Can year two under George Barnett yield an OL breakthrough for the Iowa Hawkeyes?
Stop us if you’ve heard and seen this song and dance before. Iowa struggled to move the football and put up points in 2021. The Hawkeyes finished 99th in scoring offense and 121st in total offense.
At this point in the offseason, it’s like Beauty and the Beast’s “Tale As Old As Time.”
While quarterback Spencer Petras has oftentimes been the focal point of the fanbase’s ire, his offensive line left plenty to be desired as well last season. Iowa ranked 68th nationally in sacks allowed and the running game never really found its rhythm, finishing ranked No. 102 after averaging 123.6 rushing yards per game.
Redshirt senior Jack Plumb is part of a group that returns and features 44 career starts. Plumb, Iowa’s projected 6-foot-7, 296 pound starting right tackle, has nine career starts and started each of the team’s final seven games of last season.
Redshirt junior Justin Britt returns at left guard where he started Iowa’s first three games in 2021. At right guard, sophomore Connor Colby brings back 11 consecutive starts at the position to close last year.
At right tackle, Plumb and redshirt junior Nick DeJong split time last season. DeJong started Iowa’s first seven and Plumb the final seven.
Of course, center is where Iowa has to replace All-American and first-round 2022 NFL draft pick Tyler Linderbaum. Redshirt sophomore Tyler Elsbury, redshirt senior Matt Fagan and redshirt sophomore Logan Jones will battle it out during the fall to lock down that starting role.
Jones is trying to follow in the footsteps of Linderbaum as a player that Iowa signed as a defensive lineman and converted to the offensive line. Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz touched on his progress during the spring where he said Jones has “transferrable skills.”
Outside of Linderbaum, Iowa really battled the inexperience bug along its offensive line in 2021. Plumb met with the media for the first time since the spring and updated his summer progress and where he feels the group is at heading into 2022 fall camp.
One of the items he touched on jumped out. Plumb was asked about offensive line coach George Barnett.
“He’s pretty mellow, but he’s funny. He’s got a good way of telling stories and I love the way he coaches and everything. He’s big into family and about the room. Just being around us, having the guys be around each other all the time,” Plumb said of Barnett.
Keep in mind, Barnett is entering his second season leading the Hawkeyes’ offensive line. It’s something that Plumb feels has helped his group this offseason.
“It was cool. We know exactly what we’re going to get every day now. We aren’t worrying about the new guy, how is he going to act and everything. We know exactly what he’s going to get and it’s awesome having him around. I love him,” Plumb said.
When thinking about how Iowa’s offensive line can improve in 2022, the continuity with Barnett combined with the Hawkeyes’ offensive line having more collective starting experience seems like a nice recipe for a running game resurgence.
That would certainly be a welcome sight for the Hawkeyes’ quarterbacks in Petras, Alex Padilla and Joe Labas. It’s also great news for running backs Gavin Williams and Leshon Williams who are looking to replace Tyler Goodson’s 1,151 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.
There’s still plenty to be sorted out with Iowa’s offensive line throughout fall camp, namely who will start at center, but a second season working with Barnett and plenty of familiar faces should be a terrific starting point.
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