Will our OL be better in 2013 than 2012.

[REMND 0]

I thought they were good in 2012. The absence of a mobile QB and a questionable passing game suggests the defense will load the box. The OL will have to be even better this year. They have to beat up on opponents in the trenches. Can we do it?

 

We lose Golic and Cave. The depth chart suggests that we have:

 

Zack Martin - 6-4 308

Chris Watt - 6-3 321

Nick Martin - 6-5 285

Connor Hanratty - 6-5 309

Chris Lombard - 6-5 322

 

Backups are most likely Steve Elmer (6-6 317) and Ronnie Stanley (6-6 304) at all positions except center. I do not know who backs up center. Hegarty is my guess since he should be just about recovered from his close call earlier.

 

That is a huge OL. The opponents front 7 will be smaller. Nick Martin should be bigger by September but he will not have the size and strength of Cave who was the strongest guy on the team. Connor should be bigger and stronger than Golic.

 

I think it is fair to say our OL will be bigger, stronger and more experienced in 2013 than in 2012 without being a pollyanna.

 

Add Niklas (6-7 260) to that mix at TE. Add another TE or Smith at Slot (6-4 215) for some downfield blocking.

 

I like it on paper. Is our front 7 good and big enough to beat up on the opponents front 7? I think that is where our offense really starts this year.

 

Most offensive predictions focus on us having to grind out yards on the ground against a stacked box. Does this OL look capable of it?

[ndomer4 532]

From what I hear about Stanley I would really like for him to play at right tackle and Lombard pushed in to guard. Lombard wasn't bad for a first year player he just looked like he had bad feet, I saw him get beat a few times with guys just being faster from the edge.

[REMND 0]

From what I hear about Stanley I would really like for him to play at right tackle and Lombard pushed in to guard. Lombard wasn't bad for a first year player he just looked like he had bad feet, I saw him get beat a few times with guys just being faster from the edge.

 

I have seen others suggest the same. In some press conference the crowd asked Heistand the same. My recollection was that he was a little stunned with an "if it is not broken why fix it" comment. Apparently he like Lombard at RT despite all our suggestions to move him inside.

 

In a way, Heistand's comment is a nice endorsement of Hanratty as well. If Hanratty was not impressing the staff, the possibility of moving Lombard inside would have more legs.

[hawaiiirish 62]

The OLINE will likely be better by mid-season & on---but its probably going to take some games before they truly jell as a unit.

 

aloha's

[OklahomaIrish 0]

I actually think the O line will be better at the beginning of the season than we were at the beginning of the season last year. I strongly wanted Stanley or Elmer to take over right tackle but have reassessed. For one, Hanratty has worked his butt off and he truly is bigger and stronger than Golic. But even more importantly, we need guards. Usually a team needs tackles. If Lombard were pushed to right guard, than in 2014 we would not have a guard with starting experience. I now say keep Lombard at guard but give Elmer and Stanley as many reps as possible at the two tackle positions.

 

Also, we must also implement a package for Malik or Hendrix. I prefer Malik. This should at least be a redzone package, but I want it to be much more than that. Anyway, yeah, the offensive line should be better. Martin (Nick) is probably a better technician than Cave. Cave struggled early in his career. Martin did well in the spring and I bet he weighs in at about 295.

[FaithInIrish Forever 5,570]

It Will depend on the right center of the line

 

http://footballxos.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/inside-zone1.gif?w=700

 

I know ND will be ok when Watt and Martin help.

 

But can Nick/Hanratty be the combo run force block on an inside zone right.

 

Will Hanratty know when to climb to the Sam backer? It may take a bit but our left side will carry us a bit until they get used to this combo block.

[REMND 0]

Nick and Conor play side by side and they are the newbies. They will bear some watching. All that we can really say is they have a lot of size and they won the competition.

 

As an aside, we really do not rotate OL men in a game, do we. They basically play all 70 snaps don't they? Sounds pretty exhausting if true.

[KamaraPolice 0]

I don't know much, but I'm pretty sure Brian Kelly will never have an offense that 'grinds out yards' - not criticizing you, just disagreeing. I think the passing game is unproven, but neither inept nor incompetent. We will throw the ball and we will throw it a lot. And tommy Rees will be a lot better or tommy Rees won't be playing. Remember when Dayne Crist was hands down starter? For what - 6 series?

