Northern Iowa football coach Mark Farley says how far the Panthers go this season will depend upon the development of a young offensive line. Four starters are gone from last year’s unit that helped lead UNI to a 12-1 record and a spot in the quarterfinal round of the national playoffs.
Farley says if you go to a game and watch "the box," the area from tight end to the the tackle and the quarterback. Farley says everything outside the box is the same for them coming back, so the way they develop and handle the pressure in the box will be key.
Farley says the offensive line will need to grow up so the Panthers can play the kind of offense they want. He says in the end they have to run the football, "And we will run the football." Farley says you have to run the ball to be able to throw it down the field, and they want to do that.
Farley says going up against the Panther’s experienced defense in the pre-season will help that group get better. He says the defense will help develop the offense in training camp, as the defense will come hard and give the offense as good a challenge as what they will face all season.
UNI opens August 30th at B-Y-U.