[BB73]

ozone.Fallcamp/offensiveline

Bollman Smiling Over Offensive Line Talent Despite Injury Situation
By John Porentas

When it comes to offense everybody likes to talk about those sexy
positions, you know, like quarterback, wide receiver, running back, but the game of football has always been one in which the guys who have their hand on the ground when the ball is snapped have more to do with the outcome than anyone else on the field. A great quarterback or tailback with no blocking is, for all intents and purposes, just so much cannon fodder for any average defense. Football teams fail or succeed depending on how well those big guys up front perform.

The Buckeyes have enjoyed very good line play throughout the Tressel era, and last year was no exception. Two key cogs in that offensive line, right guard T. J. Downing and center Doug Datish, are gone and must be replaced.

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Bollman has confidence in his backups and said they will definitely play in the early going this season.

"You're going to see Alex and Kirk at the tackles. You're going to see Steve Rehring., Bryant Browning and Ben Person and guards, you're going to see Jimmy Cordle at center, you're going to see Andrew Moses at center. You may see Steve Rehring at a little tackle, you'll see Josh Kerr at some tackle, those are they guys that will be playing in that first game," said Bollman.

"Connor Smith will be playing. The ninth guy would be Josh Kerr," Bollman said.

Like Browning, Kerr is a second-year player.

Most offensive line coaches would be tickled to death to have nine players of that caliber, and Bollman does appreciate the talent of that group, but is anxious to get his more experienced reserves back into the picture.

"The people I miss at the moment are Jon Skinner and Kyle Mitchum. They'll be back in a couple weeks."

Cont'd ...