rank 107th of 120 schools, allowing 26.3 yards per kickoff return. That's 10th in the Big Ten.

Iowa gave up a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Arizona. After three games, Iowa allowed nearly 31 yards a kickoff return. The damage resulted from guys running out of their lanes and others getting blocked. Last week, the team devoted more time to special teams and revamped the unit to correct mistakes.

Six members of the kickoff team remained the same from the season opener through the first kickoff against Ball State. Outside men Jack Swanson (a safety) and cornerback Willie Lowe and kicker Mike Meyer have stayed in the same positions. Freshmen linebackers James Morris and Christian Kirksey have moved around, and safety Jordan Bernstine was shifted to the front line.

At least 15 players competed on the kickoff unit last week. Some adjustments were because of injuries; some to get other players time on the field. Special teams demons Jason White and Paki O'Meara - both running backs - were hurt, which forced other players to step in.

Ferentz said he prefers bigger players to stay in the middle of the field on kickoffs, which is why linebackers Lance Tillison, Troy Johnson and Morris have taken on those roles. Ferentz cited former Iowa All-American defensive end - and current Cleveland Browns linebacker - Matt Roth as a classic hitter in the middle kickoff unit.

“Usually the guys in the middle are the bigger guys because they're going to have to take on double teams and things like that,” Ferentz said. “Then the guys usually get smaller and faster moving toward the outside.”

Ferentz isn't afraid to use freshmen in those roles. Running back Anthony Hitchens joined Miller, Kirksey and Morris as freshmen on the unit Saturday. Young, athletic players can get game experience and help the team - provided they avoid mistakes.

“We don't have a lot of flexibility right now,” Ferentz said. “I think it's kind of a matter of us, we have to be more consistent and do a really good job each and every time we're out there on the field.

“Above everything else, it's attitude, really having a good attitude.”