Starting Offensive Line Suggestions

[awesomeman27]

Ok, so now that we have all the new recruits, what do you think will be the starting OL for next year?

 

[bamahuey1]

I'll take a stab:

LT: Carpenter
LG: Johnson
C: Vlachos
RG: Warmack
RT: Boswell (think he takes this spot from Davis)

However, I wouldn't be surprised to see it change as the season progresses, and see players such as Jones, McCollugh(sp?), Davis, and Ross factor into the starting line-up.

I list those players because it seems like Love still needs time in the weight room, Fluker needs work on his technique, and I expect the rest of the freshmen to redshirt.

 

[rgw]

I think it's fair to say: who knows. Basically, whoever is healthy in the Fall and makes an impression could be a starter. Johnson and Davis are the only returning starters and both might move to get the best group of five on the field.

 

[TommyMac]

I look for DJ to be a starter pretty early, we're only going to have him for 3 years, might as well get him up to speed as soon as possible.

 

[mark4tide]

LT: Carpenter
LG: Johnson
C: Vlachos
RG: Ross
RT: Love

Fluker has only been playing OT for a year now. He could use a redshirt and get more reps in. He might just be ready to come in and play though. Carpenter should be ready to come and play.

 

[deltatider]

LT: Fluker
RG: Davis
C: Vlachos
RG: Carpenter
RT:Johnson

I hope someone can come in and step up to take the LT position to give Fluker plenty of time to develop. I have also heard on the board that Barret Jones might make a push for Center. Who knows, we'll see. I would just really rather not have to use a true freshman on the OL.

 

[TommyMac]

LT: Carpenter
LG: Johnson
C: Vlachos
RG: Ross
RT: Love

Fluker has only been playing OT of a year now. He could use a redshirt and get more reps in. He might just be ready to come in and play though. Carpenter should be ready to come and play.

A RS year is probably out of the question, the NFL will be beckoning him after 3 years. A RS year would just be a year that we lose his services.

 

[mark4tide]

A RS year is probably out of the question, the NFL will be beckoning him after 3 years. A RS year would just be a year that we lose his services.

I would like to see Fluker come in and start. It is hard for someone to come in and beat out a guy that has already been in the system. Everyone thought Jerrell Harris would come in and start last year but was not able to beat out Cory Reamer. LT is a hard position to pick up just playing one year. I hope he does come in and work hard to win the job.

 

[bamaslammer]

The more I look at this the more convaluted it seems. The guys we recruited in the last two years are really big and talented. I'm throwing a total guess at the two deep for the opening game but I think this year we will see a fair amount of movement on the starting group. Fluker could take over LT, Carpenter could move to Guard, If Brandon Moore plays OL he is very athletic and I wouldn't be surprised to see him get in the mix, I don't know how good Tyler Love really is, he only played a few snaps last year and I suspect his leg never was solid. Ross got experience but I think he needs to get much stronger to hold off the younger guys for long. Same for Motley.

LT
James Carpenter
DJ Fluker

LG
Mike Johnson
Brian Motley

C
Barrett Jones
William Vlachos

RG
David Ross
Chance Warmack

RT
John M Boswell
Drew Davis

 

[tide96]

Other than medical issues (Love), when was the last time we red-shirted a 5 star guy?

 

[Crown & Soda]

I just don't understand why everyone wants to write Davis off. Yes he had a bad bowl game. (So did the rest of the line.) However, in the last few games of the season Davis was playing as well as anyone on the line. A senior with experience is going to be hard to beat out. Especially after having the benefit of playing for the same position coach for the last 2 years.

I could, however, see him moving to guard similiar to what Johnson did last year. The only draw back is he is a little tall for a guard at 6'7. He appears to be a better run blocker than pass blocker and having him inside means you can surrond your brand new center with your most experienced players in Johnson and Davis.

Food for thought.

 

[GrandBayTider]

Mike Johnson has LG pretty well locked down.

Drew Davis looked pretty good at RT and has experience at the position, so will be pretty hard to take his spot.

Alfred McCullough has the size and athleticsm and will be a very good center.

James Carpenter will get first shot at LT, and will have a chance to go through Spring Training so he will be ahead of the curve come Fall practice. I'm not sure Fluker will be able to beat him out, especially considering he has had only one year of reps at the position.

RG is the wild card. There are a number of quality players and competition will be fierce.

Bottom line is the OL will be very good when they line up to face Va Tech in GA dome, our second home.

 

[mikeua69]

Just a guess on my part

LT - Fluker or Love
LG - Johnson
C- McCullough
RG - Carpenter
RT - Davis

 

[Bama-fo-life]

LT - Fluker's left arm
LG- Fluker's left leg
Ce- Fluker
RG- Fluker's right leg
RT- Fluker's right arm


He is a big guy. I mean he wears a size twenty two for goodness sakes.

I am just saying.

 

[piratelooksat40]

What about Evan Cardwell? Does he have even an outside shot at PT?

 

[Crown & Soda]

What about Evan Cardwell? Does he have even an outside shot at PT?

I think Vlachos has already passed him on the depth chart. Nothing against him personally but if he has the job coming out of the spring we may be in for a tough year. The times prior to last season when he saw meaningful snaps he was clearly over matched.

 

[awesomeman27]

My guess

LT- Fluker
LG- Johnson
C- Vlachos
RG- Carpenter
RT- Davis

If Fluker doesn't show up, put Carpenter at Left Tackle and Ross at RG.

Also, I think the only way Love sees the field is if he moves to Guard.

 

[BLAKE55]

I expect Fluker and Carpenter to both start along with the returning starters, Johnson and Davis. I guess the other hole to fill is open to Vlachos, Boswell, Ross, etc.

As far as Love...I know he was injured last year so we obviously didn't hear much about him during the season but unless is going to be the proverbial "5-Star Bust" he should come on pretty strong this year. Does anyone have any info on Love that would indicate he is just isn't as good as everyone thought? Or is the issue purely injury related?

 

[herri026]

Another thing to point out about DJ Fluker--most often a redshirt year is used to bulk up a player/develop a player physically. Sure there is some learning of the position involved in what DJ is going to have to do, but I believe CNS is a "trial by fire" kind of guy. And DJ obviously doesn't need to bulk up (haha, I'm still getting a kick out of how huge this guy is), so I believe we'll see him starting at LT very early.

If I had to guess who our starting OL would be on opening day, I'd guess something like this.

LT-Fluker
LG-M. Johnson
C-Vlachos (I seem to remember the staff being very high on him last spring)
RG-Carpenter
RT-D. Davis

 

[LCN]

Other than medical issues (Love), when was the last time we red-shirted a 5 star guy?

If you'll check the thread titled with you question over on the recruiting board , I listed around 15 of them .





I think it's sort of trick question . Some of the 13 OL's who will be participating in Spring practice will not return in August . I'll give a shot though ....

Spring
Carpenter/Love/Jones
Johnson.........Motley
McCollough.....Vlachos
Boswell..........Ross
Davis.............Pharr

Fall
Carpenter.......Fluker
Johnson.........Jones
McCollough.....Vlachos
Boswell..........Ross
Davis.............Love