Spring football practice got underway Wednesday for the University of Iowa. Hawkeye head coach Kirk Ferentz spoke with the media about his team. He says they’ve had a good winter phase of the program and are anxious to get out on the field in shorts. Ferentz says this spring has some new challenges compared to last year.
Ferentz says last year at this time they had some concerns about their depth and experience in the defensive line and at runningback. He says those positions are looking good this spring as he says the focus is on the receivers, cornerbacks, linebackers and a couple of offensive linemen. Football teams are given 15 days for spring ball, and Ferentz says he doesn’t miss the old schedule of 20 days of full pads workouts.
Ferentz says in his mind players started to drift mentally around day 16, 17 or 18 under the old schedule. He says 15 days is ideal, although he’d rather not have to go three days in just shorts.
Ferentz says they hope to get the team to adjust to the changes in personal from last year. He says the biggest thing is “teach and install”, getting the players to know the system, working on the techniques and fundamentals. Ferentz says it’s also a good time to evaluate every player out there on the football field. Iowa opens the 2006 season September 2nd at home against Montana.