2012 Offensive Line Depth Chart

[STLDomer]

Who Starts?

Options:

Tackles: Martin, Martin, Stanley, Prestwood, and Lombard

Guards: Nichols, Watt, Hegarty, Hanratty, Golic Jr.?, Carrico

Center: Heggie, Harrell, Cave, Golic Jr.?, Hegarty?

 

[STLDomer]

I believe it will be:

LT Martin Stanley (RS) Martin
LG Watt Nichols Carrico
C Cave Golic Jr. Hegarty Harrell (RS) Heggie
RG Golic Jr./Hegarty Hanratty
RT Lombard Prestwood

 

[Irish Man3]

I believe it will be:

LT Martin Stanley (RS) Martin
LG Watt Nichols Carrico
C Cave Golic Jr. Hegarty Harrell (RS) Heggie
RG Golic Jr./Hegarty Hanratty
RT Lombard Prestwood

I'd be shocked if Golic Jr started.

 

[CanadalovesND]

---------LT-------------LG-----------C------------RG------------RT
------Z.Martin--------Watt-------Cave--------Lombard--------Nichols
---Prestwood------N.Martin-----Hegarty------Hanratty-----Prestwood

surprise surprise with Nichols right? well yeah. But, he's 6'8'', and has now had 2 years in the system. Now, I know that Lombard is an OT, not a OG, but kelly puts the best 11 guys on the field, and I feel those 5 are the best OL on the team.

Notice no mike golic jr......well, his three starts were nothing to get excited for, and maybe we should put a younger guy in the 2-deep

 

[Buster Bluth]

LT: Zach Martin
LG: Chris Watt
C: Braxston Cave
RG: ????????
RT: Christian Lombard??

Spring ball will get very interesting.

 

[NDPhilly]

I'd put our left side of the line up against any in the country

 

[Old Man Mike]

I think that this has been talked about rather a lot on IE, but perhaps another thread might elicit some new "inside" rumblings about several key components to the 2012 O-Line.

Last year we had a phony depth chart on the line, because we were red-shirting the five freshmen and lacked enough warm bodies to create an honest two-deep. Nevertheless those five frosh were growing within the program and some of them are now [hopefully] ready.

When contemplating a two-deep for the 2012 team, there are certain givens, certain "likelies", and a few real mysteries. We have the following players to potentially include in the two-deep: both Martins, Watt, Cave, Lombard, Nichols, Heggie, Prestwood, Hegarty, Hanratty, Carrico... eleven count. If Golic is involved {someone on the site may know that answer], then you have twelve. Harrell and Stanley will red-shirt, no matter how good they are. On the far outside edge of reality, Tony Springmann could migrate over from defense. Even if Jarron Jones would, he will not play as a freshman, so that discussion is moot.

Let's assume no Golic and No Springmann. So eleven for ten spots.

1). Cave, Watt, and ZMartin are the givens.
2). Lombard is a practical given, but which other first team spot does he get? He was second team right tackle last season and actually played a little. But with very little stretch of the imagination could be the #1 right guard. This would be due to our having a Load of high potential tackles.
3). The main mystery of 2012 is who gets the other starting position, regardless of whether Lombard plays right guard or right tackle. Almost every other name on the eleven has been mentioned at various times as to impressing the staff.

So, who gets the prize?? I'll start by winnowing:

A). Carrico has been the least cited of the O-linemen by the staff off-hand comments. Ironically, if Lombard stayed at tackle, the back-up guard slot was where Carrico was listed last season. But I don't believe it is a good guess.
B). As much a fan favorite as Bruce Heggie is, and as much of a hard worker, you hear praise but not at the level of some of the rookies. So, as much as I like the idea of Heggie proving all the detractors wrong, I don't see him as a starter.
C). Nichols. As impressive to the eyeballs as he is, and as logical as putting the junior in there seems, I just don't get the vibes yet. Maybe it's injury worries. But I'm also not quite hearing the raves in the staff voices. He IS a right tackle though, and if Lombard goes guard, then he's were he needs to be.
D). Hanratty. I shouldn't be under-rating him but irrationally I do. Why? Hard to put a precise finger on it. The raves come from his meanness in pursuing blocks, but I don't really get much else. I have an undocumented concern over mobility.
E). Hegarty. I think that Matt Hegarty is going to be an all-american quality lineman. If I hadn't heard about his position shift, I'd be riding him as my favorite for the fifth starter. BUT they're grooming him to replace Braxton, so, apparently, number two center he is.

That leaves me with Nick Martin and Jordan Prestwood. Both of these guys get lots of emotion-in-the-voice when the staff mentions them. If Lombard is at guard, then I think Prestwood at right tackle; if Lombard is at tackle, then I think NMartin retrains at right guard.

The foggiest of foggy crystal balls says: ZMartin/ Watt/ Cave/ Lombard/ Prestwood. Two-deep?: NMartin/ Heggie/ Hegarty/ Hanratty/ Nichols.

If Mike Golic fifth-years, then, in my opinion, he still will not start, but rather back-up at the guard position ousting Heggie. He will, paradoxically, NOT back-up at the center position, because Hegarty needs to get ready.

