Tribal Warfare
04-12-2010, 12:54 AM
Iowa’s Bulaga says illness is behind him as he heads into draft (http://www.kansascity.com/2010/04/11/1871104/iowas-bulaga-says-illness-is-behind.html)
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
The illness hit Iowa offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga harder than any pass-rushing defensive end.
Early in his junior season last fall, Bulaga was stricken with a viral infection in his thyroid that caused fatigue, a loss of stamina and an increased heart rate.
He missed three games and lost 10 pounds before returning to the lineup at left tackle. The first question Bulaga has heard from nearly every team considering him in the first round of the NFL draft was about his thyroid condition.
“It was a three-week thing that ran its course and now it’s gone,” Bulaga said at the NFL combine. “I’ve been checked by doctors at the Mayo Clinic and by my doctor at the University of Iowa, both endocrinologists. I’ve been cleared by both of them.
“Teams just ask me what it is, is it a lingering effect? My agent has sent out a statement from both doctors to every team doctor. I don’t think it’s going to be that much of an impact.”
Apparently not. Bulaga, 6 feet 5 and 310 pounds, is expected to be among the top three offensive tackles selected. Although the illness affected him upon his return because he was unable to lift weights or work out during the three-week absence, Bulaga finished strong, particularly in Iowa’s victory in the Orange Bowl when he ably handled Georgia Tech’s Derrick Morgan, another likely first-round pick.
“Anytime you can get a monthlong preparation, getting conditioning, getting reps, you’re going to be able to show very well,” Bulaga said of the Orange Bowl. “I felt really strong in that game, and I thought I performed pretty well.”
Bulaga, who began his career as a left guard, has the ability to play both sides of the line at guard or tackle, which should make him attractive to teams like the Chiefs.
“Bulaga is a tough, tough, throwback player, a very, very competitive football player, who is mean,” said Gil Brandt, a draft analyst for NFL.com and former personnel director of the Dallas Cowboys. “I don’t think you can go wrong with a team full of Bulagas. The thyroid condition is a factor …
“I think he can play left tackle. He’d be a great right tackle. He knows how to use his hands. Hand placement is very important now for offensive tackles. The guy has been really coached well. They do a great job at Iowa. I don’t like people who come out of school after three years. I wish he would have stayed there; it would have made him a better player than he already is.”
Bulaga said the thyroid condition was not a factor in his leaving school a year early.
“I thought I was ready to come out from a maturity standpoint and a production standpoint,” Bulaga said. “I thought I was ready to help out an NFL team right now.
“I like to think I’m the best tackle in the draft. Obviously, this is a very deep class, there are a lot of great players in it … it’s going to be exciting to see.”
Having played in a pro-style offense for Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, a former NFL offensive-line coach, should help Bulaga make the jump from college.
“When you work with a guy like coach Ferentz, you’re just going to naturally get ready,” Bulaga said. “He runs a pro-style system.
“He runs pro camps, he runs pro practices … from the standpoint of run blocking, how it is done in the NFL is very similar to how we do it at Iowa … and is something a lot of NFL teams like to see.
“We’re in a three-point stance a lot. We’re getting after guys a lot. That’s kind of just our mentality and our style. I like that style of football. I like getting after it. I like putting my hand on the ground and going after a guy.”
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
The illness hit Iowa offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga harder than any pass-rushing defensive end.
Early in his junior season last fall, Bulaga was stricken with a viral infection in his thyroid that caused fatigue, a loss of stamina and an increased heart rate.
He missed three games and lost 10 pounds before returning to the lineup at left tackle. The first question Bulaga has heard from nearly every team considering him in the first round of the NFL draft was about his thyroid condition.
“It was a three-week thing that ran its course and now it’s gone,” Bulaga said at the NFL combine. “I’ve been checked by doctors at the Mayo Clinic and by my doctor at the University of Iowa, both endocrinologists. I’ve been cleared by both of them.
“Teams just ask me what it is, is it a lingering effect? My agent has sent out a statement from both doctors to every team doctor. I don’t think it’s going to be that much of an impact.”
