Let's talk O-Line

[Auburn4Winners 0]

As I've been reading posts all over the site, it seems like a lot of people are concerned about our O-line and I would love to know why. They seem more than talented enough to be great. Certainly deep enough to be great. Competing with each other for playing time will push them to be great. A leader in Reese Dismukes (preseason Rimington watch list) to lead them to greatness. Not a ton of experience but definitely some experience and the first 3 games this season are against fairly weak defensive lines, giving them time to get situated. Opinions? Disagree?

[gilstein211345162940 0]

the talent is there, but I think the one thing that has people concerned is how will they play together as a unit. That's what was so great about the 2010 OL. They played so well together as a group. Hopefully talent can carry them through the first few games as they work on playing as a unit.

[redfish999991345162870 0]

Too many "greats" in your post......maybe much improved.....maybe even good.....

but great...........i wish

WDE

[AUpocalypse 12]

I'm not at all worried...

They are coached by Grimes and they are/will be going up against OUR D-Line everyday in practice. They'll get good real quick if they're not already.

[collector527 0]

I would say there is more pure talent across the oline now than we had in 2010 but experience can not be overrated especially in certain areas. The online needs to have a feel for each other. WHat each other tends to do, how each reacts, and each others weaknesses.  Like timing between a qb and wr, it can only be learned with time. Talent can get you so far but it is experience that takes you to the next level.  Talent is there, now it has to be shaped into one cohesive unit working together. Should be a good oline by seasons  end, Hopefuly before.

[WarEagle10 77]

My concern is........... that while very talented, they are mostly unproven. If you look at almost every great Auburn team, one factor for success was a veteran OL. There is nothing like experience, at any position on the field, especially on the OL. I saw last year what struggles on the OL can do to an O. I think Coach Grimes is the best OL coach in the nation. I think we are as talented as any OL in the nation. Our guys just have to gel, and do this in a hurry, for us to have the kind of season we all hope for.

[AdrenalineRusch 0]

And pretty much every single person from last years OL is back again this year. I think we are good.

[Mr.Plainsman 0]

One thing y'all are forgetting is #35. He will help the line tremendously

[WarEagle10 77]

And pretty much every single person from last years OL is back again this year. I think we are good.

For who? Auburn University is replacing basically the entire OL, except for center.

[auburnphan 6,050]

And pretty much every single person from last years OL is back again this year. I think we are good.

For who? Auburn University is replacing basically the entire OL, except for center.

Didn't Slade and Sullen start last year??

[AdrenalineRusch 0]

Sullen, Slade, Mack, Fariyike, Burgess in addition to OReilly perhaps?

[AUenginerd 16]

Sullen, Slade, Mack, Fariyike, Burgess in addition to OReilly perhaps?

Burgess has moved to TE, and Oreilly has left the team.  Try to keep up.   

[AdrenalineRusch 0]

I stand corrected on Oreilly.  Forgot he left the team.  The Burgess move could always be moved back as well. But you didn't even remember the returning OL we had from last year, perhaps you should keep up?

[AUwent 3,830]

And pretty much every single person from last years OL is back again this year. I think we are good.

For who? Auburn University is replacing basically the entire OL, except for center.

Didn't Slade and Sullen start last year??

Yeah I'm a bit surprised at those looking past Slade and Sullen. I think losing Greene should actually help, haha. No disrespect meant to AJ but he made me REALLY wish we had started Robinson in his place--then we'd have 4 starters returning.

[JMassie11 1,660]

The team will go as far as the o line goes...that being said we should win all our games minus the turds lsu and Uga....not saying we can't win those games but at this moment nearly 3 months before the season starts on paper we aren't suppose to win those 3

[IronMan70 3,321]

Ahh one of my favorite subjects, the big uglies on the OL. Coach Grimes had his auditions for different combinations in the Spring. Now it will be important for him to name his starters, by position, as soon as he can so they can get as many reps together as possible before the first game.

I am not as concerned as some because even though 2 of our probable starters are new, Robinson and Westerman,  they are not only an upgrade in talent on the blind side but they have been in the system a year going up against our starting DL.

I think the starting lineup of Robinson, Westerman, Dismukes, Sullen and Slade, in whatever order Coach Grimes finally decides, will put us in very good shape.

Including those 5 starters, we have 15 total offensive linemen on scholarship. The talent level of the 10 players in the depth chart behind them is some of the best we have ever had. With 4 of them, we have "some" experience with Mack (when available), Faryike, Miller (EE/Spring) and Callahan (EE/Spring).

However with 6 of them, Coleman, Diamond, Kozan, Young, Leff and Adams, that don't even have a Spring under their belt, we need to get them up to speed as fast as possible. In the first half of the season this will be the Achilles heel if we have a rash of injuries so we just have to hope the other 9 players can handle it until these new guys can get up to speed.    

[Auburn4Winners 0]

Ahh one of my favorite subjects, the big uglies on the OL. Coach Grimes had his auditions for different combinations in the Spring. Now it will be important for him to name his starters, by position, as soon as he can so they can get as many reps together as possible before the first game.

I am not as concerned as some because even though 2 of our probable starters are new, Robinson and Westerman,  they are not only an upgrade in talent on the blind side but they have been in the system a year going up against our starting DL.

I think the starting lineup of Robinson, Westerman, Dismukes, Sullen and Slade, in whatever order Coach Grimes finally decides, will put us in very good shape. 

