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During the course of spring practice, Big Ten bloggers Adam Rittenberg and Brian Bennett visited 11 of the 12 league schools, getting an up-close look at the players and coaches who will shape the 2012 season.

Now it's time for them to share their thoughts on what they saw and learned this spring, and you can follow along as they exchange emails. Check out the Leaders Division exchange here. They now turn their focus to the Legends Division.

Adam Rittenberg: Let's take a look at what I believe to be the stronger division in 2012. You spent a lot of time in the Mitten State last month, and while you didn't gorge yourself like you did in America's Dairyland, you got the money quote of spring ball from Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, who said, "We're laying in the weeds. We've beat Michigan the last four years. So where's the threat?" How spicy is the Michigan State-Michigan rivalry getting, and how good do you think these two teams will be this season after visiting both campuses?

Brian Bennett: Oh, there was some serious gorging going on at Zingerman's in Ann Arbor and Sparty's in East Lansing. Good thing there's only one spring practice session per year.

Anyway, I went into the spring thinking Michigan and Michigan State were the two strongest teams in the league, and I didn't see anything to change my opinion. While the Wolverines are more focused on Ohio State and even Alabama, they know they have to end their losing streak against Michigan State. And the Spartans take serious pride in that four-game run while bristling at all the offseason accolades thrown toward Brady Hoke's team. Oct. 20 can't come soon enough, as far as I'm concerned.

If the two teams played right now, I'd definitely take Michigan State. Dantonio has done a terrific job of developing depth on both lines and all over the defense. There's not a deeper team in the Big Ten, and the Spartans' physical play has given Michigan fits. The Wolverines still need to figure some things out in the trenches, especially on the defensive line, but that's one area where Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison excel. I believe these two teams will be neck and neck all year for the Legends title.

Of course, there's another team lurking in the division, and that's Nebraska. You went to Lincoln this spring, and it sounded like the Cornhuskers are feeling mighty ambitious this season. Do they have the necessary tools to back up their lofty goals?

Adam Rittenberg: It was interesting to see a team openly discuss the national title, Brian, especially in a league like the Big Ten. Huskers safety P.J. Smith even went so far as to say a Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl championship would be "kind of disappointing." That's bold. Nebraska would have to skip a step or two to reach that point, but I can see where the confidence stems from. There's a greater comfort level between players and coaches in Lincoln, and also between the coaches and what they face in the Big Ten. Offensive coordinator Tim Beck was candid about the difficulty of preparing for so many new opponents, particularly since Nebraska's offensive and defensive systems are a little different from what we see in the rest of the league.

Quarterback Taylor Martinez received good marks from the coaches, and his focus on footwork could translate into a more consistent passing attack. Beck certainly wants to be a bit more balanced, and Nebraska returns pretty much everyone at wide receiver and tight end. We often hear the cliche that it's all about the quarterback, but it holds true with Nebraska. If Martinez actually makes strides as a passer -- he'll be operating in the same offense as the starter for the first time in his high school or college career -- the Huskers will put up points this fall. But after watching Martinez last season, it's fair to have some doubts about No. 3.

The defense expects to exploit a schematic advantage we heard a lot about last season but didn't see much on Saturdays. I like coordinator John Papuchis, and Bo Pelini made two good staff additions in D-line coach Rick Kaczenski and secondary coach Terry Joseph. They're all about details and accountability, and they believe they'll be able to replace star power with greater depth in certain areas. Nebraska also should be strong in special teams. Do the Huskers have a unit better than Michigan State's defense? Not right now. But Nebraska could end up being the division's most complete team by season's end.

Getting back to Michigan State and Michigan. Both teams lose tremendous leaders from 2011 (Kirk Cousins, Mike Martin, Jerel Worthy, Joel Foreman, David Molk, Ryan Van Bergen). Who do you see filling those roles this year?

Brian Bennett: That's a good question, and one that will have to be answered this summer. For Michigan State, Andrew Maxwell impressed me as a guy who can lead in a similar way as Cousins did; he'll just have to play well at quarterback and battle through adversity. The Spartans have some seniors on defense who can lead, like Anthony Rashad White and Johnny Adams, but they also have some highly respected juniors in Max Bullough and William Gholston.

But they are replacing some very valuable leaders, just as Michigan is doing. Denard Robinson has worked on becoming more vocal and sounded like a different guy in interviews this spring. There's no question he has the respect of his teammates. Craig Roh and Jordan Kovacs seem like natural leaders on defense, and offensive tackle Taylor Lewan says he wants to take on that role as well. But leadership can't be forced, and it remains to be seen if either team can find such strong captains as guys like Cousins and Martin were.

Speaking of question marks, I feel like Iowa and Northwestern are two of the bigger mystery teams in the league. Both have talent and potentially potent offenses, but they'll also need some players on defense to rise up out of the shadows. What did you take out of your visits to Iowa City and Evanston this spring?

Adam Rittenberg: Let's start off with Iowa, which underwent some major changes this spring with a new offensive coordinator (Greg Davis), a position coach promoted to defensive coordinator (Phil Parker) and several more assistants shuffling, arriving or being promoted. The players seemed to embrace the changes, and coach Kirk Ferentz basically said the team needed a fresh start even though he didn't want to lose his previous coordinators. There's a lot of excitement about Davis' offense, which will be more up-tempo than what we've seen in the past from Iowa. Quarterback James Vandenberg really seems to get it, but will he have enough weapons around him to execute? The running back curse struck again this spring with Jordan Canzeri's ACL injury. Iowa needs young and/or unproven players to step up there, and wide receiver isn't a deep group. It'll be a big summer for Keenan Davis.

The feeling I had coming out of Evanston is that Northwestern will be a younger team but potentially a better one. The Wildcats say goodbye to an accomplished senior class that featured some outstanding players like quarterback Dan Persa. But was it the most talented group? I don't think so. Northwestern has improved its recruiting efforts in recent years, and the team could begin seeing the benefits this year. There are a lot of new faces at spots like defensive back and defensive line. I was impressed with cornerback Nick VanHoose and end Deonte Gibson. The wide receiving corps should be one of the Big Ten's best, even if Kyle Prater isn't eligible until 2013. The Wildcats might not have many familiar names at receiver, but they boast incredible depth there. This team still has question marks -- secondary, pass rush, running back, quarterback -- but the talent level is getting a bit better.

Neither of us made it up to Minneapolis this spring, but we both talked with Gophers players and coaches. What was your sense of the second spring under coach Jerry Kill?

Brian Bennett: We swear it's nothing personal, Gophers fans. Both of us would have enjoyed a trip to the Twin Cities, but the schedule just didn't work out.

Anyway, I did sense more confidence from the Minnesota players and coaches we interviewed. That's not surprising, given that it's the second year for Kill's staff and more familiarity almost always brings a better comfort level. MarQueis Gray really started to come on late last season and appears to have made strides as a passer. He could be one of the league's top playmakers this year. Overall, the Gophers look to have a little more talent this year, thanks to some junior college imports, youngsters who got experience last year and Troy Stoudermire coming back at cornerback. The defense should have more speed, though it remains undersized. The big question for me is who will emerge as weapons alongside Gray, especially at receiver.

