ESPN College Football

2011 record: 7-6
2011 conference record: 4-4 (fourth, Legends Division)
Returning starters: offense: 6; defense: 5; kicker/punter: 1

Top returners

QB James Vandenberg, C James Ferentz, WR Keenan Davis, TE C.J. Fiedorowicz, CB Micah Hyde, LB James Morris, LB Christian Kirksey, S Tanner Miller

Key losses

RB Marcus Coker, WR Marvin McNutt, OT Riley Reff, G Adam Gettis, DT Mike Daniels, DE Broderick Binns, LB Tyler Nielsen, CB Shaun Prater

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Marcus Coker (1,384 yards)
Passing: James Vandenberg* (3,022 yards)
Receiving: Marvin McNutt (1,315 yards)
Tackles: James Morris* and Christian Kirksey* (110)
Sacks: Mike Daniels (9)
Interceptions: Micah Hyde* and Tanner Miller (3)

Spring answers

1. Embracing change: Iowa is going through a historic number of changes, including the first new coordinators (Greg Davis and Phil Parker) in Kirk Ferentz's tenure as head coach. But for the most part, players and coaches seem to be embracing the new elements of the program, including an offense that will diverge a bit from what Iowa ran under Ken O'Keefe. The Hawkeyes will be a more up-tempo offense and mix in some no-huddle elements. "They've been extremely open to everything," Davis told ESPN.com. "Sometimes the same play said differently and explained differently creates excitement. And I sense an excitement."

2. Back seven emerging: There's no doubt Iowa will lean on its defensive back seven this season. Cornerback Micah Hyde has established himself as a premier playmaker and a team leader, and Ferentz likened the career paths of linebackers James Morris and Christian Kirksey to those of former stars Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge. Linebacker play could be a major strength for Iowa this fall, while players like Hyde and Tanner Miller bring experience to the secondary.

3. C.J.'s time: Tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz arrived at Iowa with a lot of hype and attention. He appears poised for a breakout junior season in Davis' offense. "This is only 39 springs I've been in, and I've never had a tight end like C.J.," Davis told reporters. At 6-foot-7 and 265 pounds, Fiedorowicz can create a lot of problems for opposing defenses and should be an integral part of the Hawkeyes' passing attack this fall.

Fall questions

1. Defensive line: Iowa hasn't been this young up front in recent memory, and despite a strong track record at defensive line, there are major question marks entering the summer. The coaches are relying on Steve Bigach and Joe Gaglione, the only veteran linemen on the field this spring, as well as Dominic Alvis, who will return from a torn ACL this fall. But Iowa undoubtedly needs young players like Darian Cooper, Riley McMinn and Carl Davis to take steps and contribute.

2. Running back: Stop me if you've heard this before, but Iowa enters the summer with big questions at the running back position following Marcus Coker's transfer and Jordan Canzeri's ACL injury during spring ball. The good news is that despite an unfortunate stretch of bad luck and bad circumstances, Iowa has consistently developed good to great Big Ten backs. The Hawkeyes must do so again as unproven returnees Damon Bullock and De'Andre Johnson compete with decorated incoming freshmen Greg Garmon and Barkley Hill.

3. The search for No. 1 receiver: All-Big Ten selection Marvin McNutt leaves a significant void, and given Iowa's question marks at running back, the team really needs a No. 1 receiver to emerge. Keenan Davis seems like the obvious choice, but he had an "up and down" spring, according to Ferentz, with some injuries. Kevonte Martin-Manley played a lot last year and could be ready to make some strides, as could Don Shumpert. "We have some room there for guys to step up," Ferentz said.

Iowa's version of a spring game was April 14, but that wasn't the end of the Hawkeyes' spring practice. The team held three more practices after the open workout, and head coach Kirk Ferentz put a bow on his team's spring drills with a news conference Tuesday.

Here are a few highlights from what Ferentz had to say:

-- Ferentz said several players had emerged over the course of the spring. He singled out the defensive line, which went into the spring as a real question mark because of its youth and inexperience. Ferentz said sophomore Louis Trinca-Pasat might have made the most progress.

"He was kind of on the ropes back in December, quite frankly," Ferentz said. "A young guy who really was starting to question where his heart was and how important it was to him, and it showed up in his performance. He was out there, he looked OK, but nothing to write home about.

"In the spring, he's really just quietly emerged, and by the second half of spring ball, he's playing as well as anybody on the field either side of the ball. So he's clearly taken some steps."

Ferentz also said Steve Bigach and Joe Gaglione played well in spring, while Darian Cooper and Riley McMinn showed the typical inconsistency of inexperience. But "the group as a whole, kind of took some steps forward," which is vitally important to the Hawkeyes' chances this season.

The other position group Ferentz praised for its improvement was the tight ends. He said Jake Duzey and Henry Krieger-Coble had good springs.

-- Offensive lineman Casey McMillan and receiver John Chelf suffered knee injuries that required surgery. But Ferentz thinks both will be back this summer. Defensive linemen Carl Davis and Dominic Alvis missed the spring with injuries but should be back by the first week of June. Linebacker Shane DiBona, coming off an Achilles injury, had a setback and will not play again in his career.

