Offensive Line - Potential

[bozclone]

I thought our Offensive Line play was pretty solid last year. It was clearly better than it had been in several years. I'm really hoping we can be solid again this year.

We have three tackles returning with game experience, but lack any real experience on the interior. It is likely that JC guys like Scroggins, Green, and Udeogu along with Fett will compete for playing time on the interior. Often lineman aren't ready to play until later in their career, but it is also possible that few of the younger guys on the roster are now ready to challenge for playing time. Of the guys that are red shirt Juniors or younger, who might have the potential to challenge for playing time this year.

Stay positive, do not tear anyone down. Remember, we are all Cyclones and these guys are working hard to get better.

 

[BCClone]

The center position will be our biggest issue starting out. Not really much if any experience there. Hopefully it clicks right away for whoever starts there.

 

[tolfbfan]

A little different since four of five knew system, but Toledo had five new starters last year including a transfer from Florida St. and they did an amazing job.

 

[Tre4ISU]

Anywhere from awful to good. I'm not real worried about it but when there is nothing real solid returning the middle, there is the potential for disaster. If Fett takes one job, which he could because he was pretty decent in a short amount of time last year, then we need to find two more guys to fill in. FWIW, I don't see any of the tackles moving inside. Campos can't. His skill set just doesn't fit it. Philbert could but I think he's the best tackle. Ideally, Dunning takes one of those spots. He played as a freshman and has been hurt on and off since but if he could grab one of those spots and we only need one JUCO guy to start, then we should be in okay shape. If all the JUCO guys start, who knows. Also, I don't think Catalina ends up here. If he shows up, we can discuss that then.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

Catalina has been true to his word thus far. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[CTTB78]

....but Toledo had five new starters last year including a transfer from Florida St. and they did an amazing job.

That was very impressive. Gives me hope that our new O-line coach will carry this success over.

 

[CyFy]

I am thinking we should be solid. I think Catalina will end up coming. We can have a solid 3 guys at OT with Catalina, philbert, Campos. Then inside I am more than fine with Fett at one spot. He played awesome in his start against OSU. Then at the other spot you are probably looking at oge. I wonder if dunning will go back inside. I think there will be a good competition between green and scoggins at center. We thought center would be the weak point last year and ended up being a strength.

The biggest question marks to me will be who fills in at the 3 and 4 spots at tackle and guard. We have some young guys will good size Will Windham and Kory Kodanko have the size to fill in. Nicely. We will have to see if they know the system well enough. Both will be red shirt sophmores

 

[Hayes30]

Will we ever see Shawn Curtis get some reps. I remember being excited about him when he was recruited. Has it just been a lack of development by the other staff or will he be a career depth chart body?

 

[CyFy]

Will we ever see Shawn Curtis get some reps. I remember being excited about him when he was recruited. Has it just been a lack of development by the other staff or will he be a career depth chart body?

It would be nice if he could make an impact. He is a little light at only 290, but would be nice to see something out of him

 

[bozclone]

Here are some of the younger OL guys on the roster. I am sure some have potential but they we haven't seen them in games yet because there were older, better guys in front of them or they were red shirting. With no depth coming back in the middle, I would think some of these guys will end up on our 2 deep.

51	Julian Good-Jones	OL	6'5"	270	RFr.
74	Bryce Meeker	OL	6'5"	303	RFr.
69	Kory Kodanko	OL	6'5"	316	RSo.
73	Will Windham	OL	6'3"	315	RSo.
50	Bryan Larson	OL	6'4"	277	RJr.
55	Jacob Homa	OL	6'4"	292	RJr.
63	Ryan Glenn	OL	6'4"	301	RJr.
79	Shawn Curtis	OL	6'5"	290	RJr.

These are current weights on the Roster. We can expect several guys will get bigger before fall.

 

[norcalcy]

As much as it is about individual guys' talent, it is also a function of how well they work as a unit. Liking the fact that we have an OL Coach who has a history of molding successful units. Need to avoid the injury bug for continuity sake during the season.

 

[CyInDFW]

We have the potential to have a good solid front five starting...the problems arise when someone needs a breather or someone goes down. Our depth is once again very very thin.

Throwing out my starting five...

RT - Philbert
RG - Green
C - Scoggins
LG - Oge
LT - Campos (of course)

That would give us a mean, hard hitting right side.

Will see some good snaps from Fett backing up the Guards, but I'm with the above mentioned about Curtis. He's got to give us some good snaps at OT...would also like to see some out of Meeker, I know he's young, but we are going to need him somewhere along the road this year.

 

[bozclone]

I agree with your starting five. It is possible Green and Scoggins may switch spots. I also think it is also possible that we could see a surprise or two on the offensive line. One or two of the younger guys may make a big jump this year and get some reps. A new OL coach should make everyone feel like they have a shot, because everyone is starting over.

 

[Wesley]

We have the potential to have a good solid front five starting...the problems arise when someone needs a breather or someone goes down. Our depth is once again very very thin. Throwing out my starting five... RT - Philbert RG - Green C - Scoggins LG - Oge LT - Campos (of course) That would give us a mean, hard hitting right side. Will see some good snaps from Fett backing up the Guards, but I'm with the above mentioned about Curtis. He's got to give us some good snaps at OT...would also like to see some out of Meeker, I know he's young, but we are going to need him somewhere along the road this year.

Conditioning may be a problem if we get beyond the three and out stage this year.

 

[TheJackWePack5]

While i mostly agree with the starting five above, i think Green ends up at center and Fett starts at guard. I thought Fett should have started over Omoile last year, especially seeing his performance against OSU.

 

[bozclone]

Good point about Fett. At least he has played at this level. The other three interior JC guys haven't yet.

 

[TheJackWePack5]

We will have about 14 or 15 (i think) scholarship O-Lineman who have already used a redshirt. Some of them will be young, but i'm confident that the staff will be able to find a formidable line.

 

[CloneIce]

The OL as a whole, and the interior OL specifically, is the biggest question mark facing the offense. Our OL was really solid last year - the best we have had in recent years (since KO and company graduated). But we lost all of our interior OL, including an all-conference level center. We only have one interior OL with any experience, and he is a former walk-on who started one game.

It will be interesting to see how Manning builds this group. Lots of questions marks - how many of Scroggins, Glenn, and Dunning come back from injury and play effectively? How will the two JC OL make an impact? And how many of guys like Curtis, Homa, Kodanko, Windham can make an impact? Can the RS Freshmen beat out the older OL? I think we need at least 1 of the JC OL to be an immediate impact starter, and we really need 3-4 of the backups from last year step up and play. Spring ball should be interesting this year.

 

[dualthreat]

I watched a little film from Toledo last year and I noticed they're offensive scheme really helped out their OL. It wasn't an accident they only allowed a few sacks. Their QB got rid of the ball quickly and the receivers ran quick hitting routes instead of asking their OL to block for 5 seconds every. They also kept either a TE, H back or RB in to help block or chip most of the time.

They were very effective in the run game and utilized PA pass very well. That takes a lot of pressure off an OL as a unit.

 

[CyFy]

My guess is philbert, Campos at OT,Oge and Fett at guards and Green at center. The best part about that lineup would be we would only have to replace 1 starter for the next season. Should be nice to have the core of this group working together for a couple years