But I think that, with a manageable nonconference schedule, Minnesota has a chance to win five or more games this year and it will be much more competitive in Big Ten play than it was early last season. The Legends Division looks more balanced top to bottom than the Leaders and should be fun to follow all year.

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 CITY, Iowa -- Iowa linebacker James Morris doesn't go along with the status quo. Unless he thinks it's 1985.

This spring, Morris conducted what he called a "social experiment," sporting a neatly cropped mustache, more Zorro than Selleck. His Hawkeyes teammates are big fans, his coaches have warmed up to it and even his girlfriend approves, "though she wants to deny it," he said.

"I'm trying it out," Morris told ESPN.com. "It's about the only time you can have a mustache like this. You won't get fired and your boss won't give you [stuff]."

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, who serves as Morris' football boss, has no issue with Morris' 'stache nor his career path to this point. Ferentz, who frequently consults Iowa's recent history when discussing players or teams, likened the progression this spring of Morris and fellow linebacker Christian Kirksey to that of former Hawkeyes stars Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge.

Greenway and Hodge, who played alongside one another from 2002-05, occupy two of the top five spots on Iowa's career tackles chart. (Hodge is third with 453, Greenway is fifth with 416.) Hodge led Iowa in tackles in each of his final three seasons, and he and Greenway own two of the top three single-season tackles totals. (Hodge had 158 stops and Greenway had 156 in 2005.) Both were two-time first-team All-Big Ten selections before moving onto to the NFL. Greenway made his first Pro Bowl last year with the Vikings.

Ferentz isn't putting Morris and Kirksey in the Greenway-Hodge category just yet, but he notes that the linebackers have followed similar paths. Both Morris and Kirksey saw action during their freshman year -- the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Morris made six starts at middle linebacker and recorded 70 tackles -- and they shared the team tackles lead with 110 stops apiece in 2011.

"If you talk about Hodge and Greenway, both of these guys are in that same position," Ferentz said, "except we had the ability to redshirt both Chad and Abdul, whereas James and Chris hit the ground running."

Iowa would be thrilled if Morris and Kirksey could emulate what Greenway and Hodge did, but the juniors are interested in forming their own legacy.

"I wouldn’t say Chris and I are trying to be like Hodge or Greenway," Morris said. "A lot of people tailor their game or they try to look at the style of players who have played before them and see what they can pick up. Chris has done that, and I've done that a little bit, but we're just trying to be the best players we can be."

Iowa needs a lot from both men this season. The defense took a step back in 2011, finishing 60th nationally in yards allowed and 46th in points allowed, and has the youngest group of linemen in recent memory.

The unit's strength, at least heading into the fall, is in the back seven and particularly at linebacker. Both Morris and Kirksey moved around a bit last season but seem pretty settled entering 2012: Morris will play middle linebacker with Kirksey on the strong side. Junior Anthony Hitchens is the projected starter at the weakside position.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Kirksey is a speed player who also can lower the boom as a hitter.

"He's really got a good pop to him," defensive coordinator Phil Parker said. "He can run well. It puts him in a position whereas guys see him being a leader, stepping up and making plays. They're expecting him to lead, and I'm sure that's what he wants to do. Same thing with James. James is no question the inside guy you want in there."

Ferentz called Kirksey a "really positive, upbeat, high-energy player." Those qualities drew Iowa to him during the recruiting process and have helped him earn the respect and admiration of his teammates.

Morris, thrust into a vital position as a true freshman, is comfortable handling responsibility, saying, "I'm hoping to be the leader of the defense, the man in the middle."

Ferentz gave both linebackers high marks during the spring.

"They're really confident, much more so than a year ago because they've had that experience," he said. "I'm not saying it's Hodge and Greenway, but they're a little bit like them. They have good personalities, and they're both really good players who have totally invested and have a good vibe with their teammates."

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 defensive coordinator Phil Parker talks about his first spring in the role and what to expect from the unit in 2012.

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- If you graded the magnitude of FBS coaching changes from the past offseason, Iowa's would barely make the needle move on the Richter scale.

Even in Big Ten territory, the ground shook more in places like State College, Columbus and Champaign. Iowa still has Kirk Ferentz, the new dean of Big Ten coaches, who has been at Iowa more than twice as long (13 seasons) as any of his peers in the league (Wisconsin's Bret Bielema and Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald are next at six seasons each). Unlike Penn State and Ohio State, the program hasn't been mired in scandal, and none of the personnel moves were forced.

But in Hawkeye Country, the transformation of Ferentz's staff equates to The Big One.

Ferentz made the first two coordinator changes of his tenure, hiring former Texas assistant Greg Davis to oversee the offense and promoting secondary coach Phil Parker to lead the defense. Two assistants moved positions -- including Reese Morgan, who shifted from offensive line to defensive line -- and Ferentz hired two former players, Brian Ferentz and LeVar Woods, as position coaches.

In the quick-change environment of college football, such moves are typically greeted with a shrug. But Iowa has been the model of continuity. Before Davis, Ferentz hadn't made an outside coaching hire since naming Erik Campbell receivers/tight ends coach after the 2007 season. By keeping offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe, defensive coordinator Norm Parker and strength coach Chris Doyle for the past 13 years, Iowa created what Ferentz calls "a great foundation of stability."

"We've had occasional changes here, but not like this," Ferentz told ESPN.com. "It was an interesting period."

It also has been an exciting one. Spring practice inherently brings a newness, as the slate is cleaned and planning accelerates for the upcoming season. But spring ball at Iowa has taken on a decidedly different tone, one Ferentz and his players are welcoming.

While Ferentz didn't force anyone out the door -- O'Keefe left for an assistant post with the Miami Dolphins, Parker retired and defensive line coach Rick Kaczenski left for Nebraska -- he vows that changes would have been made even if the staff had remained intact. Iowa has lost momentum following an 11-2 surge in 2009, its wins total dropping to eight during 2010 and to seven last fall.

"We just needed to go back and make sure everything made sense and was adding up the way we wanted it do," he said. "Just consider some new ideas, some things that might benefit our production. Now it's actually been forced by the [coaching] changes."

Asked how receptive he is to change, Ferentz, who some label as too conservative and set in his ways, replied, "wide open."

"Bottom line is we're 4-4 the last two years in conference play," he said. "If that's the best we can do, then that's fine. But we felt like we've left something out there."

The more seismic shift takes place on offense with Davis, who steps in after a year out of football. Although his 13-year tenure as Texas' offensive coordinator ended on a down note in 2010, his offenses averaged 39 points between 2000-09, the second highest total nationally and first among BCS automatic-qualifying teams.

Davis has had success with different schemes and different quarterbacks. While Iowa fans shouldn't expect a five-wide, spread attack this fall, a historically buttoned-up offense likely will loosen its collar a bit.

"I kept hearing from Kirk, 'Regardless of whether Ken had gone to Miami, we needed to do some things differently. We needed to make sure we're growing as a staff, as players, that we're taking advantage of what our kids can do,'" Davis told ESPN.com. "So meeting with the kids, meeting with the coaches, it's been very refreshing. They've been extremely open to everything. Sometimes the same play said differently and explained differently creates excitement.