This is what I'm talking about. If Grimes is happy/impressed with any of them, (which he's said about a few), then I'm more than happy with them.

[ttott 18]

I like this Oline.  It reminds me of the 2010 line when they were freshmen.  As our then coaches said, "they may not know who to hit, but they are going to hit someone."  The enthusiasm that the incoming redshirt freshmen will bring to the game may be just what this physical offense needs.  If Big John and Reese can provide enough leadership early on and they can learn the line calls in this new offense to the extent serious mistakes are minimized, this Oline may have gelled sufficiently that it gives LSU all it can handle on a hot afternoon in September.   The key will be avoidance of injuries so that we have the same starting 5 through the LSU game.

[yy4u 0]

As I've been reading posts all over the site, it seems like a lot of people are concerned about our O-line and I would love to know why. They seem more than talented enough to be great. Certainly deep enough to be great. Competing with each other for playing time will push them to be great. A leader in Reese Dismukes (preseason Rimington watch list) to lead them to greatness. Not a ton of experience but definitely some experience and the first 3 games this season are against fairly weak defensive lines, giving them time to get situated. Opinions? Disagree?

I hope ur just stirring the pot.  By far our weakest position for Fall.  We do not even have 5 starters yet ready for the season.  Dismukes, Sullen and Slade all struggled in SEC play last season.  We lost 2 guys to NFL and must replace them with someone who has zero SEC game starts.  I think the 3 returning OL will all be improved, but none dominant in SEC play.  The 2 new OL starters will struggle just as Dismukes did last season. 

I think Loeffler will try to disguise this weakness by running more power game and play action, and limit plays thjagt could lose yardage.  Another year or two and the OL will be a strength, until then realistic expectations are in order.       

[Stripe 5]

I feel that with the talent level and the experience that the guys on the line will jell early and be dominant. My only real concern is penalties. As o-line penalties has been a huge achilles heel the past 4 years. I honestly feel that the o line will be strong by the first game and great by seasons end. LSU game will be the key to the season.

Also as always wether the ref's call the game both ways instead of just against Auburn like they did last year. But that's a whole different matter all together.

[Guayascate 0]

In 2007 didn't we start 3 true freshman on the OL, in a odd year (i.e. tough road schedule, in fact our schedule was ranked the 5th toughest in the country) and didn't we go 9 and 4?  How would you compare that staff's coaching ability to this staff's?  How would you compare that teams overall talent level to this year's team?  OL play particularly with youngsters is most difficult on the road in tough environments.  This OL will practice against pure studs for weeks before we play Clemson.  Rest easy and prepare for a very good year followed by many great years to come.

[AUwent 3,830]

As I've been reading posts all over the site, it seems like a lot of people are concerned about our O-line and I would love to know why. They seem more than talented enough to be great. Certainly deep enough to be great. Competing with each other for playing time will push them to be great. A leader in Reese Dismukes (preseason Rimington watch list) to lead them to greatness. Not a ton of experience but definitely some experience and the first 3 games this season are against fairly weak defensive lines, giving them time to get situated. Opinions? Disagree?

I hope ur just stirring the pot.  By far our weakest position for Fall.  We do not even have 5 starters yet ready for the season.  Dismukes, Sullen and Slade all struggled in SEC play last season.  We lost 2 guys to NFL and must replace them with someone who has zero SEC game starts.   I think the 3 returning OL will all be improved, but none dominant in SEC play.  The 2 new OL starters will struggle just as Dismukes did last season. 

I think Loeffler will try to disguise this weakness by running more power game and play action, and limit plays thjagt could lose yardage.  Another year or two and the OL will be a strength, until then realistic expectations are in order.         

You know, if OL IS our weakest position "by far", than we might as well pack it up and call it in for a season.

[yy4u 0]

One thing y'all are forgetting is #35. He will help the line tremendously

Spot on!  This is our best thing for the OL this season! 

[BirdofPrey76 0]

Too many "greats" in your post......maybe much improved.....maybe even good.....

but great...........i wish

WDE

Well, that's just....great!!!

[bigbird 60,939]

As I've been reading posts all over the site, it seems like a lot of people are concerned about our O-line and I would love to know why. They seem more than talented enough to be great. Certainly deep enough to be great. Competing with each other for playing time will push them to be great. A leader in Reese Dismukes (preseason Rimington watch list) to lead them to greatness. Not a ton of experience but definitely some experience and the first 3 games this season are against fairly weak defensive lines, giving them time to get situated. Opinions? Disagree?

I hope ur just stirring the pot.  By far our weakest position for Fall.  We do not even have 5 starters yet ready for the season.  Dismukes, Sullen and Slade all struggled in SEC play last season. We lost 2 guys to NFL and must replace them with someone who has zero SEC game starts.    I think the 3 returning OL will all be improved, but none dominant in SEC play.  The 2 new OL starters will struggle just as Dismukes did last season. 

I think Loeffler will try to disguise this weakness by running more power game and play action, and limit plays thjagt could lose yardage.  Another year or two and the OL will be a strength, until then realistic expectations are in order.         

First, you haven't been told who the starters are, that's a big difference from not having them. Secondly, behind Mosely, Sullen and Slade had the best year on the OL and Reece was named to the Freshman All-America Team by the Football Writers Association of America.  I wouldn't exactly say they struggled.  Finally, GRob has zero experience, as you say, but it has been said by the coaches that he could have started halfway through the season, but they didn't want to burn his redshirt.  I think that the OL will be vastly better in the opener and great by season's end.