Let’s try to put this into perspective. Last year, the Trojans averaged 206.8 rushing yards a game, good for 17th in the nation and second in the conference (behind Oregon). Their 453.1 total yards per game were also second in the conference only to Oregon, and were 14th best in the country. 37.5 points per game ranked second to Oregon and 15th best in the nation, and 1.39 sacks per game was the best clip in the conference.

Not bad for a team that was best known for its defense last season. The kicker? Last year was a REBUILDING year for the offensive line. The line helped the Trojans to an extremely productive season while breaking in FOUR new starters.

Everyone is back this season. Everyone. Every starter and every one of their primary backups from last season, too. Pete Carroll’s unit made a rebuilding season look like a cakewalk last year, and this unit enters the season among the absolute best in the country.

Jeff Byers keeps an eye on defenders

Left Tackle:

71 Charles Brown, 6-6, 285, Senior
68 Butch Lewis, 6-5, 285, Junior

- In his redshirt season in 2005, Charles Brown made the switch from tight end to offensive tackle. Brown’s ability to maintain his athleticism in the process of bulking up has made him a very dangerous combination of size and speed.

After seeing most of his playing time in special teams situations as well as some at backup offensive tackle in 2006 and 2007, Brown stepped into the starting role at left tackle last season and did so flawlessly. He started every game in 2008 and received All-Pac-10 honorable mention honors. With a full season of starting experience under his belt, Brown should be even better in 2009; and even in the unlikely event that he doesn’t take strides forward, he will still be one of the be looked at again for All-Pac-10 honors.

Butch Lewis saw action as both a starter and a backup in 2008, starting in seven games at right tackle and backing up in five others. The former rivals.com 4-star defensive tackle was converted to offensive tackle in his redshirt year, and has provided excellent backup and has filled in without missing a beat at starter when called upon.

A would-be starter on most teams in the nation, Lewis will be one of many extremely talented and experienced depth linemen at Coach Carroll’s disposal.

Left Guard:

53 Jeff Byers, 6-3, 290, Senior
74 Zack Heberer, 6-5, 290, Junior

- Granted a 6th year of eligibility due to missing the 2005 and 2006 seasons with injury, Jeff Byers will get the chance to add one more year to his reinvigorated career. After missing two full years with a hip injury and a back sprain, Byers remarkably stepped right in as a full time starter in 2007, starting 12 games at left guard and one at center, earning All-Pac-10 third team honors.

Last year Byers was brilliant again, starting the full season at left guard and backing up at center a bit. He earned All-Pac-10 second team honors and Phil Steele’s All-American third team honors for his outstanding play. The rivals.com 5-star super-recruit was rated the best center in the nation coming out of high school in 2004, and has finally had the chance to stay healthy and live up to his billing as an All-American lineman.

Also very intelligent off the field, Byers earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a 3.27 GPA and is working on his master’s degree in business. A gifted athlete and student, Byers is a great role model and a true leader in a locker room full of young players.

Zack Herber is another rivals.com 4-star lineman that has both starting and backup experience. As a redshirt freshman in 2007 he started two games and played in 10 others as a backup guard and on special teams. In 2008 he started the first three games of the season before suffering turf toe, but came back to appear in the remaining seven games as a backup guard and on special teams again.

Herber will provide more starter-quality backup this season and could easily see starts if there are any injuries on the line.

Center:

61 Kristofer O’Dowd, 6-5, 300, Junior
53 Jeff Byers, 6-3, 290, Senior

- On a line full of stars, none shine any brighter than Kristofer O’Dowd.

In 2007, O’Dowd started three of the first four games for USC at center, becoming the first true freshman ever to start at center for the Trojans. He ended up seeing action in seven games altogether, hampered by a knee injury; but it was made abundantly clear that O’Dowd was going to be something special. He made Freshman All-American first team at Scout.com and second team at Rivals.com and Collegefootballnews.com.

In 2008, O’Dowd built on the experience from his true freshman season and put together a fantastic season, earning All-Pac-10 first team honors and more national acclaim.