"And I sense an excitement."

The feeling is mutual. Davis said last year was the first time he hadn't been part of a sports team since he was six years old.

The 60-year-old has returned to the field refreshed and revived.

"You can tell how much he loves the game," senior quarterback James Vandenberg said. "He gets really excited for practice, especially when we go against the defense. You'd think we were playing the Super Bowl with how excited he gets when we execute well. We show up early for lifting and he is literally here every morning at 6 a.m., always ready to go.

"We all kind of feed off of that."

Vandenberg enjoyed his time with O'Keefe and showed promise in his first season as the starter, passing for 3,022 yards with 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions. But after some struggles away from Kinnick Stadium and the team’s poor finish -- Iowa dropped three of its final four games -- Vandenberg also sensed a need for change.

"It's just new blood, which kind of re-energizes everybody,” he said. "It's making us work hard, and we're watching more film than we probably would in the spring. And it's making spring ball really competitive."

The changes on defense are more subtle. Phil Parker (no relation to Norm) said he"ll run "basically the same scheme" as his predecessor, sprinkling in some new ingredients and perhaps simplifying things for a group that is extremely young up front.

Parker is a new voice, though, and a powerful one.

"He's a go-getter," safety Micah Hyde said.

"I didn't think [the team] needed coaches leaving, that kind of change," Hyde continued, "but we haven't lived up to our expectations the last couple years. We definitely should have been playing better ball. It is a good thing, just to get some new input."

That a seven-win season equals disappointment in these parts resonates with Iowa players and coaches. Iowa hasn't had a losing regular season since 2000 and since 2001 has averaged 8.4 wins.

But Ferentz's critics point to his hefty salary, ranked in the top 10 nationally, and the fact that Iowa has had just one 10-win season since 2004. The team also needs to regain its mojo in close games, which have been the norm throughout Ferentz's tenure. After a terrific run from late in the 2008 season through most of the 2009 campaign, Iowa is 3-7 in games decided by seven points or fewer in the past two seasons.

"How we maximize those close situations usually determines how we end up," Ferentz said. "We haven't done a good enough job the last two years. Everybody would agree with that.

"That's documented, so what can we do?"

They've shaken things up. And just maybe they'll send shock waves through the Big Ten this fall.

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- It's a big day as both bloggers are on the road in B1G country. Brian is spending some time in West Lafayette, Ind., with the Purdue Boilermakers, and I've just arrived here to visit with the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Change is the big theme for Iowa this spring as the Hawkeyes made coordinator changes for the first time in coach Kirk Ferentz's tenure, promoting Phil Parker to run the defense and bringing in Greg Davis from the outside to spearhead the offense. Ferentz also made several assistant coach moves, most notably shifting Reese Morgan from offensive line to defensive line, and he brought his son, Brian, back to Iowa to coach the offensive line. For a program conditioned to continuity, this certainly represents something new.

But many believe it's also something that was needed. After an 11-2 season in 2009 that might have been even better if not for a Ricky Stanzi injury, Iowa has lost momentum. The Hawkeyes fell well short of expectations in 2010 and saw their bowl wins streak end last year following a 7-6 campaign. The current team is very young at spots and once again needs to find help at running back after Jordan Canzeri's injury.

Iowa fans have been some of the more vocal folks on this blog since its inception, and they're always going to have high hopes. But I'm interested to find out where this program is headed and what are reasonable expectations for 2012.

I'll be visiting with Kirk Ferentz, Davis, Parker and several players at the football complex in a bit. Check the blog later and also Thursday for more on the Hawkeyes.

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.

The Parker tradition on the Iowa defense continues.

Phil Parker is not related to the retired Norm Parker, but his elevation to Hawkeyes defensive coordinator nonetheless seems pretty seamless. Phil Parker was the defensive backs coach at Iowa for the first 13 seasons under head coach Kirk Ferentz, and now he takes over the entire defense. I had a chance to catch up with him earlier Friday, and here's what Parker had to say about becoming a coordinator after serving as a defensive backs coach since his coaching career began in 1988:

You're obviously very familiar with how the Iowa defense has been run the past 13 seasons. Do you plan on keeping things very similar to how they've been done?


Phil Parker: We'll try to continue in the same form of keeping guys from not scoring points. A lot the of same philosophies will be in there. If it's not broke, don't fix it. We might have a different way of looking at things because there's a different group of guys in the room and they might have some different ideas that we'll explore. But obviously the fundamental stuff we do -- you've still got to get off blocks and make tackles -- I don't think that stuff will change.

You were a defensive backs coach for a long time. Was it your goal to become a coordinator one day?


PP: I think anybody in the profession, as you're going and moving along and gaining experience, looks forward to maybe a different position, one of overseeing the defense. It's something that kind of came about over the past 24 years. Did I have a time level when I wanted to do it? No. It just kind of happened when it did. Obviously, I was lucky to get this great opportunity here at Iowa without having to move my family,

Kirk Ferentz said when you were hired that you'd had several opportunities to go elsewhere and be a coordinator. Why'd you stay at Iowa?


PP: The first thing was, we were a pretty good football program, and I'm working with a great guy in coach Ferentz. I thought that was important. And also I thought it was best for my family to have my kids grow up in a great city like Iowa City and go to the same school. I thought that was more important at the time than my career.

The continuity at Iowa isn't usual anymore in college football. What do you think the consistency in the staff has meant to the program?


PP: Well, I think everybody is familiar with everybody and they're comfortable. I think kids are more comfortable and they know where we're coming from. You have the same system and they understand your system. So when something comes up, it's easier to adjust. If they were freshmen and went on to become a senior and all of a sudden we need to make an adjustment like we did three years ago against another team, they remember it and have a recall of information. If a freshman comes in and goes in two years, OK, I have a different set of coaches here, I think that brings a different set of issues. And in recruiting I'm sure it helps because players know the guy recruiting them is going to be there. So I think there are a lot of advantages to doing it that way.

You ran the defense previously when Norm Parker had to take time off. How did that prepare you for this job?


PP: It made me do a lot of the checks and balances, looking over the whole defense. And it kind of helped me to kind of prepare myself for the situation I'm in now. I think it helped a lot.

How much of what you learned and saw from him will guide you going forward?


PP: For the last 13 being here, he's obviously had a lot of impact on whatever we've done. He was a coach when I was at Michigan State when I was a player. So his influence has gone a long way for me. We had a very similar type of defense at Michigan State; it's just that offense has changed more than it did 28 years ago.

You've talked about keeping things similar, but will there be little tweaks and things you do to put your stamp on this defense?


PP: Yeah, I'm sure there is going to be some of that along the way, maybe some new ideas or the way we look at things. How can we do some things differently. But at this time, we're just trying to get everybody on the same page with the coaching staff and what we call things, because there are some new coaches and the terminology is different.

What's your philosophy on blitzing? Do you see yourself as an aggressive playcaller?

