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Offensive Line

MaxPower57

MaxPower57

Active Member
Mar 30, 2006
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With Arnaud at the helm and A-Rob, Williams, and Schwartz in the stable, and a receiving core which has Darks, Johnson, Hamilton, Franklin, Catlett, Reynolds, Jones, Bellamy, Range, Zitek, and others we should be able to put 5 playmakers on the field at all times.

My interest is in the other 5 men on the field. How do you think the O-Line is going to shake out? Anybody have any inside info...especially on the status of guys like Haughton?

Hopefully we can get the best 5 guys on the field...we seem set with Stephens (28 straight starts) and Lamaak (20 starts) at guard although I know both had been taking some snaps at center.

If Haughton plays next year our tackles would likely be the big soph duo of him and KO.

If nobody moves to center, then it would seem that Alvarez is really the only guy we can throw in there comfortably. Yet, if any of the other OL are better than him I'd like to see Lamaak go to center...where I could see him really excelling.

So outside of Stephens, Lamaak, KO, & Haughton (if he plays)...who do you see starting? and where?

The OL candidates outside of those mentioned would seem to be: Hicks, Hulbert, Baysinger, Spears, Burris, Davis, Smith, and Tuftee.
 
I think the biggest concern with the O line is depth. Hopefully, we can avoid the injury bug this year.
 
I think our O-Line... if the scheme was the same as last year... would have been great this year.

But, since we have a new scheme that changes things not because I don't think we have talent, but because it's more mental and inexperience in this scheme may cause some growing pains early. Overall, I think the line will be fine.

Besides, its our defense that concerns me this season.
 
temperflare said:
I think our O-Line... if the scheme was the same as last year... would have been great this year.

But, since we have a new scheme that changes things not because I don't think we have talent, but because it's more mental and inexperience in this scheme may cause some growing pains early. Overall, I think the line will be fine.

Besides, its our defense that concerns me this season.
Click to expand...

I think the new scheme will have the most affect as well. Herman doesn't really want "road grader" type OL. He would rather have slimmer more athletic guys in his scheme. I would think that would favor guys with quicker feet?

I'm kinda hoping Lamaak ends up being the center. I think he could be an NFL caliber center. He has to have the quickest feet of any of our OL. As a center I think he could pull and lead on sweep plays. Remember... he was a QB as a senior in high school... and not a slow one at that either... I watched him several times.
 
Good luck having Haughton, KO, and Baysinger to "slim down". Those are some big boys that will always be big boys. It'll be interesting to see how effective McKnight is with them.
 
Is Haughton elgible for next fall?

I was thinking he wasn't playing during spring ball.
 
clonedude said:
I think the new scheme will have the most affect as well. Herman doesn't really want "road grader" type OL. He would rather have slimmer more athletic guys in his scheme. I would think that would favor guys with quicker feet?

I'm kinda hoping Lamaak ends up being the center. I think he could be an NFL caliber center. He has to have the quickest feet of any of our OL. As a center I think he could pull and lead on sweep plays. Remember... he was a QB as a senior in high school... and not a slow one at that either... I watched him several times.
Click to expand...

You know, I'm not sure I understand the OL in the spread that well. For example, Leach is the Dean of the spread in our conference, and his OL is huge, year in and year out. The QB is making long handoffs rather than downfield passes the majority of the time and gets rid of the ball very quickly. I think it's all about passing lanes. Is there anyone here who understand the OL role in this offense well?
 
swammi said:
You know, I'm not sure I understand the OL in the spread that well. For example, Leach is the Dean of the spread in our conference, and his OL is huge, year in and year out. The QB is making long handoffs rather than downfield passes the majority of the time and gets rid of the ball very quickly. I think it's all about passing lanes. Is there anyone here who understand the OL role in this offense well?
Click to expand...
Herman wants big splits (for many reasons), so the lineman will be in space. As such, Herman has stated he prefers mobility over massive girth. I am sure if a player could be both, he would take it.
 
Haughton doesn't really have to slim down to much. Even with his size, he is very athletic for a lineman. Hopefully he makes grades b/c he will probably be our best OL next year. Him or Lamaak

I hope they find a position for Ben and leave him there. I don't like how he could potentially change positions 4 times in 4 years. TE, OT, OG, C potentially since he has been here
 
slim lineman probly cant block very long though..

OU ran that fast paced offense last year, and they had enormus OL as well

reps and conditioning...
 
If the coaches are going to put a high priority on having some quicker slimmer OL then I would also look out for guys like Burris, Spears or Matt Hulbert, people forget Hulbert started 6 or so games last year. Probably not the best road grader but if he's going to be playing in space and pass blocking a lot he may end up being one of the 5.

Here is how I would like it to sort out...but I doubt it will. I just hope that the coaches can determine their top 5 and get them situated early so they can gel and become a better, more cohesive unit.

LT-Haughton
LG-Stephens
C-Lamaak
RG-Osemele
RT-Hulbert
 
MaxPower57 said:
LT-Haughton
LG-Stephens
C-Lamaak
RG-Osemele
RT-Hulbert
Click to expand...

My reading is that they have already planted Osemele at RT, like him there, and the real questions are at LT and C. It seems to me that Alvarez needs to be in a bit better shape and step up his game.

Hulbert reminds me too much of the Fisher twins.
 
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swarthmoreCY said:
What? Why would a lean lineman not be able to block very long? Lean does not mean weak. Also, how big were OU's splits?
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well, no, but how many lineman can drop 40 pounds of fat and pack on 25 pounds of muscle?

OU didn't have big splits

Tech did

Tech didn't run a fast paced offense

OU did

it can be done either way, and both teams have massive linemen
 
dualthreat said:
well, no, but how many lineman can drop 40 pounds of fat and pack on 25 pounds of muscle?

OU didn't have big splits

Tech did

Tech didn't run a fast paced offense

OU did

it can be done either way, and both teams have massive linemen
Click to expand...
Yes, but ISU will do it with big splits, which requires mobile lineman. When you are 335+, have a lot of fat, and not mobile enough, you are looking to drop the fat and become more mobile. Some lineman are mobile when huge, ours are not, and even if they were, they would be more moblie after leaning up. The splits part is the foremost reason for leaner, more mobile lineman, not the pace of the offense. Techs offense is fairly fast paced, just not as fast as OU.
 
Per CFN, our OL lineup weight (minus TE) average could be from 320-333ish, which I think is a bit too heavy. Since they are so big I would like to see them slim a bit, perhaps a little dance class for the group? It wouldn't hurt as it would promote good foot work!!!
 
anticyclonic said:
Per CFN, our OL lineup weight (minus TE) average could be from 320-333ish, which I think is a bit too heavy. Since they are so big I would like to see them slim a bit, perhaps a little dance class for the group? It wouldn't hurt as it would promote good foot work!!!
Click to expand...

I can't believe it would be real hard to slim down the ISU OL. Some of those guys are huge, and not always in a good way. Most of these guys have been packing on the pounds for the last 3 years. Just pushing them away from the trining table once in a while should allow them to drop 20 to 30 pounds.
 
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