Four downs with special teams

QUICK LOOK BACK: Kicker Daniel Murray is the face of special teams. He had an OK year in 2009, probably better than you'd think. He tied for the Big Ten lead with 19 field goals, just two off Iowa's season record for field goals. He also finished fourth in the league with a 73.1 FG percentage. He got a case of the linedrives at Michigan State and also had two misses from less than 30 yards, including a 22-yarder Ohio State. That's the negative side, but overall, Murray had a decent season.

Ryan Donahue didn't have the numbers he put up as a sophomore, but he remained a steady performer and among the Big Ten's top punters. He averaged 40.9 yards a kick with opponents averaging just 5.7 yards a return. He had 12 punts of 50-plus yards and dropped 27 inside the opponent's 20-yard line.

Derrell Johnson-Koulianos snapped Iowa's streak of 242 kick returns without a TD when he went 99 yards at Ohio State. I expect him to stick at that job and, maybe, pair with Jewel Hampton, who averaged 23.3 yards on 23 returns in 2008.

When he got healthy, Colin Sandeman solidified punt return for the Hawkeyes, finishing second in the Big Ten with 9.0 yards on 12 returns. Expect Sandeman to lock that spot down with, maybe, Jordan Cotton backing him up and being groomed for the future.

FOURTH DOWN -- CONCERNS: Again, we're going to assume Murray is healthy. The recap for him from the Orange Bowl was that he suffered some sort of lower-leg injury on a fake field goal attempt. He limped around with a smile on his face in the postgame. He was looked at by trainers, but there was no final word. Let's assume he's healthy, though.

Murray's 2009 season wasn't above criticism. The line-drive yips were obviously a concern. He went through a a 2-for-5 stretched that ended with a 22-yard miss at Ohio State. You can't pin the loss on the missed 22-yarder. Iowa gave up 229 rushing yards. That's the stat of the game. In a 27-24 OT loss, three points means the world and every kicker will tell you a 22-yard miss is not acceptable.

Murray rebounded, hitting his final three FGs of the season, including a pair in Iowa's 12-0 victory over Minnesota.

It was an inconsistent season for Murray, but, as a I wrote above, it was a better season than you might think.

Murray kicked more field goals than anyone in the Big Ten. He attempted one more than NU's Stefan Demos and two more than Wisconsin's Philip Welch. The more you kick, the more bad things can happen. Murray tied for the Big Ten lead in field goals made with 19. He and MSU's Brett Swanson tied for No. 22 in the country. He knows how to get the job done. Murray finished with a field goal percentage of 73.1, fourth in the Big Ten. Only Swanson, MSU's all-timer, broke into the 80s with 86.4. Murray was just .2 out of a tie for third place. You always want better, but this is an acceptable number.

No concerns on the return front. DJK, Hampton and Sandeman will range from bona fide weapons to steady, which is acceptable on punt return.

Whos' the next great gunner? I don't know, give me some candidates. I imagine that LB Jeff Tarpinian will be taken out of that role because his status at linebacker will be starter. Same for OLB Tyler Nielsen and probably for LB Troy Johnson. Shane DiBona, Jake Reisen, Wade Leppert, Jonathan Gimm, Nick Nielsen, just throwing some names out there.

The name to remember here is Jason White. He's a defensive back who converted from running back, so he's built for contact. He made a splash on special teams this season and might be ready for the “Jayme Murphy Kill Bot” role.

THIRD DOWN -- ADDITIONS/SUBTRACTIONS: Sophomore Trent Mossbrucker is an addition. First, he should be commended for sticking it out at Iowa. He took a redshirt last season after losing his job in a painful and public way in 2008, when he was on his way to a tremendous freshman season. Through nine games, he was 13 of 15. Then, facing a 31-yarder to beat then No. 3 Penn State, Kirk Ferentz tapped Murray. It's pretty much been Murray since.

After seeing Murray, now a senior, and Mossbrucker side-by-side last August, I wrote, “Daniel Murray is the kicker. He has the stronger leg, but sophomore Trent Mossbrucker has clearly improved in that area. Ferentz did say that Mossbrucker could redshirt if he doesn't win the job. The competition is close.”

Last spring, the gap in leg strength was wider. Here's what I wrote then, “Quick impression, Murray's job. He has a stronger leg. Mossbrucker might have the edge in accuracy. Murray clearly has the stronger leg.”

Mossbrucker has had a year to gear up. The few times I did focus on him in pregame, his leg seemed stronger.