PP: I think the game dictates that. It all depends where you're at, timing and a lot of factors. Do you have the guys to do it? Do you have the guys to cover? There's a lot of factors that go into when you call blitzes and the timing of blitzes. But I've been asked that question a long time. It seems like every interview I have, people are asking that question. I can't really say right now whether I'll blitz more or less.

It's a long way from the start of the season, but will you coach on the sideline or in the booth upstairs?


PP: I have thought about it a little bit but I have not really come to a conclusion right now. I'm working in different things to see how I fit everything together before I make that decision.

One of your defensive coaches, Reese Morgan, is coming over from the offensive side to coach the defensive line. How do you think that will work out?

PP: I think it's a great addition. He's a great teacher and a great motivator and I think he'll do a great job with the defensive line. So we're excited about it. He's learning every day and he's enthusiastic about the opportunity.

The defensive front looks like it will be very young this year. What are your thoughts on that group heading into the spring?


PP: There are some young players. We've got some guys who have played a little bit like Steve Bigach, Joe Gaglione and Carl Davis. But the other guys are young and haven't played or redshirted. So I think there's a bigger ceiling for them to improve than maybe a guy who's played a lot and is kind of reaching the top of his game. Right now, everybody's young, so there's more opportunity and room to improve.

How have you seen Big Ten offenses change throughout your tenure?

PP: When I first came here, it obviously seemed like more of a running type of conference. But [teams are] starting to go with more running quarterbacks, and that has changed the game a little bit. It's almost like a long time ago when they used to run the option a lot more. Now they're just spreading everybody out and running option. Some of it's option, some of it's just spread and throwing the ball and some of it they're using quarterback runs. We probably didn't have nearly as many mobile quarterbacks as we do now. It's a different challenge

How do you change to react to that as a defense?


PP: Well, I think the first thing that made it hard was a lot of guys were changing guys around to different positions. You can't just pick out a great player on the other team and know where he's going to line up all the time and shut him down. Some of it is, the more complex they get, the simpler you have to be on defense and play faster. You can try to do a lot more and make a lot mistakes. Or you can do less and play faster, and I think you can get the same kind of results.

Do your recruiting responsibilities change at all in this role now?


PP: I think it may change a little. Maybe I won't be on the road as much, though certainly there will be times of the year when I will be out on the road. We're working on that right now, just changing some area or getting guys in areas they need to be in.

Finally, this is the first time in the Ferentz era that either coordinator has changed, and now you have two new coordinators and some different roles. Is that creating a different energy in the program?


PP: I think so. I think everybody, players and coaches together, is working with a different group of guys. So it's a challenge for everybody to get on the same page. It's exciting to look forward to that and get back into football right before spring starts. I would say everybody's a little bit outside of their comfort zone right now and looking forward to the challenges ahead.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

Matt from Columbus, Ohio, writes: In hiring Coombs, that now puts two previous head coaches and an "associate head coach" on the staff. I'm not sure what the latter exactly entails, but it seems like a good move. Generally, the only concern people cite with Meyer is the possibility of him burning himself out again. But, in hiring guys like Coombs, Withers, and Fickell, it seems Urban has guys that he won't think need to be micromanaged and that can pick up some slack here and there if he feels overwhelmed at certain points. Generally, I think this is very important, and being a bit overlooked. Your thoughts? Thanks!

Adam Rittenberg: Matt, that's a really good point. Meyer has surrounded himself with people to whom he can delegate, people who know what it's like to be a head coach and can be comfortable with a lot of responsibility. This is a very good staff with a mix of mostly experienced coaches and some younger guys like Zach Smith. Now will Meyer actually delegate and not burn himself out? It's tough to tell until the grind of the season begins. There's no doubt Meyer is refreshed, but the season and the pressure can take a lot out of you, especially if you're as competitive as he is. But you're absolutely right in saying the framework is there with this staff so he doesn't have to micromanage the team.

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Thomas from Chicago writes: First of all, I think both you and Brian do a great job covering the B1G and manage to stay pretty fair in your reporting. However, in regards to the grading of coordinator hires you and Brian both mention that Phil Parker has no previous coordinating experience. I'm sure you are both aware that he served as the co defensive coordinator in 2010 when the Godfather was out due to health reasons. So does that bump him up a half grade in both of your eyes? And a better question is why do I care so much?

Adam Rittenberg: Ha, love the self-awareness, Thomas. But you're right and we should have pointed that out. While it was a collective effort for Iowa's defensive staff during Norm's absence, Phil seemed to take a lead role. Still, it's a bit different when you're the permanent coordinator and the guy leading the defensive meetings. It's still hard to grade Phil Parker, because we don't really know what type of imprint he'll put on the defense. Will he just keep Norm's system? Will there be some actual tweaking? I know he has a different personality, but how he'll impact the unit remains to be seen.

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Lee from Dundee, Mich., writes: Adam, Need some big time help here. I'm a huge MSU fan, and regardless of the four wins in a row my friend (big time U of M fan) says that MSU's reign is over due to Michigan getting the better rated recruits. However, I look at so many of the better MSU players in the past few years that weren't rated high at all and I believe that MSU has some great coaches up there that mold them into great players. I just don't see MSU going away and this rivalry will remain competitive. Who's argument holds more water?

Adam Rittenberg: Lee, I think yours does. Will Michigan State keep beating Michigan every year? No. But the programs are both part of the Big Ten's upper crust entering the 2012 season. Michigan's staff is recruiting extremely well, and Michigan State also has done a good job on the trail, even if the most recent classes haven't been rated as high. As you note, Michigan State's staff develops talent well, as does Michigan's. Michigan State also has made a greater commitment to football with the Skandalaris Center, higher salaries for assistants like Pat Narduzzi, and other ventures. So I see this rivalry remaining competitive for the foreseeable future.

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Craig from Bordentown, N.J., writes: "As a reminder, these rankings are based on performance during the 2011 season and a player's IMPACT ON HIS TEAM,"I don't think you hate DRob, but let's focus for a minute on that highlighted portion above. You wanted to suggest that MORE than 16 players in the B1G had a BIGGER impact on their team? The "defense" bailed him out, as you replied. That's an entire half the team. As DRob went, so went all of Michigan's offense. Monte was good, but he couldn't single carry his offense, they were great because of the line and the QB and RB. Fitz was good, and critical to keeping Robinson in the season, but didn't shoulder the team. Cousins was impressive, and did shoulder a great deal of that offense -- I'd still question whether he was the barometer. This _individual_ had a greater impact on his team, for better or worse than anyone else in the league (and his #'s show for the better MOST of the time). less than 16th? Do you really need to wonder why fans are mad? You're a professional Rittenberg, and while we already know your judgment is questionable based on your stand for the SEC, do try to put a little reason into your responses.

Adam Rittenberg: Craig, if the rankings were solely based on impact, Robinson would be hired. But there's a second element to the sentence you quoted: performance during the 2011 season. This is where other players shined above Robinson, whose 2011 performance wasn't bad, but wasn't as strong as the other players on the list. We looked for players who were good to great every time they took the field. Montee Ball's overall 2011 performance? Much better than Robinson's. Kirk Cousins overall 2011 performance? Better than Robinson's. Why do you think they were All-Big Ten and he wasn't? It's easy to get lost in the dynamic plays, the brilliant runs, etc. We do, too! But we also can't overlook the mistakes made in some of the same games (Notre Dame, Northwestern). Robinson impacted games, both positively and negatively. You're absolutely right about that. But the total picture, his overall performance, puts him lower on the list.

