The dreaded AIRBHG must have been on vacation this spring, because the Iowa Hawkeyes managed to get through the spring feeling strong about the depth at running back.
Knowing the past history of the running backs at Iowa, the Hawkeyes went a little lighter than usual on the running plays during the spring game on Saturday. That helped make sure starting running backs Mark Weisman and Jordan Canzeri stayed healthy. Now, heading into the summer, Iowa can focus on putting together a physical running game behind a solid offensive line and an arsenal of healthy running backs, including bruiser Damon Bullock.
“That’s our goal,” senior offensive lineman Brandon Scherff said after the spring game. “We want to be the most physical unit on the field and want to be able to run the ball against people’s will, and that is what we are going to work for in the summer. We are going to get stronger and faster and try to learn the offense more so we can play faster.”
Iowa’s history with injuries at running back is rather infamous, but last season Iowa’s top three running backs appeared in 35 combined games. The Iowa rushing offense was ranked sixth in the Big Ten in 2013, much improved from the worst rushing offense in the conference in 2012 and 2011. Weisman led the Hawkeyes in rushing with 974 yards and eight touchdowns in 2013. Canzieri was second on the team with 481 yards and two touchdowns. Now the trick will be to get a second straight season of stability out of the position.