2012 Offensive Line ( O-Line ) Discussion

[WaitingforKickoff]

Basically our best four OL: Norwell/Mewhort/Fragel/Hall can all play tackle. The rest of the guys: Linsley, Bobek and Underwood and provide depth inside. Shaping up to be a pretty good line with Fragel being the only SR in the group.

 

[Tlangs]

Basically our best four OL: Norwell/Mewhort/Fragel/Hall can all play tackle. The rest of the guys: Linsley, Bobek and Underwood and provide depth inside. Shaping up to be a pretty good line with Fragel being the only SR in the group.

Do we really know that Fragel can play tackle? I will be happy if he ends up being a solid starter but to expect that is a bit much. I'll wait until after spring ball to see if this line is "pretty good"

 

[RB07OSU]

" 1st team OL: (l-r) Mewhort, Norwell, Linsley, Hall, Fragel" MarcusHartman

Interesting...I thought Norwell would start off at tackle for sure, but I really like that line. Wonder if Bobek will jump in the mix for center? Saw his weight was around 275...not sure if that is going to get it done.

 

[Buckskin86]

There were questions on how the offensive line would be configured after losing three starters, but though it was only the first day, the answer seems clear. The first team was Jack Mewhort at left tackle, Andrew Norwell at left guard, Corey Linsley at center, Marcus Hall at right guard and Reid Fragel at right tackle.

Four can play multiple positions, but Fragel, the converted tight end now locked in as a tackle, is the key guy. The Buckeyes need him to handle the transition as a senior. He certainly has the body for it -- as the lean 300-pound tackle Meyer wants -- and he seemed fine Wednesday.

It was thought sophomore Brian Bobek might be stepping in for Mike Brewster at center, but Linsley is the clear No. 1 and Meyer said he didn't even know who No. 2 was. Bobek lined up with the second team, but early-enrolled freshman Jacoby Boren, the third Boren brother at Ohio State, already caught Meyer's eye.

"Little Boren. He's a tough nut," Meyer said.

http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2012/03/opening_day_of_spring_drills_a.html

 

[808 Buck]

First Team Line: LT Mewhort, LG Norwell, C Linsley, RG Hall, RT Fragel

Second Team Line: LT Baldwin, LG C.Carter, C Bobek/Boren, RG Underwood, RT Brown/Decker

http://www.theozone.net/football/2012/springball/dayone_insiderreport.html

I know it has only been one day, and one without pads for that matter, but I find it interesting that there are no walk-ons listed in the two-deep. Other than Boren and Decker, I haven't heard Meyer say a whole bunch about any of the second team line, so I'm wondering if the staff is taking the trial by fire approach. It sounds like it's going to be "let's see what you've got." With three more freshmen coming in the fall, the time is now for some of these guys (at least in terms of showing potential) . One other thing mentioned was the practice tempo and the number of plays that the offense ran. Your big guys need to be in great shape to maintain that day in and day out. Might be something to watch.

 

[Oh8ch]

http://www.theozone.net/football/2012/springball/dayone_insiderreport.html

I know it has only been one day, and one without pads for that matter, but I find it interesting that there are no walk-ons listed in the two-deep. Other than Boren and Decker, I haven't heard Meyer say a whole bunch about any of the second team line, so I'm wondering if the staff is taking the trial by fire approach. It sounds like it's going to be "let's see what you've got." With three more freshmen coming in the fall, the time is now for some of these guys (at least in terms of showing potential) . One other thing mentioned was the practice tempo and the number of plays that the offense ran. Your big guys need to be in great shape to maintain that day in and day out. Might be something to watch.

I read elsewhere that it is Meyer's intention to establish his two deep in the spring. Fall is about getting ready for games. Very different philosophy than JT.

 

[Buckskin86]

Interesting line developments

Two weeks into the first Ohio State spring practice under coach Urban Meyer, one of the more interestng developments has been the depth situation on offensive line. More to the point, it''s been about where the Buckeyes have found the depth.

Freshman Jacoby Boren appears to be hanging in there as a viable candidate to backup center behind Corey Linsley. Freshman Taylor Decker is getting work on both ends of the line as the backup to left and right tackle. Not bad, considering Boren -- brother of senior fullback Zach Boren -- has been on campus a little over three months and Decker has been enrolled less than three weeks.

It also speaks to what line coach Ed Warinner wants most from his linemen, which appears to be consistent effort and the penchant to hit somebody on every play, no matter whether it is alway the right person.

But then, the offensive line situation is a patchwork quilt, considering left tackle Jack Mewhort was the starting right guard last year, left guard Andrew Norwell started the first five games at left tackle last year, Linsley was the sixth man in 2011, right guard Marcus Hall was a work in progress as a backup, and right tackle Reid Fragel was a tight end. Yet the first team line has looked quite capable at times this spring. As Meyer and Warinner have said all along, developing quality depth is going to be the challenge.

http://www.buckeyextra.com/content/...es/2012/04/interesting-line-developments.html

Mewhort, Fragel adjust to new roles on Ohio State's offensive line
By Dan Hope
[email protected]
Published: Tuesday, April 10, 2012

The Ohio State football team only lost seven total starters from last season, but three of them were offensive linemen. It will be the job of new offensive line coach Ed Warinner to replace the three former starters and accommodate the line to coach Urban Meyer’s style of offense. The adjustment is bigger for some than others.

Last season, Jack Mewhort started at guard on the OSU’s offensive line, while Reid Fragel played tight end. This spring, Mewhort, a rising redshirt junior, and Fragel, a rising senior, are preparing to take on new roles as the Buckeyes’ starting offensive tackles.

