10 Takeaways from Talking Wednesday

1. Feels like Iowa is all-in on the big RB model

- Sure, yes, Iowa's lead running back is senior Jordan Canzeri, a 190-pounder. It also has a promising sophomore in Akrum Wadley, a 190-or-so pounder. I asked running backs coach Chris White about the prototypical Iowa RB and here's what he said: 'They come in all shapes and sizes, but I know this: A guy like LeShun is a workhorse type of guy that has a little bit more speed, and jump cut, agileness. We all know Mark [Weisman], what he was. He was a fullback playing tailback, and he was pretty good at it, but he had his limitations, and he'll be the first one to let you know that. But I think LeShun is a little bit different. He can hit a little bit longer run, and he can make a guy miss in space a little bit more than Mark can, I think.”

Lots of LeShun Daniels talk.

2. Daniels cut some weight to 225

- Well, there was a lot of LeShun Daniels talk. He has cut his weight from the 235-range to 225. He broke the running backs shuttle record, so he does have quickness. Will it translate?

3. Canzeri remains No. 1 back

- He didn't get talked about much, but senior Jordan Canzeri is still Iowa's No. 1 running back. When asked about him, White talked about the TaxSlayer Bowl and some learning opportunities in that game, specifically vision in the open field (Canzeri had 120 yards on 12 carries in the 45-28 loss to Tennessee).

'I don't know if you remember a couple runs in the bowl game where he's in space, and he's kind of weaving around there a little bit instead of just running,” White said.

One of Iowa's offseason stops was UCLA. White said he picked up on one concept.

'One coaching little buzz word he always used was ‘get your eyes to the end zone,'” White said. 'I was like, simple as that sounds, right, guys get in space, and they're looking around and who is going to tackle me, right? You're in open space, get your eyes to the end zone and then figure out who is going to attack you. But these guys are weaving around, it drives me crazy. We've got to get that fixed, and that's one thing that Jordan is working on.”

4. Punter, I just don't know

- White said senior Marshall Koehn and freshman Miguel Recinos are in the mix at punter, along with seniors Connor Kornbrath and Dillon Kidd.

It's condition critical here with all hands on deck. White talked about taking Keohn off kickoff to take some stress off his leg, in case he does sweep the kicker/punter duties. (Iowa last tried that with Nate Kaeding in the early 2000s. It didn't last long even then, when Iowa had the only kicker it has had drafted into the NFL under Kirk Ferentz).

5. The Jonathan Parker saga

- White acknowledged the TaxSlayer kick return was a disaster, but he also said Iowa needs Parker because it has few players like him, ones who can make explosive plays. He said that play devastated Parker and that he's grown up.

Parker is now mostly a wide receiver, but he does dabble at running back and will likely run, or show the possibility that he might run, the jet sweep.

6. Freshmen WRs in the mix - After senior Tevaun Smith, there are a bunch of names and some short resumes. Outside of Smith, there are no automatics at this position. Wide receivers coach Bobby Kennedy said his biggest disappointment from 2014 was downfield blocking.

He also said the trio of incoming freshmen - Adrian Falconer, Jerminic Smith and Emmanuel Ogwo - will have a real chance to play. Kennedy said Ogwo ran a 10.6-second 100 meters at a track meet in Texas recently.

7. Could Derrick Mitchell be something at running back?

- We're going to find out, it sounds like. But let me be clear, the pecking order that White indicated on Wednesday was Canzeri, Daniels, Wadley and then 'we'll see.” Mitchell, a third-year sophomore who moved from wideout this spring, seems to head the 'we'll see” class. White seemed excited about his potential in the third-down role.

'But one guy that is tailor‑made for this role is Derrick Mitchell, White said. 'You talk about a wide receiver converting to a running back. He showed in the first six practices a willingness to block in protection and a willingness to learn. He's a good learner. So, he's got tremendous ball skills. He catches the ball effortlessly, and obviously he's a great route runner from Coach Kennedy's two years with him, so we're hoping that might be a role for him.”

8. Theme from Kirk Ferentz this spring

- Kennedy said the coaches are pushing more, trying to find out what they might have. And that's coming from the head coach.

'Let's see what these guys can do,” Kennedy said. He added, yes, of course, be supportive, but Ferentz wants skill groups pushed along. Kennedy said this is year three for him at Iowa and it's time to squeeze the WR group.

9. LeVar Woods taking over the punt return deal

- White said those duties are now Woods'. White talked about some of the difficulties there. He was asked if Iowa has been passive here: 'Yeah, I think it's fair in terms of we've been burnt enough on fakes. We have almost a philosophy that the ball is the most important thing.

'At times we were in a punt safe, defensive stay, mentality that at times we probably could have been more aggressive. I think we do need to pressure the punters more. In today's college football with all the formations and everything, it's really hard to practice the return against all these formations and a full‑out pressure.”

White also said other assistants will have voices in special teams this year. This is the kind of thing that could win Iowa a game or two, an improved special teams.

10. The era of run game coordinator

- It's here, what could it mean? Offensive line coach Brian Ferentz is the run game coordinator. White and Kennedy sung his praises for his ability to see the big picture and how different parts of the game affect each other.

So, how might it go?

The thing that we've done specifically with the running backs and tight ends with Brian now being the coordinator is we've spent more time in the meeting rooms together, as opposed to the running backs are here, the tight ends are here, and the O‑line is here. We're hearing one voice from the run coordinator, that this is how this ties in with the O‑line, this is what the coach is telling the back that you need to know that he's pressing the hole here. He's reading this. These are the line calls. This is how it all ties in together. And Brian has done an outstanding job of that, and he sees the clear picture more than most coaches at his age do. He's a very talented coach.”

Also, a little on what it might look like (and, remember, this is spring and why give out your playbook?): 'But more gap scheme plays, and pull outside things. But our bread and butter is still inside, outside zone. Me personally I've been asking Coach Davis and Brian about putting in a little bit of a draw, type of lag draw type of thing for Akrum, specifically, and he ripped off a couple the other day.

'I think those type of things, we're getting more multiple. I don't know if you watch us on Saturday down at Valley, you'll see the tight ends being disbursed more in different spots. You'll see wide receivers moving around a little bit more. That is kind of the things that we've worked on this spring.”

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com