-- Running back Jordan Canzeri, who had an offseason ACL injury, wants to try to get back for this season. Ferentz said, "Everything is going fine, but that's touch and go, to say the least."

The two healthy tailbacks, De'Andre Johnson and Damon Bullock "improved pretty much each and every day," Ferentz said. But he's still understandably concerned about the depth there. In a lighter moment, someone asked Ferentz if he'd be open to accepting a graduate transfer, a la Danny O'Brien and Russell Wilson.

"I think I'd consider anything if we thought it would work," he said. "In fact, if you know of any running backs right now ..."

-- Iowa's leadership group for 2012 will be seniors Bigach, Greg Castillo, James Ferentz, Micah Hyde and James Vandenberg, juniors Casey Kreiter, James Morris, Brad Rogers and Brett Van Sloten, sophomores Kevonte Martin-Manley and Brandon Scherff and freshmen Quinton Alston, Austin Blythe and Jake Rudock.

-- Ferentz said "anywhere on defense," receiver and punter remain unsettled positions. The best news is that it's still early.

"We still have a lot of room for improvement, typical of any football team," Ferentz said. "But I think this team, especially with our youth and experience, we're going to see a lot of transition and a lot of things happening here between now and September. That's going to be fun to track, fun to watch. It's really in the players' hands how they want to approach it and how much they want to improve."

Another spirited Big Ten chat is in the books. Thanks to all of those who participated.

In case you missed out on the fun, here's a full transcript.

Some highlights:

DuckI from Camp Randall: Adam, It seems like the BIG currently has a lack of a conference identity and less unity than the SEC. How can we get this back when seven of the 12 teams are led by coaches that weren't in the conference two years ago? What will it take for a Badgers fan to again take pride in a Buckeye victory, or a Spartan to be proud of a Hawkeye?

Adam Rittenberg: Less unity? Not sure if I agree. I think most Big Ten fans pull for the league in nonconference matchups and in bowls. Sure, there will always be some fans who don't because of rivalry reasons, etc., but the fans I hear from want the league to succeed. Are Big Ten fans as loud and obnoxious about it as those from the SEC? Not even close. But I don't think it means the league lacks unity.

Hank from Washington, D.C.: Adam--You must win a Big 10 Title before getting a National Championship title! I see nothing wrong with Hoke's mindset.

Adam Rittenberg: Might want to check with Alabama about that :-) But yes, your point is valid. This is an issue I've wondered about not just with Hoke, but throughout the Big Ten. Do enough teams in this league truly strive to be national champions? Because that's how leagues are judged in this environment. And when a playoff arrives, winning the Rose Bowl will mean even less in terms of national perception.

Ryan from Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Hi Adam, How many RB's do you see Iowa using next year? I know it will be by committee, but, how many will be in the rotation? and do you think 1 of them will get to 1000 yards?

Adam Rittenberg: I think Iowa has to go into the season with a committee mindset at RB. If one guy emerges during nonconference play as a featured back, go with him. But I think the Hawkeyes will get both Bullock and Johnson some carries, along with at least one of the freshmen. Garmon is a very intriguing prospect and could be an impact guy right away. So I could see anywhere from 2 to 4 backs in the RB rotation. If one emerges, a 1,000-yard season wouldn't be a shocker.

Steven from Madison, Wis.: Do you think it's possible that Delany threw the 4-plus-Rose game into the mix just to make the rest of the options look better to the other conferences? I love the Rose Bowl, and Delany does too, but we all know that that system would never be ratified.

Adam Rittenberg: Steven, I think he did it to show his loyalty to the Rose Bowl, telling them that he's fighting for them even though both parties know they're not winning this one. I also think he could be using it as leverage to advocate for more realistic options, such as having semifinal games on campus, something Delany and Pac-12 commish Larry Scott both want.

Thanks again for chiming in, and my apologies to those whose questions weren't answered. Let's do it again next week.

Our first set of spring game recaps finishes up with the Iowa Hawkeyes, who held a controlled scrimmage at the end of Saturday's practice at Kinnick Stadium.

Recaps can be found here and here and here. Here are some unofficial statistics.

Star of the game: Cornerback B.J. Lowery had a forced fumble, and he would have added an interception if not for a pass interference penalty on safety Nico Law.

How it went down: As is its custom, Iowa didn't hold a true spring game but rather a controlled scrimmage that featured some situational portions.

The big attraction for fans was the new offense, which predictably had some ups and downs. James Vandenberg completed only 12 of 30 passes, making an excellent throw to Don Shumpert for a 38-yard gain but not establishing much of a rhythm without his top receiver (Keenan Davis) on the field for the scrimmage portion. He had an interception nullified by penalty, while reserve quarterbacks Jake Rudock and Cody Sokol both were picked off once.

Running backs Damon Bullock and De'Andre Johnson both had big gains, including a 84-yard touchdown dash by Bullock that highlighted the scrimmage. Johnson had a fumble in the scrimmage, but both men eclipsed 100 rush yards.

"There's a little bit of mental gymnastics going on with guys on calls and formations and you saw us not line up correctly a couple of times," head coach Kirk Ferentz told reporters. "But that's part of the process. ... My sense is the guys knew there was a lot to learn coming in and I think they’ve been tuned in as a result of that."