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Blaise from Columbus, Ohio, writes: I have never been motivated to write to you before; I genuinely enjoy the blog and your (impartial) work, and I have never had a need to write an angry letter before. Well, that time has come, as I am angry. I am appalled at your recent story highlighting the lack of minority coaches in the B1G. Your piece was wholly meritless. Whatever happened to hiring the right guy to coach the kids (as I believe all B1G schools all have) and then moving on? Why should any B1G school feel as if they have to hire a ?second rate? person just to promote a mythical and destructive force called diversity? If any minority candidate was the best person for a job, I have absolutely no qualms in saying that they would be a head coach right now. By highlighting the lack of minority coaches, YOU are continuing to harm them by suggesting they are a class of people that need extra assistance to get hired. How insulting to minorities! By continuing to imply, as you have, that race is a factor in hiring, then you are continuing to perpetuate the myth that there are two types of people, minority and white. I reject that assumption. We should all be ?color blind?, hiring based on performance, integrity, and competence, not skin color and ancestry.

Adam Rittenberg: Blaise, my hope is that your last sentence proves true in all of college football. But I can't see how I'm harming minority coaches by pointing out facts that underscore the uphill climb they have faced to land these jobs. Do they need extra assistance to be hired? Absolutely not. You and many others completely missed the point of the story, which points out that there are enough African-American candidates to get these jobs based on their own merits and nothing else. The pool of these candidates is larger than ever. Events like the minority coaches forum and organizations like the BCA have helped increase this pool. And we're seeing the numbers increase everywhere -- big conferences, small conferences. It's noteworthy to point out the Big Ten hasn't seen any African-American coaches since Bobby Williams, and only one in the past 20+ years. Does that mean Big Ten programs are racist? No. But it's important that these programs give strong consideration to African-American candidates for every opening going forward -- as some Big Ten schools have -- because the message nationally is that there are enough qualified candidates to be getting more jobs.

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Rob from New York writes: Adam I understand that a big part of your job is to critique and criticize the B1G, but I know I'm not alone in thinking you take it too far. Maybe it's how ESPN divvies up the columns, but your columns consistently portray the B1G in a negative light in recruiting, bowl games and even in expansion (which is something the B1G arguably did best). Hell, you even had a tweet a few weeks ago about B1G *hoops* hurting 'national perception.' Who cares?! People go here to read about B1G teams, not other conferences and least of all the SEC. I have enough pro-SEC propaganda in my life, I don't need the one place for the Big Ten to be infected with it as well. And when it comes down to what these colleges are supposed to be doing, educating, the B1G is doing a pretty stellar job of it. So back off, for God's sake, or else leave the criticism columns to Bennett who at least acknowledges we're tired of hearing about every conference but our own.

Adam Rittenberg: Rob, I've repeatedly praised the Big Ten for its expansion with Nebraska, so you're pulling that comment out of you know where. In regard to bowl games, what do you want me to say? I've been one of the few national media members who consistently point out the inherent disadvantages Big Ten teams face in bowls. Would I revamp the Big Ten's bowl lineup? Absolutely. Wouldn't think twice about it. But the records are what they are, and it's hard to spin it any other way when the Big Ten consistently finishes under .500 in bowls. The Big Ten's academic reputation speaks for itself and has been praised on this blog repeatedly. If you are coming here to feel warm and fuzzy about your team and your conference, you're in the wrong place. There are other outlets that can give you what you want. If you want to read about the positive and negative elements of the league and its teams, this is the place for you.

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Rob from Morristown, N.J., writes: Adam, wanted to thank you for answering some of my prior questions, I believe you have a really good handle on the pulse of B1G Football. I do want to point out however that I believe you are making a very strong and bothersome comment in your Weekly "chat" when answering a question about Kirk Ferentz ("He's the most powerful person at that university by far, and he has the administration under his thumb despite some weaker seasons.") I am certain you weren't aware when you answered this way on the fly during chat, but as a Penn State alum, we have ALL learned that this kind of "power" can lead to disastrous consequences. I am not insinuating that there are scandals brewing at the University of Iowa, but simply stating that we should learn from what happened at Penn State to say that the head football coach should NOT have the kind of power that you were alluding to. My question however is, as much as I enjoy reading the B1G Football blog, it IS college basketball season, when is ESPN going to have full time conference bloggers like you? Or do they and I am not aware? Who wins a B1G Championship first, Penn State Men's Basketball or Indiana Football?

Adam Rittenberg: Rob, while I wasn't thinking about the Penn State situation when making the comment about Ferentz and Iowa, I still think he has a ton of power on that campus. Too much? I know some folks think so. You're right that the Penn State situation should be a lesson, and while Iowa has had some off-field issues, including the rhabdo outbreak last winter, it's not the same. As to your question, we don't cover college basketball the same way as college football, but we do have an excellent college basketball nation blog that contains a ton of Big Ten coverage from my buddy Eamonn Brennan and others. You should definitely check it out if you haven't already. I like what Pat Chambers is building in State College.

Happy birthday to Denny Crum, Jon Bon Jovi, Reggie Bush and the late Dr. Seuss:

• Nebraska has offered its vacant secondary job to Tennessee assistant Terry Joseph. A couple of Huskers are changing positions this spring, including running back Braylon Heard heading to cornerback.
• Pat Fitzgerald expects more from Northwestern in 2012 and talks about why he didn't change his defensive staff in this Q&A with Teddy Greenstein.
• A look at all the changes Bill O'Brien has already made at Penn State. Top-rated prep tight end Adam Brenemen will make his decision next Friday, with Penn State and Ohio State among his top choices. More details emerged in the Jerry Sandusky case, as prosecutors alleged that he abused eight boys on Penn State's campus.
• Riley Reiff gets the headlines, but fellow Iowa offensive lineman Adam Gettis shined at the NFL combine. Will the Hawkeyes blitz more under Phil Parker?
• Michigan State is hoping to land a big-time quarterback in the 2013 class. The Spartans haven't applied yet for DeAnthony Arnett's hardship waiver.
• Russell Wilson's height is a big issue for NFL scouts and might hold him back at the next level.
• A new Illinois recruit has a talented younger brother who might be interested in the Illini as well.

The Big Ten saw an unprecedented number of coaching changes during the offseason, as three head coaches were dismissed, Wisconsin's staff lost six assistants and many other moves were made. Barring an unexpected change, only four teams -- Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota and Northwestern -- will return their full staffs intact for the 2012 campaign.

Although the coaching carousel hasn't quite reached its end, Big Ten teams have filled all of their coordinator vacancies for the coming season. The league will have 13 new coordinators at eight different programs.

