Camp Countdown: Offensive Line
Tom Kakert | Editor
Sean Welsh moves to center and anchors the offensive line
While C.J. Beathard is the straw that stirs the drink, the offensive line is the engine that drives on the offense. On paper, this group lost some key cogs in the trenches, but the bright side is there’s plenty of talent that returns to the starting lineup. In fact, all five projected starters on the line started at least one game last year.
Having said that, how settled is the offensive line? How are some of those moving pieces fitting in together as a cohesive unit? Sean Welsh, who started at guard and tackle last year, is now a center. James Daniels oozes potential, but he’s still green and coming off knee surgery. And Boone Myers is now a guard after playing tackle last season.
How this group performs will go a long way to determining just how good the Iowa offense is in 2016. If they come together and can not only protect Beathard, but establish a dominant group game, the Hawkeyes could have a very potent offense again this season.
TWO DEEPS
LT: Cole Croston (SR), Brett Waechter (RFR)
LG: Boone Myers (JR), Lucas LeGrand (SO)
C: Sean Welsh (JR), Steve Ferentz (SR)
RG: James Daniels (SO), Keegan Render (SO)
RT: Ike Boettger (JR), Dalton Ferguson (SO)
THE RUNDOWN
On paper, I like this group, but how will they function as a group. With Daniels out this spring, fall camp will be the first time they work together as a unit. Last year due to injuries along the line, there was a lot of movement, but it never appeared to slow this group down.
Looking at the tackle position, Boettger and Myers started the season there last year, but due to injuries, Croston ended up playing more snaps there than either of those two. Croston did a really nice job at tackle and he’s added the necessary size to his frame to become a really good player. Boettger is back on the right side of the line and he’s played very well there. Big question is he needs to stay healthy. Coaches seem to be high on the potential of Ferguson as he continues to develop.
Myers is honestly probably the backup at left tackle since he started there last season, but the coaches really liked what they saw from Waechter last season in practice. A couple of weeks last year when Myers was sidelined, he received reps with the second unit, so they certainly like his potential.
The guard combo of Myers and Daniels has the potential to be very good. Both are excellent run blockers, as they showed last season. Myers started the Rose Bowl at guard and he’s had time to get more comfortable there during the spring. Daniels hasn’t had as much time at the position and he missed spring ball, but the potential for him is as high as anyone in the offensive line group. Render got more time with the first unit in the spring with Daniels out and that probably makes him the 6th OL on the roster right now. LeGrand has worked at center and guard during his Iowa career and might be a year away from more significant snaps.
Center is really one of the bigger question marks. During the Rose Bowl prep, I asked Brian Ferentz who his starting center would be in the spring and he said Daniels. But, with Daniels out, they plugged in Welsh and he did a really nice job there with few mistakes. Pretty amazing that if he starts the opener at center he will have played all three offensive line positions in the course of one year. Steve Ferentz is following along in the family business at center this season. One thing that will be interesting during camp is to see if Daniels gets any work at center with the second unit.
As is always the case, Kirk and Brian Ferentz like to have the linemen be able to move around with the idea that the best five will play. Will there be any tinkering during fall camp? Usually someone moves around, but will it happen this year?
Will also be interesting to watch some of the young players, like the Paulsen twins, Jake Newborg, and Ross Reynolds.
NEW FACES
Not a big group on the offensive line this year after loading up the previous year. Everyone in this group will certainly redshirt this coming season given the depth already on hand. Alaric Jackson is probably the most decorated of the group coming in. He will be joined by Cole Banwart and Spencer Williams.
BEST CASE
The best case for this group is that it looks like there are five players who have somewhat separated themselves from the pack and they find their footing and cohesiveness very quickly and turn into a well-oiled machine. Last year, injuries hit the line and they still played very well as a group. Some good experience with the starting five, so they could be a very solid group.
WORST CASE
What if Welsh doesn’t fully take to the center position? That sort of throws the offensive line in scramble mode because you need your leader to be your center. Austin Blythe did that last season and the leader needs to emerge. I think it’s Welsh, but we have to see it.