Rivals.com rated Kristofer O’Dowd a 5-star franchise player coming out of high school, and he has completely lived up to the billing. He possesses flawless technique, great strength and agility, and the toughness to go with it. He will enter the season on the Rimington Trophy Watch List alongside fellow Pac-10 centers Colin Baxter (Arizona) and Kenny Alfred (Washington State), and should be among the best centers in the country in 2009.

Despite being one of the younger guys on the line, O’Dowd will provide leadership all season long for the entire offense.

Kristofer O'Dowd looks to lay a block

Right Guard:

76 Nick Howell, 6-5, 290, Senior OR
56 Alex Parsons, 6-4, 300, Senior

- This battle is still open, and whoever doesn’t win it will provide experienced depth for the entire line. Both of these guys are versatile linemen that can play anywhere.

Alex Parsons was the starter in this spot last year. In 2007 he made the transition from defensive tackle to offensive tackle and saw action in all 13 games on special teams and four games as a backup on the line. Parsons started the season off as a backup, but started the last 10 games of the season at right guard and proved he was more than capable on the line. He is a great athlete with a good feel for the game.

Nick Howell saw action in six games as a backup last season and six as a starter at right tackle. Coaches believe moving him to the inside of the line will utilize his run blocking abilities even better, and they appear set on having him see most of his action at guard. He is pushing hard for the starting spot, and the battle will rage on through the fall.

Right Tackle:

70 Tyron Smith, 6-6, 285, Sophomore
75 Matt Kalil, 6-6, 295, Redshirt Freshman

- Yet another rivals.com 5-star super recruit that earned the “franchise player” tag, Tyron Smith was rated the 6th best offensive tackle in the nation in 2008 by rivals.com and was rated the 15th best recruit at any position in the entire nation as well.

A truly gifted athlete with great natural ability, Smith gained valuable experience last year as a true freshman, serving as the backup at left tackle. He saw action in 10 games and looked every bit as strong as the rest of his All-Conference line mates. With the experience gained last season and a full season of training and working with coaches, he should explode onto the scene as a full time starter this year.

If you were impressed by Smith being rated the 6th best offensive tackle and 15th best overall recruit in 2008 by Rivals, now’s the time to mention that his backup this season was rated the 3rd best offensive tackle and the 11th best overall recruit that same year.

The coaching staff decided that Matt Kalil would benefit from a redshirt year, and they had enough depth last year anyhow. Keeping that extra year of eligibility didn’t hurt either. The younger brother of ex-USC lineman and current Carolina Panther Ryan Kalil, Matt will gain valuable experience in the backup role this year, and should get his chance to start next year.

This will be a fun position to watch all year with two of the line’s brightest young stars in the mix.

My Take

Do I really need to give my take? Not only does this line not have a single weakness, but it doesn’t even have a single weakness in the second wave, either. If all five starters were removed from the depth chart, USC would still have no weakness. They are that strong.

Buried under these two deeps is a treasure cove of 4-star talents that have all the time in the world to redshirt and be developed properly. If USC could take a full rebuild on the line like last season’s completely in stride, it looks like a pretty safe bet that this unit will be dominant for a long, long time.

As for 2009, USC will not only have the best offensive line in the conference, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a better line anywhere in the country.

On the other hand, the Ducks have a lot of areas that need to be addressed personnel-wise, and none is much bigger than the offensive line. Oregon won’t be re-tooling the offensive line this season; they will be almost completely rebuilding it.

Losing three important depth linemen in Jacob Hucko (10 games), Jon Teague (7) and Jeff Kendall (12; 7 starts) is a serious blow, but it will be largely overshadowed by the loss of three key starters that are all currently on NFL rosters. C Max Unger (49th overall pick by Seattle), LT Fenuki Tupou (5th round pick by Philadelphia), and RG Mark Lewis (signed by Miami) were all excellent contributors last year, and leave huge shoes to fill for this year’s team.

For Oregon’s spread-option attack to succeed again in 2009, the Ducks will need a lot of new faces in the starting role to step up right away and pick up where their predecessors left off.

