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2007 O-Line discussion

BB73

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Bollman Encouraged About O-Line, Despite Depth Issues

Depth could eventually be a problem for Ohio State?s offensive line this season. Offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Jim Bollman was able to use a deep rotation last year, but likely will not have the same luxury this season.

However, over a week into preseason camp, Bollman feels good about his group as a whole. If the offensive line stays healthy, it will likely be among the best in the Big Ten.

"Right now, it's easy for me to say we're going to play about seven or eight guys," Bollman said. "Last year, I told you guys we could play 10 guys. Two of those 10 guys that were in there are out now (Doug Datish, T.J. Downing). But I think it?s safe to say we'll be playing with seven or eight guys on a pretty regular basis."

...


"We have guys across the board that are performing well right now,” Bollman said. “Kirk and Alex are doing a good job at tackle. Steve, Bryant Browning and Ben Person are all doing a good job at guard. Connor Smith is doing a good job at guard. And Jim Cordle is doing an outstanding job at center. Andrew Moses has had some opportunities now with some of the situations and he’s really done a good job. Because I think Jon Skinner would have normally been in there working a lot at backup center. So, that’s opened up an opportunity for Andrew to get in there and he’s done a real nice job.”

Cont'd ...
 
ozone.Fallcamp/offensiveline

Bollman Smiling Over Offensive Line Talent Despite Injury Situation
By John Porentas

When it comes to offense everybody likes to talk about those sexy
positions, you know, like quarterback, wide receiver, running back, but the game of football has always been one in which the guys who have their hand on the ground when the ball is snapped have more to do with the outcome than anyone else on the field. A great quarterback or tailback with no blocking is, for all intents and purposes, just so much cannon fodder for any average defense. Football teams fail or succeed depending on how well those big guys up front perform.

The Buckeyes have enjoyed very good line play throughout the Tressel era, and last year was no exception. Two key cogs in that offensive line, right guard T. J. Downing and center Doug Datish, are gone and must be replaced.

...

Bollman has confidence in his backups and said they will definitely play in the early going this season.

"You're going to see Alex and Kirk at the tackles. You're going to see Steve Rehring., Bryant Browning and Ben Person and guards, you're going to see Jimmy Cordle at center, you're going to see Andrew Moses at center. You may see Steve Rehring at a little tackle, you'll see Josh Kerr at some tackle, those are they guys that will be playing in that first game," said Bollman.

"Connor Smith will be playing. The ninth guy would be Josh Kerr," Bollman said.

Like Browning, Kerr is a second-year player.

Most offensive line coaches would be tickled to death to have nine players of that caliber, and Bollman does appreciate the talent of that group, but is anxious to get his more experienced reserves back into the picture.

"The people I miss at the moment are Jon Skinner and Kyle Mitchum. They'll be back in a couple weeks."

Cont'd ...
 
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fourteenandoh;909196; said:
These guys better play with a massive chip on their shoulder this season. They have a lot to prove after what happened in Glendale.

I'd like to think the entire defensive unit is thinking the same thing. And while we're at it, the coaching staff should be out to show that their nationally televized de-pantsing was a fluke too.
 
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Hmmmm

Massive chip on their shoulder

Something to prove

...and up against 240 lb defensive ends in game 1.

Barton and Boone will indeed be the killer B's on September 1. Even though we've got Field Turf now, the YSU DE's will STILL have grass stains on the back of their road-whites when this game is over. Buttoning up the offense to keep the score from getting out of control will only make the physical beating worse as we continue to run off-tackle and up the gut all day.
 
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Well, Miller getting moved to the O-line should help with the depth some (assuming he's adequate). However I'd still like to see the staff take 4 or preferably 5 guys this year and 4-5 guys next year. Anyone disagree?
 
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kippy1040;909212; said:
How good is Jon Petersen as the tight ends coach and does he help out assisting Bolleman with the lineman. I understood that someday he would be the offensive line coach.

Peterson, a former Buckeye himself, is by all accounts- and outstanding coach. One might actually imply, if one was so inclined, that Peterson's arrival on campus helped Bollman keep his job as Oline coach with the improvement the line has seen since.

"But I aint one to gossip so you aint heard that from me." :wink2:
 
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No "Jim Parker Offensive Lineman of the Week" award was given out by the coaches for this week, per Tress's luncheon presser.

Tressel relayed that Bollman wasn't very happy this past Saturday, and JT agreed with Bollman's demeanor and use of whatever actions were necessary to fix the problem before next Saturday.
 
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They looked awful. I was at the game and the few times that I trained my binoculars on the O line they looked very bad. Alex Boone was playing some uninspired football and you would think that with the way he played in Glendale that he would be mauling people.

This O line could be in for some shake ups before the Penn State game.
 
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ysubuck;920010; said:
They looked awful. I was at the game and the few times that I trained my binoculars on the O line they looked very bad. Alex Boone was playing some uninspired football and you would think that with the way he played in Glendale that he would be mauling people.

This O line could be in for some shake ups before the Penn State game.
Granted ... what I saw was against Syracuse, but if this is the O-Line play we take to Seattle, we're going to lose.
 
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