It's time to pass out quick grades for the coordinator hires (co-coordinators are graded together):

ILLINOIS

Co-offensive coordinators Billy Gonzales and Chris Beatty
Previously: Gonzales was LSU's receivers coach and pass-game coordinator; Beatty was Vanderbilt's receivers coach

Grades

Adam Rittenberg: C

Gonzales and Beatty both are strong recruiters who should help bring talented players to Champaign, but they're both young and unproven as playcallers. They should bolster Illinois' receiving corps, but I'd expect a few growing pains on game days as they adjust to bigger roles with a unit that flat-lined late in the 2011 season.

Brian Bennett: B-

Both are energetic guys who should adapt well to Tim Beckman's style, and both were considered up-and-comers. But as Adam mentioned, neither had led an offense before, so it's hard to give this too high a grade yet.

Defensive coordinator Tim Banks
Previously: Co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Cincinnati

Grades

Adam Rittenberg: A-

After a very successful 2011 season, Illinois' defense is looking for continuity and Banks can provide it. His aggressive style and pressure packages should translate well for a unit that still has a lot of talent in the front seven with linebacker Jonathan Brown, defensive tackle Akeem Spence and others.

Brian Bennett: B+

Vic Koenning declined to stay, and Jon Tenuta took the job for about 20 minutes before deciding to stay at NC State. As a third choice, Banks is a really nice hire and a better fit, in my opinion, than Tenuta would have been. After a tough first year with a Cincinnati defense lacking depth and experience, Banks did a great job turning that unit around in 2011. At Illinois, he merely needs to keep it going.

INDIANA

Offensive coordinator Seth Littrell
Previously: Offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at Arizona

Grades

Adam Rittenberg: B+

Littrell wasn't the reason Arizona made a coaching change in 2011, as his offense ranked third nationally in passing (370.8 ypg) and 15th in total yards (465.2 ypg). He comes from the fertile Mike Leach coaching tree and should help Indiana's offense become more balanced behind promising quarterback Tre Roberson.

Brian Bennett: A

It isn't easy to hire big-name coaches at Indiana, but Kevin Wilson got a good one as Littrell was left looking for a gig. The addition of Littrell already helped the Hoosiers land promising quarterback Nathan Sudfeld on the recruiting trail.

IOWA

Offensive coordinator Greg Davis
Previously: Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Texas (didn't coach in 2011)

Grades

Adam Rittenberg: B

Davis is an experienced coach who has coordinated offenses at the highest level and won a national title at Texas. He should help James Vandenberg's development at quarterback. The concern is he has been predictable at times and had his most recent success in a spread system, which Iowa likely won't use.

Brian Bennett: C+

Davis oversaw some record-breaking offenses at Texas, but he won't have the same kind of blue-chip talent at Iowa. Then again, in Kirk Ferentz's system, he won't be asked to generate 50 points per game. He's great with quarterbacks, and Ferentz will feel comfortable with a veteran coach who'll keep things simple. But to hire a guy who'd been out of football for a year was not very exciting for a program that probably could have used a battery recharge.

Defensive coordinator Phil Parker
Previously: Defensive backs coach at Iowa

Grades

Adam Rittenberg: B

Parker knows the Hawkeyes' personnel and brings an energetic personality to the defense, but he's not the big-splash addition some were hoping for after Norm Parker's retirement. Phil Parker has coached defensive backs forever but has yet to serve in a coordinator role. It'll be interesting to see how much he actually tweaks the scheme in Iowa City.

Brian Bennett: B-

Parker knows the Hawkeyes defense in and out, and I doubt much will change with the approach now that he is in charge. There was a curiously long time between Norm Parker's retirement and his successor's appointment, and Phil Parker has never been a coordinator before, so that brings my grade down a notch.

NEBRASKA

Defensive coordinator John Papuchis
Previously: Defensive line coach and special teams coordinator, Nebraska

Grades

Adam Rittenberg: B

Papuchis is a rising star and most likely a head coach in the near future. While I'm tempted to give him a higher grade, he hasn't been a playcaller and is just four years removed from being a football intern at LSU. Inexperience is the only main drawback here.

Brian Bennett: B-

Like Adam said, the grade level is held down here by a lack of previous experience. But every coordinator has to start somewhere, and Bo Pelini has been really high on Papuchis, who has done excellent work everywhere he's been put to use so far. Any growing pains should be offset by the knowledge Pelini can impart as a defensive-minded head coach.

OHIO STATE

Offensive coordinator Tom Herman
Previously: Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Iowa State

Grades

Adam Rittenberg: B+

Herman is regarded as a rising star and a sharp offensive mind who, with the help of Urban Meyer, will inject some life into a bland Ohio State offense. The only potential drawbacks are that he hasn't proven himself in a big-time job like Ohio State, and Iowa State's offensive numbers from 2011 don't exactly jump off the page.

Brian Bennett: B-

Ohio State fans were probably expecting a bigger name when Meyer promised to bring in the best staff in the country. But Meyer has an eye for offensive talent and will be heavily involved in the offensive game planning himself. Though Herman hasn't done it on a major stage, he'll be working with a lot more talent in Columbus, and this grade could easily prove to be an A in the future.

Defensive coordinator Luke Fickell and co-defensive coordinator Everett Withers
Previously: Fickell was Ohio State's head coach; Withers was North Carolina's head coach

Grades

Adam Rittenberg: A-

There's a lot to like about this pair, as both men return to coaching defense after being put in awkward positions last season. It'll be interesting to see how Fickell fares as the primary defensive playcaller. Withers has a few blotches on his résumé (Minnesota 2007) but brings a lot of experience to the table.

Brian Bennett: A

The head-coaching experience both men got last year should only help their development as coaches, and both are excellent recruiters. My only concern is whether there are too many cooks in the kitchen, but there's no reason to believe that Fickell and Withers won't get along and accept their roles. If so, this should work out really well.

PENN STATE

Defensive coordinator Ted Roof
Previously: Defensive coordinator at Auburn (briefly took Central Florida defensive coordinator job in December)

Grades

Adam Rittenberg: C+

While I loved what Roof did at Minnesota in 2008, his exit from Auburn after some struggles there raises a few red flags. The good news is he steps into a very good situation with Penn State's defense, and he has three good assistants: Larry Johnson, Ron Vanderlinden and John Butler, two of whom (Johnson and Vanderlinden) are holdovers from the previous staff.

Brian Bennett: C

Roof has some very bright spots on his long résumé, but he's also been a serial job-changer whom Auburn fans couldn't wait to see leave town despite the national title. Bill O'Brien could have retained Tom Bradley or promoted Johnson and probably done just as well, if not better. But he has a previous relationship with Roof, so the trust factor should be high.

PURDUE

Defensive coordinator Tim Tibesar
Previously: Defensive coordinator for the CFL's Montreal Alouettes

Grades

Adam Rittenberg: C

Both the change and the hire surprised me a bit, and Tibesar is a bit of a wild card coming back to college football from the CFL. He knows how to face the spread offense, a primary reason Danny Hope hired him, and had some success in Montreal. But his previous FBS stop at Kansas State resulted in some struggles (117th-rated defense in 2008).

