How's Your Offensive Line?

[GeauxTo]

DandyDon looks at LSU's offensive line...

In my opinion, this might be LSU's best offensive line in the last 10 years. The only starter from the 2004 team who will not be returning is Ben Wilkerson who was injured in the Vanderbilt game and missed the remainder of the season. Rudy Niswanger (6’5”, 300, SR), who started the last four games at center, will be Wilkerson's replacement. Nate Livings (6’5”, 300, SR) will start at right guard, Brett Helms (6’2”, 285, RSFR) or Will Arnold (6’4”, 320, SO) will start at left guard. Brian Johnson (6’4”, 310, JR) will start at right tackle, Andrew Whitworth (6’7”, 325, SR) will start at left tackle. Redshirt freshman Ryan Miller (6’6”, 305) will be the second team center. Terrill McGill (6’4”, 325, SR) and Will Arnold or Brett Helms will be the two offensive guards. Big Herman Johnson (6’7”, 360, RSFR) and Peter Dyakowski (6’4”, 290, JR) will be the second team offensive tackles.

[The Hawg of Honors]

UA's- not very athletic but not very big either. Roper is a good center, but we have a long way to go to get back to where we have been.

[Rebeldrummer]

Big reasonably talented .. yet very inexpierienced

[supergenius]

Small and somewhat inexpierienced.

[Tator]

I expect Whitworth to be the anchor on the line for LSU, but I do have some questions about Niswanger and his ability to effectively replace Wilkerson at center. Wilkerson is a tough one to have to replace.

[ColonelKurtz]

Dawgs have the big uglies BIGTIME. Check this out:

#1's going into Fall Practice:

ST Daniel Inman 6-7/328 JR
SG Nick Jones 6-3/285 JR
C Russ Tanner 6-4/290 SR (Remington nominee)
TG Max Jean-Gilles 6-4/340 SR (All-SEC, Outland candidate)
TT Dennis Roland 6-9/309 SR

#2's

ST Ken Shackleford 6-5/314 JR
SG Josh Brock 6-3/295 JR (out last year)
C Ryan Schnetzer 6-3/300 SR
TG Fernando Velasco 6-4/320 JR
TT Chester Adams 6-4/335 RSo.

#3's

Nick Turner 6-4/294 JR (has played all spots)
SG Zeb McKinzey 6-3/288 RSo.
TG Bartley Miller 6-4/300 JR (out last year, former starter)
TG Seth Watts 6-4/320 RFr.

Off all these guys, only Watts & McKenzie have seen scant PT. With over 200 starts between them, UGA has arguably the deepest unit in the SEC and is well set for 2006.

[Jordan]

As others have said, pretty small this year. We lost the BIG boys on our OL this year, and will be getting some redshirt freshmen to fill their shoes. I know they're smaller, but I haven't seen them play at all yet so I'm not going to make any judgement on them quite yet. It does seem that Shula has been pleased with their performance/progress so far, so we'll see what happens...

[Djshockley3]

Dawgs have the big uglies BIGTIME. Check this out:

#1's going into Fall Practice:

ST Daniel Inman 6-7/328 JR
SG Nick Jones 6-3/285 JR
C Russ Tanner 6-4/290 SR (Remington nominee)
TG Max Jean-Gilles 6-4/340 SR (All-SEC, Outland candidate)
TT Dennis Roland 6-9/309 SR

#2's

ST Ken Shackleford 6-5/314 JR
SG Josh Brock 6-3/295 JR (out last year)
C Ryan Schnetzer 6-3/300 SR
TG Fernando Velasco 6-4/320 JR
TT Chester Adams 6-4/335 RSo.

#3's

Nick Turner 6-4/294 JR (has played all spots)
SG Zeb McKinzey 6-3/288 RSo.
TG Bartley Miller 6-4/300 JR (out last year, former starter)
TG Seth Watts 6-4/320 RFr.