Like the offense, Iowa's defense has a new coordinator in Phil Parker, but the scheme changes are less dramatic, and the unit showed some bright spots Saturday. The secondary should be better than it was in 2011, particularly at cornerback with Lowery and All-Big Ten candidate Micah Hyde. Corners Gavin Smith and Jordan Lomax also contributed big plays during the scrimmage.

The back seven will lead Iowa's defense entering the season, while the line looks to get healthy and build more depth during the summer months. Vandenberg should be fine by September, but Iowa needs to add more weapons around him, making running back, receiver and tight end interesting positions to watch. The offense remains a work in progress, but it could be a dynamic unit this fall.

The scrimmage produced some good news for the future as defensive back recruit Delano Hill, who was in attendance, verbally committed for the 2013 class.

It’s a big weekend in the Big Ten, as seven teams will hold their spring games on Saturday. We're here to guide you through them all with previews of each team’s fan-friendly event.

Let's take a closer look at Iowa's end-of-spring scrimmage/practice:

When: 1 p.m. ET (noon local), Saturday

Where: Kinnick Stadium

Admission: Free. The west and south grandstands are open, and gates open at 11 a.m. local time. Parking is free in some lots, but limited at Kinnick because of construction.

TV: The practice session will be streamed live online at bigtennetwork.com. Highlights can be seen Saturday night on BTN's Big Ten Football Report.

Weather forecast: Cloudy with showers possible, temperatures between 66-72 degrees, 50 percent chance of rain, wind at 12-14 mph.

What to watch for: Iowa doesn't hold a true spring game, and instead will complete spring drills with a practice session that includes a controlled scrimmage near its conclusion. The session is expected to last about two hours.

The Hawkeyes are going through dramatic changes this spring as Kirk Ferentz made coordinator changes for the first time in his Iowa tenure. Fans will get their first glimpse at Greg Davis' offense, which will incorporate some hurry-up and no-huddle elements, and different formations than the team has used in the past.

Senior quarterback James Vandenberg has impressed Davis with his ability to pick up the system, and it will be interesting to see how Vandenberg looks on Saturday. Top receiver Keenan Davis is out with a minor injury, so the practice/scrimmage provides an opportunity for others to emerge, particularly at the tight end position. Junior tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz will be one to watch Saturday. There's also the seemingly never-ending saga at running back, as Iowa looks for another unproven player to blossom. Damon Bullock and De'Andre Johnson will get most the reps.

Phil Parker is a familiar face for Iowa fans and players, but he has stepped into a new role as defensive coordinator. The scheme changes will be minor and subtle, but Saturday provides an opportunity to evaluate players and position groups, particularly an extremely young defensive line that features two redshirt freshmen in starting roles right now, (tackle Darian Cooper and end Riley McMinn.

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Iowa running back Jordan Canzeri was scheduled to undergo knee surgery Wednesday, reducing an already thin position group from three to two.

"Hopefully, it will go well, and hopefully, he'll be cleared somewhere in the fall," Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz told ESPN.com. "But I don't think we can count on him next year. We're going to do what's best for him, first and foremost. We have to go on as if he weren't here."

Unfortunately for the Hawkeyes, it's a situation they know all too well. But it's also a situation they've handled remarkably well in recent years.

Despite having little to no proven depth at running back since 2008, the Hawkeyes have had a rusher finish in the nation's top 60 in each of the past three seasons.

It could happen again this fall. Damon Bullock and De'Andre Johnson both are drawing good reviews from Ferentz and new offensive coordinator Greg Davis through the first five spring practices.

"I'll probably jinx 'em," Davis told ESPN.com, "but they have not left the ball on the ground yet."

Iowa fans aren't too worried about that kind of jinx regarding the running backs. They'll be happy just having both Bullock and Johnson healthy and on the roster come September.

With heralded freshmen Greg Garmon and Barkley Hill joining the mix this summer, perhaps a featured back will emerge.

"We've had experience doing it for sure," Ferentz said. "We'll keep bringing those guys along, and when the new guys get here, we'll throw them in there as fast as we can."

Although Iowa wants to maintain its core beliefs of the power run and zone blocking, it's pretty clear the offense will trend more toward the pass under Davis. Senior quarterback James Vandenberg returns, and while All-Big Ten wideout Marvin McNutt departs, he'll have some weapons at wide receiver (Keenan Davis, Kevonte Martin-Manley) and tight end (C.J. Fiedorowicz, Zack Derby). The no-huddle will be a part of the scheme, and Iowa will try and stretch the field.

Like many, Vandenberg can't believe the misfortune that has plagued Iowa at running back, calling it "pretty crazy, actually." He also understands that the uncertainty in the backfield requires everyone else to elevate their play.

"Everybody realizes that we need to pick it up, as well as bring them along," he said. "You can't have 10 guys out there doing the right thing, and one guy doing something different because that messes it all up. So we're just making sure we're bringing them along and giving them confidence."

New offensive line coach Brian Ferentz has challenged his group to help make the running backs' job as easy as possible.

"We had an unfortunate injury with Jordan," said center James Ferentz, Brian's younger brother. "Brian just said no matter who's back there, it's our job to make sure there's holes and that we're making the way for that guy, whoever it is, to get 100 yards a game.

"Because if we can't do that, we're not going to win many games."

AIRBHG has reared his ugly head.

