On Iowa by Marc Morehouse
Good news, hopeful news
Posted on Aug 22, 2009 by Marc Morehouse.
Iowa offensive lineman Bryan Bulaga (79) works on a drill with teammate Riley Reiff (77) during the team's practice Monday, Aug. 10, 2009 at the Kenyon Football Practice Facility on the UI campus in Iowa City. (Brian Ray/The Gazette)
We’ve been funnin’ with the practice photos all week, but tonight’s shots contained a little bit of real news.
He’s in the blurry background of photo 26, but OL Bryan Bulaga (No. 79) was at least dressed for Friday night’s full scrimmage. It doesn’t look as if he played (no sweat and it doesn’t look like he’s wearing those knee contraptions), but he’s dressed and must be making some progress from the leg injury that sidelined him last Saturday. But dressed is good. Dressed is better than shorts and a T-shirt, like last Saturday.
Lots of Paul Chaney Jr., Allen Reisner and Micah Hyde (appears to be running with the No. 2s) in these photos. RB Adam Robinson also appears to break a long run. A few pix of WR Keenan Davis, too.
Bulaga dressed is the good news.
The hopeful news comes from Columbus radio. (This is a link to the podcast. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz is on at the 27-minute mark.)
Friday, Ferentz talked with Bruce Hooley and Chris Spielman on 97.1 The Fan.
Ferentz said there were a lot of injuries and the O-line has been particularly hard hit through fall camp. “Constantly in rotation” is how he put it.
QB Ricky Stanzi struggled in the early part of camp, Ferentz said. “He probably threw more interceptions in three days than he did all of last year.”
Now for the “hopeful.”
Ferentz was asked about RB Jewel Hampton. Here’s what he said:
“We had high hopes for Jewel this year. He suffered a knee injury in the end of June, right before the Fourth of July break. Came back from that. Had a good month of July. Had a really good first part of camp and then re-injured a little bit about a week ago. We’ve held him out. We’re hoping to get him back out on the field this coming week and, I guess, like all of us, it’s touch and go. We’re hoping we can get him back out there, but at this point, we certainly have to prepare like there’s a possibility like he might not be there, too.”
It’s not positive. It’s hopeful.
Ferentz also talked about how TE Tony Moeaki is tuned up and how he likes the D-line (calling DE Christian Ballard “pretty effective” inside as a DT).
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Hmmmmmm……..that is intriguing. It is also intriguing he appeared to be a little more candid with them than he typically is with you guys.
I have to ask though, if it is touch & go on Jewel, why rush him back to the field before Sept 1st. Honestly it sounds like a strain or slight tear that probably will be sore ALL year (fluid build up week to week) and irritating. Either he is farther along than he is still saying or he just needs rest. Logically I don’t get it. If it is rest, let the other guys get reps and then throw him out there. Too me he needs less “work” than the others so why risk it?
With all that said I do think he likes his team. Maybe more than we do!!!
Chad
The Jewel thing is touchy because we don't know exactly what the injury is. I'm not a doctor, but just following the rythym of this, it really seems like a sprain of some sort. But the in-and-out of practice nature really says it could be anything.
Spielman is a football guy. I'm a media guy. That probably explains it.
Another thing Marc,
I see where ISU has had a few set backs of late. Darks in my opinion is far and away their best WR. Though to be fair they have several other solid ones.
I really believe the O-line stuff early on will help us more than hurt us.
I’m assuming even with the suspension Prater is still a No. 1 so is Micah Hyde surpassing Lowe, or am I reading too much into it. I thought Lowe had a little upside himself so I’m intrigued.
Obviously I’ve preaching Hyde for a while now. I just didn’t anticipate him moving “up” so quickly.
Chad
Hyde is a very good athlete and Iowa coaches played a fantastic game of poker to land him. Maybe Lowe is hurt? It does seem as though Hyde has been elevated.
I haven't been following ISU as closely as I should. Got too much work to do around here.
We are getting close……………..its going to be a good year and I feel like some big name teams are going to tumble a tick. I also think the Big 10 is going to make a fairly significant resurgence. Iowa will be there. The key is will the “tough” game with mistakes be wins or losses. That will be the difference between 7-5 and 10-2. I am absolutely giddy about this D. I envision several Defensive TD’s and an absolutely stifling sideline to sideline Defense.
I think we will have the absolute best special teams play we had had since 2004, and the best passing game since then as well. TO’s and chain moving. Can we make the plays that move the chains. In 2005 that cost us the Michigan and NW game both. The failure to make the catch or run that got a 1st down. 2 more 1st down in each of those games result in wins. We always talk about explosion and “big” plays, but moving the chains and sustaining drives is what it is all about.
Chad
Pictures posted at hawkeyefootball.com indicate Bulaga is running with the Hawkeyes in practices reportedly conducted Sunday. Doerring looks like he's in at RG. Dace at RT. Eubanks at Center. You can also see freshman Wegher taking a hand-off (from #14 Weinke).