My high school football team loved the movie Varsity Blues and it was mandatory viewing before every Friday night contest. However, as anyone with a working knowledge of football will tell you, the game sequences are not realistic. The biggest culprit? Billy Bob, the endearingly fat, all conference lineman whose "I Give It a 10" comment at the club became the films most repeated line. The filmmakers would have you believe Billy Bob was such a potent blocker that he decleated defenders on almost every downfield block, picking players up effortlessly and knocking them into the air, Sparta-style. On any Fall Saturday, you will probably see one such block all day. Billy Bob dolled out at least three on any given play.

I'm not sure how this will sit in the Iowa lockerrom, but Bryan Bulaga was the Big 10's version of Billy Bob in 2008. The 20 year old offensive tackle spent the whole year pile driving helpless defenders ten yards off the line of scrimmage. He garnered 2nd Team All-Big 10 honors and gave Hawkeye fans flashbacks to past greats Robert Gallery and Eric Steinbach. But what makes this 6'6'' 300 lb sophomore such a game changer?

• Great fundamental blocking skills. Instead of just hitting the defender and releasing, Bulaga has mastered the technique of finishing his blocks by making contact and continuing to push the defender far away from the play.
• Exceptional work ethic and drive. Starting as a sophomore, he won the offensive Team Hustle Award.
• A mean streak. Offensive lineman exist to mangle and crush, especially in the Big 10. Not only is Bulaga good at this, but it looks like he enjoys destroying anyone in his way. That's a damn good sign for an offensive lineman.But after this breakout sophomore season, we predictably ask:

What is Bryan Bulaga doing this offseason to improve?

He won't be underrated or unknown, that's for sure. Iowa will be ranked in the top 25 and Bulaga will surely be on the preseason All-Big 10 first team. Bulaga's development will surely be tied to the continued success of the offensive line and quarterback Ricky Stanzi. Last year, the Hawkeye o-line and Shonn Greene generated a dominant run offense that at times rendered an effective passing game useless. This year will be different, as two run blocking anchors (Seth Olsen, Rob Bruggerman) are graduated and Greene moved on to the NFL. There is no denying the work ethic, drive, and nastiness of Bryan Bulaga - everyone believes he will improve into an eventual NFL draft pick, if he isn't there already. His ability to instill those qualities in the other offensive lineman may be the tipping point in making Iowa a legitimate Big 10 power in 2009.

A blocking clinic by the 2008 Iowa offensive line