AIRBHG? You don't know him? Unfortunately, Iowa fans know him all too well. He's the Angry Iowa Running Back Hating God, and he has taken another victim.

Hawkeyes sophomore running back Jordan Canzeri has torn an ACL in his knee and likely will miss the 2012 season, according to multiple reports. Canzeri, listed as Iowa's top running back on the pre-spring depth chart, injured his knee in practice Wednesday, and an MRI performed Thursday revealed the tear.

Scout.com first reported the news and talked with Canzeri's father, Brian.

"Dr. [Ned] Amendola said it was the ACL but the good news is that the rest of the knee is solid," Brian Canzeri said. "He's going to have surgery next week and hopes to get back into practice in September."

Brian Canzeri said that he expects his son to ease into things when he's cleared to practice and will most likely redshirt for the 2012 season.

Sources tell The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette that Canzeri, who has a redshirt available, won't play this fall.

The team has yet to confirm Canzeri's injury.

The loss of Canzeri isn't as devastating as Marcus Coker's departure in January, it continues a baffling string of setbacks for Iowa's running backs. Although AIRBHG has been around since 2001, he has been particularly cruel since Doak Walker Award winner Shonn Greene departed following the 2008 season. Since Greene declared for the NFL draft, Iowa has had six running backs leave the program, culminating with Coker, who ranked second in the Big Ten with 1,384 yards in 2011.

Canzeri started in place of the suspended Coker for the 2011 Insight Bowl, and he would have been in the mix to start this coming season. He's a smaller back, and Iowa likely will use a rotation rather than identify a bell cow like Coker was in 2011.

Canzeri's injury leaves Damon Bullock and De'Andre Johnson as Iowa's primary running backs in spring practice. Fullback Brad Rogers could see some carries at running back, but the big hope is that incoming freshmen Greg Garmon and Barkley Hill can contribute. Garmon in particular drew high marks as a high school standout.

As The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette's Marc Morehouse points out, Iowa has used a true freshman at running back in each of the past five seasons.

"Both of them are a little bit bigger backs," Hawkeyes running backs coach Lester Erb told reporters Wednesday, before Canzeri injured his knee. "Greg is more of a slasher. but he shows he can get downhill and run tough. Very good speed. Then Barkley just had a tremendous high school career up there at Cedar Falls and we are excited to get him in here. Both guys have a passion for football and both guys are going to have a chance to come in here and compete."

Iowa wants to run the ball and have balance in its offense, but the running back position has been so unstable that the Hawkeyes might have to once again trend toward the pass in 2012. It would really help if Garmon and/or Hill can contribute immediately this fall.

Change is in the air this spring at Iowa. The Hawkeyes have two new coordinators for the first time in Kirk Ferentz's tenure, one from the outside (OC Greg Davis) and one from within the program (DC Phil Parker). Ferentz also hired two new assistants, offensive line coach Brian Ferentz and linebackers coach LeVar Woods, and moved offensive line coach Reese Morgan to defensive line. For an Iowa staff built on continuity, this represents a a major shakeup. The coaches also will be working with a very young roster, as evidenced by the pre-spring depth chart issued this week. It all should make for an interesting spring in Hawkeye Country.

The Hawkeyes opened practice Wednesday, and ESPN.com caught up with Ferentz on Thursday.

Here are his thoughts.

What is the atmosphere like this spring being on the field with this group after all the changes?

Kirk Ferentz: Certainly we have a lot of learning to do for two reasons. Number one, our youth and inexperience, and secondly, with some of the staff changes. We have a lot of different elements involved. It's certainly different than when we finished up in December. It's a lot of positions, and some of it's schematically and that type of thing. We're all on edge a little bit, and that's good.

You made some of your hires fairly recently. How do you feel about where the offensive and defense schemes are at this point?

KF: We're pretty well down the road that we need to be on. We've had some really good meetings over the last several weeks. A little bit more intensive on the offensive side with Greg being hired at the end of February, but I think we've had good meetings. He certainly has a good grasp of what he likes to do and what he's comfortable with. We've been able to blend and mesh things. I think we're pretty much on the same page right now. It's been fun actually, just invigorating to re-examine some things. And the players, they always pick it up faster than the older guys.

When you sat down and talked with Greg, how close was your offensive philosophy to his?

KF: One of the things that really impressed me so much is his experience with various styles of offense. He's been with a lot of different types of players, quarterbacks, going back to Eric Zeier at Georgia, the guys he worked with at North Carolina, and at Texas, they ran several styles of attack. There was a lot of evolution when they got Vince Young. The thing is, he has a system that's been proficient and that he's comfortable with. It really is very flexible and adaptable. That part has all been good.

Very impressed with Greg, starting with all the recommendations I got, people who I have a lot of respect for in football who spoke so highly of him as a coach and so highly of him as a human being. And after a month of being with him, I can see why all of those things were said. He's really been tremendous. We've been fortunate to have great coaches here. You're always a little nervous when you lose somebody as good as Ken, but Greg has been outstanding.

I read your comments from the other day and wanted to clarify something. Did you expect to make some changes even if you didn't have the coordinators leaving?

