Bollman: hoping for fewer frowns in 2010If there's any area of the team that has taken heat over the past few seasons, it's the offensive line and the man responsible for coaching it, Jim Bollman. Some of the heat no doubt was lifted after the team's strong offensive performance in the Rose Bowl. Many people point to the fact that OSU rushed for over 200 yards in each of their last 5 regular season games, and that is indeed an impressive statistic. But the average yards per carry did not significantly jump in the second half of the season; the team just ran the ball a lot more. And they did not rush consistently well in the Rose Bowl despite the victory (3.0 yards per carry). As a result, Ohio State's offensive line is both the biggest area of concern for many fans and one of the biggest opportunities for the team to improve over last season.
One of the challenges that the O-Line faced last season was staying healthy, and that will remain a concern due to the lack of experience among the back-ups. But assuming good health, this line will be one of the most experienced that the Buckeyes have fielded in years. They return 4 out of 5 starters, and in fact both Andy Miller and Mike Adams started at times last season, which means that all they have 6 players returning that have starting experience. While the team will miss the versatility and leadership of the departed Jim Cordle, many fans have high hopes that the team will improve at both tackle positions. Last season, the line battled the flu (Miller) and various injuries (Adams, Cordle) that caused a lot of shuffling between players and positions and even pressed true freshman Marcus Hall into action in pressure situations. The results were mixed, and that is one reason why there is so much focus on this part of the team going into the season.
| SR | Boren, Browning, Kerr, Malone, Miller, Sika, Smith |
|---|---|
| JR | Adams, Blankenship, Brewster, Shugarts |
| SO | Hall |
| FR | Linsley, Longo, Mewhort, Norwell |
Here is a position by position look at the offensive line as it stands today.
CENTER
Michael Brewster returns for his junior season amid high expectations. In high school, Brewster was known as a powerful blocker whose only weakness was that he needed to work on technique. After nearly two seasons of starting at Ohio State, Brewster is now technically sound and poised for greatness. For the 2nd straight season, Brewster is on the watch list for the Rimington Trophy, given annually to the nation's best center. Last season, Brewster fought through a severe ankle sprain during the final half of the season. If he can stay healthy this season, he can be not only one of the top linemen in the Big Ten but a solid leader on the offensive line. Backing up Brewster at center are redshirt freshmen Corey Linsley and Jack Mewhort, followed by senior letterman Scott Sika.
Boren: teaching opposing defenses the meaning of intensity.GUARD
At left guard, Justin Boren returns to once again haunt fans of that-school-up-north. Last season, Boren brought a level of intensity not seen on this team since the days of Kirk Lowdermilk (a little bone for the old-timers there). This season, the Pickerington native's focus will be more on being a leader and improving his game preparation. Boren admits to not studying film as much as he should, but more diligence in this area should yield more familiarity with defenses and better communication with his fellow linemen. Backing up Boren is senior Conner Smith, a former 4-star recruit from Cincinnati Colerain, plus walk-on Chris Malone. Smith has been an enigma at Ohio State, but hopefully he will be able to step in and contribute should the need arise. Like many of his line-mates, Boren also missed some time with injuries last season, and so having an experienced back-up is a plus.
Returning at the right guard position is former Glenville Tarblooder Bryant Browning. Last season, "BB" made a successful switch from tackle to guard, and the results were encouraging. While the right tackle position took some time to solidify, Browning immediately became the line's most consistent performer. It helped that he was the only member of that group who did not suffer from injury or health related problems. Prior to last season, Mike Brewster stated that Browning had gotten into better shape since the previous season, and the conditioning paid off. In addition to being probably the smartest guy in the group, Browing is also known for his unique personality and ability to keep the other guys loose. Backing up Browning are the aforementioned Linsley and Mewhort, plus junior Evan Blankenship.
Torch a Dumpster If
False starts disappear, Pryor is able to step into throws consistently, runners get to 2nd level.
Avoid Sharp Objects If
Linemen look confused, false starts abound, Pryor chased from blind side a lot, RB's per carry average
TACKLE
The left tackle position is the most interesting camp battle this season, much like it was last season. This fall's camp is a repeat of the last one, with Dublin native Mike Adams battling converted tight end Andrew Miller for the job. In 2009, Miller won the job and was performing fairly well early in the season. But he went down with the flu and missed the trip to Indiana. By the time he recovered, he had lost over 30 pounds and was not able to get back into the rotation immediately. This opened an opportunity for Adams, and he appeared to be taking advantage of it initially. However, that proved short-lived. Jim Cordle came back from injury and took over the position for the remainder of the season. Cordle's performance was uneven at best, and so the position is once again the subject of many questions coming into the season. In addition to Miller and Adams, sophomore Marcus Hall also has joined the battle. There should be a lot of drama in this battle, and it may not be settled until well into the season. But according to 11W's own Alex (who has observed the line closely in practice), Adams is looking very good so far. Barring injury and more bouts with the flu, the job appears to be in good hands.
The right tackle position is solid with J.B. Shugarts returning to man the spot where he stepped in to replace the injured Jim Cordle last season. After a shaky beginning and after battling false-start penalties for a few games, Shugarts turned the corner and became a true force over the Big Ten stretch run. Shugarts was considered a "skinny" 300 pounds when he arrived at OSU, because he had a large frame and moved exceptionally well. Like his "Block O" classmate Adams, Shugarts has long arms that are ideal for holding off pass rushers. Having gotten his first taste of starting at the college level, Shugarts will attempt to leverage that experience towards post-season honors in 2010. Backing up Shugarts is the aforementioned Marcus Hall, along with senior Josh Kerr. We might also see true freshman Andrew Norwell, but if all goes well health-wise, he will probably redshirt. Speaking of redshirts, 2nd year freshman Sam Longo is also a possibility at one of the tackle positions, but he may also work at guard.
CONCLUSION
In his 1969 classic "Hot Line To Victory", Woody Hayes wrote "There is no such thing as a great play on paper, but a play that is perfectly executed will become a great play." Execution is a coaching buzzword, but I think it perfectly describes what is necessary for this offensive line to live up to the accolades that the individual members have accumulated. Modern blocking is not just guys pushing against other guys; the various zone blocking and pass-protection schemes require precise timing and perfect coordination between the positions. That is why experience is so essential for the potential success of this line - not just the experience of the individual members but their experience playing together. In order to execute the blocks consistently, the players need to have done it successfully many times.
Due to the number of returning starters/contributers, I'm cautiously optimistic that the line will perform well this season and at least temporarily ease the pressure on the coaching staff. How do you see it? Is this the year that the line becomes a strength of the team? Or will the struggles continue?