The offensive line sets for the snap

Left Tackle:

69 Bo Thran, 6-5, 303, Junior
74 Darrion Weems, 6-5, 310, Sophomore

- A rivals.com 3-star recruit in 2006, Bo Thran gained plenty of valuable experience last season. After redshirting in 2006 and missing virtually the entire 2007 season with injuries, Thran saw action in 12 games last season, and he started the last four at left guard. Thran didn’t miss a beat and proved himself capable of holding his own on the line, seeing 71 plays in the Civil War against Oregon State and 73 plays in the Holiday Bowl.

Thran was rehabbing a knee injury during spring practices, but looks to be ready to go for the regular season.

While lacking in experience, Darrion Weems is a massive prospect that just oozes talent and potential. The rivals.com 4-star recruit was ranked the 9th best offensive tackle in the nation in 2007 and he has a ton of upside. Weems isn’t a polished lineman yet, but on pure physical ability alone he will be tough to keep off the field, and should prove to be an asset in a reserve role in 2009.

Left Guard:

77 Carson York, 6-5, 285, Redshirt Freshman
76 Charlie Carmichael, 6-4, 295, Sophomore

- Heavily recruited out of high school, Carson York received a rivals.com 4-star rating and was ranked 15th overall among offensive tackles in 2007. York has impressed coaches and scouts alike with his tenacity. He hits hard when making initial contact, and never gives up on a play or a defender. York’s natural talent coupled with his work ethic and drive on the field give him the look of a star in the making. But as is the question with all redshirt freshman starters, how steep will the learning curve be?

The future looks bright for York, but the present is one of the biggest question marks this unit faces heading into the fall.

Center:

54 Jordan Holmes, 6-5, 285, Junior
64 Max Forer, 6-3, 271, Junior

- Taking the place of superstar center Max Unger is Jordan Holmes, a well-rounded lineman that is fundamentally sound and possesses a great skill set. Holmes has steadily improved each season he has been with the program, starting in 2006 when he was named scout team offensive player of the week on four different occasions during his redshirt year.

In 2007 he saw action in eight games as a backup, and he appeared in all 13 games last season, including four starts at left guard. He has been listed on the depth chart as the backup at center for the last two seasons, and has been well groomed to take over this spot. He won’t fool anyone into thinking he’s Max Unger, but if he stays healthy he is as sure a bet as anyone on this line to play well consistently all season. Holmes will also be counted on to provide some leadership in this pivotal role.

4-star super-recruit center Hamani Stevens was being penciled in as a contender for this spot before his decision to leave the Ducks to take a two-year church mission took his name off the depth chart. He plans on returning to Oregon when his mission is completed.

Right Guard:

79 Mark Asper, 6-7, 323, Sophomore
70 Ramsen Golpashin, 6-4, 280, Sophomore

- After taking a two year religious mission, Mark Asper came into the program and redshirted in 2007. As a redshirt freshman he saw action in seven games last season and steadily improved as the season wore on, eventually earning his first career start at right tackle in the Holiday Bowl.

A massive blocker that is just as powerful as his frame suggests, not many defenders will be able to do much against Asper in tight spaces. After adding even more strength this offseason, Asper looks poised to build on last season’s experience and take a step forward this year in the starting role. Assuming he does make this logical progression, he could prove to be an over-powering run blocker.

Right Tackle:

68 C.E. Kaiser, 6-4, 290, Junior
61 Nick Cody, 6-5, 270, Redshirt Freshman

- C.E. Kaiser may have been overshadowed by the slew of departed linemen mentioned in the intro, but his contribution to the offense last year was vital. Kaiser fought through a late-season injury to appear in all 13 games, starting in 10 of them at right tackle. He played the 3rd most snaps of any linemen on the team; not bad for a sophomore fighting an injury on a veteran line.

Kaiser’s toughness is matched by outstanding strength. Kaiser broke a 16-year-old Oregon record during winter testing in 2008 by posting a clean lift of 374 pounds; the most all time by an offensive lineman in the program. His strength translates well on the field as he often forces defenders to the outside with his initial contact.