KF: Absolutely. I was entertained a bit reading the reports of the press conference. The headlines were a little bit overstated. But that was something Ken and I had talked about, and Norm [Parker] and I had talked about as the year went on last year. You're 13 years into it, and we're all feeling good about being here such a long period of time. The great thing about stability is we all know each other.

But the other point, too, and every year you look back at things, but I remember specifically in Cleveland one year in '94 where we looked back and went through our playbook step by step. Steve Crosby had become our coordinator after the '93 season. We went through everything. The advantage of doing it is if you've been somewhere for a while, you add this one year and then you add that, and things don't always mesh or make as much sense as they should, so there's a cumulative effect there. So it's a good exercise to do, and I think it was time for us to do that regardless. And in the case of getting new coordinators, you have to do that anyway. It's been really healthy, it's been invigorating, and hopefully we'll be a more efficient operating group here moving forward.

You've talked about wanting to see better execution. What can you stress in the spring to help you execute better as a team?

KF: That's always the challenge in football. There were complaints about us. The perception is we're a conservative offense, and we threw the second-most amount of passes we had in 13 years last year, so I said they must have been conservative passes because we didn't get any credit for that. But overall, that's the name of the game, whatever you're doing, offensively, defensively or special teams, the key is how you execute those things. Certainly what you call can affect that, but at the end of the day, it's about the team that executes the best. That's the never-ending battle.

You have some guys out on the defensive line, but it's definitely one of the younger groups you've had there. With Reese Morgan moving over to that side, how do you see that group shaking out in the spring, and how will Reese's experience help there?

KF: It's maybe not identical, but it's similar to what we went through in 2005. We graduated four guys that were all in NFL camps after that season. Three of those guys are still active players -- Jonathan Babineaux, who's done a good job in Atlanta; Matt Roth's had a nice career; Derreck Robinson continues to be rostered; and Tyler Luebke is the other guy, was with the Redskins as a free agent. That's the price you pay when you graduate some good players. The last two years we've had a high number of seniors go out both years, and some NFL players in that group. It's something we anticipated, we knew it was going to be a challenge, but all that being said, we're optimistic.

One of my motivating factors for moving Reese over to that spot is Reese is just a tremendous teacher. That's the No. 1 thing I saw in him when we hired him here. He took Pat Flaherty's spot. He's a real builder, and he's done that with the offensive line. You look at last year, we had Riley Reiff, who people are talking about, but we also had Markus Zusevics and Adam Gettis, who both I think are going to get drafted here. They were both roughly 225, 230 [pounds] when they came out of high school and built themselves into players. Reese was a key component of their development, and that's what he does a great job of. I think we've got the right guy with the right group. We've got a lot of work to do, but at the end of the day, that group will be fine, just like in '05.

What would you like to see out of James [Vandenberg] during the spring?

KF: Just continued improvement. We expect him to play his best football next year and lead even better than he did. He played well last year and he led well, but he's going to have to do better. With a young team like this, it's going to be imperative that our most experienced guys play their best and lead our football team. It sure helps when you're playing better. And he's totally capable. We have confidence in James.

Is Keenan [Davis] another guy who fits into that category, needing to play his best as an older guy?

KF: Most definitely. If you look at the improvement Marvin McNutt made throughout his career, from making a move [from quarterback] in the middle of the '08 season, to the records he set, it didn't happen just by accident or just by him hanging around. He worked hard, he got better each year, and his hard work and effort, certainly in production and yardage, that's what we need from Keenan. Marvin's not here, quite obviously, so Keenan has to be the guy and take a very prominent role as a receiver. And he's certainly capable, so we expect to see that growth from him.

What would you like to see from the running back group by the end of the spring?

KF: Development and maturation. We have three guys that are working at that position who are talented enough. They're all capable, but they're young. Jordan Canzeri missed a significant amount of time last year with a hamstring issue. Damon Bullock, we moved him around enough that it probably rendered him ineffective. We'll let him settle at the running back position. And we think De'Andre Johnson has potential as well, but he's got to mature. He missed his first year because he was coming off an ACL injury from high school, so he's a little bit behind that way. But he's got every opportunity to develop and be a good player. It sure would help our football team.

When you're this young, are you more tempted to play freshmen if they come in and show that ability, or do you have to work with the guys who have some experience?

KF: We'll have a better grip on where we are at the end of spring practice. We're going to need some help at some spots, that's a given. Bottom line is for the most part, the guys that demonstrate they can play and help us, they're going to get that opportunity. We had the case with Allen Reisner. Back in '07, we had to throw him in. He was a true freshman. He wasn't necessarily ready to go, but we ran out of guys, so he had to go in there. We hopefully won't be in that situation. But anybody [who] can help us win next year, if it's special teams or on offense, defense, we'll give them an opportunity.

Greg came in from the outside, while Phil Parker has been there. What's it been like seeing him in this role? Do you see him putting his personality on the defense?

KF: We're early into the process right now. To the casual fan, it's not going to look a lot different, probably, but there will be some subtleties and some things not only Phil, but the entire staff talked about. It's like anything else, you're always trying to evolve and progress, move forward a little bit without losing your identity. That's probably what you'll see from that group. Phil's a veteran coach. He's had several chances to leave here for BCS coordinator positions and has chosen to stay here, so I don't think there's any question he's ready to go. He'll do a great job. He's very detailed and he's a good leader.