Tom Kakert | Editor
Sean Welsh moves to center and anchors the offensive line
While C.J. Beathard is the straw that stirs the drink, the offensive line is the engine that drives on the offense. On paper, this group lost some key cogs in the trenches, but the bright side is there’s plenty of talent that returns to the starting lineup. In fact, all five projected starters on the line started at least one game last year.
Having said that, how settled is the offensive line? How are some of those moving pieces fitting in together as a cohesive unit? Sean Welsh, who started at guard and tackle last year, is now a center. James Daniels oozes potential, but he’s still green and coming off knee surgery. And Boone Myers is now a guard after playing tackle last season.
How this group performs will go a long way to determining just how good the Iowa offense is in 2016. If they come together and can not only protect Beathard, but establish a dominant group game, the Hawkeyes could have a very potent offense again this season.
TWO DEEPS
LT: Cole Croston (SR), Brett Waechter (RFR)
LG: Boone Myers (JR), Lucas LeGrand (SO)
C: Sean Welsh (JR), Steve Ferentz (SR)
RG: James Daniels (SO), Keegan Render (SO)
RT: Ike Boettger (JR), Dalton Ferguson (SO)
THE RUNDOWN
On paper, I like this group, but how will they function as a group. With Daniels out this spring, fall camp will be the first time they work together as a unit. Last year due to injuries along the line, there was a lot of movement, but it never appeared to slow this group down.
Looking at the tackle position, Boettger and Myers started the season there last year, but due to injuries, Croston ended up playing more snaps there than either of those two. Croston did a really nice job at tackle and he’s added the necessary size to his frame to become a really good player. Boettger is back on the right side of the line and he’s played very well there. Big question is he needs to stay healthy. Coaches seem to be high on the potential of Ferguson as he continues to develop.
Myers is honestly probably the backup at left tackle since he started there last season, but the coaches really liked what they saw from Waechter last season in practice. A couple of weeks last year when Myers was sidelined, he received reps with the second unit, so they certainly like his potential.
The guard combo of Myers and Daniels has the potential to be very good. Both are excellent run blockers, as they showed last season. Myers started the Rose Bowl at guard and he’s had time to get more comfortable there during the spring. Daniels hasn’t had as much time at the position and he missed spring ball, but the potential for him is as high as anyone in the offensive line group. Render got more time with the first unit in the spring with Daniels out and that probably makes him the 6th OL on the roster right now. LeGrand has worked at center and guard during his Iowa career and might be a year away from more significant snaps.
Center is really one of the bigger question marks. During the Rose Bowl prep, I asked Brian Ferentz who his starting center would be in the spring and he said Daniels. But, with Daniels out, they plugged in Welsh and he did a really nice job there with few mistakes. Pretty amazing that if he starts the opener at center he will have played all three offensive line positions in the course of one year. Steve Ferentz is following along in the family business at center this season. One thing that will be interesting during camp is to see if Daniels gets any work at center with the second unit.
As is always the case, Kirk and Brian Ferentz like to have the linemen be able to move around with the idea that the best five will play. Will there be any tinkering during fall camp? Usually someone moves around, but will it happen this year?
Will also be interesting to watch some of the young players, like the Paulsen twins, Jake Newborg, and Ross Reynolds.
NEW FACES
Not a big group on the offensive line this year after loading up the previous year. Everyone in this group will certainly redshirt this coming season given the depth already on hand. Alaric Jackson is probably the most decorated of the group coming in. He will be joined by Cole Banwart and Spencer Williams.
BEST CASE
The best case for this group is that it looks like there are five players who have somewhat separated themselves from the pack and they find their footing and cohesiveness very quickly and turn into a well-oiled machine. Last year, injuries hit the line and they still played very well as a group. Some good experience with the starting five, so they could be a very solid group.
WORST CASE
What if Welsh doesn’t fully take to the center position? That sort of throws the offensive line in scramble mode because you need your leader to be your center. Austin Blythe did that last season and the leader needs to emerge. I think it’s Welsh, but we have to see it.
