Don't think Kirk Ferentz was playing to the home crowd when he said that senior Rob Bruggeman and junior Andy Kuempel -- former Cedar Rapids metro preps -- came out of spring practice with legit shots at being in the starting five next fall.
These questions were asked away from the speaker's podium. I imagine if he made the same remarks to the crowd that it would've been well received, it being the Linn County I-Club and all.
CEDAR RAPIDS — When Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz finishes sorting through his offensive line this August, don’t be surprised if the top five includes a pair of former Cedar Rapids metro preps.
Senior Rob Bruggeman, a Cedar Rapids Washington grad, entered spring practice listed as the co-starter at center. He did nothing to hurt that status. Bruggeman was headed toward serious playing time last season before suffering a torn ACL last spring. He returned before the season was over and earned playing time in the Hawkeyes’ season finale.
“He’s a senior, there’s a lot to be said for that,” Ferentz said Monday at the Linn County I-Club’s spring banquet. “If had not been hurt a year ago, the competition would’ve been very interesting. He was really coming on until he got injured. He was right there making things interesting.”
This spring, it was junior Andy Kuempel’s turn to make things interesting. The former Linn-Mar prep just might’ve done that.
With sophomore Bryan Bulaga out because of a shoulder injury, Kuempel plugged in at left tackle. Ferentz liked what he saw.
“Andy is really in the thick of it,” Ferentz said. “Andy can play guard. I don’t think there’s any concern about that. I think he probably played tackle better than I anticipated this spring. That’s a bonus. I know he can play inside.
“I thought he was one of the guys who really improved this spring. He made good strides. He’s very much in the thick of it, from my standpoint.”
They’re not head-to-head, but Kuempel could be in competition with junior Kyle Calloway at right tackle this fall. Calloway struggled in the spring game, losing at least a couple one-on-one battles with redshirt freshman defensive end Broderick Binns and getting whistled for a couple false starts. He was eventually replaced by senior Wes Aeschliman.
Ferentz cautioned against any knee-jerk reactions to one spring practice.
“I think it’s really important to remember, everybody got a chance to see the 15th workout,” Ferentz said. “We see all 15, so we do evaluate the body of work. But it’s a point well-taken. Certainly some of the mistakes he made that day were mistakes he made last year, so we’re moving beyond that.”
Seven or eight players are in competition for a starting spot on the O-line. The starting tackles will likely come out of senior Seth Olsen, Bulaga, Calloway, Kuempel and Aeschliman.
“Andy had a good spring at tackle. He performed much better than he did during the fall,” Ferentz said. “I had doubts going into the spring. I thought that was a real positive for him.”
Ferentz is still very much undecided at kicker. Junior Austin Signor and sophomore Daniel Murray failed to claim the job this spring.
“To me, the most disappointing thing is I’m not sure we’re any farther along with our placekicking than we were at the beginning,” Ferentz said. “That’s clearly cloudy still. I was hoping that someone would differentiate themselves a little bit. I don’t think we’ve made a lot of headway there.”
The door is open for incoming freshman Trent Mossbrucker, the Mooresville, Ind., prep who signed with the Hawkeyes in February.
“We definitely have an open mind, probably there as much as anywhere,” Ferentz said. “I think Austin and Daniel are capable of doing good things. We’ve seen them do good things. It’s a matter of consistency.”
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Ferentz interview if the quarterback position wasn’t brought up in some way, shape or form.
Sophomore Ricky Stanzi picked up the pace this spring and has at least kept Ferentz from anointing junior Jake Christensen, the incumbent, as the No. 1. The two alternated snaps with the first team during the open practice April 19 at Kinnick Stadium. Christensen did take the first snap with the first group.
“I think the competition has heated up,” Ferentz said. “I would re-emphasize, I’m not displeased with either of them. I think all the quarterbacks improved. I’ll also say, we’re not there yet. I don’t think any of us are there yet. That’s the challenge.”
Ferentz has said more than once that Iowa needs more production from the quarterback position next fall.
“Pass efficiency is important, but there are times where we’ve got to move the ball,” Ferentz said. “That’s what we’ve got to get if we’re going to have the kind of season we want to have.”