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How does your team's OL look?
Posted on 8/28/15 at 1:17 pm
Posted on 8/28/15 at 1:17 pm
OL, as we all know, can make or break a team's season. You can have an elite defense, elite skill positions, and an elite QB but if the OL is bad, the team will be bad.
LSU is returning 3 starters on the offensive line who combine for 73 career starts.
LT - #66 Jerald Hawkins, 6'6 306lbs RS JR - Agile and powerful tackle who takes over the LT spot after La'el Collins' departure. Hawkins previously played RT in 2013 and 2014
LG - #77 Ethan Pocic 6'7 309lbs JR ~ or ~ #75 Maea Teuhema 6'5 327lbs FR - Pocic (pronounced "poe-sick" has experience playing guard with great success but was moved to center after injuries to Elliot Porter last year. Pocic is described as one of the strongest players on the team with tremendous length and footwork - Maea Teuhema is a former 5* recruit at OG who is expected to make an impact early. He is described as a "bulldozer". His brother is fellow LSU tiger DE Sione Teuhema.
C - #64 William Clapp 6'5 303lbs RFR ~ or ~ #77 Ethan Pocic JR - Will Clapp is a redshirt freshman and former 4* OG recruit. He has been cross-trained at OG and C. There are worries about his lack of experience at C with there not being much time to gel in the early season. That leaves Pocic as a leading candidate to take control of the C spot with the experience he gained in 2013 and 2014.
RG - #76 Josh Boutte 6'5 342lbs JR - Described by Les Miles as "the largest man I have ever seen," Boutte (pronounced "boo - tee") is the leading candidate at RG. If Ethan Pocic isn't the strongest player on the team, Boutte certainly takes the cake. With incredible size and strength, Boutte should become a devastating run blocker. With limited experience, there are some worries about how he will perform in SEC play, but camp reports have been extremely optimistic. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has stated that if he can get his technique down, he will be an All-American OG and a high draft pick for a guard.
RT - #74 Vadal Alexander 6'6 329lbs SR - With the most experience among the Tiger's OL, Vadal Alexander is projected to have a huge year at RT, his natural position, after having played LG for two years. In 2012 he played some RT with Trai Turner (current Carolina Panther) flanked to his left at RG. The combination of the two was known as "Bull" (Trai Turner) and "Dozer" (Vadal Alexander). Alexander is projected as a first round NFL draft pick and an All-American. Alexander has tremendous athleticism for his size and is extremely powerful. The combination of La'el Collins and Vadal Alexander in 2013 and 2014 was the main running lane for LSU RBs. That will change this year with Josh Boutte and Vadal Alexander firmly entrenched on the right side.
Overall, this will be one of the most talented OLs we've had in the Les Miles era. There are many NFL prospects starting and in the 2deep. It is expected that LSU will be able to protect its QBs and gash opposing defenses with such a talented line.
Please share your synopsis of your team's projected starting lineup.
LSU is returning 3 starters on the offensive line who combine for 73 career starts.
LT - #66 Jerald Hawkins, 6'6 306lbs RS JR - Agile and powerful tackle who takes over the LT spot after La'el Collins' departure. Hawkins previously played RT in 2013 and 2014
LG - #77 Ethan Pocic 6'7 309lbs JR ~ or ~ #75 Maea Teuhema 6'5 327lbs FR - Pocic (pronounced "poe-sick" has experience playing guard with great success but was moved to center after injuries to Elliot Porter last year. Pocic is described as one of the strongest players on the team with tremendous length and footwork - Maea Teuhema is a former 5* recruit at OG who is expected to make an impact early. He is described as a "bulldozer". His brother is fellow LSU tiger DE Sione Teuhema.
C - #64 William Clapp 6'5 303lbs RFR ~ or ~ #77 Ethan Pocic JR - Will Clapp is a redshirt freshman and former 4* OG recruit. He has been cross-trained at OG and C. There are worries about his lack of experience at C with there not being much time to gel in the early season. That leaves Pocic as a leading candidate to take control of the C spot with the experience he gained in 2013 and 2014.
RG - #76 Josh Boutte 6'5 342lbs JR - Described by Les Miles as "the largest man I have ever seen," Boutte (pronounced "boo - tee") is the leading candidate at RG. If Ethan Pocic isn't the strongest player on the team, Boutte certainly takes the cake. With incredible size and strength, Boutte should become a devastating run blocker. With limited experience, there are some worries about how he will perform in SEC play, but camp reports have been extremely optimistic. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has stated that if he can get his technique down, he will be an All-American OG and a high draft pick for a guard.
