Iowa State defensive tackle Bryson Lamb didn’t exactly go out of his way to show Iowa’s offensive line any fear.
Asked whether he was intimidated by the Hawkeyes’ Joe Moore Award-caliber front and their tight ends, Lamb kept his answer brief. He said they go up against that kind of talent in practice. That was as far as he went.
It’s the kind of comment that can live on a bulletin board all week, especially after what Iowa just did in its season opener. The Hawkeyes rolled up 507 total offensive yards against Northern Illinois, including 289 on the ground in a 40-0 win. For a program that’s long been built on line play, it was a reminder of just how much control Iowa can seize when the blocking is rolling.
That’s what makes Lamb’s remark stand out. Iowa’s offensive line already has the reputation.
George Barnett is leading the group, Kirk Ferentz has always put a premium on that part of the game, and the Hawkeyes earned the Joe Moore Award last season. They’re expected to be in the mix again this year, and the unit has the kind of top-end talent that forces opponents to take notice.
The source material points to Kade Pieper and Trevor Lauck as potential All-Americans, with Cael Winter also part of the mix. It also notes that Iowa can go more than four deep at tight end and still field a better player than Iowa State. That’s the backdrop for Lamb’s answer, even if he never meant to hand Iowa any extra fuel.
No one is saying Lamb should have confessed that he’s afraid of the matchup. But his response has already made the rounds, and it gives Iowa something to hear before a week two meeting at Kinnick Stadium under the lights.
These programs know each other well, and both sides will be ready. Still, giving Iowa bulletin-board material is a risky move. If the Hawkeyes come out and lean on the run game the way they did in week one, Lamb’s words are going to get replayed plenty.
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