[nd1989 216]

It Will depend on the right center of the line

 

http://footballxos.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/inside-zone1.gif?w=700

 

I know ND will be ok when Watt and Martin help.

 

But can Nick/Hanratty be the combo run force block on an inside zone right.

 

Will Hanratty know when to climb to the Sam backer? It may take a bit but our left side will carry us a bit until they get used to this combo block.

 

Yes, but we are light years ahead of last year at this time talent wise. There is no Golic on this line, unless Heggie comes in....

[REMND 0]

Yes, but we are light years ahead of last year at this time talent wise. There is no Golic on this line, unless Heggie comes in....

 

I think we are better but I don't know if it is way better.

 

It is safe to say that the returning starters should be better beause they are more experienced with another year of lifting and conditioning. Most people think Golic was the weak link last year. Connor or Stanley will be an exciting addition at RG. Losing Cave has to hurt a bit. He was a three year starter.

Nick is not as strong but he is supposed to be more athletic.

 

I read a thread on II talking about Heistand's commitment to play the best 5. Some posters think Stanley might break in at RG still. Some think Hegarty might emerge at center still. I think it is set now with Martin, Watt, Martin, Connor and Lombard.

 

A big issue that I have been reading about is whether the right side has improved enough so that we can run more to that side. One poster said we ran almost 80% of our run plays to the left side last year. I do not think we can get away with that again. I think that depends a lot on the newbies at center and RG.

[NDhoosier 1,336]

I read a thread on II talking about Heistand's commitment to play the best 5. Some posters think Stanley might break in at RG still. Some think Hegarty might emerge at center still. I think it is set now with Martin, Watt, Martin, Connor and Lombard.

 

Stanley is considered a true Tackle. If Stanley got into the starting 5 it would be: N. Martin at Center, Lombard at RG because Lombard is considered a hybrid (capable of play Guard and Tackle), with Stanley at RT.

[nd1989 216]

I think we are better but I don't know if it is way better.

 

It is safe to say that the returning starters should be better beause they are more experienced with another year of lifting and conditioning. Most people think Golic was the weak link last year. Connor or Stanley will be an exciting addition at RG. Losing Cave has to hurt a bit. He was a three year starter.

Nick is not as strong but he is supposed to be more athletic.

 

I read a thread on II talking about Heistand's commitment to play the best 5. Some posters think Stanley might break in at RG still. Some think Hegarty might emerge at center still. I think it is set now with Martin, Watt, Martin, Connor and Lombard.

 

A big issue that I have been reading about is whether the right side has improved enough so that we can run more to that side. One poster said we ran almost 80% of our run plays to the left side last year. I do not think we can get away with that again. I think that depends a lot on the newbies at center and RG.

 

I think the only negative on this line comparing this year to last year at the start of the season is center. Cave was a two year starter, and it will take a few games to get the kinks out.. Every other position will be better, including TE blocking than last year on game one.

 

Even in terms of Cave, we all thought he was great and we all loved him, but I was surprised how he wasn't loved nationally. I thought he graded low because of his lack of speed, and was exposed in space. As a result, we went undrafted. By the end of the season, even at center we might be better, who knows?

[ndomer4 532]

Nick and Conor play side by side and they are the newbies. They will bear some watching. All that we can really say is they have a lot of size and they won the competition.

 

As an aside, we really do not rotate OL men in a game, do we. They basically play all 70 snaps don't they? Sounds pretty exhausting if true.

 

I'm pretty confident with the starting 5 as it is atm except for Hanratty. It's nothing against Hanratty I just haven't seen anything of him in practice. Also last year or the year before he seemed a bit small but looks like he has packed on the weight. Nick Martin I'm actually pretty comfortable with, I remember watching him in spring practice and he was dominating everyone. I'm not certain but I'm pretty sure I saw him hold his own on Nix one on one. If he's anything like his brother we don't need to worry.

