Schlarman feels O-line has 7-8 players it can trust
- Thread starter screwduke
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LaRubbio is working at RG and I wish folks didn't begin to dismiss players that haven't muscled their way into the starting lineup by their second August. This ain't baskebaw.
Larubbio is actually 6'6 297 not 6'8. It's a typo on the rivals site. The official roster is linked below. While I am not dismissing him as I understand most OL/DL guys don't contribute until year 3 (RS So or true JR year), it would be nice if we were hearing he were projecting to OT, though.
http://www.ukathletics.com/sport/m-footbl/2015/roster/559d953ae4b01c7eefd61f1e
Didn't mean to come across that way..I have not given up on him..But you have to admit that class isn't what we had hoped for!
Jones helps that class,but it really would be nice to have that depth there this year! It's so hard to evaluate olineman you think you have a great class then you lose several.. Then you get some surprises from someone you didn't expect to be so good..example (Toth)..
Jones helps that class,but it really would be nice to have that depth there this year! It's so hard to evaluate olineman you think you have a great class then you lose several.. Then you get some surprises from someone you didn't expect to be so good..example (Toth)..
I keep seeing QB, RB, and WR referred too as skill position. IMO they should be called ball skill positions not just skill position. The OL never gets referred to as skill position when IMO it takes as much or more skill to play those positions as the so called skilled positions. It is just a different type of skill. I take the fact that OL is probably the most redshirted positions on a football team proof that their learning process is as steep or steeper than for the so called skill positions. Lets start calling those positions what they are ball skill positions and quit insulting our OL members. All positions on a football team take skill.
I do think that UK has some good OL but most are inside types. They are razor thin at the OT positions. Some OGs are going to need to play OT this season.
I do think that UK has some good OL but most are inside types. They are razor thin at the OT positions. Some OGs are going to need to play OT this season.
Great point about the term "skill positions" . That makes no sense to me at all. O-Lineman have probably the most detailed position of all on a team.
Kyle Tucker @KyleTucker_CJ 7m7 minutes ago
DT CJ Johnson: "Talk around the locker room, George gonna be first round" some day. More glowing praise for Asafo-Adjei.
DT CJ Johnson: "Talk around the locker room, George gonna be first round" some day. More glowing praise for Asafo-Adjei.
While we may not have scores of 'true tackles' we can certainly get by with the four or five players they plan on using at the position if it comes to that.
Swindle
Meadows
Big George
Mosier
Haynes
Barring injury, 7 or 8 "good" OLs should be "enough". You seldom play more than that while the game is on the line. And frequently one of the subs is a "utility" lineman. Wholesale line substitutions occur late in the game when the outcome, one way or the other, has been decided. I say "good" because 1 weak OL can undo the work of 4 good ones.
Peace
Peace
George keeps impressing. Probably will be a starter this year. Almost too good to not start.
Next year's line has me giddy. The improvement of the current guys on the roster with the addition of Leavitt and Jones. Man.
This is why OT is so huge for UK this year to me....
1. Feels like we want Towles to throw more deep balls, Badet is fastest kid on team and is back, Bone's length could be more of a weapon and Dorian Baker could be our best talent at WR...and not even mentioned Garrett who could be our best WR. But you have to protect the edge rushers better to let those patterns develop...if the OT spots are spotty...it will diminish UK's capacity to call a bunch of plays that Towles can't get off if the rush gets to him.
2. Not knowing what Big George can do....but as a true Fr...he's likely to take some lumps. Swindle was OK last year but wasn't really great pass protection...Meadows was very shaky strength wise but hopefully another year of S&C will do him wonders. Mosier simply hasn't the foot speed to protect on the edges. Haynes...we'll see...he's a younger guy who could grow into a solid OL next year.
I'd argue the OT spots will cost us some critical moments this year. My saving hope is Dawson will be wise enough to leave a TE/RB in to help the tackles. Why Brown left those guys alone so much (Mizzou game was just insane to not help them out)....maybe we can scheme a bit better to help them out.
1. Feels like we want Towles to throw more deep balls, Badet is fastest kid on team and is back, Bone's length could be more of a weapon and Dorian Baker could be our best talent at WR...and not even mentioned Garrett who could be our best WR. But you have to protect the edge rushers better to let those patterns develop...if the OT spots are spotty...it will diminish UK's capacity to call a bunch of plays that Towles can't get off if the rush gets to him.
2. Not knowing what Big George can do....but as a true Fr...he's likely to take some lumps. Swindle was OK last year but wasn't really great pass protection...Meadows was very shaky strength wise but hopefully another year of S&C will do him wonders. Mosier simply hasn't the foot speed to protect on the edges. Haynes...we'll see...he's a younger guy who could grow into a solid OL next year.
I'd argue the OT spots will cost us some critical moments this year. My saving hope is Dawson will be wise enough to leave a TE/RB in to help the tackles. Why Brown left those guys alone so much (Mizzou game was just insane to not help them out)....maybe we can scheme a bit better to help them out.
This staff is pretty creative so I feel like we will have an improved oline, regardless of where we think guys fit best. If we have 8 solid oline guys that's enough if they stay healthy.
Good post. Probably important to make our TE a threat so they still have to allow for him going downfield. Sounds like they have the talent to do that.
As a group last year every player on the oline made a mistake or two in every game. Swindle made the same mistake 8 or 9 times during the season. But the good news is they grow, get bigger, get stronger, and get smarter, and soon the parts become a body that works together. I think this group will be better but I think next year it becomes a strength of the team.
Agree that Dawson will probably use JoJo a lot for blocking to help out on the edge.
the reason O-line is the most redshirted position is not because the learning process is extremely steep.. it is because most O-line need to develop their bodies in a college S&C program for at least a year before their bodies are ready for an SEC seaon
Wrong evidently you have no idea of the intricate blocking schemes that the offensive linemen must learn and the skill it takes to implement those schemes as a team.
It is not true that all Freshmen need the redshirt to build their bodies. Example is big George A-A. He is plenty SEC ready physically to play but IMO will struggle with the blocking schemes and coordination with his fellow OL members.
You kind of made my point.. You picked one lineman we have had that is physically ready.. And it just so happens he is not gettin a redshirt and he will get significant PT this year... Do you really think that is just a coincidence ?
Actually, you're both right. Most frosh O-linemen aren't physically ready for the rigors of college football, let alone SEC football. Additionally, O-linemen consistently score higher as a position group on the Wonderlic than any other position group. They have to be intelligent and fast of thought because the game is intricate and moves at the speed of light on the LOS. Big George is the rare Cat that is both physically and mentally advanced far beyond his years.
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Woo I want to clarify.. I never said it was not hard being an O-line.. And yes they certainly have to be very intelligent.. With that said.. That is overall intelligence meaning, in general, o line are intelligent people and therefore can pick up the schemes at a quicker pace than they would if they were not as smart..so, because they are so smart, it kind of highlights the fact that the only thing holding them back is their physical development considering they are smart enough to pick up the schemes
