Transition to center has worked for Linderbaum

Tyler Linderbaum spent Iowa’s off week watching college football.

“Just chill,” the Iowa redshirt freshman center said.

The bye week was a time for development for the younger players, but with three games at a new position, Linderbaum feels like a veteran. So there were no extra snaps, just the usual off-week work for him.

His move from defensive line reserve to being in command of the offensive line is complete.

“I guess, three games under my belt, getting that experience is something big,” Linderbaum said. “I guess we’ve seen a lot of different fronts, which helps. Obviously every week, a team is going to throw something different at you. Overall, just getting that experience under my belt is huge.”

This is his job, a move that didn’t seem all that risky when the Iowa coaching staff made it. Linderbaum has had so much time to prepare — it started during preparations for the Outback Bowl at the end of last season — making that first step in a game situation wasn’t a big deal.

“It wasn’t much of a big difference, considering how hard we go in practice,” Linderbaum said. “Once that first snap came, I was prepared.”

A center that can be incognito is important, and Linderbaum has done that.

“We talked about that in the offseason going back to at least August, I remember a question about him,” offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz said. “I think I said something to the effect of, ‘You don't notice him very much, which I think is a positive thing.’

“We were talking about a first-year player at that position. I would echo that right now. I know he gives us some leadership up front. He pushes the tempo, and those are the things you want out of the position.”

It hasn’t been a flawless transition, Ferentz said, but it’s worked.

“But I think he's kind of a microcosm of where we are offensively,” Ferentz said. “There's been some really good things, but there's a lot of things we have to clean up and improve on moving forward here and he's the same way and would tell you the same thing.

“You can't ask for more out of a guy as far as toughness and competitiveness and those types of things.”

Linderbaum played on the offensive and defensive line at Solon High School, so playing on either side of the ball wasn’t a problem.

To quarterback Nate Stanley, Linderbaum’s move has been seamless.

“I don’t think there was really much (difference) at all,” Stanley said. “Tyler came in last bowl prep, and did a great job. I didn’t think there was much of a learning curve at all. He picked up the offense extremely well.

“Obviously, he’s very talented. It felt natural with him out there.”

Linderbaum said the move worked because he knew what he was seeing on the other side of the ball. He played in two games on the defensive line last season as a true freshman, spent every day in the room with his position group.

What he learned became important when he was facing those same linemen in practice, and opposing players who have done many of the same things in games.

“It was great experience for me to be traveling with the defense last year. I learned so much,” he said. “I learned so much on the defense, schematically, on what we’re trying to do. And then I made the switch, and it helped me out knowing what the defense was trying to do. I could see the big picture, I think, easier because I was on defense.

“Once I got the (offensive) playbook down, I could implement more with what I learned on defense.”

He also had to learn how to work with Stanley.

“In spring practice, there were some snaps where I wasn’t the best at understanding snaps yet,” Linderbaum said. “And he would communicate — miss a little left, miss a little right. But I think over time, my snaps were getting better.”

“There’s always that interaction when there’s a new center,” Stanley said. “It’s not a natural movement for someone to be doing what they’re doing.”

It’s a position that Linderbaum feels comfortable with right now.

“There are some things I miss (playing defense), like hitting people,” Linderbaum said. “But I’ve really enjoyed my time at center. I’m glad I’ve made the move.”

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