RT - #74 Vadal Alexander 6'6 329lbs SR - With the most experience among the Tiger's OL, Vadal Alexander is projected to have a huge year at RT, his natural position, after having played LG for two years. In 2012 he played some RT with Trai Turner (current Carolina Panther) flanked to his left at RG. The combination of the two was known as "Bull" (Trai Turner) and "Dozer" (Vadal Alexander). Alexander is projected as a first round NFL draft pick and an All-American. Alexander has tremendous athleticism for his size and is extremely powerful. The combination of La'el Collins and Vadal Alexander in 2013 and 2014 was the main running lane for LSU RBs. That will change this year with Josh Boutte and Vadal Alexander firmly entrenched on the right side.
Overall, this will be one of the most talented OLs we've had in the Les Miles era. There are many NFL prospects starting and in the 2deep. It is expected that LSU will be able to protect its QBs and gash opposing defenses with such a talented line.
Please share your synopsis of your team's projected starting lineup.
8
Posted on 8/28/15 at 1:18 pm to rmnldr
Great potential and will only get better with each game.
Posted on 8/28/15 at 1:20 pm to rmnldr
Really really fricking good
LT: Kirkland
LG: Tretola
C: Smothers
RG: Knarf Wongar
RT: Skipper
LT: Kirkland
LG: Tretola
C: Smothers
RG: Knarf Wongar
RT: Skipper
This post was edited on 8/28/15 at 1:21 pm
Posted on 8/28/15 at 1:20 pm to rmnldr
Mini hulks
Posted on 8/28/15 at 1:21 pm to The_Joker
You guys aren't putting any effort into this. Who are the starters? Returning experience?
Posted on 8/28/15 at 1:21 pm to rmnldr
Better than last year, but how could they not be.
Posted on 8/28/15 at 1:22 pm to rmnldr
LSU and Arky easily have best in SEC
Posted on 8/28/15 at 1:23 pm to rmnldr
97 career starts. Very experienced.
Posted on 8/28/15 at 1:23 pm to StarkRebel
quote:
LSU and Arky easily have best in SEC
Interesting. What does Ole Miss' line look like?
quote:
97 career starts.
Missouri, right?
This post was edited on 8/28/15 at 1:24 pm
Posted on 8/28/15 at 1:27 pm to rmnldr
quote:
Interesting. What does Ole Miss' line look like?
When healthy has potential to be great, but we all know it's damn near impossible to keep a line intact for a whole season. We do have better depth than we have had in years though.
Posted on 8/28/15 at 1:29 pm to rmnldr
quote:
You guys aren't putting any effort into this. Who are the starters? Returning experience?
I edited with the starters. We only lost one starter from last year (Brey Cook) and he was easily the weakest link. He was the RT. Skipper was the LT. Skipper slides from LT to RT this year and Kirkland (who 2Beez says might be the best he's ever coached) slides from guard to LT. Tretola is down from 370 (no joke) to 325 and is going to absolutely destroy people this year. Smothers is Smothers. The last Petrino holdover. 5th year senior with tons of experience. Ragnow (true sophomore) has been described as the most consistent lineman in camp. He looks like Juggernaut. Skipper is the best run blocker on the team, so expect us to run to the right toward Skipper and Ragnow a lot.
Posted on 8/28/15 at 1:31 pm to The_Joker
quote:
RG: Knarf Wongar
Moving on....
Posted on 8/28/15 at 1:31 pm to rmnldr
We returned our entire two deep, with a couple of promising newcomers.
Posted on 8/28/15 at 1:31 pm to rmnldr
Kentucky is returning four starters on the OL who combine for 95 starts.
LT - Jordan Swindle - 6'7 309 SR - Plagued by false start issues last season, Swindle is a bit of a question mark in pass pro at LT. He has been the starting RT for two seasons and played extensively at RT as a freshman. There is no doubt about his ability in the run game, but it will be interesting to see how well he is able to man the LT position.
LG - Zach West - 6'4 305 rSR - Has had some untimely injuries but is a technically sound contributor at LG. Has had a healthy spring and fall camp, so look for him and Swindle to combine for a powerful left side of the OL.
C - Jon Toth - 6'5 310 rJR - One of the best centers in the SEC and probably the country. He started every game as a rFR and rSO but has finally put on the size necessary to be dominant in the center of the line. Extremely athletic and smart.
RG - Ramsey Meyers - 6'4 320 rSO - Played well enough as a rFR last season, starting all 12 games. Was better in run sets than in pass pro, but has lost a little weight and should be more agile this season.
RT - George Asafo-Adjei - 6'5 325 FR - I'm projecting him as the starter, but it could easily be Kyle Meadows. AA has taken all the reps with the 1's in fall camp while Meadows was out with migraines. AA is a freakish human who looks like an upperclassman already. He has the benefit of being an early enrollee, but has no game snaps. Will get his first opportunity against UL-L.
This is the biggest and most talented OL UK has fielded since Mark Stoops arrival in 2013, with the understanding that the bar was pretty low when he got here. Still, look for this offensive line to be much-improved over 2014's lackluster unit.