Kaiser will provide leadership and stability this season, and if he can stay healthy and improve on last year’s success, he is a prime candidate to put together a special season.

Coaches are very high on Nick Cody, who was a rivals.com 4-star recruit and ranked the 25th best offensive tackle in 2008. Getting Kaiser off the field won’t be easy, but he may see time at other positions in a backup role if he continues to impress.

My Take

There is no arguing the severity of losing as much talent as Oregon did this offseason; its a huge blow. But it isn’t as if they are being replaced by a bunch of hacks; quite the contrary, this is an extremely talented unit that looks very capable of putting a strong season together.

How quickly Head Coach Chip Kelly and Line Coach Steve Greatwood can get this unit to gel together and play to their potential is anyone’s guess. September is a scary month with games against Boise State, Utah, and Cal. By the time the Ducks get to USC on October 31st, I’m pretty sure this line will be clicking. But will it be too late by then?

While it may sound cliche and obvious, in this case it really does come down to staying healthy. A quick look down the immediate depth chart shows only one upperclassman behind the starters; former walk-on Max Forer. This team has very little experienced depth, and on a line already sorely lacking experience, there just isn’t any room for injury.

If put on the spot to make a guess, I’d guess the line is going to turn out fine, and won’t be the Achilles heel some are making it out to be. Oregon’s offense is so innovative and so misdirection-based that with proper execution it has such an edge over defenses that a few shortcomings on the line would be easily overcome.

But we won’t need to wait long for our answer. The line will only get better as the season goes on, and Boise State and Utah will give us the answers we need. If Oregon heads into the Cal game at 3-0… look out.

Lastly, I know that would have been a fine note to end on, but man does the future look bright for this line. Ducks fans are obviously more concerned with the present than the future at the moment, but next year’s unit should be downright lethal, and with this core of young talent, this looks to be an exciting offense for a long time.

Toby Gerhart hit the holes with authority in 2008, and there were plenty of them thanks to the outstanding play of the offensive line. Even when defenders cheated run, the Cardinal line kept opening up holes and Gerhart kept powering through them.

The passing attack was a disappointment last season, averaging only 152.2 yards a game (105th in the nation), but it was certainly no fault of the offensive line, which surrendered a respectable 21 sacks on the season. With redshirt freshman Andrew Luck being penciled in to take over the starting job, hopes are high in Stanford that the passing game can do more damage in 2008.

In order for the passing game to take a step forward and the running game to continue to be as strong as it was in 2008, the offensive line will have to find a way to lessen the blow of losing three seniors, including Second Team All-Pac-10 center Alex Fletcher and First All-Pac-10 left tackle Ben Muth.

It won’t be easy, but head coach Jim Harbaugh has amassed plenty of talent to work with.

Chris Marinelli and Andrew Phillips celebrate a win over Arizona

Left Tackle:

61 Matt Kopa, 6-6, 305, Senior
73 Jonathan Martin, 6-6, 291, Redshirt Freshman

- Matt Kopa has done a little bit of everything on the lines at Stanford. Recruited out of high school as a 4-star defensive end, Kopa saw action as a reserve at defensive end and defensive tackle in 2006 and 2007. He also saw action as a blocking tight end in 2007, and made the transition to the offensive line last year. In 2008 he played in 11 games and started in the last six; five at right tackle and one at left guard.

With plenty of experience and natural ability under his belt, Kopa should do fine in a full-time starting role and provide leadership to the younger players on the team as well.

Jonathan Martin was rated a 3-star offensive lineman and ranked the 44th best offensive tackle in the class of 2008. If he carries the momentum he had in the spring into fall practices, Martin should earn himself playing time as a reserve in 2008.

Allen Smith was granted a 6th year of eligibility after losing the entire 2008 season to injury, but another setback this spring makes it look less likely that he’ll be able to make a return. If he is able to, it would be a huge boost for the line not only from a talent perspective but from a morale perspective as well.

