How ‘sliding scale’ of Iowa’s offensive line competition works

Iowa offensive lineman Connor Colby (77) blocks through the second half of the Citrus Bowl NCAA school soccer recreation in opposition to Kentucky, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photograph/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

IOWA CITY — George Barnett doesn’t have a straightforward process this yr.

The second-year Iowa offensive line coach is overseeing a younger group. One starter is a redshirt freshman. One other three are sophomores, and one is a junior.

“The challenges will maintain coming, however that’s the thrilling a part of this,” Barnett stated to reporters through Zoom Wednesday. “I couldn’t be extra enthusiastic about this group and the path it’s headed.”

As Barnett approaches the fifth soccer recreation with the 2022 offensive line amid the thrilling problem, Iowa nonetheless is tinkering with the rotation.

The beginning 5 has been the identical every week — Mason Richman, Nick DeJong, Logan Jones, Beau Stephens and Connor Colby, from left to proper.

The roles of different offensive linemen has different, particularly at guard.

Tyler Elsbury, for instance, went from not taking part in any offensive snaps in Week 1 or Week 2 to taking part in 30 snaps in Week 3 and 27 in Week 4, per Professional Soccer Focus.

Gennings Dunker additionally has seen some variance in taking part in time whereas DeJong and Stephens occupy the beginning guard spots.

“What we’re searching for is physicality,” Barnett stated. “That’s been a premium.”

Figuring out who can finest present that physicality will not be so easy. Barnett described it as a “sliding scale.”

“We obtained a pair older guys which have a bit bit extra data base and a bit bit extra expertise,” Barnett stated. “After which we’ve got a pair younger guys which have a excessive degree of physicality, however they’ve much less apply expertise and taking part in expertise.”

DeJong would doubtless fall into the primary class of extra expertise, and somebody like Elsbury or Dunker would doubtless fall into the opposite class.

Giving a youthful, much less skilled participant a lighter workload can typically result in higher outcomes.

“When you exit chilly and begin working 50 to 70 performs as a first-year starter, typically it seems to be like, ‘Man, this child’s not taking part in very effectively,’” Barnett stated. “However should you can trim his reps a bit bit and lower his workload, the focus of a smaller workload is likely to be higher.”

On the identical time, a participant who “does a very nice job” with 10 reps would possibly get 20 the next week.

“It’ll at all times enhance as time goes, however that performs into the decision-making fairly a bit,” Barnett stated.

The reply to which man performs can rely upon “what are we searching for that week” or, on a smaller scale, what Iowa is searching for on a selected drive.

“It’s two-minute, we might need to go together with the older man that’s seen all of the unique blitzes we is probably not prepared for,” Barnett stated.

Offensive line coach George Barnett talks with journalists throughout Iowa soccer media day in Iowa Metropolis on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. (The Gazette)

Completely different positions are on completely different spots on the “sliding scale.”

DeJong has taken 169 of 235 attainable snaps as one of many extra skilled choices at left guard whereas Elsbury and Dunker have smaller roles.

Proper deal with has been on the opposite facet of the dimensions.

Jack Plumb, a senior, is the extra skilled choice, however sophomore Connor Colby has seen the majority of alternatives.

“The extra you see of Connor, the higher he’s going to get,” Barnett stated.

Colby has taken 207 snaps. Plumb has taken 32.

Middle and left deal with haven’t been on the dimensions, albeit for various causes.

All of Iowa’s choices at heart lack expertise after the departure through the NFL Draft of the omnipresent Tyler Linderbaum. That has pressured Logan Jones, who was a defensive lineman seven months in the past, to study rapidly with a heavy workload.

“His errors that he’s made right here and there — get pleasure from them whereas they final,” Barnett stated. “They’re most likely going to go away as time goes.”

Mason Richman, in the meantime, has been “nonetheless creating” at left deal with, however is among the most skilled choices within the place group.

“Inside our group, he’s the chief,” Barnett stated. “Our younger guys most likely assume he’s a senior.”

It’s attainable for the “sliding scale” to proceed to slip.

Head coach Kirk Ferentz stated the not-etched-in-stone rotation has “been good for the fellows.”

“I do not assume it is harm anyone,” Ferentz stated. “I do not assume it is a dangerous factor, fairly frankly, particularly with guys that are not established.”

Feedback: john.steppe@thegazette.com