Offensive Line Depth Chart Next Year - Not Scary!(?)

Submitted by JTGoBlue on

So, like many of you, I tend to peak ahead to see how the team shapes up in the future based on the depth chart, who we expect to lose, and our recruiting underway.

Regarding the offensive line, there had been plenty of concern on this board and Sam's show on depth after this year; almost a consensus that this will be the thinnest position group next year. 

However, some encouraging signs/rumors, with the good performance of Ruiz on Saturday, energence of Spanellis as a contributor, Runyan with starting snaps, good news we are hearing about Newsome's recovery, and some whispering of a great position switch for James Hudson.

So, if you believe Newsome recovers 100%, everyone with eligibility returns, and James Hudson stays at tackle, here is a possible depth chart (with no true freshman):

 

LT:

Newsome

Hudson

Stueber

LG:

Bredeson

Runyan/Spanellis

C:

Ruiz

Runyan

RG:

Onwenu

Runyan/Spanellis

RT:

JBB

Ulizio

Filiaga

 

   I took a leap that Runyan is a logical back-up at center based on overall experience, and Runyan and Spanellis will rotate as a third guard on either side. What say you? Not so scary thin?  Who knows who may emerge of Vastardis, Honigford, and Hall...any TEs slide over? 

 

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I Like Burgers

November 6th, 2017 at 7:10 PM ^

Yeah, cheering hard for him and wish him a return to the field, but penciling in a guy that will not have played football in two years and almost lost a leg as a 2018 starter is kinda nuts.

Hope he wins the job in camp, but at this point it’s like budget planning based off a scratcher you bought.

Joined: 10/06/2012

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readyourguard

November 7th, 2017 at 9:38 AM ^

Filiaga has the size and we have a need for OT. JBB is gaining experience and Ulizio can be his backup.

With Onwenu and Bredeson returning and Spanellis getting reps this year, it makes sense to try CF at tackle, imo.

I don't expect Newsome to play next year.  If he does, great for him AND us.

Joined: 08/21/2008

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HailHail47

November 6th, 2017 at 6:21 PM ^

I thought Spanellis played center last night. I think we could see a lineup of: Bredeson, Ruiz, Spanellis, Onwenu, JBB We will actually be good, especially if Newsome or Filiaga step up into a starter capacity

Joined: 10/07/2017

MGoPoints: 5305

TrueBlue2003

November 7th, 2017 at 3:39 PM ^

freshmen isn't ready next year, it could very well be a necessity for Bredeson to move over, because there is literally no one else.

I'm optimistic it'll be Hudson, but Bredeson certainly isn't out of the question, especially given the talent we have inside that could take him place.

Joined: 01/05/2010

MGoPoints: 38075

funkywolve

November 6th, 2017 at 6:26 PM ^

is a concern.  The lack of any development in that area over the course of this season is a bit worrisome.  I'd like to think they can get that ironed out between now and opening day next year.

Also, I think expecting Newsome back at 100% is a pretty big assumption.  Until he starts practicing, having Newsome on a depth chart seems like putting the cart before the horse.

Joined: 10/08/2008

MGoPoints: 20263

stephenrjking

November 6th, 2017 at 6:27 PM ^

Barring catastrophe we are in great shape for guard. Our guards are good now (blown stunts notwithstanding) and have two years of improvement left. 

Center is a hope, that Ruiz will have the offensive line calls mastered by next fall. He made some mistakes this past weekend but he looked physically ready to go, an important step. An offseason of work at the line calls and he might be ready. I'm optimistic.

We seem to have depth in the interior as well, since Spanellis is competing at both center and guard and Runyan appears capable, to say nothing of younger guys we haven't seen yet. 

Tackle is a series of questionmarks. Will Newsome make a full physical recovery and be ready to compete? Can JBB learn to pass block, or can Ulizio make a year of steady growth? Can one of our young guys make a step up (I'm hopeful about Hudson, but as far as I know we've only heard one good report about him so far and it's not in the context of "competing for a job" yet) and be ready to play D-1 football as a RS freshman? 

It's a lot of questionmarks. The good: Newsome was good before he got hurt and he has almost two full years to recover. JBB can run block very well, which means that a modest upgrade in his pass blocking locks down the position. And the young guys we aren't putting out there yet are talented and getting what we hope to be good coaching.