Brian Bennett: C-

If Tibesar pans out as a successful defensive coordinator, perhaps Hope will start a trend of teams looking to the Great White North for assistant coaches. I'll give Hope some credit for making an unconventional choice, but I'm a little skeptical about just how well the CFL experience will translate to college.

WISCONSIN

Offensive coordinator Matt Canada
Previously: Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Northern Illinois

Grades

Adam Rittenberg: B

Canada has extensive coordinator experience, including four seasons in the Big Ten at Indiana, but he has been primarily a spread coach in recent seasons. While he had success running a pro-style system during his first stint at Northern Illinois (2003), he'll have to make some adjustments. The good news: he inherits a lot of talent and understands his main job is to keep the momentum going.

Brian Bennett: B-

I was surprised that Bret Bielema didn't chose someone who was a pro-style disciple through and through given his strong comments about not changing the offense much after Paul Chryst left. As Adam said, Canada knows his stuff and has done some good work as a coordinator. But anytime a coach has to adjust his style to a larger system and not the other way around creates a seed of doubt.

Kirk Ferentz took two months to promote a position coach (Phil Parker) to a coordinator job, and he's taking his time filling Iowa's other coordinator vacancy.

"The calendar is important to some degree, but what's more important I think is we get the right people in place for this program," Ferentz said at a Feb. 8 news conference.

Ferentz's deliberate approach to finding Ken O'Keefe's successor at offensive coordinator could be linked to the type of candidate he's considering. Two names that have come up, Greg Davis and Tom Moore, are former offensive coordinators who aren't strongly attached to other teams. There are also some internal candidates who could be promoted, among them wide receivers coach Erik Campbell.

While Ferentz could pluck a coach from another team, it seems unlikely he'll do so. Consequently, he can be measured with the hiring process.

Davis, who served as Texas' offensive coordinator from 1998-2010, resigned under pressure in December 2010 after the Longhorns went 5-7. Moore left the Indianapolis Colts in May after 12 seasons as the team's offensive coordinator. He spent the 2011 season as a consultant with the New York Jets.

Moore and Davis both have decades of experience as offensive coordinators.

Moore played quarterback at Iowa and started his coaching career as a graduate assistant with the Hawkeyes in 1961. He helped Peyton Manning develop into the NFL's premier quarterback for several years and directed a dynamic Colts offense. The knock on Moore is his age (73). He wouldn't be a long-term solution at Iowa, but he could do the job for a few years until another assistant, like Iowa's new offensive line coach Brian Ferentz, is ready to take charge.

As The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette's Marc Morehouse writes, "You could see Ferentz’s logic with Moore, a seasoned 'Yoda' type imparting knowledge and wisdom."

Davis is younger (60). He has no ties to Iowa, having spent most of his career in the south and southeast. He had a lot of success running the spread offense with quarterbacks Vince Young and Colt McCoy but switched to a pro-style system in 2010 and received heavy criticism as Texas ranked 88th nationally in scoring (23.8 ppg) and 58th in total offense (382.5 ypg). Davis won the Broyles Award, given to the nation's top assistant, after helping Texas to a national title in 2005.

Iowa has run primarily a pro-style offense during Ferentz's tenure, so it would be interesting to see which direction Davis would go if he's brought in.

Given the criticism Davis received late in his Texas tenure, Iowa fans would have some doubts about him. But he fits the Ferentzian mold as an experienced coach who tends to be conservative with his play calls.

Iowa fans, what say you? Who do you want as the team's next offensive coordinator?

Hoping everyone has a great weekend. The blog will be dark Monday for the holiday, but I'll be back at it bright and early Tuesday morning.

Onto your emails ...

Nick from Omaha writes: Adam, love the blog. I was just thinking: Everyone's asking what will happen to the Rose Bowl if a playoff system comes along. Well in the playoff system, there probably wouldn't be any important bowls so that would mean the end of the Rose Bowl. Well what if the Rose Bowl becomes a championship game of sorts for the B1G-Pac-12 and is played before the playoffs, or maybe as a way to get an automatic seed into an 8-team playoff? That would preserve the Rose Bowl and it would add greater importance to the season and partnership between the conferences. Whats your take?

Adam Rittenberg: Nick, it's an interesting idea. Your model would extend the season well into January, because the Rose Bowl isn't going to move from its traditional Jan. 1 date. In your model, we'd be seeing games at least two weeks into January and possibly three weeks in. Can't see the university presidents going for it, but you never know. Also, if the Rose Bowl determines an automatic bid to the playoffs, would there still be opportunities for other Big Ten and Pac-12 teams to make it. I don't think those two leagues want only one representative between the two of them in an eight-team playoff. I think it's more likely we see the Rose Bowl either incorporated into the playoff structure or exist independently of the playoff but take place around the same time. I think the time window we're looking at for all of this is between Dec. 20-Jan. 10.

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Mark from Wooster, Ohio, writes: Thanks for answering my question but it just raises more questions. You write "While it's possible an undefeated Big Ten team could be left out, history shows it's highly unlikely. 'Bennett writes "Wisconsin makes three more plays last year it goes undefeated" So are you suggesting if the Badgers did not lose those two close games. They would have gone to the National Championship? It is my humble opinion In addition to making those close loses into wins, they would have needed some Quality wins outside the conference. What am I missing here?

Adam Rittenberg: That's exactly what I'm saying, Mark. Wisconsin would have been one of two FBS unbeaten teams (along with LSU) had it won at both Michigan State and at Ohio State, and captured the Big Ten championship game. Your national title game would have been Wisconsin-LSU in New Orleans. As I mentioned to you in my previous note, strength of schedule matters when you're comparing major-conference teams with the exact same record, not major-conference teams with different records. In many cases, we're comparing several 1-loss teams. In that case, Wisconsin's weaker strength of schedule would have hurt. But if Wisconsin and LSU were the only two unbeaten squads on the board, they would meet in the title game. Plus, Wisconsin would have had two more road wins (Michigan State and Ohio State), which would have helped the Badgers with the BCS computers.

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Brian from Newmarket, United Kingdom, writes: Great column, helps me keep up with the Big Ten while I am overseas. My question is do you think the TCU drug scandal is actually a bigger issue than what happened at Penn State? TCU involved many football players and for all we know it could get bigger. Penn State's issue was with a retired coach, a head coach that the legal system considered innocent and some University officials (not football specific). I understand the crime at Penn State is worse but in regards to the football program which is bigger?

Adam Rittenberg: Brian, I see what you're getting at, and I guess in terms of the coming season, the TCU situation could have a bigger impact. The Frogs could be without several key players as they transition to a new conference (Big 12). There also will be further investigation into how rampant the drug problems were in the program. But in the greater picture, the Penn State scandal was a much bigger issue in virtually every way. The alleged crimes are much worse, as you point out. The scandal also led to a historic head-coaching change and the resignation of an athletic director. It negatively impacted a recruiting class and could have an impact in future recruiting. It has prompted the potential -- not the guarantee, but the possibility -- of sanctions from both the NCAA and the Big Ten. You're right in that the Penn State scandal might not impact the current roster in the way the TCU situation might, but in every other way the situation in State College is worse.