Now, if I was actually a sensible human being, I'd have just said wait a couple of weeks and see who lines up. But maybe, as said earlier, someone has some insight on the whispers from within the secret chambers.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Heggie.

 

[D-BOE34]

I think that this has been talked about rather a lot on IE, but perhaps another thread might elicit some new "inside" rumblings about several key components to the 2012 O-Line.

Last year we had a phony depth chart on the line, because we were red-shirting the five freshmen and lacked enough warm bodies to create an honest two-deep. Nevertheless those five frosh were growing within the program and some of them are now [hopefully] ready.

When contemplating a two-deep for the 2012 team, there are certain givens, certain "likelies", and a few real mysteries. We have the following players to potentially include in the two-deep: both Martins, Watt, Cave, Lombard, Nichols, Heggie, Prestwood, Hegarty, Hanratty, Carrico... eleven count. If Golic is involved {someone on the site may know that answer], then you have twelve. Harrell and Stanley will red-shirt, no matter how good they are. On the far outside edge of reality, Tony Springmann could migrate over from defense. Even if Jarron Jones would, he will not play as a freshman, so that discussion is moot.

Let's assume no Golic and No Springmann. So eleven for ten spots.

1). Cave, Watt, and ZMartin are the givens.
2). Lombard is a practical given, but which other first team spot does he get? He was second team right tackle last season and actually played a little. But with very little stretch of the imagination could be the #1 right guard. This would be due to our having a Load of high potential tackles.
3). The main mystery of 2012 is who gets the other starting position, regardless of whether Lombard plays right guard or right tackle. Almost every other name on the eleven has been mentioned at various times as to impressing the staff.

So, who gets the prize?? I'll start by winnowing:

A). Carrico has been the least cited of the O-linemen by the staff off-hand comments. Ironically, if Lombard stayed at tackle, the back-up guard slot was where Carrico was listed last season. But I don't believe it is a good guess.
B). As much a fan favorite as Bruce Heggie is, and as much of a hard worker, you hear praise but not at the level of some of the rookies. So, as much as I like the idea of Heggie proving all the detractors wrong, I don't see him as a starter.
C). Nichols. As impressive to the eyeballs as he is, and as logical as putting the junior in there seems, I just don't get the vibes yet. Maybe it's injury worries. But I'm also not quite hearing the raves in the staff voices. He IS a right tackle though, and if Lombard goes guard, then he's were he needs to be.
D). Hanratty. I shouldn't be under-rating him but irrationally I do. Why? Hard to put a precise finger on it. The raves come from his meanness in pursuing blocks, but I don't really get much else. I have an undocumented concern over mobility.
E). Hegarty. I think that Matt Hegarty is going to be an all-american quality lineman. If I hadn't heard about his position shift, I'd be riding him as my favorite for the fifth starter. BUT they're grooming him to replace Braxton, so, apparently, number two center he is.

That leaves me with Nick Martin and Jordan Prestwood. Both of these guys get lots of emotion-in-the-voice when the staff mentions them. If Lombard is at guard, then I think Prestwood at right tackle; if Lombard is at tackle, then I think NMartin retrains at right guard.

The foggiest of foggy crystal balls says: ZMartin/ Watt/ Cave/ Lombard/ Prestwood. Two-deep?: NMartin/ Heggie/ Hegarty/ Hanratty/ Nichols.

If Mike Golic fifth-years, then, in my opinion, he still will not start, but rather back-up at the guard position ousting Heggie. He will, paradoxically, NOT back-up at the center position, because Hegarty needs to get ready.

Now, if I was actually a sensible human being, I'd have just said wait a couple of weeks and see who lines up. But maybe, as said earlier, someone has some insight on the whispers from within the secret chambers.

Sooooo you're saying Heggie and Springmann switch?

Nice post OMM! I no longer will need to follow this thread!

 

[notredomer23]

I think lombard will start somewhere on the right side along with one of hegarty or Nichols. Lombard at tackle If hegarty or him at Guard if nichols starts at RT. This is a good problem to have.

My apologies for typos, from the iPhone

 

[NDhoosier]

Isnt Mike Golic Jr. already given a 5th year? I am pretty sure they released 7 5th years that they were taking... Regardless, I think it will be:

---Z. Martin---Watt---Cave---Lombard---Prestwood

 

[dublinirish]

no Golic would be fine with me. Id much rather see Hegarty getting reps as the 2nd string C.

 

[rtrn2glory]

LT: Z. Martin
LG: Watt
C: Cave
RG: Lombard
RT: Nichols/Prestwood

Backup Guard: Golic, N. Martin, Hanratty
Center: Golic, Hegarty, Heggie
Tackle: Stanley, N. Martin

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Isnt Mike Golic Jr. already given a 5th year? I am pretty sure they released 7 5th years that they were taking... Regardless, I think it will be:

---Z. Martin---Watt---Cave---Lombard---Prestwood

Bold

 

[IrishLax]

This is the one position that is so hard to get a read on. I've got nothing to add to what has already basically been said here... you're looking at Lombard almost certainly getting one of the spots and then a largely open race for the other. I think it's almost impossible to predict at this point.