Upon further review, Ferentz can work with Iowa’s new tackles

Last weekend at Valley Stadium in Des Moines and on April 25 at Kinnick Stadium, you'll watch the Hawkeyes' young offensive tackles take their first steps as front-and-center starters.

It won't always be comfortable for sophomores Ike Boettger and Boone Myers, Iowa's new right and left tackles. Boettger first emerged as a prospect after playing quarterback for Cedar Falls High School during his junior year in 2011. Myers was a walk-on tight end out of Webster City, a Class 2A high school along Highway 20 in north-central Iowa.

'We recruited Boone pretty hard and if you ask either (lead recruiter) Reese (Morgan) or myself for our honest opinion at that time, we thought we were really getting a steal,” Iowa O-line coach Brian Ferentz told The Daily Freeman-Journal, the Webster City newspaper. 'The first day of camp he showed up and it took three minutes of practice before we started figuring out we really lucked into something. It was pretty apparent early on.”

Neither player was handed this opportunity, the were considerable hoops to jump through (Boettger has gained 80 pounds since his Rivals.com profile went up). And they, more than anyone else, know this isn't going to be a straight line to all-Big Ten, consensus All-American glory - you know, that whole ride that left tackle Brandon Scherff carved out for himself last season.

They'll take it all in. They'll listen to the voices that matter and block out the things that aren't sitting in a three-point stance in front of them.

'That's exactly what I say after every practice,” senior center Austin Blythe said. 'If I feel like I had a good or bad practice, it's never as good or as bad as you think. Tomorrow is another practice and your job is to string together a bunch of good ones.”

So, last weekend in Des Moines had the ups and downs you might expect.

Senior defensive end Nate Meier lined up across from Boettger and wreaked some havoc, collecting a trio of sacks, at least one tackle for loss and a fumble. As Boettger settled in, the battle evened out, but this round was Meier's.

Nine practices into spring drills, that's the ride.

'Yeah, it's a challenge going against Nate every day,” Boettger said with a laugh. 'We're good friends, but it's a challenge. It's a lot of fun going against him in practice every day.”

On the other hand, Myers and Ott stalemated more than you'd think with a senior defensive end hooking up with a sophomore offensive tackle who only earned a scholarship before camp started last August.

'Yeah, I was getting pancaked by Scherff a year ago. I've been there,” Ott said. 'I think they're kind of wide-eyed. They're building every day getting better. They've already improved dramatically as the spring has gone on. They're only going to get better.”

None of what he saw Saturday made Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz flinch. Of course, you know he came up as an offensive line coach for the Hawkeyes and the Cleveland Browns/Baltimore Ravens. He's seen every stage of development.

'I was really concerned about that position in August a year ago,” Ferentz said. 'Not as concerned when we got through December. I thought both Boone and Ike made a lot of progress in December. There are always players you see growing.

'You couldn't ask for a better situation right now. We have 15 days (of spring practice). Both of those guys are working against two pretty good guys in Meier and Ott on the other side. They're getting tested each and every day.”

Piecing together what you saw last weekend and what you'll see when Iowa finishes its spring drills isn't that difficult. One of the things all football players have to deal with is losing one-on-one battles. You'll notice when a defensive end wins a battle and scoots to quarterback C.J. Beathard and playfully runs by him with a primal scream.

What technically going on there is angles. Iowa teaches its tackles to work angles on outside pass rushers and not to kick-step.

'Hopefully, they can learn from us, things like how to pick a better angle and cut people off,” Ott said.

A good practice for Boettger? He'll take one where the entire offense has success.

'I feel like my success comes from what we do as an offense,” the 6-6, 300-pounder said. 'If we have a good practice, I feel good.

'I'm going to have some plays I don't feel good about, but there will be some plays I do feel good about. If we're doing well as an offense, I'm happy after practice. If not, I'm not feeling good until we have another practice.”

There is a web of support for Boettger and Myers. Everyone knows lots of eyes are on this.

'They're coming along and they're making a lot of progress and I'm proud of them,” senior running back Jordan Canzeri said. 'They're ready, it's just the little things we all need to focus on continue to work on. They're doing great in practice.

'The guys they're going against, Drew Ott and Nate Meier, they're experienced, they're happy they get to go against two experienced guys. It's a lot of good work for them. I know they like it.”

It wasn't that long ago when Blythe started as a redshirt freshman in 2012. What did he use to boost his confidence?

'I think just coming out here and practicing and then the next day watching it on film and seeing us do things how we've been coached and how it looks in the text book or playbook,” Blythe said. 'That's gratifying as a young guy. Also, encouragement from the older guys helps, too.”

Get ready for more of the same on April 25 at Kinnick. Try to keep a clean score card, and also keep an eye open for growth. It's probably not as good or as bad as it looks.

'They win some, lose some,” Kirk Ferentz said. 'They were starting to win some. They weren't winning many if any early in the practice (last weekend in Des Moines). It's a progressional thing. Hopefully by August, they'll be in a lot better shape.”

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