[REMND 0]

Stanley is considered a true Tackle. If Stanley got into the starting 5 it would be: N. Martin at Center, Lombard at RG because Lombard is considered a hybrid (capable of play Guard and Tackle), with Stanley at RT.

 

What I have read is that Lombard might not be great at blocking in space. If true, he would probably make a better guard. Heistand clearly likes him at RT though. Everyone seems to think Stanley's best position is OT.

 

Which side of the line will Niklas play on mostly?

[BlackIrish42 0]

Somebody did an analytical article a few years ago about what determines a great player based on his position, if that makes sense? Anyway, the number one determinate factor of a great O-Lineman was EXPERIENCE. So let us not get too damn excited here.

[GeorgiaIrishFanChuck 0]

Somebody did an analytical article a few years ago about what determines a great player based on his position, if that makes sense? Anyway, the number one determinate factor of a great O-Lineman was EXPERIENCE. So let us not get too damn excited here.

 

I'm not sure who in this thread was getting too excited. They all seemed like good comprehensive comments. But if I just take your comment "EXPERIENCE" and apply it to the original thread, "will the Oline be better than last year?" ...

 

This year Z Martin - 39 games started, Watt 26 games started, N Martin 0 starts, Hanratty 0 starts, Lombard 13 games started

78 starts total

 

Last year Z Martin 26 games started, Watt 13 games started, Cave 22 games started, Golic 0 games started, Lombard 0 starts

61 starts total

 

I will say I think Cave is going to be a very tough guy to replace. That being said, I think I remember there was conversation last fall that he was tentative with his foot injury from the year before. Maybe that was why Purdue was so tough to run against. Could have also been that Short and Gaston were just really good.

 

I will also say that Hanratty, N Martin, Hegerty, and Stanley all looked very good when they were able to get on the field.

[nd1989 216]

I will say I think Cave is going to be a very tough guy to replace. That being said, I think I remember there was conversation last fall that he was tentative with his foot injury from the year before. Maybe that was why Purdue was so tough to run against. Could have also been that Short and Gaston were just really good.

 

I will also say that Hanratty, N Martin, Hegerty, and Stanley all looked very good when they were able to get on the field.

 

I'm not saying we'll be better than the OL last year, but I think at this point it is a toss up.

 

Last year's pass blocking frustrated me to no end from Martin and Lombard missing assignments, to Golic being the Human Sieve, to Cave being slow to cover, and finally to Niklas being clueless. I think they improved as the year went on, and Golson covered up for a lot of mistakes.

 

With Tommy at the helm, we will need to more disciplined. I think the tackles will improve, and we can only go up from Golic at guard. And who knows at center. Maybe the new center will be much faster, but coordinating the line assignments may take some time.

[Katzenboyer 0]

Somebody did an analytical article a few years ago about what determines a great player based on his position, if that makes sense? Anyway, the number one determinate factor of a great O-Lineman was EXPERIENCE. So let us not get too damn excited here.

 

We return three starters, so I don't think it's ridiculous to think our OL could be solid this year.

[OklahomaIrish 0]

Experience is very important for sure, but you better darn sure be big and tough enough to push around some defensive ends, mammoth nose guards and brutal linebackers. If SMU returns all 5 starters would they be better than us due to experience?? No firkin way. We are recruiting better than anyone in the country on the O line. The best is yet to come. Our true freshmen and next year's class have no weakness and are literally two deep, just those two classes.

 

One poster mentioned tight end, and you have to include the tight end. Niklas will make a big jump this year in his abilities. Forget the Stanford game last year. He won't ever be put on that island again. Niklas and Koyack can be a devastating pair of tight ends as blockers and possession receivers.

 

Stanley at guard?? Never heard that one and I subscribe to II. He is the heir apparent at right tackle. Elmer is the heir apparent at left tackle. McGlinchey may one day be better than both of them but is a sure fire redshirt. Bivin is almost forgotten and he is a beast. If Nix takes solid control at center and Hegarty is healthy, I think Bivin moves to guard and starts in 2014.

 

Now I haven't completely studied next year's class, but that one five star tackle knocks people off the ball then stays on them till he flattens them. He is one bad ***. These are the type of guys that win championships. Just wait till 2015 and 2016. Hope we can keep the defense up to par.