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Football Friday: Iowa

7 a.m. — Indiana

IOWA

Spring game attendance: 200 for a scrimmage attended by media, players' parents and friends. Kinnick Stadium wasn't available because new turf is being put in.

Spring MVP: Dace Richardson. MVP might be a bit of a stretch, but the offensive lineman was certainly the surprise of the spring. The former News-Gazette All-Stater missed the 2008 season with knee problems and the continuation of his career looked unlikely. Needing to replace two offensive line starters, it will be a huge bonus for the Hawkeyes if he is able to play again as a senior.

What they're saying: "There were some positives, but we're very inconsistent right now. We can't do much well for a sustained period. We're going to have a lot to work on when we get back together in August. It's not like we'll put on a T-shirt and helmet and go out there and polish up a couple things and be ready to go." - Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz told the Iowa City Press-Citizen after the final spring scrimmage.

What I'm thinking: The Hawkeyes have a couple of huge holes to fill on the defensive line. Mitch King and Matt Kroul were more than dependable tackles. They anchored the line for four years and made life miserable for opposing offensive coordinators. No matter how good the replacements are, they won't likely match the productivity of King and Kroul. There's an even bigger question at tailback, where Shonn Greene left early after a monster season. Jewell Hampton is the heir apparent and is capable of being a 1,000-yard guy. But can he be a game changer like Greene? Doubt it.

To ask Asmussen about the Hawkeyes, click here

To read Asmussen's blogs on the Illini, click here

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