Looking Ahead - OL

Gone are Uzzi and Kidney.

Uzzi was a force for us his entire career and will be missed. I think he secretly battled some form of leg issue that slowed him a bit early in the season. By the season's end he was back in full force controlling the point of attack against some pretty good players. He will go down as one of the top 5 GT OLs in the last decade. He will get a long look in the NFL from somebody. Kidney did not choose to finish his eligibility. He was a part time starter for us. True, he may have seen the writing on the wall after getting passed up on the depth chart, but we all owe him a huge debt of gratitude. Ask yourself this: where would have been if he wasn't there to step in during the last few seasons? We really needed him and he gave us life. Thanks Tyler.

Back as RSRs - Finch, Jackson, Beno, Lanier

Finch has grown into an imposing figure at the center position. 2012 may have been the first season in the CPJ era where we didn't get stuffed by certain teams with good NGs. Finch is a sound technical blocker and he is very physical for his size. Another year to grow and develop will make him just that much better. Jackson is quick and he can angle you or cut you to death. While not as physical as some, he is great in this offense. Durability has been his biggest weakness. Beno has improved every year (and not just as a receiver). If he does so again, we may be looking at a sleeper all ACC type. These three will most likely be starting many of the games. There are only 5 spots for starters and one will most likely be an odd man out, but there will be no shortage of snaps over the course of the season. Lanier, for whatever reason has not made an impact at any time in his career. Counting on him for anything would not be wise. Hopefully we get a surprise. At this point he should be very thankful that he signed at TECH and not an over signing factory where he would have been run off as a sophomore. Get your degree young man and join the rest of us as loyal TECH alums.

Back as RJRs - Bailey and Alford

Bailey performed as advertised once he was well enough physically to get on the field. This kid can block in any offense, not just ours. He was a people mover zone blocking. He might just be our most physical player in the trenches. Alford has seen some action and done well at times. His role will only increase in the coming season. At this time, I think you can pencil in Bailey as a lock in the starting line up at RT. He has earned it.

Back as JR - Mason

Shaq made an early impression drive blocking as a freshman. He has been very hard to keep off the field and is pretty well entrenched as a starter at LG. It will a big surprise for somebody to dislodge him.

Back as RSOs - Chamberlain, Joe, Braun, and new comer O'Reilly

It is hard for me to comment on this group because of the lack of game snaps to look at on film in combination with my bad memory. It will be interesting to see the impact O'Reilly makes. He is a very big body and he comes with a good rep from HS. I'm not sure why he left Auburn, but I am very curious about what we have.

Back as RFR - Roberts and Burden

New to the team on scholarship are Devine and Griffin in this year's signing class. I think it is safe to say that Griffin will RS based on his low body weight. On film, he has a nasty streak and looks like he will be good in a couple of years. Devine is a different story. I my 30 year memory as a TECH fan I can't remember a single OL coming into the program that looked as good as he did on film. I watched that ALL STAR camp video of his about 3 times and couldn't believe my eyes. He went up against the best the country had to offer in a drill set up that dramatically favored the pass rushers. He was PHENOMENAL. No other OL was even close. I may be way off base here, but I think we have made a Calvin Johnson type signing at this position. We have the depth to RS him so it will be interesting. IMHO we will only play him if it is obvious that he is head and shoulders above the competition. I look forward to seeing what will happen. His size, quickness, body type, long arms and ability to move his feet make him pretty special.

In the final analysis, the wait for CPJ to build a good OL really ended in the second half of 2012. The 2013 unit will have to be even better. We are 3 deep in scholarship players with a scholarship type player transferring from UMD. The number of starts returning is very high. The experience is there. They are a well seasoned and physical bunch. Uzzi left the only real hole. It will be a huge battle to fill it. Will it go to a freshman phenom? an Auburn 330 lb transfer? a RSR sliding over? or one of the emerging RSOs? Stay tuned.

Is it just me, or do we seem to be short on underclassmen OLs to replace the RSRs after 2013?

Originally Posted by pckl300

Is it just me, or do we seem to be short on underclassmen OLs to replace the RSRs after 2013?

Well, we have 4 seniors, 3 juniors, 4 sophomores, and 4 freshman on the 3 deep. It is hard to get more balanced than that class wise. The big question is about quality. Who will step up and grab the open spots and will they be an upgrade or a downgrade?

Originally Posted by pckl300

Is it just me, or do we seem to be short on underclassmen OLs to replace the RSRs after 2013?

Give credit where credit is due. I would say we are in pretty good shape for the o-line for years to come. We certainly can't withstand multiple injuries, but no program really can. If we show strength in the line, and (again) develop some sort of passing game, it should be a cinch to sign 2 or 3 quality linemen each year going forward. I would say signing 5 every 2 years would keep us deep--if they are college quality players; and if they all stay in school for atleast four years.

Originally Posted by dressedcheeseside

We have 3 departing sr's, not counting Lanier - let's face it, he's not gonna contribute much if at all, and 3 rising jr's. It's one for one. The OL in '14 will be just as senior laden as this year's and time will tell how much experience they get. Arguably 2 of our best OL's are jr's right now: Mason and Bailey.

The juniors and sophs need to get ample playing time this year, and it looks like they should. We shouldn't have a significant drop-off in experience in 2014. Hopefully we'll have enough blowout games that we get nine or ten guys quality playing time.

Originally Posted by Yukonwreck

Give credit where credit is due. I would say we are in pretty good shape for the o-line for years to come. We certainly can't withstand multiple injuries, but no program really can. If we show strength in the line, and (again) develop some sort of passing game, it should be a cinch to sign 2 or 3 quality linemen each year going forward. I would say signing 5 every 2 years would keep us deep--if they are college quality players; and if they all stay in school for atleast four years.

I agree. I have to think that this is one area we can all give CPJ a nod of satisfaction. It takes time to build a line. For a few years he had to piece it together like a back yard mechanic. We were able to make the offense work but we weren't able to impose our will on the opponents. Several games come to mind where we were stuffed a little by experienced DLs. We were young and not physical enough. At present there is experience, apparent talent, depth, and balance in the classes.

Some may argue: "great, but this is year 6". I hear them, but considering a complete overhaul in offensive philosophy, the best case scenario would have probably been 5 years, maybe 4.

Originally Posted by Boomergump

I agree. I have to think that this is one area we can all give CPJ a nod of satisfaction. It takes time to build a line. For a few years he had to piece it together like a back yard mechanic. We were able to make the offense work but we weren't able to impose our will on the opponents. Several games come to mind where we were stuffed a little by experienced DLs. We were young and not physical enough. At present there is experience, apparent talent, depth, and balance in the classes.

Some may argue: "great, but this is year 6". I hear them, but considering a complete overhaul in offensive philosophy, the best case scenario would have probably been 5 years, maybe 4.

This is not a knock on Howard, but is it fair to say that all of our starters are better than Cord--who was a pretty good athlete in his own right?

Originally Posted by Yukonwreck

This is not a knock on Howard, but is it fair to say that all of our starters are better than Cord--who was a pretty good athlete in his own right?

That is a good question. I don't know the answer, but I will say this: he would have a lot harder time today earning a starting spot than he did then.

Nice write-up. What position do you think Will Jackson will play next year?
I honestly don't know whether he provides depth in the tackle rotation or challenges for a starting spot at guard. He's much better at tackle, IMO, but there's that void left by Uzzi.