From a leadership standpoint, do you have some guys in mind, especially on defense, who you could see moving into those roles this spring?

KF: Most definitely. The guys that we're really counting on, you start with Micah Hyde. He's probably our most experienced player on defense, most proven, so we're counting on that from him. James Morris and Chris Kirksey, they're only third-year students next year, but they've played a lot of football, too, and good football. They're playing a leadership position at linebacker. And up front, I'd say Steve Bigach's a guy we're really counting on to really help set the tempo of the group. He's already been doing that, and I think he'll do a good job.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz met with reporters today in advance of spring practice kicking off Wednesday. Ferentz discussed an eventful offseason that included the first two coordinator changes of his tenure. The Hawkeyes have released their spring prospectus, which includes a depth chart filled with young players at key positions like defensive end.

Here are some notes from the new dean of Big Ten coaches:

• Ferentz seemed excited about the additions to his staff and talked about streamlining the game plan on offense with new coordinator Greg Davis. Asked whether Iowa would run more of a spread offense with Davis, Ferentz joked that the team had the most pass attempts in his tenure last season but "didn't get any credit for it." He then took a playful shot at the common fan criticism of Iowa's offense, saying, "Maybe they were conservative throws we were throwing." It does sound like after two ho-hum seasons, Iowa needed to shake things up a bit. "The downside of continuity, stability I think is sometimes you just kind of stay on that same path," Ferentz said. "It's time to look at a lot of things. That's what we're trying to do right now. It's fun. It's invigorating. We're going to do it regardless of what happened with our staff personnel-wise."
• He also had this to say about Iowa's defensive plan under Phil Parker: "If all you do is throw fastballs, you better be throwing it up near 100 [mph] coming in. But if you can't throw it up that high, you better have a couple other things in your repertoire, at least one other good pitch. You get a guy off guard a little bit. I think that's what we'll have to do."
• Iowa will be without defensive linemen Dominic Alvis and Carl Davis this spring, as both men are sidelined with knee injuries. Their absences leave Iowa with what has to be one of the youngest defensive line groups in the country. The Hawkeyes list redshirt freshmen Dean Tsopanides and Riley McMinn as the starting defensive ends on their pre-spring depth chart. Redshirt freshman Darian Cooper is listed as a starting defensive tackle, although Alvis likely will fill that role when he returns. Other than senior tackle Steve Bigach, a projected starter, and backup tackle Joe Gaglione, it's all freshmen and sophomores up front. "We are a very young group," Ferentz said.
• Iowa isn't quite as young on the offensive line, although there are some question marks after center James Ferentz and left guard Matt Tobin, who has the ability to play several spots. Sophomores Brandon Scherff and Andrew Donnal are listed as co-starters at left tackle, and Brett Van Sloten, who played in the Insight Bowl against Oklahoma, is listed as the starting right tackle ahead of Nolan MacMillan, who comes off an injury-plagued 2011. "We have six, seven, eight, maybe nine guys, maybe 10 for the offensive line positions," Ferentz said. "We're going into it with an open mind. There's no incumbents certainly."
• The Hawkeyes could end the spring with a clear No. 1 running back, although Ferentz doesn't think they will. Jordan Canzeri and Damon Bullock are listed as Iowa's top two backs on the pre-spring two-deep, although Ferentz also says De'Andre Johnson can help. "We're going to let those three guys compete and see how that materializes," he said. Heralded freshman Greg Garmon enters the mix this summer.
• Ferentz is definitely relying on Keenan Davis to emerge as the team's top receiver, especially since there's so much youth behind him. Iowa also is looking for more from the tight end spot, where athletic junior C.J. Fiedorowicz is listed as the starter.

Tidbits: Iowa likely won't make any position changes. Ferentz said one player was discussed but hasn't made a move. ... It's unclear whether Davis will coach from the field or the press box. ... Ferentz said B.J. Lowery has the inside track to start at cornerback opposite Micah Hyde. ... Jake Rudock is listed as the backup quarterback, while reserve signal caller John Wienke is listed as the starting punter. Iowa signed a specialist in February in Connor Kornbrath.

It's time to look at three keys for the Iowa Hawkeyes before their Insight Bowl showdown Friday night against Oklahoma.

1. Establish some type of run game: Iowa must win the Insight Bowl without its top rusher for the second consecutive season, but this year brings an even bigger challenge. Suspended sophomore Marcus Coker basically has been Iowa's rushing attack this season, accounting for 67.4 percent of the carries and 80.7 percent of the yards. While Iowa boasts a strong passing attack and Oklahoma ranks 83rd nationally in pass defense, the Hawkeyes aren't built to win games with a one-dimensional offense. The onus is on the offensive line to create room for an inexperienced stable of backs. Jordan Canzeri could be a factor, while Brad Rogers, Damon Bullock and De'Andre Johnson also could get touches.

2. Rattle Landry Jones: The OU quarterback hasn't been the same since star receiver Ryan Broyles tore his ACL. Jones has thrown five interceptions and zero touchdowns in the past three games, barely completing half of his pass attempts against Iowa State and Oklahoma State. Iowa's defensive backs must make some impact plays in the game, and cornerback Micah Hyde is more than capable after recording the game-deciding pick-six against Missouri's Blaine Gabbert in last year's bowl to earn defensive MVP honors. Hyde and fellow corner Shaun Prater both need strong performances, and perhaps more important, the Iowa defensive line has to get in Jones' face. Iowa's line has been hot and cold, recording three or more sacks in six games and one or zero sacks in five other contests. The Hawkeyes need the good front four to show up.

