Offensive Line a Top Priority for 2010 Recruiting Class
9 comments so far
March 6, 2009 by
Editor's Note: Also check out our running coverage of the 2010 Signing Day.
While there are many theories about what lead to the end of Frank Solich era, my view has been that the Huskers fell into offensive line hell, which stifled the offense and overburdened the defense. The result was a team that was no longer competitive with the best teams in college football.
To recap, the 1998 recruiting class brought three linemen (Wes Cody, Nate Kolterman and Matt Shook). None of them became an especially effective lineman. The 1999 class hit a home run with Toniu Fonoti (though he departed early), and Dan Waldrop was serviceable. But Jon Dawson and Tim Green didn’t pan out. That’s two useful linemen in two years. Jake Anderson and Mike Erickson were worthwhile finds in 2000, but M.J. Flaum and Nick Povendo weren’t. That’s four guys in three years. The next year brought Richie Incognito (who was later booted from the team) and Gary Pike. Seppo Evwaraye had to be moved to offense. The 2002 class had Kurt Mann, who became a useful center, but then it also had misses in Jermaine Leslie, Jemayel Phillips, and Cory Timm. By that season, the Huskers could barely find five scholarship starters, and needed walk-ons to try to field a two-deep.
Perhaps the most important achievement of the Bill Callahan regime was rebuilding the offensive line. However, the Huskers could fall back into o-line hell if they don’t take measures to bolster the trenches for the future. After a great crop in 2006, the Huskers found only two contributors in 2007 (Jaivorio Burkes and Marcel Jones, and Burkes didn’t redshirt). The 2008 class ended up being only Brandon Thompson (as Baker Steinkuhler moved to defense and Ricky Henry exhausts his eligibility with the class of 2006). The 2009 class is nice in that it features four players (Jeremiah Sirles, Nick Ash, Brent Qvale, and Jesse Coffey). Then this next class of recruits will be the last opportunity to have a “redshirted� group of scholarship players to field in 2011. That’s important because offensive linemen need redshirts both to get stronger but also to learn the offense. That means in order to have a two-deep of scholarship players to choose from the Huskers would need to retain Jones, Thompson, Sirles, Ash, Coffey, and Qvale AND find at least four recruits from the class of 2010.
The Huskers are off to a good start with a pledge from Andrew Rodriguez of Aurora, Nebraska. He’s already got a four-star rating from Scout.com. But the Huskers should seek commitments from at least three (if not four or five) offensive linemen to keep from getting thin on the offensive line. As things stand, they’ll likely need some walk-ons to develop to compensate for the inevitable losses to injury, discipline or just plain lack of ability. Brian Thorson is the most obvious candidate as he had received Division I offers before walking on.
The talk of the recruiting class is often the quarterbacks or running backs, but this recruiting season is really going to be about the big guys up front.
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Greg Morrow Mar 06 09
First, I'd like the thank the blogger who linked the Trojan Analysis site. "Le Magnifique!" (Pardon my French)
Back to topic.
You saw it happen. The number of guys who needed to be big contributors and either got hurt, left, or went crazy. Losing Osborne recruit Dominic Raiola to the pros before '01, hurt too. One thing I took notice of back then, was how big most of those guys Steve mentions were, even as frosh and sophomores. Huge! Then, they mostly got hurt or left the team. An almost unnatural amount of whiffs.
I don't feel like blaming anybody.
In this era, it's been mostly JCs who've left wanting. Cruz Barrett, so far, doesn't seem inclined to challenge.
Of Callahan's o-linemen, interesting the number of defensive guys who converted. Along with big Seppo, there was Chis Patrick and Jared Helming, who provided depth though '05.
I'm reminded of what former Kansas Coach Glen Mason once told a broadcasting crew, when he saw all of Nebraska's offensive linemen practice before the '95 game. To the effect of "they've got over 30 linemen! Some of those guys who won't ever play, could've played for us!"
Back when a shot at being a Nebraska o-lineman meant so much more than preparation for the pros.
teamster Mar 08 09
My memory of Jamal Lord's time was of a guy placed in a no-win position. His name was in the news weekly. Not because of how well he did, but because of what he didn't do. Even though we Huskers fans like to think we look after our own, most fans didn't give Jamal much love. There was a quote of his when he was about to leave Lincoln to the effect that he wasn't necessarily going to hold any fond feelings for the Husker homeland once he was gone.(Speaking of that, has he ever been back for a visit?)
At the time, I felt badly and was embarrassed about the way he was viewed and treated. The kid lived in your aptly described era of "offensive line hell". Far too often the guy would no more than get the snap and he would have a defender grasping at his hip. Pass hell! He was continuously being placed in panic mode immediately upon receiving the snap. He had to be a magician just to improvise and get the ball progressed forward of the scrimmage line in any manner possible. Play after play. Game after game.
