Just to break out the OL discussion

[Palatine]

Ian Campbell 6-5/269
Bryan Cespedes 6-7/308
Ryan Crozier 6-4/296
Steve Hashemi 6-6/285
Tommy Hopkins 6-6/316
Andreas Knappe 6-8/319
Richard Levy 6-6/316
Daniel Oak 6-3/295
Matt Peart 6-7/291
Trey Rutherford 6-5/309
Kyle Schafenacker 6-3/282
Tom Tabur 6-3/291
Brendan Vechery 6-6/30

 

[Palatine]

I could see

LT-Levy, LG -Hopkins, OC-Crozier, RG-Vechery, RT-Knappe, Maybe switch the Guards?

Not that inventive but it should be something close to this.

 

[FDNY99]

I could see

LT-Levy, LG -Hopkins, OC-Crozier, RG-Vechery, RT-Knappe, Maybe switch the Guards?

Not that inventive but it should be something close to this.

That makes a lot of sense...with Peart (T), Rutherford (G)and Oak (C, G) the key back-ups...

 

[hardcorehusky]

I want the best 5 out there that work together. Doesn't have to be the most talented linemen, just a group that works well together.

 

[Milo65]

Wouldn't be surprised if there is fierce competition at the tackles and one of the guard positions. Levy and Knappe need to up their game and I hope they do, that's what competition is all about.

 

[gioff23]

I see Rutherford starting at OG. He got the nod ahead of Samra, a 4 year starter, in bowl game. I don't think that was a cameo. Vechery and Hopkins can battle it out for other starter.

The surprising thing to me is how little PT the non-starters have. The starters certainly have a year or 2 starting, but for a group that has struggled consistently, it is surprising to see how little PT the 2s have gotten.

 

[Tdaley]

I see Rutherford starting at OG. He got the nod ahead of Samra, a 4 year starter, in bowl game. I don't think that was a cameo. Vechery and Hopkins can battle it out for other starter.

The surprising thing to me is how little PT the non-starters have. The starters certainly have a year or 2 starting, but for a group that has struggled consistently, it is surprising to see how little PT the 2s have gotten.

I think you are right. Rutherford is more likely one of the starting guards than Vechery.

 

[businesslawyer]

I want the best 5 out there that work together. Doesn't have to be the most talented linemen, just a group that works well together.

One can make a case that the OL improvement from 14 to 15 was entirely individual improvement by the players, in that individuals were not overrun man to man nearly as much as the prior year, but that from a teamwork level they were still beyond disfunctional. Hopefully we see a huge jump in how they work together.

 

[huskypantz]

I am hoping that Crozier makes a huge difference. He should be our best OL, and that will help elevate the group.

 

[uconnflyer88]

Still no idea what happened to Kyle Schafenacker

He came from St. Thomas Aquinis, just fell off the wagon

 

[Chin Diesel]

I want the best 5 out there that work together. Doesn't have to be the most talented linemen, just a group that works well together.

One can make a case that the OL improvement from 14 to 15 was entirely individual improvement by the players, in that individuals were not overrun man to man nearly as much as the prior year, but that from a teamwork level they were still beyond disfunctional. Hopefully we see a huge jump in how they work together.

Tying these two posts together, I do want to see what continuity on the line can do as much as possible. There has been so much instability between players and staffs the past 6 (ugh, I can't believe it's been this long of a problem) years.

There is an opportunity for some stability on the line. Levy, Vechery/Hopkins, Crozier, Rutherford and Knappe. Let's see what they can do as a unit for a full spring and fall.

Crozier was penciled in as a starter before his injury, Rutherford started the bowl game and Kappe/Levy started every game at tackle. Out of the rest of the returnees Hopkins looked lost the most- I caveat that with very few of us, an not myself, know what the schemes were when he was left standing. Could have been another linemen screwing up and blocking Hopkins' guy and it left him dumbfounded. So, I would say that Vechery/Hopkins is the closest thing to a "battle" from last year.

Of course I'd love to see youngins' pushing vets all day long.

 

[uconnfan68]

I want the best 5 out there that work together. Doesn't have to be the most talented linemen, just a group that works well together.

I think we have that prototypical size thing pretty much down... now we need to get/find/develop better technique. I only want us to get back to the bruising lines we used to have. I still smile when I think about that game at ND, and the USC bowl game. We owned both sides of the lines in those days.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Still no idea what happened to Kyle Schafenacker

He came from St. Thomas Aquinis, just fell off the wagon

I believe the staff said he needed to improve his footwork.

 

[hardcorehusky]

Footwork is still an issue as all of these guys at one point or another last year got pushed back into the backfield or allowed a lineman to hit us in the backfield. I agree it isn't strength but it is time the guys know what the guy next to him will do. That way everyone gets picked up!!

 

[ktuck911]

Footwork is still an issue as all of these guys at one point or another last year got pushed back into the backfield or allowed a lineman to hit us in the backfield. I agree it isn't strength but it is time the guys know what the guy next to him will do. That way everyone gets picked up!!

Might get set up to be torn a new one mentioning this, but I think some of it also has to do with the QBs ability to read defenses... Gotta be able to call audibles when you see a defense overload one side of the line when you know you're gonna run a play with the OG on that side of the line is pulling... You gotta see those things as a QB...

Granted our QB play has been improved, IMO, having a guy out there that can see things before they happen is paramount. That's why that position on the football field is most important.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Apologize for diverting this but does anyone remember those times when we used an unbalance line? Did we ever run a reverse to the weak side of that formation?

 

[Carl Spackler]

Apologize for diverting this but does anyone remember those times when we used an unbalance line? Did we ever run a reverse to the weak side of that formation?

Yes I remember, and No, I don't think we did?

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Yes I remember, and No, I don't think we did?

I would like to see us try that.

 

[kris1]

I could see

LT-Levy, LG -Hopkins, OC-Crozier, RG-Vechery, RT-Knappe, Maybe switch the Guards?

Not that inventive but it should be something close to this.

I don't know if I can take another season of Levy protecting our QBs blindside. I hope some of these young guys got something out of those extra 15 practices, hit the weight room and playbook hard, and can push for time. I don't think any of the OL spots should be a lock.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I don't know if I can take another season of Levy protecting our QBs blindside. I hope some of these young guys got something out of those extra 15 practices, hit the weight room and playbook hard, and can push for time. I don't think any of the OL spots should be a lock.

I don't think anyone should feel safe either.

But this is a year I'd prefer to see continuity of the group over growth of an individual.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I would like to see us try that.

LOL. I thought that was where you were going with that. Good one - you got me.

Yes, I too would like to see us be able to run strong side without having to stack an unbalanced line, and be able to have the footspeed, agility and skill player blocking ability to run weakside in an unbalanced formation.

 

[huskysupporter]

We have discussed this before and many disagreed with me, but last year's line was just as bad as the year prior. Significant improvement has to be shown here. Shuffling positions might help. But make no mistake, no one on the line has earned a starters designation going into the spring. Every position should be wide open.

 

[Drew]

Crazy with all the improvements in player's weight that Vechery is all the way down to 30 lbs

 

[Duncan Idaho]

We have discussed this before and many disagreed with me, but last year's line was just as bad as the year prior. Significant improvement has to be shown here. Shuffling positions might help. But make no mistake, no one on the line has earned a starters designation going into the spring. Every position should be wide open.

They were in better shape

 

[huskysupporter]

They were in better shape

And the results were the same.