With 18 OL on that list, not including the incoming freshmen, we should be able to do better at starting center, IMO.
It's all great on paper. Just like last year.
I thought they had Behrens practicing there last fall, I guess the coaches didn't like what they saw.
Utility is great, for backups. All non-starting linemen should know as many positions as possible to enable the best possible substitution when a starter goes down. Utility among starters does nothing but muddle the outcome. Once a lineman is named the starter he needs to focus on that position to optimize his growth and the stability of the line. Granted he should know the assignments of the other linemen on PAPER to insure that all blocking assignments and contingencies are covered, but he should always practice his position. Mixing starters around when one goes down creates several less than optimal positions rather than the one.I thought Hawk and Johnson always preached utility among the O-lineman. They like to teach every guy every position. Therefore, we should be able to mix and match for the best line right?
While this sounds good on paper, meaning maybe we can get the best five athletes on the field, it could be having the opposite effect. Too much information and not enough narrow focus for these kids. Let them get good a certain positions and not have to constantly worry about the "little things".
I have strong hopes for this line! It better be pretty darn good or we are wasting a lot of talent.
With 18 OL on that list, not including the incoming freshmen, we should be able to do better at starting center, IMO.
Are you for real? You're worried about the center spot. How about the sieve that was LG or the penalties of a talented but hot headed RT. Those penalties killed so many drives. I hope Givens has matured but if not, I would love to see somebody like Dannewitz or Tau challenge Givens and provide some more consistency at RT.
Our starting center played in 11 games and graded out 80% or higher in all 11 games and had 4 games 90 or higher, that is second best only to our all-conference LT. Stevens only had two penalties all year compared to 13 by our RT and 10 by our RG. A center shouldn't have many penalties anyway because he is snapping the ball, I'm just trying to say that there are other areas for improvement. Besides of those 23 penalties on the right side of our line, quite a few were of the 15 yard variety. Having the refs at the spring practices was a nice touch this year, I hope it pays off and cuts down on the penalties.
Stevens also only gave up 2 QB pressures compared to 19 by Miller and 19 by Adkins and 16 by Givens. As far as sacks, they all gave up 3 to 4 with the exception of Adkins who gave up 6. That just has to improve across the board. I know you guys don't like to admit it because he didn't come out of high school with any "stars" but I think Stevens could be our second or third best lineman.
As for LG, I would like to see Iltis there. With Iltis at LG, that was the best our line played all year. I think Richter is going to redshirt, and I'm pretty sure he has been quoted as saying that he wants to redshirt this year. Playing Iltis at guard gives him more experience this year and then he can slide into the center spot next year. Then next year you could have a line of:
LT: Givens
LG: Richter
C: Iltis
RG: Simon (JC Recruit) A stretch I know but he will be a 3 to play 3 guy. He is listed as the top JC center in the country so you could also put him at Center and keep Iltis at guard.
RT: Dannewitz
Sets us up with a talented and experienced oline for our move into the PAC-12.
https://www.nmnathletics.com//pdf8/706100.pdf
If and its a big if right now, you do this you flip sides on your tackles. Givens has nothing resembling the discipline needed to play the left side and Dannewitz is a natural LT. Givens aggressiveness and physical technique would make highly effective as a RT in the run game, potentially you even move him inside to RG where he would be a more natural fit.
I was just going to mention Simon.
I look forward to seeing him on the field.
i thought Simon had "reopened" his recruiting?
i thought Simon had "reopened" his recruiting?
Simon signed with Colorado out of high school, before failing to qualify, and he re-committed to the Buffaloes in February. But a recent report suggested that Simon might be looking around.
"I am still full with it, I am still solidly committed to Colorado," he stated "But I read in Sports Illustrated and other places that he (Buffs' head coach Dan Hawkins) is on the hot seat.
"Even if a coaching change were to happen, CU would still be number one on my list but I need to keep an open ear and have a backup plan just in case something happens to the coaches there."
According to Rivals story on BuffStampede, he is committed, although a coaching change would make him think twice:
Dannewitz at LT would be a good fit too, it just comes down to experience. Givens could be a good bridge at LT, but I definitely see your point. I would also like to see Bakhtiari at LT but he is still pretty raw. Who knows, he may surprise next spring.
Yeah Dannewitz at LT when Solder leaves, but also Jack Harris should be ready to compete for starting time next year too.
Where could we put him?Definitely watching Jack Harris.
Fullback, lol.Where could we put him?
I'm not really optimistic, I'm just trying to look for any positives heading into the season. Our OL has been pretty embarrassing imo. Everyone is saying the same thing as last year (including myself). Experience, Experience, Experience.Good thread.
Last year, about this time, I started a thread titled something along the lines of "sell me on this O-Line". I'd heard so much about how it would be our strength, but when I examined the inexperience, I wasn't seeing it.
I'm far more optimistic this season for the line.
Go Buffs!!
I'm trying not to bash anyone over the internet, I just think Iltis needs to show a hell of a lot more before we can start saying hes our best option at any position.I'm pretty sold on a starting unit of Solder-Iltis-Stevens-Miller-Givens starting the season as our "best" option. I'd like Richter to redshirt so we can retain some talent through the "junior-heavy" class. Personally I'd like to have Ryan Miller play RT and find someone else to play RG (Tau, Behrens, or MTM) . I think Givens needs to mature and develop a little more but it might be too late for that since he was thrown into the fire immediately (maybe they were worried he would leave if he didn't get PT).
Next season a lineup of Dannewitz-Iltis-Simon-Miller-Givens with Jack Harris pushing for Tackle time and Richter and Max pushing for interior time.
I'm trying not to bash anyone over the internet, I just think Iltis needs to show a hell of a lot more before we can start saying hes our best option at any position.
Fact is, Max versus West Virginia in 2008 is the best play I've seen from a CU guard in at least the past 4 years. If he can get back to the physicality he had 2 years ago with increased strength, maturity and football IQ (from being 2 years older)... then the LG spot is his without question.
If he can't get there, I'm for Iltis or Behrens. I wasn't impressed with Adkins last season. Richter should only play if he's clearly the best man for the job. If it's close, he should redshirt.
How many acl surgeries has he had now though? Im hoping he will be full go but the health of his knees even when he is 100% worries me.agreed on every point above. In fact, I rewatched the CSU game from 2008 recently and Max got put out there in the 2nd half and we started to really blow thru their Defensive Front when he came in. He was a true freshmen and he was a man. He was also coming off of an ACL tear from High School only 15 months earlier. It's been 18 months since he tore the other one. I really see no reason why he won't be full go.