Pac-10 Position Breakdown: Offensive Line – Washington Huskies
One of Coach Steve Sarkisian’s biggest challenges this year is going to be re-tooling and getting the most out of his offensive line. No matter how healthy QB Jake Locker and RB Chris Polk are, it will all be for naught if the offensive line doesn’t do considerably better then they did in 2008, surrendering 31 sacks (20 to Ronnie Fouch, 10 to Jake Locker, and one to Taylor Bean) and not doing much to open up any holes for the running backs, either.
It was a disappointing season for the offensive line, which on paper actually looked to be fairly promising. Then again, on paper, no one could have really penciled in the Huskies for a winless season; so the offensive line wasn’t the only aspect of the team that underwhelmed last fall.
One of the biggest problems with the line last season was conditioning. With the 117th ranked defense in the country giving up points so quickly, the offensive line didn’t get many breaks, and they seemed to tire as the game went on. Losing three regulars on the line in guards Casey Bulyca and Jordan White-Frisbee and center Juan Garcia, the experienced depth on this line just took a big hit, too.
Coach Sarkisian is shifting some players around on the line to try to find their best fit. He comes from a program at USC that tries to make conditioning as fun as possible while still placing emphasis on how important it is. I’m sure Sarkisian will try to do something similar in Washington to whip his players into shape.
Left Tackle Cody Habben slows down the attack
Left Tackle:
71 Cody Habben, 6-6, 316, Junior
68 Mark Armelin, 6-5, 304, Sophomore
- Easily one of the most talented men on the line for the Huskies, Habben does a good job using his strength and reach to keep defenders on the outside. He was the 26th ranked offensive tackle in his high school class according to Rivals, and was 76th among overall offensive linemen according to Scout.com. Last season he started 11 games at right tackle and only one (Washington State) at left tackle, but heading into the fall this will be his new position. He can be used on the right side as well, though, if his services prove to be more necessary there.
Left Guard:
79 Ben Ossai, 6-6, 332, Senior
65 Ryan Tolar, 6-5, 321, Junior
- If Ryan Tolar does not win the center spot, he may very well fight for time here over Ben Ossai. Ossai was the left tackle last season, and while his strength and size are undeniable, his footwork often got him burned in that spot. Washington’s staff believe that a move to the inside might help Ossai work to his strengths a bit better. Even if Tolar does end up splitting time, Ossai will see his share of action in relief in 2009.
Center:
65 Ryan Tolar, 6-5, 321, Junior
51 Mykenna Ikehara, 6-3, 291, Redshirt Freshman
- One of the most exciting battles this spring, Tolar and Ikehara both played very well at center and nothing has been decided as of the end of spring practices. This is certainly a good problem for Sarkisian and his staff to have. Ryan Tolar likely gets the nod if the stalemate continues considering his experience, but it looks like Mykenna Ikehara is the center of the future for the Dawgs.
Both of these guys are talented guards as well, and whoever doesn’t win the center battle will provide relief not only at this position but at the two guard spots as well; and if the Ossai experiment doesn’t work or Kelemete’s size gets the best of him, don’t be surprised to see both of these guys starting on the line at some point this fall.
Right Guard:
56 Senio Kelemete, 6-4, 260, Sophomore
70 Morgan Rosborough, 6-6, 382, Senior
- A gifted athlete that played both sides of the line in high school, Kelemete played in eight games last year as a true freshmen at defensive tackle. This spring he was moved to offensive guard, where coaches believe he has the athleticism to do well; but his size is a noticeable concern. As he bulks up this season and beyond, Kelemete should be able to find his place on the line, but this year will likely come with a big learning curve.
That isn’t a typo next to Rosborough’s name; the man is listed at 382 pounds and is a giant. No one has bigger issues with conditioning than Rosborough; he is a force to be reckoned with when playing, but his big frame doesn’t lend itself to endurance. It will certainly give opposing defenses something they have to account for having such diverse players sharing time at guard.
Right Tackle:
73 Drew Schaefer, 6-5, 275, Redshirt Freshman
67 Skyler Fancher, 6-5, 294, Sophomore
- The 39th ranked offensive tackle in the country (rivals.com) in his class, Schaefer’s talent is readily apparent. He was a standout basketball player in high school, and possesses great quickness for a player his size, which should help him keep up with the defensive tackles at this level. The Huskies are confident enough in his abilities to move Habben to the left side. If potential can turn into productivity out of the gate, Schaefer may have what it takes to be an impact player right away.
My Take
There is plenty of young talent here and on the way in Washington, and the new emphasis being placed on conditioning will likely make an immediate impact. This team certainly has a long way to go to get back into contention in the Pac-10, and this year looks to be the first painful step in the right direction.
On an overall shaky line, the right side looks very scary for Husky fans; while both of these guys are good athletes and have plenty of upside, lack of size and experience is usually not a good combination for an entire side of your line. Depth is a major concern too; this team looks to be one or two injuries away from completely unraveling.
Washington has a long road ahead, and many of the guys who struggle on the line this year will improve from the experience and be more dependable next season. If Sarkisian can instill a good work ethic and the team can stay relatively healthy, they have nowhere to go but up this season.
Washington Huskies
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Ben Ossai, Cody Habben, Drew Schaefer, Football, Morgan Rosborough, Mykenna Ikehara, Offensive Line, Ryan Tolar, Senio Kelemete
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