LT - Jordan Swindle - 6'7 309 SR - Plagued by false start issues last season, Swindle is a bit of a question mark in pass pro at LT. He has been the starting RT for two seasons and played extensively at RT as a freshman. There is no doubt about his ability in the run game, but it will be interesting to see how well he is able to man the LT position.
LG - Zach West - 6'4 305 rSR - Has had some untimely injuries but is a technically sound contributor at LG. Has had a healthy spring and fall camp, so look for him and Swindle to combine for a powerful left side of the OL.
C - Jon Toth - 6'5 310 rJR - One of the best centers in the SEC and probably the country. He started every game as a rFR and rSO but has finally put on the size necessary to be dominant in the center of the line. Extremely athletic and smart.
RG - Ramsey Meyers - 6'4 320 rSO - Played well enough as a rFR last season, starting all 12 games. Was better in run sets than in pass pro, but has lost a little weight and should be more agile this season.
RT - George Asafo-Adjei - 6'5 325 FR - I'm projecting him as the starter, but it could easily be Kyle Meadows. AA has taken all the reps with the 1's in fall camp while Meadows was out with migraines. AA is a freakish human who looks like an upperclassman already. He has the benefit of being an early enrollee, but has no game snaps. Will get his first opportunity against UL-L.
This is the biggest and most talented OL UK has fielded since Mark Stoops arrival in 2013, with the understanding that the bar was pretty low when he got here. Still, look for this offensive line to be much-improved over 2014's lackluster unit.
Posted on 8/28/15 at 1:32 pm to The_Joker
quote:
The_Joker
Thank you
Sounds like a strong OL.
quote:
JDHLaw
I'm guessing Kentucky will be focusing on the running game more this year? It would help Towles a lot by using PA.
This post was edited on 8/28/15 at 1:34 pm
Posted on 8/28/15 at 1:33 pm to The_Joker
Posted on 8/28/15 at 1:47 pm to rmnldr
quote:
I'm guessing Kentucky will be focusing on the running game more this year? It would help Towles a lot by using PA.
UK had more rushing attempts (444) than passing attempts (405) in 2014, despite the fact that in the back half of the season, Kentucky was playing from behind in a lot of games.
Stoops hired Shannon Dawson from WVU to be the OC, replacing Neal Brown, with the understanding that the #1 goal was to bring more physicality to the run game.
Kentucky is moving its OGs from 2 point stances to 3 point stances this year and, with a talented backfield (Boom Williams, Mikel Horton, Jojo Kemp, Sihiem King) and bigger, more experienced offensive line, should see a little more north-and-south run game.
So I don't know if there will be more focus on it, although it sure seems that way, but I think Kentucky will have more success. Couple that with the fact that Dawson's offense is a little more vertical-passing heavy, and I think playaction is much more viable for Kentucky this season.
Posted on 8/28/15 at 1:50 pm to JDHLaw
I fully expect Kentucky to win 8+ games this year.
Posted on 8/28/15 at 1:58 pm to rmnldr
We return our entire two-deep from last year. There are well over 100 starts in there.
Tunsil is 100 percent healthy and should return to dominant form.
A. Morris is pegged to start at left guard and has a wealth of experience as a fifth-year senior. He's injury-prone though which is a concern and his backup is Rod Taylor who is missing some time after a boxing injury but it talented and should be back in a few weeks.
Conyers and Stills split starts last year and both are fully capable. Neither are stars or will get drafted but solid college players.
Justin Bell is a fifth-year who is really durable for being out of shape and not very good. He will probably get replaced by freshman Javon Patterson before the Alabama game. Patterson is pretty good despite the one gif to the contrary.
Fahn Cooper started at left tackle as a redshirt freshman at Bowling Green. He started at right tackle for us last year and got better as the year went on. He's no Tunsil but he's no Bell, shouldn't be a problem.
Tunsil is 100 percent healthy and should return to dominant form.
A. Morris is pegged to start at left guard and has a wealth of experience as a fifth-year senior. He's injury-prone though which is a concern and his backup is Rod Taylor who is missing some time after a boxing injury but it talented and should be back in a few weeks.
Conyers and Stills split starts last year and both are fully capable. Neither are stars or will get drafted but solid college players.
Justin Bell is a fifth-year who is really durable for being out of shape and not very good. He will probably get replaced by freshman Javon Patterson before the Alabama game. Patterson is pretty good despite the one gif to the contrary.
Fahn Cooper started at left tackle as a redshirt freshman at Bowling Green. He started at right tackle for us last year and got better as the year went on. He's no Tunsil but he's no Bell, shouldn't be a problem.
Posted on 8/28/15 at 1:59 pm to BallstotheWesleyWall
Uhhh... Ole Miss, right? 
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