On Iowa by Marc Morehouse
From Greene to green
Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by Marc Morehouse.
University of Iowa running backs and special teams coach Lester Erb is interviewed during the team's media day on Monday, August 4, 2008. (Liz Martin/Gazette)
Every position has a meeting room in the Iowa football complex. The defensive line, linebackers, quarterbacks and so on.
At this point, the Hawkeyes’ running backs could hold their daily meetings at a Subway booth.
“It’s me, Brandon, um . . .” junior running back Paki O’Meara said. “The freshmen leave early for scout team. Me, Brandon and Wade and Brett. There aren’t a lot of guys in there. It was full at the beginning of the year, but now it’s pretty empty.”
Brandon is true freshman Brandon Wegher.
In his first career start last week, the 5-foot-11, 206-pounder put up career numbers, rushing 25 times for 118 yards and three touchdowns, all career highs. After suffering a bruised hand and bruised ribs in consecutive weeks, Wegher saved his best for last, rushing for 73 yards in the fourth quarter, including a 27-yard TD run that closed out Indiana.
Before Indiana, Ferentz was asked if Wegher was a 20- or 25-carry back. He said he’d find out.
“He’s in a lot of sticky situations when he’s been in there, but it didn’t mean he’s not a good back, and this guy’s got a hardness to him,” Ferentz said. “I think he rises to the competition. I think he embraced the challenge this week.
“So, it was really good to see him do what he did, but I’m not shocked. It was great to see him get that last touchdown. It’ll be a good confidence booster for him.”
Brad Rogers and Josh Brown are the two freshmen who leave the running backs meeting early for scout team. Asked if Rogers — the more likely of the two to play, if it comes to that — was open to dropping a redshirt so late in the season, Ferentz said without a doubt.
“We’re trying to get Rogers warmed up a little bit. At this point, you hate to use him to patch up the situation,” Ferentz said. “If we have to, we have to. All of us are on board trying to win everything we can. I’m hopeful we don’t get to that point.”
It’s just a flicker of a memory now, but there was about a month last season when Shonn Greene was going to run the ball for the 2009 Hawkeyes. Or at least maybe hoped he would.
That wish faded more and more with every 100-yard rushing performance. About 20 seconds after Iowa’s Outback Bowl victory, Greene announced he was going pro. He was drafted in the third round by the New York Jets.
“I was hoping he would be here, but I realized as he had continued success, I knew he had a decision to make,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “I’m all for whatever decisions the players make, as long as they have good information. It has worked well for him, but it would be nice to have him.”
Next . . .
Sophomore Jewel Hampton had just bounced off a terrific true freshman season, rushing for 463 yards and a freshman record seven touchdowns.
In late June, Hampton made a cut in a non-contact drill and injured the ACL in his right knee. He tried to avoid surgery, but didn’t make it through the first week of fall camp. He was declared out for the season and has since had surgery. Ferentz reported that he’s progressing through rehab and will be ready next fall.
Next . . .
Redshirt freshman Adam Robinson was doing just fine as the semi-featured back. While splitting time with Wegher, Robinson racked up 629 yards and five TDs. He suffered a high-ankle sprain at Michigan State and sat out last week. There’s hope he’ll return for Ohio State next week, but that remains to be seen.
Next . . .
It’s Wegher. O’Meara spelled him for a few carries last week, but it’s Wegher, a true freshman who at this time last year was helping Sioux City Heelan to a Class 3A title.
Credit Iowa running backs coach Lester Erb, who moved into the position two years ago when Carl Jackson retired. Yes, there is talent here, but Iowa’s young backs have been prepared.
Erb has gone from Greene to green.
From day one this season, Erb has kept everyone involved in the running backs meetings. No one enters the room to catch a nap.
“He keeps everyone engaged, asking questions like, what do you do on this play? Who do block here?” O’Meara said. “He keeps everyone engaged and makes sure everyone is paying attention and into it.”
Ferentz has known Erb since 1997, when the two were with the Baltimore Ravens. Ferentz was the O-line coach and Erb worked with him as a quality control coach. Ferentz brought him to Iowa 10 years ago, so there’s obviously a high degree of respect.
