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2009 tOSU Offensive Line Discussion (official thread)

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Even though we're losing a great deal of experience from last year's O-line, I have a gut feeling that we may actually take a step forward in terms of leadership among the core group. Going into last season, I expected the line to build on how it performed in 07. I have to say that the 08 group tended to regress at various times, despite it's physical measurables, and perceived experience. I know there were injuries and position changes, but considering there was only one regular lost from the previous year, I think that Barton's leadership was the biggest loss. Cordle has been solid, and Brewster gained a lot of valuable PT, but there wasn't much consistency from the others. This is one area where I think Boren can make an immediate impact. He knows what it takes to earn all-conference honors, and I'm sure he didn't make a major life change to play on an average line. As long as 1-2 more players step up to be leaders on and off the field, this unit is oozing with potential. Considering the reputations of guys like Adams, Shugarts, Mewhort, and Hall, I don't think it's a stretch to assume we will see strong leadership from the underclassmen in this group.
 
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A video interview with Jim Bollman after Sunday's session.

Official.site

An audio interview

Official.site

He mentions these players working at these spots:

LT - Michael Adams, Andrew Miller, Chris Malone, Jack Mewhort
LG - Justin Boren, Connor Smith, Chris Malone, Jack Mewhort
C - Michael Brewster, Jim Cordle, Andrew Moses
RG - Bryant Browning, Michael Brewster, Evan Blankenship, Zach Slagle
RT - Bryant Browning, Jim Cordle, Josh Kerr
 
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Ohio State football: Line gets hard lesson
Intense practice could set the tone for physical group
Monday, April 6, 2009
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

bollman200.jpg

Neal C. Lauron | Dispatch
Offensive coordinator Jim Bollman said improvement on the line starts with more physical play.

Jim Cordle noticed something -- a good thing, as far as he was concerned -- about practice in Ohio Stadium yesterday afternoon. There was a whole lot of hitting going on.

"That was the most physical spring practice I can recall being a part of," the fifth-year Ohio State senior offensive lineman said.

That might be just the start of it. Coach Jim Tressel was asked before spring practices began what was the most emphatic of the messages he delivered to offensive coordinator Jim Bollman as the Buckeyes work to improve an offense that ranked 76th nationally last year.

"We probably have 20-something categories where we've talked about offensively we want to get better," Tressel said. "But if you had to say what has been the one we've talked about and emphasized the most, it's probably making sure we are very, very physical up front and making sure that we have the right doses (of different things) in our package.

"The only way you are going to be able to fly around and play fast, and play physical, is if you have no questions in your mind, because your mind has a way of slowing up the body."
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BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : Ohio State football: Line gets hard lesson

Position breakdown
Monday, April 6, 2009

Dispatch beat reporters Ken Gordon and Tim May will analyze each position group on the Ohio State football team during spring practice. Today:

OFFENSIVE LINE
? Key losses: Alex Boone, Steve Rehring, Ben Person

? Key returnees: Jim Cordle, Bryant Browning, Michael Brewster

? Time to step up: Mike Adams, J.B. Shugarts
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BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : Position breakdown

Offensive line will anchor young Buckeye offense
Published: Monday, April 6, 2009

Offensive line

The area hit hardest by graduation might also be the area where the Buckeyes? offense is in the best shape. Outland Trophy candidate and four-year starter Alex Boone is gone at left tackle, two-year starter Ben Person is gone at right guard. Three-year starter Steve Rehring is gone at right tackle. Jon Skinner and Kyle Mitchum, two linemen that saw plenty of action, are also out the door.

But the line could be as good, if not better, than ever this season.

It all starts with Jim Cordle. Cordle, a senior, started all 13 games for the Buckeyes last season and, at 6-4 297, is versatile. How versatile is Cordle? Tressel said he might use the senior at every offensive line position this spring to see how things unfold. ?I think there will be a lot of different mixtures and matches in there. You?ll probably see Jimmy Cordle playing center, guard and tackle. Jimmy, with his intelligence, footwork and quickness can be helpful at all of those positions,? Tressel said.

One thing is for certain ? the Buckeyes should, again, have one of the biggest offensive lines in the conference.

J.B. Shugarts, a highly-touted recruit who had shoulder surgery last season, is 6-8, 298. Mike Adams, a sophomore, is 6-8, 322. Junior Bryant Browning, who saw significant time last season, is 6-4, 312. Sophomore Michael Brewster, who ended the season as the Buckeyes? starting center last year, is 6-5, 296.

Freshman Jack Mewhort, who is already with the team after graduating early from Toledo St. John, is 6-5, 293.

?Jack is in early, he?s a guy who can play center and play tackle,? Tressel said. ?I?m assuming he can play guard as well. I think you are going to see more different combinations this spring than you have ever seen before. All along the board, in the offensive line especially.?

Another lineman to watch is 6-3, 315 pound junior Justin Boren.

Boren earned some notoriety when he transferred to Ohio State from Michigan.

