There has been no bigger key to the success of the Iowa football team over the past few years than the play of the offensive line and that unit will have plenty of experience heading into next season. Iowa must replace Rob Bruggeman and Seth Olsen from last year’s "o-line" that helped pave the way to a 90-4 record and a win over South Carolina in the Outback Bowl.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says they have three guys who were playing pretty well at the end of the season, so they have something to build on. He says they have plenty of younger guys who realistically can contend for playing time.
One of the players in the hunt at center is senior Rafael Eubanks, who battled injuries this past season. Ferentz says some of the guys who played well last year had a tough year the year before.
Ferentz says Eubanks is in that same situation and has played some good football in the past at guard and center and is in contention for both positions.
At Iowa State it has been back to basics for the offensive line where new coach Paul Rhoads is not only installing a new offense but a new style of blocking as well. Rhoads says it’s been a big adjustment in the fundamentals of how they block.
Rhoads says the focus is on style not assignments, or the nuts and bolts of blocking, which he says is the hardest thing to teach. He says knowing who to block is easier to teach than it is teaching them how to block.
Both the Cyclones and Hawkeyes conclude spring drills on April 18th.