Left Guard:

71 Andrew Phillips, 6-5, 299, Junior
64 Sam Schwartzstein, 6-3, 280, Redshirt Freshman

- One of the keys to the offensive line last season, Phillips saw action in all 12 games and made 11 starts at right guard. One of the most highly touted recruits of Stanford’s 2006 class, the rivals.com 3-star offensive guard was ranked 41st in the nation at his position in 2006. He has lived up to the hype, and his physically tough game usually allows him to get the first push at the point of contact. Phillips has improved each year he’s been with the program, a trend that will likely continue in 2008.

Center:

72 Chase Beeler, 6-3, 285, Junior
70 Bert McBride, 6-3, 295, Junior

- Chase Beeler takes on the daunting task of trying to replace Alex Fletcher at center. Beeler was ranked the 22nd best offensive guard of 2006 by rivals.com after a fine high school career and saw action in five games as a true freshman while playing at Oklahoma. After sitting out in 2007 to make the transfer to Stanford, Beeler started in seven games at left guard before being sidelined by a high ankle sprain.

An intelligent player that uses his feet well, Beeler makes up for what he lacks in size with good positioning and a great feel for the game.

Bert McBride stepped in for Beeler when he got injured last season, and was listed as the backup to the center in 2008 as well. He will once again be there in relief should anything go wrong for Beeler or another member of the line.

Right Guard:

52 David DeCastro, 6-5, 310, Redshirt Freshman
53 Derek Hall, 6-5, 301, Junior

- David DeCastro will take over the center position in a year or two, but will gain valuable experience starting at right guard this season. The scout.com 4-star high school standout was ranked the 3rd best center in the country in his class of 2008 by scout.com (7th by ESPN, 11th by rivals), and he has grown considerably in size since then.

DeCastro bulked up to 310 and learned the ins and outs of the position as a redshirt last year and this spring, not playing like a player that is as young as he is. The fact that he will likely get even bigger over the course of his career is scary to think about, especially for opposing teams.

With a work ethic to match his size and ability, DeCastro looks like a natural. He will undoubtedly make mistakes as all young players do, but he shouldn’t look too out of place this season.

Right Tackle:

63 Chris Marinelli, 6-7, 300, Senior
77 Tyler Mabry, 6-7, 295, Sophomore

- Chris Marinelli has been a staple on the line for years, and it could easily be argued that he is the best player on Stanford’s offense not named Toby Gerhart.

Marinelli made an immediate impact as a redshirt freshman in 2006, playing in 10 games and starting five of the last six. He built on that effort in 2007, earning honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors as a sophomore and winning the Frank Rehm Award (awarded to the most outstanding lineman in the Big Game).

Last season he started in 11 of 12 games (missing the Washington State game with an injury) and once again earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors.

A consistent and powerful lineman, Marinelli will provide great stability and leadership this season in his last year with the Cardinal.

My Take

Man, Jim Harbaugh can recruit, can’t he? A quick look at all of this depth that isn’t even including all of the additions in the 2009 and 2010 class, and it doesn’t look like it is going to be long before Stanford finds themselves in the top tier of the conference again.

Despite the two big hits of losing Fletcher and Muth, I think personnel-wise this line looks strong. Everyone on the line has starting experience with the exception of DeCastro, who just looks like a natural out there. As mentioned, he will make mistakes as I’m sure Beeler will in his first year as a center, but both seem capable and should improve as the year progresses.

The big question mark not mentioned in this breakdown is new line coach Tim Drevno. With plenty of past offensive line coaching experience and having worked the last two years closely with the line as a tight end coach, I’m sure Drevno will do fine; but it is something to watch closely, especially in the development of the younger players.

All in all, the talent is there, and the running back is definitely there. If Andrew Luck is as good as advertised and the line can keep the injuries to a minimum, this offense might really surprise some people.

While the most glaring name-brand loss to the offense is wide receiver Sammie Stroughter (drafted 233rd overall by Tampa Bay), the loss of four key seniors on the offensive line might hurt even more.