3. Start off strong: Many are questioning Oklahoma's motivation for this game after a disappointing season. While it's hard to imagine a Bob Stoops not being ready for a winnable bowl, Iowa must capitalize on any Sooners letdown. The Hawkeyes have outscored their opponents 69-50 in the first quarter and 175-118 in the first half this season. Oklahoma stumbled out of the gate in all three of its losses (Texas Tech, Baylor and Oklahoma State). Iowa had a blistering start in the 2010 Insight Bowl, building a 17-3 lead against Missouri before having to rally late. A few quick scores could put the Sooners on their heels and have them start questioning whether they really want to be in Tempe.

If you'd told Iowa fans before the season they'd be playing their bowl game in Arizona against Oklahoma, they would have been thrilled at the thought of making the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Instead, both teams underachieved and find themselves in Friday's Insight Bowl:

WHO TO WATCH: Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg and receiver Marvin McNutt. With starting running back Marcus Coker suspended, the Hawkeyes likely will have to rely on the passing game more than ever. That means Vandenberg and McNutt, who hooked up 78 times this season but were stymied in the season-ending loss at Nebraska. Oklahoma, even without the suspended Ronnell Lewis, can pressure the quarterback and finished the season ranked seventh nationally in sacks. The Sooners' pass defense, though, has been vulnerable at times this season, so Vandenberg will have a chance to make some plays if his offensive line protects. McNutt will wrap up a fantastic career in the desert; he needs four more catches to set the school's single-season record and seven to break the Hawkeyes' career mark.

WHAT TO WATCH: Who will run the ball for Iowa? Coker was a workhorse all season, averaging over 23 carries per game. Backup Mika'il McCall's status is still unclear, perhaps leaving rushing duties to sparingly used freshmen De'Andre Johnson, Jordan Canzeri or Damon Bullock. Coker himself emerged as a star in last season's Insight Bowl after a suspension to Adam Robinson, but a similar situation developing this year would come as more of a surprise. Also keep an eye on the Hawkeyes' defense, which often struggled this season to stop big plays and rush the passer. They will need Mike Daniels and Broderick Binns up front to create some havoc and for Micah Hyde and Shaun Prater to guard the back end to slow down Landry Jones and the Sooners' passing attack.

WHY TO WATCH: Oklahoma was ranked No. 1 in the preseason and for most of the first month of the season. Even with some key injuries and suspensions, the Sooners still have loads of talent and will give Iowa one of its toughest tests of the season. The Hawkeyes, though, have won three straight bowl games under Kirk Ferentz, including last year's Insight Bowl in an exciting game against Missouri. Their defense should be motivated to perform in the final game for retiring defensive coordinator Norm Parker. Many have pegged Iowa as the biggest underdog of bowl season, but Oklahoma's motivation has to be questioned as the team had much higher aspirations than this. The fact that Sooners coach Bob Stoops is an Iowa graduate and close friend of Ferentz adds some drama to the proceedings.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma 27, Iowa 20. The Hawkeyes hang around as Oklahoma comes out a little flat. But the loss of Coker is just too much to overcome and will force Iowa to be too one-dimensional on offense. The Sooners' defense picks off Vandenberg a couple of times and holds on for the win.

Iowa is no stranger to facing adversity in a bowl game.

In the 2001 Alamo Bowl, the Hawkeyes' first postseason appearance under head coach Kirk Ferentz, running back Ladell Betts couldn't play with a hamstring injury, leaving Iowa without a four-year starter. Iowa turned to Aaron Greving, who racked up 115 rush yards and earned offensive MVP honors in a win against Texas Tech.

The Betts-Greving situation hardly compared to the crisis Iowa faced before the 2010 Insight Bowl. Top running back Adam Robinson had been suspended and subsequently arrested. Top receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos had been arrested on drug charges, leading to an odd news conference where Iowa admitted to finding problems with its drug-testing program for student-athletes. The team also announced that two reserve running backs, Jewel Hampton and Brandon Wegher, were transferring.

And yet Iowa still won the game, rallying to upset Missouri 27-24.

Another Insight Bowl matchup is on tap Friday night against Oklahoma, and Iowa once again is dealing with some adversity. Sophomore running back Marcus Coker, the team's most productive offensive weapon, is suspended for an undisclosed violation of team policy. There are other potential personnel issues, which Ferentz deflected Tuesday, but replacing Coker's 281 carries and 1,354 rush yards is the big one.

"It's football," Ferentz told ESPN.com on Tuesday. "If our running back had sprained his ankle, he wouldn't play then, either. So you don't surrender and forfeit the game. You keep playing. It happens all year long. Players are in and out. Somebody has to be ready to step in, and everybody else has to help those guys out."

Coker was that guy for Iowa last December, rushing for a team-bowl record 219 yards and two touchdowns against Missouri. But his loss leaves the Hawkeyes with a stable of unproven backs.