Apparently not. Bulaga, 6 feet 5 and 310 pounds, is expected to be among the top three offensive tackles selected. Although the illness affected him upon his return because he was unable to lift weights or work out during the three-week absence, Bulaga finished strong, particularly in Iowa’s victory in the Orange Bowl when he ably handled Georgia Tech’s Derrick Morgan, another likely first-round pick.
“Anytime you can get a monthlong preparation, getting conditioning, getting reps, you’re going to be able to show very well,” Bulaga said of the Orange Bowl. “I felt really strong in that game, and I thought I performed pretty well.”
Bulaga, who began his career as a left guard, has the ability to play both sides of the line at guard or tackle, which should make him attractive to teams like the Chiefs.
“Bulaga is a tough, tough, throwback player, a very, very competitive football player, who is mean,” said Gil Brandt, a draft analyst for NFL.com and former personnel director of the Dallas Cowboys. “I don’t think you can go wrong with a team full of Bulagas. The thyroid condition is a factor …
“I think he can play left tackle. He’d be a great right tackle. He knows how to use his hands. Hand placement is very important now for offensive tackles. The guy has been really coached well. They do a great job at Iowa. I don’t like people who come out of school after three years. I wish he would have stayed there; it would have made him a better player than he already is.”
Bulaga said the thyroid condition was not a factor in his leaving school a year early.
“I thought I was ready to come out from a maturity standpoint and a production standpoint,” Bulaga said. “I thought I was ready to help out an NFL team right now.
“I like to think I’m the best tackle in the draft. Obviously, this is a very deep class, there are a lot of great players in it … it’s going to be exciting to see.”
Having played in a pro-style offense for Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, a former NFL offensive-line coach, should help Bulaga make the jump from college.
“When you work with a guy like coach Ferentz, you’re just going to naturally get ready,” Bulaga said. “He runs a pro-style system.
“He runs pro camps, he runs pro practices … from the standpoint of run blocking, how it is done in the NFL is very similar to how we do it at Iowa … and is something a lot of NFL teams like to see.
“We’re in a three-point stance a lot. We’re getting after guys a lot. That’s kind of just our mentality and our style. I like that style of football. I like getting after it. I like putting my hand on the ground and going after a guy.”
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
The illness hit Iowa offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga harder than any pass-rushing defensive end.
Early in his junior season last fall, Bulaga was stricken with a viral infection in his thyroid that caused fatigue, a loss of stamina and an increased heart rate.
He missed three games and lost 10 pounds before returning to the lineup at left tackle. The first question Bulaga has heard from nearly every team considering him in the first round of the NFL draft was about his thyroid condition.
“It was a three-week thing that ran its course and now it’s gone,” Bulaga said at the NFL combine. “I’ve been checked by doctors at the Mayo Clinic and by my doctor at the University of Iowa, both endocrinologists. I’ve been cleared by both of them.
“Teams just ask me what it is, is it a lingering effect? My agent has sent out a statement from both doctors to every team doctor. I don’t think it’s going to be that much of an impact.”
Apparently not. Bulaga, 6 feet 5 and 310 pounds, is expected to be among the top three offensive tackles selected. Although the illness affected him upon his return because he was unable to lift weights or work out during the three-week absence, Bulaga finished strong, particularly in Iowa’s victory in the Orange Bowl when he ably handled Georgia Tech’s Derrick Morgan, another likely first-round pick.
“Anytime you can get a monthlong preparation, getting conditioning, getting reps, you’re going to be able to show very well,” Bulaga said of the Orange Bowl. “I felt really strong in that game, and I thought I performed pretty well.”
Bulaga, who began his career as a left guard, has the ability to play both sides of the line at guard or tackle, which should make him attractive to teams like the Chiefs.
“Bulaga is a tough, tough, throwback player, a very, very competitive football player, who is mean,” said Gil Brandt, a draft analyst for NFL.com and former personnel director of the Dallas Cowboys. “I don’t think you can go wrong with a team full of Bulagas. The thyroid condition is a factor …
“I think he can play left tackle. He’d be a great right tackle. He knows how to use his hands. Hand placement is very important now for offensive tackles. The guy has been really coached well. They do a great job at Iowa. I don’t like people who come out of school after three years. I wish he would have stayed there; it would have made him a better player than he already is.”