Which means that there are questions for perhaps five tackles, and if the answer for two of them is "yes" we have the makings of a good line next year.

It's unrealistic, but I'm geeked by the run blocking improvements and I think the tackles work out next season. And that lays the groundwork for a great, great season.

Joined: 03/15/2012

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Maynard

November 6th, 2017 at 9:29 PM ^

Great analysis. I think the interior is going to be looking excellent across the board. Ruiz looks like the real deal and so does Onwenu. If I had to bet I think Filiaga starts next year as well. If Newsome makes it back, great. If he doesn't we have one very important spot to solidify and we're golden for the starting lineup.

If the QB position comes along, we will have the personnel for one hell of a season I believe.

Joined: 02/19/2016

MGoPoints: 9888

TrueBlue2003

November 6th, 2017 at 11:35 PM ^

Some might justifiably say, yikes, he hasn't played in two years, that means 1) that was a really bad injury that is going to be hard to full recover from physically and 2) that's a long time not to play football and hope to come back and be good.

The optimist in you says: he's had a lot of time to recover, he must be extra recovered and ready to go!

Joined: 01/05/2010

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HAIL-YEA

November 6th, 2017 at 6:27 PM ^

JBB is pretty bad at pass blocking but that is a mental issue, with more reps and time he will get better, he is already a pretty good run blokcer. I think we will be fine with him at RT next year but the left tackle position is  still a question mark. Hopefully Newsome is fully recovered and can pick up where he left of, that is asking a lot though.

Joined: 07/15/2009

MGoPoints: 10810

MGoHarbaugh77

November 6th, 2017 at 6:36 PM ^

Pass protection is not something you can simplify down to a mental issue. That’s a fairly ignorant statement. Pass protection as an offensive tackle is one of the most physically challenging jobs in football. It’s highly dependent on meticulously crafted technique, balance, speed, agility, power. Now to say that he has all of those tools and just doesn’t have it together yet (mental issue) is more reasonable, but that’s nearly impossible to tell w/o knowing exact techniques being taught, assignments,

Joined: 10/23/2017

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EGD

November 6th, 2017 at 6:27 PM ^

Whichever OT is best at pass pro will play LT. Then, whichever OT is second-best at pass pro will probably play RT. Not sure there is much point in separating the LTs from the RTs at this point.

Joined: 09/16/2009

MGoPoints: 35199

Maizeblue11

November 6th, 2017 at 6:28 PM ^

NOT TRYING TO BE A DICK IN THE SLIGHTEST, BUT HOW THE FUCKSTICKLES IS JUWANN BUSHEL-BEATTY VYING FOR STARTING RT A GOOD THING????

Joined: 11/29/2016

MGoPoints: -99998443

DrMantisToboggan

November 6th, 2017 at 6:32 PM ^

He’s an excellent run blocker. If we have a T who’s combination of run and pass blocking ability surpasses JBB’s then we will have upgraded significantly. If all we have is a year-older-JBB then we probably still have an excellent run blocker and a slightly less bad pass blocker. It’s a floor we can work with.

Joined: 11/26/2014

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EGD

November 6th, 2017 at 6:45 PM ^

Probably, but you never know. There could be a guy playing for a really bad team who wants one shot at a championship. There could be a coaching change somewhere and a guy might not dig the new staff. There could be a good player stuck behind an all-American at a place like Alabama or, well, at Alabama. I agree getting a functional OT through the grad transfer market is unlikely, but it's definitely worth looking.

Joined: 09/16/2009

MGoPoints: 35199

AZBlue

November 6th, 2017 at 7:31 PM ^

plus - much like Matthews on our BB team - Bama football (or KY in BB) is a different level than most schools.  If Mo Ways transfers to say Wisconsin next year there is a very low chance that he becomes a starter and NFL prospect.  IF he were to go to Toledo?  maybe he becomes a productive starter.

Bigger picture is OL seems to be a harder transfer accross teams on the same level - the Bama kid who we lost to OSU never started a game.  MAYBE if there is a kid at an FCS school (whatever they call DII now) who has blossomed and is looking for more exposure as a 5th year it can work out -- Ramczyk at Wisky may be an example of this.

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