But this might be a good season to ask for a raise.
“I think he’s been great with those guys in all areas,” Ferentz said. “Not just teaching them what to do, but working with them as young guys and anticipating the challenges that they’re going to face.”
bhurl15
05. Nov, 2009
I think Wegher is going to turn into an amazing back.
Check out my blog: http://bhurl15.wordpress.com/
Marc_Morehouse
05. Nov, 2009
Great blog, Hurl!
I think Wegher is pretty darn good right now. Lots of competition next year, though.
HokeyPokey
05. Nov, 2009
What does Iowa do next year if Hampton, Robinson and Wegher are all healthy, all with significant playing experience, and sophomores? Need to find an alternative position for one of them, or it seems like there's risk of transfer.
jimurphy
05. Nov, 2009
I think Hampton still brings Iowa the best running game if his rehab goes as planned. Wegher could probably be used in the slot because he has pretty good hands. Brandon will probably go wherever he is asked to go. I still think the jailbreak screen would fit him will. He's quick and has good hands and this play used to be in the regular rotation. The guy is a player. I think Robinson has proved himself quite capable this year and will be right there behind Hampton.
Marc_Morehouse
05. Nov, 2009
Hokey — It's a great question. I really don't know. Transfers, position changes, you can't discount any of that talk.
Marc_Morehouse
05. Nov, 2009
Wegher is a playmaker. I'd like to see him in space more, but he's proving himself more and more every week as a full-service running back.
hawkeye2188
05. Nov, 2009
I think next year they should rotate between Hamptopn and Robinson, yes Hampton showed flashes last year but you have to remember he came in alot after Greene had dismantled defenses. I'm not doubting Hamptons ability I'm just saying with what Robinson and Wegher have shown this year they should all get a chance to play. Also wouldnt mind seeing Wegher in a Wes Welker type of position.
Marc_Morehouse
05. Nov, 2009
Great point. Hampton was anointed, but hardly proven. I still think he was the trusted back and most talented before the injury. Since though, Robinson and Wegher have proven themselves.
I agree on the Wes Welker thing. I wrote that after Wisconsin. But I don't want to paint the guy into a corner. He's got RB dreams and has done nothing to diminish those.
Tony
05. Nov, 2009
It would be nice if we had the ‘problem’ of having too many running backs.
Hawks111
05. Nov, 2009
Bottom line it is a great position to be in, and while the three that we will have next year won't be the quality of USC's running backs there is similarities with their situation this year. And if 04' and this year taught us at Iowa you can never have enough running backs. The big question is, what will happen with Brinson? Marc did a great piece earlier in the season about his potenial he is the most likely to transfer but I hope not.
wowski
05. Nov, 2009
No we wont have the quality of USC's backs, because ours are better and every one of them is battle tested
Hawks111
05. Nov, 2009
There is being a hawkeye fan and being ignorant. I love the running backs but to say that they are better then Johnson, McKnight and Gable is just not having perspective.
Marc_Morehouse
05. Nov, 2009
From what I've heard on Brinson is that he's needed some foot surgery to correct a bone spur and he's perfectly happy at Iowa. He doesn't blame anyone for his injuries and standing on the depth chart. Could he transfer? Yes, but I'm not hearing that now. I'd like to see him 100 percent. I don't think he ever has been that at Iowa.
Please, let's be civil here.
enatlanta
06. Nov, 2009
Next year's problems will be good ones, won't they? How are these freshmen doing on the all-time Iowa freshmen list? I imagine they're all ganged up in the top 10 for freshmen running backs. Iowa has had something of this 'problem' before with Ronnie Harmon, Eddie Phillips, Owen Gill, Norm Granger…. I guess it's one of those things that just happens every 25 years or so. Ho-hum. Ha.
shutdownshada
06. Nov, 2009
I don't get the reluctance to pull the redshirt off Rogers. They can just use it again next year when everyone is healthy and the position is loaded. If he can contribute now (and I think he's a better change of pace from Wegher than Paki), they use him.