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Message: [QUOTE="RF2044, post: 2437998, member: 40"] Watching this Georgia / Oklahoma game, it is amazing to watch how good their offensive lines are. Such an important factor if you want to be competitive against top flight competition. Last year's OL took a solid step forward -- and that was after losing a guy in camp who was our most experienced returnee. And I think it is important for the long term performance of the positional unit that we have been able to redshirt the majority of OL prospects we've landed in each of Baber's first two recruiting classes. So now we're in a cycle where we don't have to rush guys out onto the field to plug holes and field a two-deep anymore. Last year's line took some steps forward throughout the course of the season despite starting two redshirt freshmen -- who are only at the front end of their developmental curves. We also started a guy at RT who maximized his ability, but was fairly limited. Tackles were our weak spot. McGloster was barely adequate [not knocking him, just making the observation] and I'm not sure that our LT is a difference maker. I like Conway, not knocking him either, just pointing out that I'm not sure that he rates as an NFL prospect [as a data point]. I wish we'd had the opportunity to redshirt HIM so that he wouldn't be a senior next year. So what to expect next year? What's the progression that we can expect from this group? [LIST] [*]Well, for one thing, we return four starters, and I can't think of a more important positional unit where having continuity with personnel is more important than OL. [/LIST] [LIST] [*]Players like Servais / Heckel are now experienced players, and should be better after another offseason of being immersed in our S&C program. [/LIST] [LIST] [*]Evan Adams is a load, and Conway returns for his senior year, and will hopefully make my assessment above look unwarranted. [/LIST] [LIST] [*]With Sampson out of the picture [who would have been a January enrollee], presumably Servais stays at Center. [/LIST] [LIST] [*]The big question for this group in my mind is: who plays RT? Does a player like Heckel or Adams slide outside? Does big Mike Clark play his way onto the field? [/LIST] [LIST] [*]Does Aaron Roberts stake a claim to the starting LG role, or does he get passed in the rotation? [/LIST] [LIST] [*]Do either of the Davis frosh impact the two deep [really interested to see Patrick, in particular]? [/LIST] [LIST] [*]Does Qadir White redshirt [as expected] to improve his technique / conditioning, or does he make a push to see the field? [/LIST] [LIST] [*]Does Andrejas Duering make a push as a fourth-year junior, or is he just taking up space? [/LIST] [LIST] [*]Where does Liam O'Sullivan fit into the rotation, if at all? [/LIST] [LIST] [*]Will a year of experience under the core group's belt help them clean up all the miscues / false start penalties? [/LIST] Again, it was really impressive to watch two rock solid teams duking it out, and seeing how well both OL's performed [against quality defensive fronts]. It was a stark reminder about how far we have to go to be consistently GOOD, let alone "very good" or "great." The raw materials are being added -- it will be interesting to see how long it takes the coaching staff to bake the right ingredients. Improved OL play would go a LONG way toward making our already formidable offense an even bigger weapon. I don't think we can take the next step until the collective play of the OL takes the next step. [/QUOTE]

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