Bear Down Wildcats

All the previous position groups have depressed me at least a little, so I am picking a group that I hope gives me some confidence - offensive line.

Starting Experience (5)
Jacob Alsadek (23) (RS Jr)
Layth Friekh (9) (Jr)
Freddie Tagaloa (8) (RS Sr)
Zach Hemmila (6) (RS Sr)
Gerhard De Beer (4) (RS Jr)

Returning (2)
Christian Boettcher (RS So)
Levi Walton (RS So)

Newcomers (8)
Christian Lopez (RS Fr)
Nathan Eldridge (RS Fr)
Alex Konsinski (RS Fr)
Cody Creason (RS Fr)
Harper Sherman (Fr early enrollee)
Keenan Walker (Fr early enrollee)
Bryson Cain
Michael Eletise

Starters entering camp:
RT - de Beer
RG - Alsakek
C - Hemmila or Walton
LG - Tagaloa
RT - Friekh

Back-ups:
Tackle - Walker, Kosinski, Sherman
Guard - Eletise, Boettcher, Creason
Center - Hemmila/Walton, Eldridge

Ok, I was looking for optimism and I love the starters as long as one of the centers can consistently hit Anu (or Dawkins) in his hands. Concern - almost all of our depth is new. We've recruited well at the position, but we need a good showing from the new guys.

I think the O-line will be one of the team's bright spots. They can stand to be real good this season if the chips fall right and Tagaloa lives up to his potential. I have more faith in Hemmila at C than I did Bundage at C last year.

Always felt like 2014 was like it was (a south championship) because we had the best offensive line in the conference.

Last year's overall play was just like the olines, uneven. I also think the OLINE this year is a strength so I think we can max out our potential offensively

Keenan Walker is not currently participating in fall camp due to injury and discipline issues. Hurts our depth at tackle.

Pac-12 position group rankings: Offensive line

http://www.espn.com/blog/pac12/post/_/i ... nsive-line" target="_blank

1. USC
2. Utah
3. Stanford
4. Washington
5. UCLA
6. Washington State
7. Cal
8. Oregon

9. Arizona: No group has been through more than the Wildcats. The sudden death of OG Zach Hemmila put football into perspective, but there’s no doubt they will hope to honor him, at least to a degree, with their play this year. Jacob Alsadek is their most experienced lineman with 23 career starts, but the unit as a whole has combined for nearly 50 – more if you count LG Freddie Tagaloa’s experience at Cal before transferring.

10. Colorado
11. Arizona State
12. Oregon State

Very good article by Ryan Kelapire at SBN. Makes me even more optimistic about our offense.

And before fall camp started, Michalczik made it clear what his expectations are for the hard-working unit this season. He handed out an article, which listed the top-15 offensive lines in college football, to each member of the offensive line.

Arizona was nowhere to be found on that list, and Michalczik's message was clear.

"He was trying to say 'why not us? Why can't we be up there?'," said guard Jacob Alsadek. "We can. I think this year we can. It's important to every one of us. We want to be the best offensive line in the country, and I really think we can do that."

Keys for the offensive line; find a reliable center and avoid injuries.

ANGCatFan wrote:Keys for the offensive line; find a reliable center and avoid injuries.

That's a familiar feeling.

I hope these guys play every play for Zach.

Eldridge is the favorite at center and that means we are gonna have a huge offensive line. We should just maul teams

catinfl wrote:Eldridge is the favorite at center and that means we are gonna have a huge offensive line. We should just maul teams

I can't remember the number of times the O-line was supposed to be a strength only to disappoint.