Bulaga said the thyroid condition was not a factor in his leaving school a year early.
“I thought I was ready to come out from a maturity standpoint and a production standpoint,” Bulaga said. “I thought I was ready to help out an NFL team right now.
“I like to think I’m the best tackle in the draft. Obviously, this is a very deep class, there are a lot of great players in it … it’s going to be exciting to see.”
Having played in a pro-style offense for Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, a former NFL offensive-line coach, should help Bulaga make the jump from college.
“When you work with a guy like coach Ferentz, you’re just going to naturally get ready,” Bulaga said. “He runs a pro-style system.
“He runs pro camps, he runs pro practices … from the standpoint of run blocking, how it is done in the NFL is very similar to how we do it at Iowa … and is something a lot of NFL teams like to see.
“We’re in a three-point stance a lot. We’re getting after guys a lot. That’s kind of just our mentality and our style. I like that style of football. I like getting after it. I like putting my hand on the ground and going after a guy.”
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
The illness hit Iowa offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga harder than any pass-rushing defensive end.
Early in his junior season last fall, Bulaga was stricken with a viral infection in his thyroid that caused fatigue, a loss of stamina and an increased heart rate.
He missed three games and lost 10 pounds before returning to the lineup at left tackle. The first question Bulaga has heard from nearly every team considering him in the first round of the NFL draft was about his thyroid condition.
“It was a three-week thing that ran its course and now it’s gone,” Bulaga said at the NFL combine. “I’ve been checked by doctors at the Mayo Clinic and by my doctor at the University of Iowa, both endocrinologists. I’ve been cleared by both of them.
“Teams just ask me what it is, is it a lingering effect? My agent has sent out a statement from both doctors to every team doctor. I don’t think it’s going to be that much of an impact.”
Apparently not. Bulaga, 6 feet 5 and 310 pounds, is expected to be among the top three offensive tackles selected. Although the illness affected him upon his return because he was unable to lift weights or work out during the three-week absence, Bulaga finished strong, particularly in Iowa’s victory in the Orange Bowl when he ably handled Georgia Tech’s Derrick Morgan, another likely first-round pick.
“Anytime you can get a monthlong preparation, getting conditioning, getting reps, you’re going to be able to show very well,” Bulaga said of the Orange Bowl. “I felt really strong in that game, and I thought I performed pretty well.”
Bulaga, who began his career as a left guard, has the ability to play both sides of the line at guard or tackle, which should make him attractive to teams like the Chiefs.
“Bulaga is a tough, tough, throwback player, a very, very competitive football player, who is mean,” said Gil Brandt, a draft analyst for NFL.com and former personnel director of the Dallas Cowboys. “I don’t think you can go wrong with a team full of Bulagas. The thyroid condition is a factor …
“I think he can play left tackle. He’d be a great right tackle. He knows how to use his hands. Hand placement is very important now for offensive tackles. The guy has been really coached well. They do a great job at Iowa. I don’t like people who come out of school after three years. I wish he would have stayed there; it would have made him a better player than he already is.”
Bulaga said the thyroid condition was not a factor in his leaving school a year early.
“I thought I was ready to come out from a maturity standpoint and a production standpoint,” Bulaga said. “I thought I was ready to help out an NFL team right now.
“I like to think I’m the best tackle in the draft. Obviously, this is a very deep class, there are a lot of great players in it … it’s going to be exciting to see.”
Having played in a pro-style offense for Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, a former NFL offensive-line coach, should help Bulaga make the jump from college.
“When you work with a guy like coach Ferentz, you’re just going to naturally get ready,” Bulaga said. “He runs a pro-style system.
“He runs pro camps, he runs pro practices … from the standpoint of run blocking, how it is done in the NFL is very similar to how we do it at Iowa … and is something a lot of NFL teams like to see.
“We’re in a three-point stance a lot. We’re getting after guys a lot. That’s kind of just our mentality and our style. I like that style of football. I like getting after it. I like putting my hand on the ground and going after a guy.”