Included in the departed bunch is former powerhouse left tackle Andy Levitre, drafted 182 spots ahead of the dynamic wide receiver (51st overall by Buffalo). LG Adam Speer, another All-Pac-10 performer, will be sorely missed as well.

With plenty of talent at their disposal, Head Coach Mike Riley and Line Coach Mike Cavanaugh have a lot to work with. But how quickly some of the young starters and depth guys can learn on the job will determine whether 2009 will be a rebuilding year or another shot at the conference title.

Alex Linnenkohl holds off UCLA's Brigham Harwell

Left Tackle:

64 Colin Kelly, 6-4, 284, Redshirt Freshman
68 Wilder McAndrews, 6-4, 288, Junior

- Colin Kelly was locked up in a tight race for the left tackle job with Junior Timi Oshinowo, but Oshinowo suffered a knee injury at the end of the spring that will require surgery. He may be ready to return by October at the earliest. With Wilder McAndrews missing spring practices with a wrist injury, Kelly enters the fall atop the depth chart by default.

Kelly, who also played tight end and basketball in high school, appears to have retained much of his speed and agility in the process of building up strength as he has bulked up.

McAndrews should be fully recovered come fall practice, and he is another true athlete who played both offensive line and participated in track in high school as a hurdler. He redshirted in 2007 after transferring from Hawaii (where he wasn’t on the football team), and played in three games before suffering his wrist injury in 2008.

What both players lack in experience they make up for in raw athleticism, and whoever isn’t starting will provide depth at both tackles in 2009.

Left Guard:

63 Ryan Pohl, 6-3, 284, Junior
61 Michael Lamb, 6-3, 285, Sophomore

- Ryan Pohl received a 3-star ranking from rivals.com and was ranked the 49th best offensive tackle in the 2006 class. At Kamehameha high school in Hawaii, Pohl helped the team win the state title as a lineman in 2004 and in 2005 helped the soccer team win the state title as its goalkeeper, a testament to how quick Pohl and his reflexes are.

At OSU he has seen limited playing time, starting two games at left tackle in 2007 and playing in three games in 2008. Pohl is considered a very intelligent player, and while a bit undersized he makes up for it with good decision making and light feet. With all of the departed seniors, Pohl will finally get some quality playing time in 2009.

Whether it will be as a starter will depend on how Michael Lamb performs this fall. Lamb missed most of the spring with a knee injury, but should push for the job when the position battle resumes.

While he lacks game experience, he made great strides as a redshirt in 2007 and on the scout team in 2008. The former Jesuit High (OR) won two state titles in his high school career, and was first team all-league and all-state as a junior on the o-line. Pohl has the edge, but both players should see time in 2009.

Brent McNeil was originally projected to fight for this spot as well, but issues on (injuries) and off the field have moved him down the depth chart. He still has time to get back in the mix if he can get healthy and sort everything out, though.

Center:

60 Alex Linnenkohl, 6-2, 297, Junior
70 Grant Johnson, 6-3, 278, Sophomore

- Alex Linnenkohl is the backbone of this offensive line, and emerged as an extremely reliable center in 2008. Despite having only played in two games in 2007, Linnenkohl proved to be a very quick learner on the job, starting in all 13 games last season and never looking out of place among his more experienced line-mates. He plays an extremely physical and hard-nosed game, which is what the Beavers football mentality is all about.

Rivals.com gave Linnenkohl a 3-star rating as a recruit, and he was ranked as the 14th best center in the class of 2006. After a strong 2008 campaign, he will be called upon to provide leadership and stability on the line, and should have no trouble doing so.

Right Guard:

73 Gregg Peat, 6-3, 295, Senior
78 Ben Motter, 6-5, 271, Sophomore

- To Linnenkohl’s right will be Gregg Peat, who started in all 13 games last season at right guard. Like Linnenkohl, you wouldn’t have been able to tell it was his first year as a starter watching him play; he was fundamentally sound and was heralded for his consistency, not suffering the exaggerated ups and downs at the position that some players do. For a player that was unheralded as a recruit to have come this far is a testament to what a hard worker and good learner Peat is.