Off all these guys, only Watts & McKenzie have seen scant PT. With over 200 starts between them, UGA has arguably the deepest unit in the SEC and is well set for 2006.


Yeah we have the best O line in the SEC and probly top 5 in the country,we look great for the next 2 years. :D

[WDavE]

Here is the early depth chart for Auburn.

LT 73 Marcus McNeill | 6-9, 337, Sr., 3V
77 King Dunlap | 6-8, 292, So., 1V
RT 66 Troy Reddick | 6-5, 335, Sr., 3V
70 Antwoin Daniels | 6-6, 298, Fr., RS
LG 69 Ben Grubbs | 6-3, 302, Jr., 2V
79 Jonathan Palmer | 6-5, 320, Jr., 2V
68 Jason Bosley | 6-4, 271, Fr., HS
RG 76 Tim Duckworth | 6-3, 326, Jr., 2V
72 Leon Hart | 6-5, 302, So., 1V
65 William Sullivan | 6-5, 309, Fr., RS
C 74 Steven Ross | 6-6, 292, Sr., 3V
50 Joe Cope | 6-0, 276, Jr., 1V

[pc72687]

Hart is starting already for AU.

[WDavE]

Hart is moving around looking for playing time.

My bet is unless someone gets injured. He will not start.

[Jay_Lupo]

UA's- not very athletic but not very big either. Roper is a good center, but we have a long way to go to get back to where we have been.

I don't know where you're getting your info, but our O-line will, imo, be the strength of our team next year, or at least one of them. We return four starters plus Zac Tubbs who started every game before he was hurt. Our offensive line (the same five basically that'll be doing the blocking next season) surrendered the fewest sacks in the entire league last year. Some of that had to do with our Magic QB, but it still bodes very, very well when you surrender the fewest sacks in the SEC when you're facing defenses like Texas, Georgia, LSU and Auburn.

I think our offensive line will be one of the best in the SEC and will fuel our running game with Howard, McFadden and Hillis. Overall, I'd say the O-line is the strongest position from top to bottom on Arkansas' roster.

[fernandomike]

We should go into the fall with center being the only major concern though our projected starter, Rich Gandy, is on schedule in his recovery from a torn ACL. The rest of the line is solid with Toeina, Smith, Douglas, and Sears being all-conference type players.

Disclaimer-We have very little proven depth on the line. If a rash of injuries occur, we will be in huge trouble.

[IH8Orange]

Wish we had the big boys from Texas on our side...

[DAWG@heart]

Dawgs have the big uglies BIGTIME. Check this out:

#1's going into Fall Practice:

ST Daniel Inman 6-7/328 JR
SG Nick Jones 6-3/285 JR
C Russ Tanner 6-4/290 SR (Remington nominee)
TG Max Jean-Gilles 6-4/340 SR (All-SEC, Outland candidate)
TT Dennis Roland 6-9/309 SR

#2's

ST Ken Shackleford 6-5/314 JR
SG Josh Brock 6-3/295 JR (out last year)
C Ryan Schnetzer 6-3/300 SR
TG Fernando Velasco 6-4/320 JR
TT Chester Adams 6-4/335 RSo.

#3's

Nick Turner 6-4/294 JR (has played all spots)
SG Zeb McKinzey 6-3/288 RSo.
TG Bartley Miller 6-4/300 JR (out last year, former starter)
TG Seth Watts 6-4/320 RFr.

Off all these guys, only Watts & McKenzie have seen scant PT. With over 200 starts between them, UGA has arguably the deepest unit in the SEC and is well set for 2006.

You are exactly right Colonel !! Except I would argue they have the best OL in the country. They are soooo deep. Fresh legs throughout the entire game on the OL and fresh horses in the backfield as well with 4 rotating RB's that are all just as good as the other except for Fumblin Tyson Browning and then add D.J in the mix to run you to death. UGA's running game for 2006 is every offensive coordinator's wet dream.