Lets talk OL for this year

[loggervol]

He’s 6”7

Cade Mays was 6’5 or 6’6 and played guard. He’s( Dane) not going to be standing straight up blocking and Joe is 6’5.

 

[AlwaysOrangeNeverBlue]

Outstanding stuff here. I especially agree with your comparison of Hooker and Milton. I'm hoping we can really get the ground game rolling to help with pass protection. In my opinion that will be crucial.

Agreed. Milton’s effective QB runs have typically appeared to be more of a designed QB run, whereas Hooker had a significant portion being due to playmaking ability/need to escape.

 

[VAVol85]

Every year the OL gets better…regardless of the working parts. This time last year we didn’t have a replacement for Cade Mays, who played out of position and dinged up. Moved Wright back to his natural position and two years under Ellarbee made him into a top 10 pick. Expect more and better. I think Campbell will be an upgrade over Mincey/Crawford at LT while Umarov gets his toes wet, and he’ll be our next great OL the next season. This unit hasn’t done growing pains since our inaugural season in Heupel’s system. This is what Ellarbee does…dating back to Mizzou. Names change…RESULTS get better.

Elarbee is a pro - he has a plan for this year, next year, and the one after that. We have quality starters at every OL position and proven depth at most positions…except possibly center. I really like what he has done with this group and hope that like Garner he is happy to be a long term position coach.

 

[butchna]

Elarbee is a pro - he has a plan for this year, next year, and the one after that. We have quality starters at every OL position and proven depth at most positions…except possibly center. I really like what he has done with this group and hope that like Garner he is happy to be a long term position coach.

I view him like Garner. Happy to be the best at a position coach. And to add he has a partnership with Heupel. Sam Pittman never had that with a specific HC imo.

 

[Emperor VOLpatine]

Confident the group will be as good if not better as a whole. Only position I think we get worse is RT because Wright was just that good he's near impossible to follow

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

It seems like OL has been a worry for us every year since 2011

 

[butchna]

Confident the group will be as good if not better as a whole. Only position I think we get worse is RT because Wright was just that good he's near impossible to follow

Don't have to be a clone...just do the job. And this time last year, no one was calling Wright generatiional.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

Agreed. Milton’s effective QB runs have typically appeared to be more of a designed QB run, whereas Hooker had a significant portion being due to playmaking ability/need to escape.

I'd bet the staff is addressing these issues with some planned play calling. Milton is a good to very good straight ahead runner. Big and fast, if he breaks away, he can get big yardage chunks. He could trample some linebackers. QB draws and other planned runs will help hold the pass rush a microsecond or two.

 

[Namorto1]

I think by the time the season starts we will have a good starting 5, but I do worry about depth if we have injuries. Need to have another group of overachievers. Mays is reliable C when healthy, Spraggins could be all-SEC performer at RG, Mincey was moved over to RT for a reason and think he will be fine, and Campbell will start at LT IMO. The trick is who do we play at LG? I hope it is Nichols, if only because he has upside but he may not be ready. If we played our best 5 lineman, Crawford would be starting somewhere but he will probably spell both starting tackles and don't think he has received any run at LG.

Karic is unknown but appears to be versatile across the line which will earn him some time. Lane, Lampley, Davis are all upper classman and have played enough but not sure I would want to rely on any of them starting against the better SEC opponents if we have injuries. Ball may be our best backup at Center and is a bit undersized and also a walk-on which says something about our depth as well. Johnson III coming over from JUCO has taken a major step up in class. I doubt he is ready. Grant, Reddick, Clipper are all unknowns with very little remarks on any of them. Not ideal to rely upon true freshman either and would expect all are buried on depth chart....another year and we are going to need them ready to play.

I don't know....probably no more than a serviceable group overall and we really could use someone to surprise us in the fall (ie: Karic, Lang, Reddick, Grant, Umarov, etc..) even if only for better depth.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Mincey and Crawford are set to have solid seasons. They both improved dramatically last season from the beginning to end. Hopefully they can hold down the RT spot and fill in for the LT spot as needed. Of course they aren’t Darnell, but they can still be solid contributors.

I think there’s a good chance Lane and Nichols split reps for the first few games before Nichols actually takes over the LG spot. But we will need both to stay healthy and ready. Lane is a 6th year senior I think? Maybe he takes over since he’s 3-4 years older and more mature?

Dayne Davis has a lot of experience and will be a contributor/ solid backup. He has experience on both sides at tackle too. Will be interesting to see where he is by September.

There is a ton of youth that might need to play in a pinch so it will interesting to see how they develop before September.

