OL 2013

[pkt77242]

I was looking at my Phil Steele magazine earlier today and our OL depth could be frightening next year. I know that it has been discussed on and off in other threads but I thought it would be nice to have a specific thread for it. Here are some scenarios that could happen.

1. Everything goes our way. Martin and Watt return and Hegarty and Nichols are cleared to play.

Starters are Z. Martin, Lombard, N. Martin, Watt and Hegarty. Backups are Nichols, Stanley, Hanratty, Harrell and Heggie. Great depth and all the freshmen can redshirt (I know that we supposedly don't redshirt, but we do).


2. It goes about as expected. Hegarty and Nichols get medicals but Z. Martin and Watt return.

Starters are Z. Martin, Lombard, N. Martin, Watt, and Hanratty or Harrell at C.
Depth is provided by Hanratty/Harrell, Stanley and Heggie. Possible that some freshmen might have to play.

3. Not good but not the worst. Hegarty and Nichols get medicals, Z Martin goes pro and Watt returns.

Starters are Lombard, Stanley, N. Martin, Watt and Hanratty/Harrell
Depth is provided by Hanratty/Harrell and Heggie. Some freshmen will almost for sure have to play in this scenario.

4. Doomsday. Hegarty and Nichols get medicals, Z Martin and Watt both go pro. I **** myself and cry like a little baby.

Starters Lombard, Stanley, N Martin, Hanratty, and Harrell.
Depth is Heggie and a couple of freshmen will have to play.


There are other scenarios which I will add in later as I get more time.

Which brings me to further questions. I know that Elmer is EEing but are any other offensive linemen doing so as well? Where do you think the incoming freshmen end up playing along the line? If the doomsday scenario happens does the staff consider moving Jarron Jones to the oline?

 

[ThePiombino]

I was looking at my Phil Steele magazine earlier today and our OL depth could be frightening next year. I know that it has been discussed on and off in other threads but I thought it would be nice to have a specific thread for it. Here are some scenarios that could happen.

1. Everything goes our way. Martin and Watt return and Hegarty and Nichols are cleared to play.

Starters are Z. Martin, Lombard, N. Martin, Watt and Hegarty. Backups are Nichols, Stanley, Hanratty, Harrell and Heggie. Great depth and all the freshmen can redshirt (I know that we supposedly don't redshirt, but we do).


2. It goes about as expected. Hegarty and Nichols get medicals but Z. Martin and Watt return.

Starters are Z. Martin, Lombard, N. Martin, Watt, and Hanratty or Harrell at C.
Depth is provided by Hanratty/Harrell, Stanley and Heggie. Possible that some freshmen might have to play.

3. Not good but not the worst. Hegarty and Nichols get medicals, Z Martin goes pro and Watt returns.

Starters are Lombard, Stanley, N. Martin, Watt and Hanratty/Harrell
Depth is provided by Hanratty/Harrell and Heggie. Some freshmen will almost for sure have to play in this scenario.

4. Doomsday. Hegarty and Nichols get medicals, Z Martin and Watt both go pro. I **** myself and cry like a little baby.

Starters Lombard, Stanley, N Martin, Hanratty, and Harrell.
Depth is Heggie and a couple of freshmen will have to play.


There are other scenarios which I will add in later as I get more time.

Which brings me to further questions. I know that Elmer is EEing but are any other offensive linemen doing so as well? Where do you think the incoming freshmen end up playing along the line? If the doomsday scenario happens does the staff consider moving Jarron Jones to the oline?

4a. Golson gets more yardage on the ground (running for his life) than he does through the air.

 

[Emcee77]

I was looking at my Phil Steele magazine earlier today and our OL depth could be frightening next year. I know that it has been discussed on and off in other threads but I thought it would be nice to have a specific thread for it. Here are some scenarios that could happen.

1. Everything goes our way. Martin and Watt return and Hegarty and Nichols are cleared to play.

Starters are Z. Martin, Lombard, N. Martin, Watt and Hegarty. Backups are Nichols, Stanley, Hanratty, Harrell and Heggie. Great depth and all the freshmen can redshirt (I know that we supposedly don't redshirt, but we do).


2. It goes about as expected. Hegarty and Nichols get medicals but Z. Martin and Watt return.

Starters are Z. Martin, Lombard, N. Martin, Watt, and Hanratty or Harrell at C.
Depth is provided by Hanratty/Harrell, Stanley and Heggie. Possible that some freshmen might have to play.

3. Not good but not the worst. Hegarty and Nichols get medicals, Z Martin goes pro and Watt returns.

Starters are Lombard, Stanley, N. Martin, Watt and Hanratty/Harrell
Depth is provided by Hanratty/Harrell and Heggie. Some freshmen will almost for sure have to play in this scenario.