Ferentz said Jason White, who he describes as "steady" and "dependable," and Brad Rogers, who has mostly played fullback for Iowa, likely will be the team's top two ball-carrying options Friday against Oklahoma. Freshmen Jordan Canzeri and Damon Bullock are the next two in line.

"We'll basically use everybody we have," Ferentz said. "I don't know if I foresee us getting 200 yards like a year ago, and if we did, it will probably be three, four, five guys contributing to that yardage, not one. We'll do it by committee and just see how it goes."

Iowa's passing attack has been very effective at times, especially early in the season when the Hawkeyes employed some no-huddle. Oklahoma ranks just 83rd nationally against the pass.

But the Hawkeyes won't abandon their run game Friday night. Because they can't.

"We have to at least attempt it," Ferentz said. "We're not built to throw it 70 times a game. It's just not our mode of operation. If we get in a situation like that, it's not good. But the group's capable. They've been practicing well and they'll step up and do a good job."

The suspensions of both Coker and freshman Mika'il McCall have once again placed the spotlight on Iowa's running back position, which has seen an extraordinary amount of turmoil since the departure of Doak Walker Award winner Shonn Greene after the 2008 season. Five promising backs have dealt with off-field issues since Greene's departure.

"I wish I could explain it," Ferentz said. "There's no conspiracy theory or anything like that. We've just had some situations. You have to evaluate each one on an individual basis. We have had our share of transactions and transition. We'll get it settled down again."

When bowl games kick off, Iowa usually finds a way.

In 2008, Iowa caught a big break at the running back position when Shonn Greene went from furniture warehouse employee to Doak Walker Award winner.

Since then, the Hawkeyes haven't had much good fortune with their running backs. Whether it's injuries or off-field problems, Iowa's running back depth has taken hit after hit since Greene's magical season.

The latest blow came Tuesday as the team announced starting running back Marcus Coker has been suspended for the Insight Bowl for disciplinary reasons. Iowa didn't elaborate on the suspension, saying only that Coker violated the school's student-athlete code of conduct. The sophomore will not travel with the team to Arizona later this week.

It marks the second consecutive year Iowa will play the Insight Bowl without its top back. Adam Robinson was suspended for the game last year for failing to comply with team policies. Iowa announced Robinson's suspension on the same day it confirmed running back Jewel Hampton, the team's second-leading rusher in 2008, would be transferring. Hampton dealt with injuries and off-field issues. Another promising running back, Brandon Wegher, announced late last season that he would also be transferring (he took a leave of absence from the team in August 2010). Weeks after Iowa announced Robinson's suspension, Robinson was arrested for marijuana possession.

Coker ended up rescuing Iowa in the 2010 Insight Bowl, rushing for a team bowl record 219 yards and two touchdowns in a win against Missouri.

He has been a huge part of Iowa's offense this season, accounting for 80.7 percent of the team's rushing yards (1,384), 15 of the team's 18 rush touchdowns and 281 of the team's 417 carries. Coker leads the Big Ten in carries and ranks second in rushing average (115.3 ypg).

Who will Iowa turn to at running back? Promising freshman Mika'il McCall was suspended for the regular-season finale against Nebraska, and his status for the bowl game is very much in doubt.

Iowa likely will turn to DeAndre Johnson, Jordan Canzeri, Damon Bullock and Jason White at running back. Johnson leads the crew with just 18 carries this season.

Gulp.

It's hard not to see Iowa becoming pretty one-dimensional against Oklahoma. The good news is the Sooners struggle against the pass, ranking 83rd nationally.

The bigger issue is why Iowa can't keep running backs on the field. The Hawkeyes seem to have little trouble developing running backs, but the lack of depth has become a major problem.

If running back depth isn't Iowa's biggest concern entering the season, it has to be pretty high on the list.

Thursday's news doesn't help matters.

Rivals.com reports that running back recruit Rodney Coe is headed to Iowa Western Community College, where he hopes to improve his grades so he can join the Hawkeyes at some point in the future. Iowa Western coach Scott Strohmeier confirmed Coe will be joining his squad.

"I think initially he was a little shocked and disappointed, but he's come to realize now he's got a second chance," Strohmeier said. "He's still got to prove some things in the classroom when he gets to the junior college ranks, but he has a chance to start over now and get back to Iowa, which he seems pretty excited about."

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Coe is a U.S. Army All-America selection and one of Iowa's top-rated recruits in the 2011 class. ESPN Recruiting rated Coe as the nation's No. 37 athlete.

The good news is Iowa's class includes three other running backs (Mika'il McCall, Jordan Canzeri and Damon Bullock). The Hawkeyes certainly would benefit if one or more emerged this season.

Marcus Coker very well could be the real deal, but most teams need two to three backs to win in the Big Ten. Iowa has done a great job of developing young backs in recent years, as players like Coker, Adam Robinson, Jewel Hampton and Brandon Wegher all made contributions early in their careers. And if things had worked out for Robinson, Hampton and Wegher, Iowa wouldn't be in this position.

Coe could have been the next young back to contribute, but Iowa fans must wait for his arrival.

As Black Heart Gold Pants points out, Iowa has had several juco success stories, former Doak Walker Award winner Shonn Greene among them. The Hawkeyes have to hope Coe follows the trend.