Mewhort, a right guard last season, has moved to left tackle this spring. Fragel, OSU’s second-string tight end last year, is playing right tackle. Another rising redshirt junior, Corey Linsley, is in position to start at center.

Mewhort and Fragel acknowledged that the transition to playing offensive tackle has had its challenges, but had very positive assessments of their own progressions thus far.

“It’s going well,” Mewhort said. “It’s a transition from playing guard, but it’s been a lot of fun just really honing my skills out there on the edge.”

Fragel, who said the decision to move from tight end to offensive tackle was his own decision and not one made for him by the coaching staff, agreed.

“I’m a blocker at heart, so there’s some things I feel like I’m comfortable at to begin with,” Fragel added. “Obviously learning the new offense and new terminology and stuff is a little bit difficult, but I feel like I’m picking up on it pretty well.”

Warinner said he’s been very pleased with Fragel’s progress this spring.

“He’s awesome, he’s the body type you want for tackle, he’s made a great transition, he’s gained weight, he’s just learning how to play the position and he’s come along well,” Warinner said. “All the physical attributes you’re looking for in a guy you’d go recruit (to play offensive tackle), he has them.”

cont...

http://www.thelantern.com/sports/me...state-s-offensive-line-1.2842624#.T4QaW9WW6Ag

 

[BB73]

This article says that as a group, the O-line dropped 450 pounds of fat and added 500 pounds of muscle.

Ozone

Mewhort, Linsley Lead Offensive Line in 180-Degree Turnaround
By Brandon Castel

COLUMBUS, Ohio ? It is hard to imagine where Corey Linsley might be right now if Urban Meyer had not become the head football coach at Ohio State.
...
Linsley isn?t a finished product yet, and neither is the offensive line, but the group has made incredible strides since January. As a unit, they shed more than 450 pounds of fat during Marotti?s off-season workouts, while putting on 500 pounds of muscle.
?Their bodies are changing a little bit,? Meyer said, ? and their attitudes are changing.?
During Ohio State?s recent football clinic with the Ohio high school coaches, Meyer called the offensive line ?the most improved group? on his football team this spring. It starts with Mewhort?who Meyer calls the ?leader of the group??at left tackle, but everyone needed a fresh start on the offensive line.

Cont'd ...

 

[Buckeye86]

This article says that as a group, the O-line dropped 450 pounds of fat and added 500 pounds of muscle.

Ozone

It implies a lot of other things as well. Water under the bridge, I suppose.

 

[k2onprimetime]

This article says that as a group, the O-line dropped 450 pounds of fat and added 500 pounds of muscle.

Ozone

Fragel still needs to add at least 15 more lbs. He looked very skinny standing next to other offensive lineman.

 

[Buckeye86]

Fragel still needs to add at least 15 more lbs. He looked very skinny standing next to other offensive lineman.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Decker as the starting RT before the end of camp for that reason.

 

[Taosman]

Fragel still needs to add at least 15 more lbs. He looked very skinny standing next to other offensive lineman.

He's 6ft 8inches! It would take a whole lot of extra weight to make him not look skinny. But I think he's big enough and fits the "new mold" of what is wanted at the tackle position. He can move real well, still!

 

[HorseshoeFetish]

He's 6ft 8inches! It would take a whole lot of extra weight to make him not look skinny. But I think he's big enough and fits the "new mold" of what is wanted at the tackle position. He can move real well, still!

Is it just me or does the thought of a tackle eligible play come to mind...With 3 guys in the end zone that are 6'5" or better.

Edit: never mind see this has been covered in the Fragel thread.

 

[Buckskin86]

Ohio State football: Offensive linemen transforming under new coach
By Bill Rabinowitz
The Columbus Dispatch Sunday May 6, 2012

Four months ago, Ed Warinner had little reason to be as confident about his Ohio State offensive line as he is now.

He?ll go into camp in August pretty sure of the starters at four of five positions. He can identify the unit?s leaders. And Warinner can bet, with little doubt, that his linemen will be on time and responsible.

He couldn?t say any of that right after he became one of the final additions to Urban Meyer?s coaching staff. Warinner was a well-regarded offensive line coach at Notre Dame, but a spot on the Buckeyes staff was a dream job for the Strasburg, Ohio, native, so when Meyer offered him the job, he jumped at it.

It became clear instantly how far his players would have to progress, in both mind and body. Warinner?s first day on the job was the morning after the Gator Bowl loss to Florida. Meyer scheduled a team meeting for 7 a.m.

Three of the offensive linemen were late.

?Obviously, that was a red light immediately,? Warinner said.

Imagine Warinner?s feeling. He?d arrived at his destination school, ready to plunge in, and three of his players couldn?t even bother to show up on time? They had the typical excuses ? couldn?t get a ride, alarm didn?t go off ? but that didn?t wash.

?It wasn?t a good way for them to start off with their first meeting with the new head coach and the first meeting with their new position coach,? Warinner said. ?It was a wake-up call that we weren?t where we needed to be, and the problems of the past had to stop, and we had to move forward.?

cont...

http://www.buckeyextra.com/content/...ive-linemen-transforming-under-new-coach.html

 

[MAINEiac Buckeye]

Well, as soon as my MIL gets her visa straightened out she'll whip those slackers into shape some quick. When she finishes with them they will be "Strong like many Bulls"!

The Cyrillic characters under those out of shape WIMPY Navy Seals is Russian for "USA", under the Babushka it says "Russia".