Woods transitions from Hawkeye LBs to TEs

IOWA CITY - LeVar Woods' off-season began on the flight home from Jacksonville in the aftermath of Iowa's 45-28 loss to Tennessee in the TaxSlayer Bowl.

Woods, 37, spent the last three seasons as the Hawkeyes' linebackers coach. So using the Wunderlust app on his cellphone, Woods made a list of what he wanted to accomplish this off-season. Among the topics include learning about offense, from offensive protections and play-calling to run-blocking schemes.

Woods' goals quickly were realized, but not the way he had envisioned. In February, he flipped to offense and became Iowa's tight ends coach. The move caught him by surprise.

'I would be lying if I said I wasn't shocked,” Woods said. 'But obviously excited at the opportunity. I get the opportunity to coach tight ends at one of the greatest schools for tight ends in the country. And you don't have to go very far ... you walk into our media room and you see Jonathan Hayes, you see Dallas Clark, Brandon Myers, Tony Moeaki, C.J. Fiedorowicz, guys that have played this position at this university. There's a reason around the country it's known as ‘Tight End U,' and I get the opportunity to coach one of the best positions at the greatest university in the country in my opinion. It's a great opportunity.”

The last time Woods competed on offense was on the scout team early in his Iowa career. He eventually started at an outside linebacker, and in 2001, he signed as a free agent with the Arizona Cardinals. He played in 88 NFL games for four teams.

After his NFL career concluded, Woods latched on to Iowa as an administrative assistant. He occasionally filled on-field duties when former defensive coordinator Norm Parker took ill. Then in 2012, Woods became a full-time assistant coaching linebackers.

Some of the teaching principles apply to both sides of the ball such as using active hands and keeping legs moving while blocking. Other techniques simply the reverse from what Woods has taught, and he believes he can teach those as well.

This spring former Minnesota head coach Tim Brewster - now the Florida State tight ends coach - helped guide Woods through the nuance of coaching tight ends. Iowa offensive line coach Brian Ferentz, who previously guided New England's tight ends, also has helped Woods learn the position.

Iowa's tight end tradition remains strong with four on active NFL rosters. But the Hawkeyes seek more from the current position. Last year Iowa's tight ends combined for 58 catches, 620 receiving yards and eight scores. That's down statistically from 62 catches for 772 yards in 2013.

Part of the drop was losing tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz, a third-round pick in last year's NFL draft. But Iowa has three players who have contributed heavily the last two years in Jake Duzey, Henry Krieger Coble and George Kittle. They have combined for 72 catches for 823 yards and seven TDs.

'We have to be better at the tight end position,” Woods said. 'I've told those guys that.”

Woods is learning the position concurrently as he's teaching it. He's assured enough to ask for feedback from his tight ends if he's not saying the right thing. But don't mistake his self-awareness for insecurity, mind you.

'I don't think I lack confidence in what I'm doing, and the guys have been great, because I don't think they see that either I hope they don't see that,” he said. 'But for me, it's just a matter of understanding, what are we trying to do. What's the play, for one; what's my role in the play. And then I think just from playing on the other side of the ball and knowing how to attack defensively, attacking the offensive position, I think that helps me.”

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