Could there be split duties? That might be a possibility, but my thought is that they'd like one kicker to handle it all, so, in case of a quick decision, there's really no decision.

Mossbrucker spent a year on the sidelines. He's going to be a hungry player. Also, we're assuming Murray is healthy.

Iowa also will bring in walk-on Mike Meyer. He could potentially be the answer might be the answer to Murray's short kickoffs. His coach, Mike Mahoney, told the Telegraph Herald that Meyer had touchbacks ”80 to 90 percent” of the time. He set MVC records for longest field goal (56), most field goals in a season (nine) and in a game (four). He made four field goals, including from 56 and 49 yards on Sept. 18 against Dubuque Senior. He also led the MVC in punting with a 41.4-yard average. He'll likely be in competition with Mossbrucker in 2011.

Meyer's best shot at PT next season would be on kickoffs. If his leg is stronger than Murray's and he can reach the goal line, he'll definitely get a look. Murray's kickoffs were short this season, but that also might've been design. Murray has a strong leg.

Iowa also is bringing Jonny Mullings, a Bristol, England native who moved to Australia and was an exchange student in Ottumwa, as a grayshirt scholarship offer that will kick in January 2011. The 6-4, 215-pounder averaged 45.1 yards a punt for Colston School in Australia. He reportedly had an 85-yarder in a JV game in Ottumwa, playing JV because of rules regarding exchange students. Punting is a skill he picked up while playing rugby. He could have a shot in 2011 with Donahue heading into his senior season.

SECOND DOWN -- BATTLES BREWING: Will Murray and Mossbrucker be a battle? Yes. I'm not sure how fierce of a

 battle. Murray isn't perfect, but he's won the head-to-head with Mossbrucker. He will have to do it again, however.

The second kick returner could also be a decent battle. I put Hampton's name in there because he had good experience in 2008, but he's also coming off the ACL, so he could see a light load until his legs are under him as a ball carrier. Sophomore Brandon Wegher comes into the picture there, and so does sophomore Adam Robinson. They returned kicks last season, too. Wegher showed some talent here, averaging 23.8 yards on nine returns.

I don't see anyone challenging Sandeman at punt return. Senior Paul Chaney Jr. might get a look, pending his return from an ACL tear.

Senior Andrew Schulze (6-6, 255) will enter his fourth season as Iowa's long snapper. In 2007, he handled field goals and PATs. The last two seasons he's done field goals, PATs and punts. Can anyone remember a fumble? The snap on the Penn State ‘08 field goal was a little high, but workable. I can't remember any problems here. That's a huge deal. Here's a story The Gazette's Scott Dochterman wrote on Schulze last season.

FIRST DOWN -- "On Iowa" predictions for 2010: This isn't politics, where incumbents can pretty much clear out their desks. This is a football depth chart. It takes a knock out to move an incumbent to the bench.

Barring any torn CL in the knee, Murray's track record is too good. Coaches won't turn away from him because they know what they have -- a dependable kicker who's come through more often than he hasn't.

Of course, the wildcard is Mossbrucker's improvement. He made up the leg strength gap last spring and there really isn't much of a difference between the two. Mossbrucker was 13 of 15 before the Penn State game in 2008. Trust is the issue. Remember 2008 Michigan State? Iowa had a few chances at 40-ish field goals to tie or take the lead in the second half. Ferentz was asked and he said he thought field goal, but decided to pass. Then, Penn State 2008. That was Ferentz's call.

I think it's Murray.

Does Donahue move into No. 2 on Iowa's list of all-timers at punter? With 197 career punts, Donahue will likely end up No. 2 on that list behind Jason Baker's 272 (if Donahue catches Baker, then Iowa is in the Insight Bowl). Donahue owns the record for yards and punts in a season. Of course, the late Reggie Roby owns all average records (an unbelieveable 45.4 career average).

Iowa has the pieces in place to have weapons in the return game. It should be a plus this season.

Iowa punting records

Number -- Game: 16 by Nile Kinnick vs. Notre Dame, 11/11/39; Season: 86 by Ryan Donahue, 2007 (Big Ten record); Career: 272 by Jason Baker, 1997-00.

Yards -- Game: 731 by Nile Kinnick vs. Notre Dame, 11/11/39; Season: 3,533 by Ryan Donahue; Career: 11,304 by Jason Baker, 1997-00.

Average --

Game: 55.8 by

Reggie Roby vs. Nebraska, 9/12/81;

Season: 49.8 by

Reggie Roby, 1981 (NCAA record);

Career: 45.4 by

Reggie Roby, 1979-82.