4. Doomsday. Hegarty and Nichols get medicals, Z Martin and Watt both go pro. I **** myself and cry like a little baby.

Starters Lombard, Stanley, N Martin, Hanratty, and Harrell.
Depth is Heggie and a couple of freshmen will have to play.


There are other scenarios which I will add in later as I get more time.

Which brings me to further questions. I know that Elmer is EEing but are any other offensive linemen doing so as well? Where do you think the incoming freshmen end up playing along the line? If the doomsday scenario happens does the staff consider moving Jarron Jones to the oline?

Nice post. Reps.

The situation is really scary.

I do think we can pretty much rule out the doomsday scenario. Lou Somogyi on BGI said the other day that Watt has indicated that he is coming back. There would have to be some dramatic change in circumstances before he leaves.

But scenario 3 is still REALLY troubling. I mean, as you say, we probably will have Z Martin back, but still, there's a chance we won't. Elmer is the only EE on the O-line, and he'll have to have a good spring and get ready fast. It hurts that we only have one interior lineman coming in, but helps that Lombard can move to guard if necessary. Also one of the incoming tackles may have to work at guard, probably Bivin if you put stock in this analysis: In The Film Room: Hunter Bivin.

Bottom line is it looks like our incoming frosh had better be ready to play next year, because they might have to.

I do think we'll have to have serious injury problems before we move Jarron Jones or Springmann to offense though. We'll have the bodies, with the five guys coming in. We just don't have experienced depth.

 

[Buster Bluth]

I think Elmer could play some RT as a true freshman. Thank God he's EE'ing.

Cross your fingers that Martin and Watt return. Martin doesnt have the length to be an NFL LT, so his grade shouldnt be too great.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Errr Thank God. Haha cant edit via tapatalk for some reason..

 

[ThePiombino]

Errr Thank God. Haha cant edit via tapatalk for some reason..

Tap on your post and choose 'modify'.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Hopefully at least 1 of the injured guys can still play. It is scary depth-wise but assuming Watt and Martin come back the starters will be very good again.

 

[clashmore_mike]

Errr Thank God. Haha cant edit via tapatalk for some reason..

You can if you refresh the thread. Also it seems that bug has been fixed in the newest version of tapatalk.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Hegarty's my biggest concern. Breaking in a new Center can be extremely painful, and I assume the drop-off behind Hegarty is significant.

Someone must know about his mysterious medical condition. I'm dyin' here.

 

[Irish YJ]

Longo needs to put all these kids (2013) on workout and diet plans NOW.

 

[EifertPower]

Yeah I always felt that we've been lacking in recruiting for the offensive line although we also cant overlook that the loss of Matt James hurt too.

Our defensive front 7 is getting so much credit this year and deservedly so, but our offensive line deserves just as much. is there a more underrated player in the nation than Braxton Cave? Also we've been so lucky this year to have the same 5 guys start every game.

Also we've criticized Golic a lot but he's turned into a tremendous player and we wouldn't be where we are without his development. And to top it off he's got a fantastic personality like his father and he's an academic all-american. Golic family should be very proud.

As far as next year goes, if Nix and Watt and Martin all come back then i think we are a Top 10 team in the nation.

 

[woolybug25]

Let's not forget.... we're bound to have an injury at some point during the season.

 

[irishroo]

Watt and Martin both plan to send in papers to NFL advisory board in order to gauge draft potential. Watt says there is almost no scenario in which he does not come back, Martin less sure than Watt but also leaning towards a 5th year at ND

 

[Old Man Mike]

I KNOW that "it's none of my business" but there is still some emotional humanity left in this 72 year old nervous system: WHAT is Matt Hegarty's health prognosis?? Does anyone even have a mildly informed guess?

Both Harrell and Hanratty have tried snapping, and I think that Harrell has been doing it as a specialty all fall, so he could be ready technique-wise. In the Almost-Doomsday of losing ZMart and Hegarty, Watt and Lombard anchor, and Harrell steps up. That leaves two spots to be filled by NMart, Stanley, and I think, Elmer.

A lot of major college O-Lines get forced to go with seven linemen as actual players in the season, and eight is not uncommon. I'm betting that in the Almost Doomsday scenario our "eight" are Lombard, Watt, Harrell, NMart, Stanley, Elmer, Hanratty, and Heggie --- with Kelly trying like he!l not to blow more Frosh years than necessary. That's the conservative way to handle it. BUT....

Coach doesn't ever seem to think this way. Therefore I would not be stunned to see him give the green light to rapidly developing both Montelus and Biven, since they seem to be "body ready" by some comments.

Also in the Almost Doomsday scenario: With the exception of (paradoxically) Harrell, no particular position would be set, though Watt at LG likely so. Whether Lombard is a G or a T makes big differences. NMart couldn't beat out Golic at G and may be only a Tackle. If so, which one? Stanley seems a Tackle. So does Elmer. Who plays where? What a Circus at this point. Come on back Big Zach and help solve some of this!!!