He sat out last season after starting as a sophomore for the Wolverines.
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Offensive line will anchor young Buckeye offense Morning Journal: Serving Lorain, Erie, Huron and western Cuyahoga counties
 
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CPD
Ohio State football: Talking offensive line from afar

by Doug Lesmerises Monday April 06, 2009, 1:58 PM


large_Off%20Linemen.jpg
APJim Tressel with some of his offensive linemen, including Mike Brewster (second from left), Mike Adams (75) and Jim Cordle (64) on Sunday.
I've been covering Ohio State football since the fall of 2005, and the first time since then that Jim Tressel lets reporters watch an entire practice, I'm talking to Michigan State's Delvon Roe.
So while here at the Final Four in Detroit, I missed the insights gleaned Sunday at OSU practice, although I did talk to former NFL coach Steve Mariucci at Ford Field, if that counts.
After Ohio State's practice, the offensive linemen were available for interviews - Bryant Browning and Jim Cordle as well as coach Jim Bollman - and Cordle said he has worked at both center and tackle so far this spring, at least according to the interviews I listened to at Ohio State's website.
He said the line went through it's most physical spring practice in his five years as a Buckeye, which should only be a good thing.
But there's not a lot to know right now because guys are moving around so much. Cordle hopes the line is sort of settled by the end of spring, but that might be hard since J.B. Shugarts isn't taking part in contact while coming back from surgery, and he should figure into that line competition.
In the meantime, I'm kind of getting to like the idea of Cordle at tackle.
To me, here were the two biggest problems with the offensive line last season.

* The tackles and tight ends getting beat on the edge by the pass rush.
* The interior part of the line getting blown up in the run game and letting Beanie Wells and the other running backs get hit in the backfield.
Cont...
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Oline question

After the move of Brew to center, why did we not try Cordle at RT. This move will look bad if Cordle ends up being all Big 10 at RT, especially considering Bryant may excel at guard. Do we have a true RT on this team? Go Bucks
 
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cbrian815;1445275; said:
After the move of Brew to center, why did we not try Cordle at RT. This move will look bad if Cordle ends up being all Big 10 at RT, especially considering Bryant may excel at guard. Do we have a true RT on this team? Go Bucks
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I don't think it will look bad if Cordle ends up being an All Big 10 tackle.

Last year you had Boone and Browning at the tackles. Cordle and Rehring at the guards and Brew at center. Who do you put at guard last year besides Cordle?

This is a team that has been struggling with O line depth for a few years now. Everyone will agree that last year's line was way below average. Boone underperformed and Browning was playing out of position (IMHO). It's not like they had someone they were saving. I truly believe the best guys were playing. I think what you'll see this year is addition by subtraction. Person didn't really pan out the way many thought he would. Rehring was ok. Boone's struggles have been well documented. Your best players on the line last year were Brewster and Cordle and they are both back. Boren is an upgrade at guard. It looks as though Browning may move to what many think is his more natural position of guard.

If you have:
Brew at center
Browning and Boren at the guards
The wild card this season is at the tackle position and Cordle brings a ton of PT with him if he moves to RT. Who knows how Mike Adams will show at LT but I know he has the talent.

But as we've seen it takes more than talent to play LT.

I do believe that there is a different attitude on this team now. That is evidenced by the text that Brewster sent to Coach Tressel after watching Florida win the NC in January. There is leadership on this team that I don't think was there last season. Guys like Brewster and Pryor are guys that are willing to take a team on their back and do whatever it takes to win. They don't love to win as much as they hate to lose and that goes a long way.
 
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I think you missed my point

Last year why would we not have slid Browning down to guard and Cordle to RT. Why would that had not been an option last year? Why did BB have to struggle being out of position if Cordle would have been the right fit all along. Go Bucks
 
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cbrian815;1445327; said:
Last year why would we not have slid Browning down to guard and Cordle to RT. Why would that had not been an option last year? Why did BB have to struggle being out of position if Cordle would have been the right fit all along. Go Bucks
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When Brewster took over at C, I believe they wanted Cordle next to him to help with line calls.
 
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itownbuckeye;1445330; said:
When Brewster took over at C, I believe they wanted Cordle next to him to help with line calls.
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Thanks itown. That was my point. IF there was a better option than Browning at T last year I'm sure they would have opted for that. If Browning is starting at RT at the end of August then I would venture to say something is seriously wrong.
 
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ysubuck;1445492; said:
Thanks itown. That was my point. IF there was a better option than Browning at T last year I'm sure they would have opted for that. If Browning is starting at RT at the end of August then I would venture to say something is seriously wrong.
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I think Shugarts was our best tackle last year until he got hurt...he would have started over Browning if he hadn't got hurt. Browning was just inconsistent really, but so was our whole OL. Plus he is a year older now with experience and we have a new OL and hopefully a fresh mentality. With that said, I project this at two deep:
LT: Adams, Miller
G: Boren, Smith
C: Brewster, Moses
G: Cordle, Browning
RT: Shugarts, Mewhort (maybe Hall)

I'm thinking that's a solid two deep, plus guys can move around if need be. Behind that you have Blankenship, Hall, Linsley, Kerr, and Longo, so there is some talent in the depth.
 
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