I've read and seen lots of hand-wringing and much gnashing of teeth over the starting Oline. Personally I think egrizzers are setting the bar so low they may be surprised by this group. I don't know if that's equate right out of the gate vs Wyoming but I see this group having potential to come together over the month of September and mold into a solid group. It'll take improvement and a lot of work but I have hope in these guys.
What I'm reading is that this is "the worst" O-line we've ever had. Bold prediction considering these guys haven't played a single game yet. It is FOR SURE the most inexperienced group with just the Hines brothers and Weyer having meaningful time playing before this season.
What I'm also reading is that this is the coaches/recruiters "fault" because they didn't prepare for this enough. That's a head-scratcher to me. With the graduation of Kistler, Poehls, and Oiland the staff planned for Schmaing and Poole to return with Weyer and the Hines brothers ready to step in, the projected O-line would've had 3 seniors, 1 junior, and 1 sophomore - with only 1 player (Jordan Hines) lacking much time at all playing guard the season before. The O-line was looking fairly solid with upper-class leadership and in-game experience. Then Poole's back goes out and Schmaing's declared academically inelligble - all are realized during or right before fall camp.
So tell me, what more should have been done? I've read on here that the coaches should've recruited better 3 years ago to better prepare for this. The thing is... they did. 3 years ago we brought in 6 linemen, Dietrich, Todd, LaRowe, Kelly, Weyer, and Rokich - all of whom are on the roster and 2 who will start (Dietrich and Weyer) and a 3rd will rotate a ton (Todd). I think Rokich was a grey-shirt that year technically.
Looking back at the recruiting history that would apply to this O-line:
2010:
Logan Hines - redshirted, now a starter
Jordan Hines - redshirted, now a starter
Trevor Poole - Retiring (?) due to a bad back, would've been a starter
2011:
Joe Dahl - transferred to Wazzu after 1 year
Samson Kalekini - Quit football this year, almost quit the year before as well
Christian Liccardi - Left the team, transferred and I think now plays basketball
John Schmaing - Would've been starting if not for bad grades
2012:
McCauley Todd: #1 backup at both guard spots
Ben Weyer: starter at guard
Devon Dietrich: starter at RT
Clint LaRowe: backup at T
Max Kelly: backup at T
2013:
Cameron Rokich: backup at T
2014:
Jackson Thiebes, starter at LT, came in as a TE transfer but impressed at LT in spring ball
Jared Clark, transfer, currently a backup at T
David Reese, freshman but could play at T
Robert Luke, backup at Center
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The team has brought in a ton of guys, including two transfers and one solid landing in Luke of a late-signing. In 2012 they really boosted the roster with the addition of 5 players in anticipation that they'd become contributors in 2014 and 2015 - which they are going to be doing.
So tell me, wise ones of egriz - what would you have done differently?
I'm not saying we're in a great or even a good situation - that will shake out as the games are played. I'm as nervous as everyone about this mostly untested OL as well. But unlike others, I'm hopeful. What I just don't get is this "the coaches/recruiters" dropped the ball argument. Unless if the coaches had a crystal ball and could forsee some of the issues with their planned senior leaders, I find it hard to shoulder them with "blame" for the formation of our starting 5.
What I'm reading is that this is "the worst" O-line we've ever had. Bold prediction considering these guys haven't played a single game yet. It is FOR SURE the most inexperienced group with just the Hines brothers and Weyer having meaningful time playing before this season.
What I'm also reading is that this is the coaches/recruiters "fault" because they didn't prepare for this enough. That's a head-scratcher to me. With the graduation of Kistler, Poehls, and Oiland the staff planned for Schmaing and Poole to return with Weyer and the Hines brothers ready to step in, the projected O-line would've had 3 seniors, 1 junior, and 1 sophomore - with only 1 player (Jordan Hines) lacking much time at all playing guard the season before. The O-line was looking fairly solid with upper-class leadership and in-game experience. Then Poole's back goes out and Schmaing's declared academically inelligble - all are realized during or right before fall camp.
So tell me, what more should have been done? I've read on here that the coaches should've recruited better 3 years ago to better prepare for this. The thing is... they did. 3 years ago we brought in 6 linemen, Dietrich, Todd, LaRowe, Kelly, Weyer, and Rokich - all of whom are on the roster and 2 who will start (Dietrich and Weyer) and a 3rd will rotate a ton (Todd). I think Rokich was a grey-shirt that year technically.
Looking back at the recruiting history that would apply to this O-line:
2010:
Logan Hines - redshirted, now a starter
Jordan Hines - redshirted, now a starter
Trevor Poole - Retiring (?) due to a bad back, would've been a starter
2011:
Joe Dahl - transferred to Wazzu after 1 year
Samson Kalekini - Quit football this year, almost quit the year before as well
Christian Liccardi - Left the team, transferred and I think now plays basketball
John Schmaing - Would've been starting if not for bad grades
2012:
McCauley Todd: #1 backup at both guard spots
Ben Weyer: starter at guard
Devon Dietrich: starter at RT
Clint LaRowe: backup at T
Max Kelly: backup at T
2013:
Cameron Rokich: backup at T
2014:
Jackson Thiebes, starter at LT, came in as a TE transfer but impressed at LT in spring ball
Jared Clark, transfer, currently a backup at T
David Reese, freshman but could play at T
Robert Luke, backup at Center
-----------
The team has brought in a ton of guys, including two transfers and one solid landing in Luke of a late-signing. In 2012 they really boosted the roster with the addition of 5 players in anticipation that they'd become contributors in 2014 and 2015 - which they are going to be doing.
So tell me, wise ones of egriz - what would you have done differently?
I'm not saying we're in a great or even a good situation - that will shake out as the games are played. I'm as nervous as everyone about this mostly untested OL as well. But unlike others, I'm hopeful. What I just don't get is this "the coaches/recruiters" dropped the ball argument. Unless if the coaches had a crystal ball and could forsee some of the issues with their planned senior leaders, I find it hard to shoulder them with "blame" for the formation of our starting 5.