No. 13 — LB Josey Jewell

No. 13 . . .

Sophomore Josey Jewell played a ton at weakside linebacker last season, basically supplanting Reggie Spearman at the position with starts in Iowa's final four games. He didn't play any middle linebacker, that being Quinton Alston's domain.

In January, the 6-2, 230-pounder was installed in the middle. During spring practice, he took the majority of first-team repetitions but did share with senior Travis Perry, who's listed as the No. 2 MLB.

Jewell, a Decorah native, has the coaches' attention.

'He toyed with it two years ago, when he was redshirting,' head coach Kirk Ferentz said. 'He's another good example. Right up to the last minute, (Iowa coaches asked themselves during Jewell's recruitment) is he fast enough? I don't know, I don't even know how fast he is, but I do know this: If the guy has the ball, he runs really hard, as hard as he can, to get him. A lot of times he lands on top of the guy, so that's a good thing. That's a good way to evaluate linebackers.'

(Ferentz also was asked about the broken hand that Jewell suffered last August. He might've displaced Spearman earlier, but that was a setback.)

Linebackers coach Jim Reid said he still wanted to move around Jewell. He wants the linebackers to understand the assignments tacked to each LB position. And in the spring, you did see Jewell play some weakside linebacker (when Perry was in the game). He's played some OLB, but I don't remember seeing him there.

Jewell also was Iowa's MVP in the TaxSlayer Bowl. I know, that's like being the MVP of an oil spill, but 14 tackles against an athletic, physical offense was an eye opener.

One thing about Jewell, weakside No. 1 Bo Bower and outside linebacker Ben Niemann — prepare yourselves for some brilliant analysis — they are a year older. Last season, redshirt freshmen Jewell (only other offer was Northern Iowa) and Bower (only offer was Northern Iowa before walking on at Iowa — he earned a scholarship last season) in their first action. (Niemann is the starter at OLB after spending last season as a true freshman on special teams.) A high percentage of linebacker play is on the line of scrimmage. Second-year players lack the physical maturity that a third-year sophomore, fourth-year junior or any kind of senior might have. In terms of weightroom math and preparation, Jewell and Bower should be closer to where they need to be.

While we're on the physical part . . .

Jewell said exactly that after the TaxSlayer. Now, don't read that as an excuse. When you win a job, you still have to do the job. I think it clarifies things for the outside world, which is constantly seeking explanation (including me).

'I feel like, yeah, maybe we're still a little bit behind,' Jewell said after the TaxSlayer. 'We have a long ways to go, that's the exciting part.'

'It was an infinity amount,' Jewell said of the information he processed as a freshman linebacker. 'The experience was all of it. You get all the nervous feeling out.'

'Natural is the right word,' he said. 'Every day in practice, Things come to you more quickly. You're not thinking. You feel more natural about moving to, say, quarter coverage.'

Outlook . . .

Jewell is the final starting linebacker in the top 45 and he's No. 13. OK, maybe that doesn't crystallize the urgency at the position, but perhaps these numbers will help: In 2013, when Iowa fielded Anthony Hitchens, Christian Kirksey and James Morris (three linebackers who'll begin their second NFL seasons), they accounted for 35.5 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks. Last year, six Iowa LBs totaled 17.5 tackles for loss; five picked up 7.5 sacks.

The position was less productive. The position slapped some limits on the defense as far as blitzes (three seniors in 2013 knew what they were doing). Another year in won't solve all their problems, but it should help.

'It's not all physical talent that allows to you make a TFL [tackle for loss], to make a sack, to make a great play,' Reid said. 'It's having anticipation. It's reading the line of scrimmage. It's seeing the splits. It's knowing what the formation is. It's knowing what the down and distance is.

'. . . So, I think that personally, not just me, but I think we all believe that we're heading in the right direction with this crowd and it's a fun crowd to coach because they are into it big time.'

Reid isn't making any promises. He's too smart for that. There's work to do.

'Let me just say, I'm not sure that it's going to be up [linebackers' performance], as much as it's going to be consistent,' Reid said.

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