Wednesday July 25, 2007

Opponent's Offensive Linemen

Opponents’ Offensive Line

Louisiana Monroe
The Warhawks feel great about their offense this season and one reason is their offensive line. Few offensive lines in the country have as much starting experience as Louisiana Monroe as they have 141 starts. All five starters return including three seniors and two juniors. This is only a Sun Belt Conference program but this might be the top offensive line in their conference.

Furman
Few programs at the I-AA level have been as successful as Furman and part of that reason is its solid play along the offensive line in recent years. This year’s team has three of the top linemen in the Southern Conference including perhaps the best in the league Joel Bell. Also interior offensive linemen Heath Cockburn and Reggie Goolsby are all-conference caliber performers.

Central Michigan
Central Michigan has had some very good offensive lines in recent years but this group should be average in 2007. The Chippewas return three starters with left tackle Andrew Hartline being the best of the bunch. This is a new staff but they have some talent on offense and this offensive line will not be enough of a question mark to hold back any of their plans.

South Carolina
Here is a team that is tough to figure out. Last year their offensive line looked pathetic early in the season but got better every game. By the end of the season the Gamecocks were able to handle some talented defensive lines and were very effective. They lose Chris White and a couple of former walk-ons and they added a ton of red-shirt freshmen that were highly recruited so I figured they would be much improved up front. However, spring practice showed us something different. The offensive line struggled most of the spring and now could be considered an area of concern rather than a strength.

SEC Offensive Rankings
1. LSU-If you can find two better offensive guards on one team in America I would like to see them. Guards usually don’t go high in the NFL draft but Will Arnold and Herman Johnson will have a good chance to do just that when they enter the draft. Arnold is the mammoth interior lineman that is as good as any in school history. Johnson took Arnold’s place when he was injured and is considered one of the best in the nation heading into this season. LSU lost their offensive line coach, Stacy Searrels, to Georgia.

2. Alabama-Nick Saban must have loved what he saw when he first met the offensive linemen he inherited at Alabama. Andre Smith is a future first-round draft pick and had to be considered one of the top freshmen in the country last season. The Tide return all five linemen including guards BJ Stabler and Justin Britt. Bama’s Wide receivers and offensive line are among the best in the conference.

3. Florida-When the defending national champion returns four starters along the offensive line you would think this is a strength. Also consider that the Gators only return two other starters on offense but in my opinion this is not a great strength. Jim Tartt, Drew Miller and Phil Trautwein are among the best of the group but Tebow, Caldwell, Harvin and the skill players are the true strength of the group.

4. Tennessee-When the Vols were at the top of their game they dominated teams up front. Since their national title Tennessee has been slightly down on the offensive line. They have recruited well but have had bad luck, injuries and have not developed their linemen as well. Like their wide outs the Vols have a lot of questions on their line but I think they have a few answers in players like Eric Young, Anthony Parker and Josh McNeil.

5. Vanderbilt-Returning all five offensive linemen is a rarity but the Commodores have that luxury this season. They also have a very rare situation in that they have five senior starters that are returning along the front. I also think they have the best offensive line coach in the league in Robbie Caldwell.

6. Auburn-Here is a team that we could look back upon at the end of the year and have a completely different opinion. The Tigers lost four of their five starters from last season and only return King Dunlap who is a 6-9 320-pound monster. Many programs would fret a season where they had to replace four starters up front but most schools have not recruited like Auburn. The Tigers have blue chips in the waiting like Leon Hart, Lee Ziemba and Tyrone Green so they could have one of the top lines in the league by the end of the year.

7. Ole Miss-Like their in-state rival, Ole Miss has four returning starters but unlike Mississippi State the Rebels have one superstar. Michael Oher might be the best offensive tackle in the SEC. If he decided to some out early he could be a high draft pick. The rest of this unit is experienced and solid but not spectacular maybe with the exception of John Jerry.

8. Georgia-Like Auburn, Georgia lost most of its offensive front but also like Auburn, the Bulldogs have recruited extremely well in this area. Fernando Velasco and Chester Adams return as starters but the real talent in the long term comes from players like true freshman Trinton Sturdivant and JUCO star Vince Vance. If UGA can develop this group early I think the Dogs can win the East.

9. Arkansas-The Hogs only return two starters on their offensive line but both are very good ones. Center Jonathan Luigs and guard Robert Felton are two very talented and very experienced blockers. Like Clemson, Arkansas offensive linemen do not have to be dominant for their offenses to be effective because of their talent at running back.

10. South Carolina-See above.

11. Mississippi State-The offensive line under Jackie Sherrill was among the biggest and usually the best in the league. Under Sylvester Croom they have not developed the offensive line quite as well. This year’s unit has four returning starters but none are all-conference candidates.

12. Kentucky-The Wildcats have all of the answers at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end. However the offensive line has more questions than answers. Christian Johnson is the one lineman that the Cats can count on. Garry Williams is the only other starter coming back.

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