Check the news archives. Even then the mantra was "Let Joe Daily play." Then as now, often the most popular player on a team is the backup quarterback.
Oh yes, I have serious shudders when I recall any past years of "offensive line hell". That is why to this day I have a serious interest in those that are chosen to work in the trenches on both sides of the ball. I don't want to revisit times of drought among the linemen.
nolanboeck Mar 08 09
i agree with both of you guys, but you cant blame anybody but the damn nutritionist. we used to be abel to recruit the biggest sob out there cause he was a corn fed, omaha steak eating, redneck that could move so fast it seemed like he was late for his wedding to his sister. If there wasnt such an obese eppidemic and so many diet pills we could still get them rednecks. now we settle with roided skinny guys lol. Go Big Red!!!!
JBLING22 Mar 08 09
What about Pensick,he was listed as both, and could be a center.. Also you forgot to mention that any of those previously mentioned people could still redshirt a year ( HURT/ NOT NEEDE), if they are not needed, therefore freeing up the younger players an additional year.. Don't forget that someof these players can play multiple positions, so having a two deep with a freshman on it doesn't mean he has to play..
For 2009 We will have these players on Scholarship... Jeremiah Sirles, Nick Ash, Brent Qvale, Jesse Coffey, Brandon Thompson, Marcel Jones.. Plus whom ever we get in the next recruiting class.... Not to mention not everyone of the incoming kids would have to not redshirt that year, maybe one.. .I would expect at least two walk-ons to play by then anyway.. Mike Caputo already has some experience. While I agree that we need to recruit O-Lineman, I don't know its as bad as you make it out to be.. We will lose 3 lineman next year, Christensen, Hickman,and walkon Meyer. As long as we replace at least 2-3 spots each year we will be ok.
Greg Morrow Mar 08 09
nolanboeck
Hey, tell your story!
You must have Nebraskans confused with somebody else.
Unless Oklahomans and Missourians (natch) have moved into Nebraska, ethnic German farmers, among others, in a culturally northern state... (does not a redneck make).
James moore Mar 09 09
Steve,
You got this exactly right. The one thing I'd like to contribute here is that there was one STRATEGIC element that was also working it's way through at the same time the pipeline began to dry up. I'll give it a go. . .
The 1999 team was the last 'true' legacy squad of the Dynasty period. In 1999 we set an NCAA record for 58 lost fumbles, including 2 or 3 inside the Texas 5, in Austin, and what ultimately ended up the lone blemish for a very good team preventing a berth in the National Championship game. Coach Solich, I felt, lost confidence in the ability of Alexander (especially Alexander0 and Buckhalter to handle option pitches. It really seemed to me that we sorted to revert to an ice-age-like orthodoxy for offensive playcalling. The tactical subtelty of Coach Osborne's in-game playcalling We became scheme-prone and THIS along with the decline in the depth and quality of the offensive line, really brought out the shortcomings in the Husker offensive line. After 1999 it was 34 Iso Blast, Crouch on an QB-iso, and in short an unwillingness to attack the perimeter with the triple option, and instead relying on the brute application of force in the trenches to compensate for the lack of confidence by Coach Solich to attack the edge with a true triple-option. . .
Steve Mar 09 09
James,
I'm with you to a point, but I'd time the demise of the NU offense at least a year or two later. The 2000 offense was an impressive animal. It was the defense (and to some degree special teams) that weren't at their usual level. The team scored 42 points a game, rushed for 350 yards a game and had 110 yards passing a game. Buckhalter and Alexander combined for over 1900 yards, and you also had Diedrick, Willie Miller, Davies, Thunder Collins, and Newcombe contributing to the rushing attack. The 2001 squad took a step backward in terms of points (about 37 or 38 a game) but still obviously was good enough to win 11 games. In 2001, with fewer weapons (Newcombe, Miller, Alexander and Buchkhalter gone) they tended to rely on Crouch too much. They stayed in that habit once Crouch was gone since the running backs needed holes that weren't there and Lord could make something out of a broken play.
Who knows what would have happened with no offensive line and Joe Dailey in the backfield. I suspect Cory Ross would have run until his legs fell off. He had 37 carries against Michigan State and that was with Lord as another option.
Jbling,
If NU had the depth to burn on the D-line, I'd be all for moving guys like Pensick to offense. The trouble is, DT and NT are arguably the two hardest positions to fill on the team. It's the great arms race in college football. That's why it's so great to have Suh back, since most teams don't have a Suh.
Dwayne Mar 09 09
teamster,
I was at a game after Jamaal Lord had graduated and it was during the half that he was introduced and accepted very positively. I understand your point and a lot of bad pub was dealt his way. It was at that time, that I was very proud onece more to be a Husker fan.
kirk bentley Apr 24 09
i have herd big things about Jake Laraway 320Lbs. AND 6'5 as a juniour he lead the blackhawks of leslie to a chance at the state title last year im intrested to see what he does this year