Dominique Douglas was back after a breakout freshman campaign. Andy Brodell, coming off a record-setting performance in the Alamo Bowl, was set to line up on the opposite side of the field. And Tony Moeaki was primed to become the Hawkeyes’ next great tight end.
Then, disaster struck.
Douglas was arrested, suspended and eventually kicked off the team. And Brodell and Moeaki both suffered injuries in a Week 4 loss at Wisconsin and were lost for the year.
It’s no wonder Iowa’s offense — and Christensen — struggled.
“I felt like I was ready to make a breakthrough, and I was feeling good about where I was at,” said Brodell, who torched Texas for six catches, 159 yards and two scores in that 2006 Alamo Bowl loss. “The biggest thing is going from a guy who is counted on to make plays to being just another guy on the sideline. It’s been difficult, but I’ve learned a lot from it.”
So, too, did Iowa’s reserves who played in Brodell and Moeaki’s absence.
Now, with nearly everyone back — would-be sophomore James Cleveland, who was kicked off the team in March after a drug arrest, is the only one missing — the Hawkeyes receiving corps once again is deep and experienced.
Sophomore Derrell Johnson-Koulianos led Iowa with 38 receptions and 482 yards last season. And senior tight end Brandon Myers pulled in a team-high five touchdowns while filling in for Moeaki. Trey Stross, Paul Chaney Jr. and Colin Sandeman all gained valuable experience and showed potential on the field.
But they also struggled, too often dropping passes and failing to break off routes when Christensen was under pressure.
Under the instruction of new position coach Erik Campbell, who had a long line of 1,000-yard receivers at Michigan, Iowa’s pass-catchers figure to show steady improvement in the fundamentals.
Health, however, remains a concern, as Moeaki, Stross and Brodell — all listed as starters — have missed time in camp. Moeaki, who sat out spring practice while recovering from wrist surgery, is expected to miss the Hawkeyes’ Aug. 30 opener because of a fracture in his foot.
Campbell said expectations remain the same no matter who is on the field.
“The bar is high,” he said. “That’s the only way you can do it. You’ve got to expect great things from them, and that’s how they push themselves to become great players. So, the bar is going to be high.”
| Position breakdowns | |||
| Saturday: Special teams STORY I GLANCE | |||
| Sunday: Defensive backs STORY I GLANCE | |||
| Monday: Linebackers STORY I GLANCE | |||
| Tuesday: Defensive line STORY I GLANCE | |||
| Wednesday: Offensive line STORY I GLANCE | |||
| Today: Receivers/Ends STORY I GLANCE | |||
| Friday: Running backs | |||
| Saturday: Quarterbacks |
Eric Page can be contacted at (563) 383-2277 or epage@qctimes.com.