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Travis from Omaha writes: I think you put way to much stock into divisional competition. Having followed Nebraska throught he Big12, I can't tell you how many times a cross division loss (Texas or OU) forced a tie breaker. The ONLY reason divisional compeition matters is for the tie breaker itself. Otherwise, it really doesn't mean anything. So lets say Nebraskas sweeps their division, but loses to Penn St. and another cross division team, Wisconsin. That's pretty easy to do, and sweeping your divisions doens't really mean anything because its the team with the best overall CONFERENCE record that wins the division. Michigan's could only lose one game to Nebraska, and beat everyone else on their schedule, but could be in the title game. I would say, look at Kansas's 2007 orange bowl run to see how important cross division games are. The onyl year they don't play OU or Texas, BAM! Orange bowl. Now, that doesn't mean cross division games are more imporant. It just means that a conference loss is a conference loss and division's don't mean anything until a tie breaker is needed.

Adam Rittenberg: Travis, thanks for sharing your perspective, especially as someone who has followed division play for a number of years. While you're right about a lot of this, I would point out that the Big 12 divisional alignment was structured a bit differently than the Big Ten seemingly will be. You had by far the two most dominant programs -- Texas and Oklahoma -- in the same division (South), and as a result you usually had the South division being much stronger than the North. So the North division teams that didn't play Texas and OU -- like Kansas -- had a much easier path, increasing the significance of cross-division games.

The Big Ten, meanwhile, seems to have greater balance in its division alignment than the Big 12. While you're right that all Big Ten games matter, there's still an added significance for division games. Look at Michigan and Ohio State, for example. While both fan bases want that win more than any other on the schedule, a Michigan win against Ohio State often might not be as significant as a Michigan win against Nebraska. Or if Ohio State has to lose one game in league play, it's probably better to lose to Michigan than Wisconsin, which is in the same division.

Let's also look at your favorite team, Nebraska, in 2011. The Huskers actually handled themselves well in tough cross-division matchups, going 2-1 against Penn State, Ohio State and Wisconsin. Nebraska also scored a big Legends division win against Michigan State. But it was the division losses -- Northwestern and Michigan -- that doomed Big Red in its quest for a Big Ten title.

Every conference game matters, but I do think that the Big Ten having pretty good balance in its division alignment (maybe not in 2012, but in most years) adds significance to the division games.

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Michael from New York writes: For next year at least, isn't Ted Roof under a lot more pressure that O'Brien? He replaces a very successful coordinator who most fans feel got a raw deal. He is also inherriting plenty of talent.

Adam Rittenberg: I think both men are under some pressure, Michael, but you make an excellent point about Roof. His hiring was greeted with a lot of skepticism by Penn State fans, mainly because of how things ended at Auburn. Penn State has historically been very strong on defense, and Tom Bradley was one of the better coordinators in the country. Any sort of step back under Roof would cause some grumbling, especially if it's related to the scheme. Roof did retain two excellent defensive assistants in line coach Larry Johnson and linebackers coach Ron Vanderlinden, and I like the John Butler hire from South Carolina. But Penn State likely will need to be a defense-driven team, and there's a lot of talent coming back, particularly at linebacker. It's important for Roof to keep the unit performing at a high level.

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Chris from Bloomington, Ind., writes: What do you think the chances are of the B1G making similar arrangements with other conferences as they have with the Pac 12 in regards to scheduling? With the B1G tv contract negotiations coming up soon and the possible move to a strength of schedule based playoff, it may neutralize many of the drawbacks such as reduced ticket revenue and the need to go undefeated for the NCG.

Adam Rittenberg: Chris, you make some good points, but I don't know how much more the Big Ten can dictate how its teams schedule non-league games. You're dealing with a majority of schools that need at least three non-league home games a year. The Pac-12 agreement calls for home-and-home series, so six Big Ten schools will be playing at least one non-league road game each season. You also have school-specific nonconference agreements like the ones Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue have with Notre Dame, and Iowa has with Iowa State. Another scheduling initiative might be a tough sell to the ADs. So while we'd all love to see every Big Ten school play at least two stronger non-league games a season, I don't see it happening.

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Rich from Baltimore writes: What is the most important out of conference game for the B1G in 2012? UM/Alabama and MSU/Boise stand out, but are there others that can build the case for a deeper B1G?

Adam Rittenberg: The Alabama and Boise State games will shape the Big Ten's national perception more than any others, Rich. And if I had to pick one, it's Alabama. You beat the defending national champion, a team that has won two of the past three national titles, and you gain instant respect around the country. There are some other nonconference games that will matter, too. Notre Dame likely will be ranked in the top 20 entering the season, so beating the Irish at least twice would help the Big Ten. You also have some interesting Big Ten-Pac-12 matchups, such as Ohio State hosting California, Wisconsin visiting Oregon State, Nebraska visiting UCLA and Illinois visiting Arizona State. One game that might fly under the radar is Northwestern hosting Vanderbilt, but Vandy is a program on the rise. This would be a nice win against an SEC opponent.

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Greg from Brockton, Mass., writes: Just to clarify, O'Brien could rejoin former Maryland assistant James Franklin at Vanderbilt, but he couldn't receive a scholarship from the school. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that O'Brien has yet to contact Wisconsin. I thought he was a graduate student and as such could transfer depending on grad programs. How can Maryland restrict those?

Adam Rittenberg: Greg, I can't help but think of "Coneheads" when I see Brockton, Mass. Good times. ... In this case, we're talking about two issues: academics and athletics. From an academic perspective, Maryland can't restrict quarterback Danny O'Brien at all. He can enroll anywhere he wants and pay tuition like any other student. But if he wants to receive an athletic scholarship from Vanderbilt, he needs his release from the previous institution. That's what Randy Edsall is preventing. Maryland reportedly will grant O'Brien's release to a school like Wisconsin, where he could receive an athletic scholarship. So there's an academic component and an athletic scholarship component to this.

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Aaron from New Braunfels, Texas, writes: Hi Adam, I love the work you guys are doing here: I am a big Hawkeye fan, and am a little nervous over Phil Parker being named the new D coordinator. Here is why I am worried. Norm Parker was not only a outstanding coach, but a master motivator. I noticed that when he had to leave the sidelines the D appeared to lose alot of its fire- escpecially in the 4th quarter when it counted the most. All the while Phil was on the sidelines filling in. Exactly what was Phil's role in Norm's abscence, and how concerned (if any) should I be? I want to give the guy a fair shake, but it is hard to ignore the forementioned observation.

Adam Rittenberg: Aaron, that's an interesting take about the defense losing its edge when Norm's health problems forced him off of the sideline. Not sure the two are connected, but it's worth noting. Phil Parker worked in collaboration with the other defensive assistants during Norm's absence in 2010. They all took on additional duties at that time. Phil also was known as the "yeller" on Iowa's staff during the early part of his tenure with the Hawkeyes, and he doesn't seem to lack fire or the ability to motivate players. Iowa fans should pay more attention to Parker's play calls and personnel groupings than his passion for the game, which doesn't appear to be a problem. Will Phil Parker truly put his imprint on the defense or just continue what Norm did? That's what I'm interested to find out this fall.