Last year at times our line was plain " Turraball" to borrow a phrase from Chas Barkley. Does anyone have ideas as to who will be starters this coming season and why we should be better ? Who out of the redshirts will make a impact ?
Offensive line ?
- Thread starter Trubluepopeye
- Start date
I'd like to watch some spring practice before projecting to the fall but going into the spring it should be:
LT Swindle
LG Haynes
C Toth
RG R Meyers
RT Meadows
LT Swindle
LG Haynes
C Toth
RG R Meyers
RT Meadows
Those wishing for a lot of changes on the OL should step back and remember that the OL is the positions where experience and continuity are of most importance. Those that are thinking that a senior guard West that has started at UK for 3 years will not be a starter this season are just wrong. West will be the starter unless he has injuries that prevent him from competing.
I do think however that RSF Krok might have a chance to break into the OL at OT because I was not overly impressed by Meadows performance last year. His experience however might enable Meadows to get the position because as I said experience and continuity is so important on the OL and Meadows got valuable experience last season. IMO the only position different from last year will be right tackle. Swindle will move to LT and the RT position will be filled in a battle between Meadows and Krok. There will be two Seniors manning the left side in LT Swindle and LG West. Junior Toth will man the center position, RS Sophmore R. Meyers will be the RG and a battle between sophomore Meadows and RSF Krok will determine the RT position.
I do think however that RSF Krok might have a chance to break into the OL at OT because I was not overly impressed by Meadows performance last year. His experience however might enable Meadows to get the position because as I said experience and continuity is so important on the OL and Meadows got valuable experience last season. IMO the only position different from last year will be right tackle. Swindle will move to LT and the RT position will be filled in a battle between Meadows and Krok. There will be two Seniors manning the left side in LT Swindle and LG West. Junior Toth will man the center position, RS Sophmore R. Meyers will be the RG and a battle between sophomore Meadows and RSF Krok will determine the RT position.
C1180, Okay you say experience and continuity are major factors and we will probably start basically same people. Having said this and believing it to be true. How much improvement do you expect this coming season ?
I agree that experience and working together is important, and we only lose one starter, but Haynes and Meadows both got quite a bit of experience this year and were pretty highly rated, and Meyers that was only a 5.5 three star started, so all three should be better.
And while Krok was a 5.7 and already big enough LaRubbio was also a 5.7 and Richardson was a RARE species at UK, a four star OL, and maybe the two have gained some weight and will compete, at least add depth. Stallings was already a big guy also, and some have spoken highly about him, probably won't know how much they will help until spring practice but at the least they should add depth and competition this year. They are all freshmen, but all with a valuable redshirt.
We traded a 5.7 and 5.4 senior for a four star, two 5.7s, and another 5.4, definitely increasing our raw talent base, now all we need is some more experience.
And while Krok was a 5.7 and already big enough LaRubbio was also a 5.7 and Richardson was a RARE species at UK, a four star OL, and maybe the two have gained some weight and will compete, at least add depth. Stallings was already a big guy also, and some have spoken highly about him, probably won't know how much they will help until spring practice but at the least they should add depth and competition this year. They are all freshmen, but all with a valuable redshirt.
We traded a 5.7 and 5.4 senior for a four star, two 5.7s, and another 5.4, definitely increasing our raw talent base, now all we need is some more experience.
I hope the young guys push the returning starters and are good enough to root some of them out of the starting lineup but like I said experience and unity on the OL is just so important that I just do not see those upper classmen being rooted out by RSF and true Freshmen. IMO the OL will be better this season regardless who starts.
Depth on our offensive line is the best in a good long while, and there are some really good freshmen and sophomores who haven't seen much action yet. So there should be competition at all 5 positions. The biggest questions will be on the left side. Left tackle is the premium position on the line, and Miller has to be replaced. Zach West will have his hands full with Haynes and Stallings. I expect Toth, Meyers, and Swindle to keep their starting jobs. But Swindle has to stay on the right side. He doesn't have the feet to play left tackle. Left tackle is the most interesting and unpredictable competition on the offensive line this year. That's the position to watch.
Swindle is too slow,period..Doesnt matter which side he plays on. That is why he has so many false starts.
You might be right, but after 15 years or so of reading his posts, I can tell you when you call RV wrong, you're skating on really thin ice.
I've heard kroks name a lot from the coaches. He would have played this year as a true freshman but was injured.I think he's the heir apparent at left tackle. I think he begins the season as a backup, but eventually he's the starter and swindle goes back to right tackle.
I just listed who I projected as starters. We have several guys that can play the Guard and Center spots - not so much at Tackle though.