My biggest questions are:

Lampley? He was contributing some last season. Can he take the next step and contribute in a backup role? Is he physical enough or was he actually getting hurt on every extra point and fg attempt or was it the ol Lame Kitten buying time act?

Parker Ball and Vysen Lang…. do they push anywhere or just get backup center reps. Both played a lot in spring.

Does Karic push anywhere or does he need a year to get his feet and body right for this offense?

Does Larry Johnson III step up? Juco is very different from the SEC. He also had some bad weight when he got here so how does he work this offseason? Is he driven?

Do any of the true or redshirt freshman make any waves like Mo Clipper, Umarov, or Grant?

You didn’t mention John Campbell. Expect him to be a solid LT.

 

[VOLfrombama]

You didn’t mention John Campbell. Expect him to be a solid LT.

Agreed. I didn't mention Cooper or Sprag either. I assumed they were already starters by the way spring unfolded and was really just talking about the still undecided positions and potential backups/contributors.

 

[VOLfrombama]

Hubbs said Larry Johnson III has been working very hard this offseason and has trimmed down alot. Cain was talking about how many times he has tweeted after his own personal workouts, supposedly in addition to team workouts. That's exciting because he's a big ol fella. Maybe he comes on strong in fall camp if he keeps working hard.

 

[KTrain]

I think Dane Davis will have an impact somewhere. Can he play that LG position? He has come in and done a serviceable job at RT. I feel like he doesn’t have the length or the feet at Tackle. Why not try him at guard?

So at 6 foot 7 his length is lacking, so I'm assuming we have some > 6 foot 8 guys that will meet length requirements for this position.

 

[loggervol]

So at 6 foot 7 his length is lacking, so I'm assuming we have some > 6 foot 8 guys that will meet length requirements for this position.

I’m not talking about how tall he is. I’m talking about arm length. What is Mincy’s arm length compared to Dane’s. Arm length and not the best feet equals guard. It’s nothing personal and I’m saying he could probably start at guard while they’re getting younger players up to speed.

 

[KTrain]

You're as

I’m not talking about how tall he is. I’m talking about arm length. What is Mincy’s arm length compared to Dane’s. Arm length and not the best feet equals guard. It’s nothing personal and I’m saying he could probably start at guard while they’re getting younger players up to speed.

You're asking me to compare their arm lengths, I have no ideal just know Mincey is 6 foot 6 inch & Davis 6 ft 7" so I'd say their arm length is comparable, Davis was a 4 year Basketball starter in HS so he should move pretty good for a o lineman. Can't find arm length's in the player profiles but IMO Mincey will be a starter.

 

[loggervol]

You're as


You're asking me to compare their arm lengths, I have no ideal just know Mincey is 6 foot 6 inch & Davis 6 ft 7" so I'd say their arm length is comparable, Davis was a 4 year Basketball starter in HS so he should move pretty good for a o lineman. Can't find arm length's in the player profiles but IMO Mincey will be a starter.

I can’t tell but are you trying to argue with me over this? I’m just trying think of a hypothetical that could get our 5 best linemen on the field.

I think Mincy is probably a better pass blocker than Davis. And, I think Davis is probably a better run blocker. I would rather have a better run blocker playing guard, also.

just a discussion.

 

[butchna]

I think by the time the season starts we will have a good starting 5, but I do worry about depth if we have injuries. Need to have another group of overachievers. Mays is reliable C when healthy, Spraggins could be all-SEC performer at RG, Mincey was moved over to RT for a reason and think he will be fine, and Campbell will start at LT IMO. The trick is who do we play at LG? I hope it is Nichols, if only because he has upside but he may not be ready. If we played our best 5 lineman, Crawford would be starting somewhere but he will probably spell both starting tackles and don't think he has received any run at LG.

Karic is unknown but appears to be versatile across the line which will earn him some time. Lane, Lampley, Davis are all upper classman and have played enough but not sure I would want to rely on any of them starting against the better SEC opponents if we have injuries. Ball may be our best backup at Center and is a bit undersized and also a walk-on which says something about our depth as well. Johnson III coming over from JUCO has taken a major step up in class. I doubt he is ready. Grant, Reddick, Clipper are all unknowns with very little remarks on any of them. Not ideal to rely upon true freshman either and would expect all are buried on depth chart....another year and we are going to need them ready to play.

I don't know....probably no more than a serviceable group overall and we really could use someone to surprise us in the fall (ie: Karic, Lang, Reddick, Grant, Umarov, etc..) even if only for better depth.

I won’t be SURPRISEd if Umarov ends up an institution at LT. Hope he’s able to back up and learn behind Campbell as a true freshman tho.