Named a co-team captain on the offense (along with quarterbacks Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao), Peat’s hard work on and off the field will definitely set an example for the rest of his teammates to follow.

Right Tackle:

50 Mike Remmers, 6-4, 299, Sophomore
74 Burke Ellis, 6-4, 268, Sophomore

- A walk-on who redshirted in 2007, Remmers was forced into action as a starter at right tackle in 2008 until Tavita Thompson regained eligibility. In the seven games he started Remmers had his share of mistakes as most redshirt freshman do, but showed he had the strength and the potential to succeed at the position.

Despite his struggles last season, actually getting real game experience as a starter, especially for a walk-on, is invaluable. With the in-game experience gained from last season and an entire year to work on his form and technique, Remmers should take a step forward here in 2009.

True Freshman Factor:

Michael Philipp, 6-3, 320
Geoff Garner, 6-6, 300

The word “beast” gets thrown around all the time, but nothing else sums up Michael Philipp better. The jewel of Mike Riley’s 2009 recruiting class is already the biggest man on the Beavers’ roster. The 4-star super-recruit was ranked the best offensive guard of the entire class, the 66th best overall player in the 2009 class, and the second strongest offensive lineman in the class.

Mike Riley has made his intentions with Phillip very clear; “He’s either a starter or a redshirt, there’s no in-between. We are not going to waste a year with Michael.”

Coach Riley would obviously prefer to redshirt Philipp and let him gain a year of learning the playbook and working out with the team without losing a year of his eligibility, and my guess is that that is what will probably happen. But considering how inexperienced the line is, we’ll have to watch Philipp closely in the fall; he may make Riley’s decision a lot more difficult.

Geoff Garner is an outstanding athlete that played tight end in high school as well as basketball and baseball. With his size and raw athletic ability, he also has the potential to avoid a red shirt.

My Take

It is difficult to look at this unit and believe that they won’t struggle this season. Gone on the left side are two extremely talented and experienced pieces in Adam Speer and Andy Levitre, and in their place are two position battles between largely inexperienced candidates.

That said, there is plenty of athletic ability among them; and pure talent mixed with hard work goes a long way. The fact that Peat and Linnenkohl stepped right in with no problem last season is a reminder that it can happen; and both should be even better here in 2009.

My guess is the line will have an off year in 2009, but with the experience gained this season and Michael Philipp and Geoff Garner on the way, they should be a powerhouse as soon as next year.

Then again, as I type out that I think this unit will struggle, I can’t help but think of how much the Beavers love to prove people wrong. Time will tell, but whoever takes Canfield/Moevao’s spot in 2010 should be in very good shape.

But while Jahvid Best receives all of the Heisman Trophy hype, and Shane Vereen is heralded as the next big thing in Berkeley (both fairly so), the offensive line will keep doing what offensive lines do best; opening up those holes and leaving the star power to the skill position players.

While the loss of center Alex Mack is a tremendous blow for the Cal Bears to withstand, Coach Jeff Tedford and Cal haven’t produced seven straight 1,000 yard rushers simply by recruiting talented tailbacks. The Bears have done a great job recruiting and developing offensive linemen over that stretch as well, and this year shouldn’t prove to be much different.

With Kevin Riley (sacked 19 times last season) likely to be asked to just run a safe offense this season and let his running backs do the work, the Bears are going to need those holes to keep opening up and Riley to have time when he is asked to throw if 2009 is going to be the year that they finally put everything together and take their spot atop the conference.

Chet Teofilo battles to hold off ASU's attack

Left Tackle:

79 Mike Tepper, 6-7, 319, Senior
53 Donovan Edwards, 6-5, 285, Junior

- After missing the entire 2008 season with a pectoral injury, Tepper was granted a sixth year of eligibility to have the chance to play his senior season here in 2009. After redshirting in 2004 and missing the entire 2005 season due to breaking his right fibula after being hit by a car, he recovered well in 2006 seeing action as a left tackle in all 13 games. In 2007 he started all 13 games at right tackle, and was part of the unit that allowed only 11 sacks (third best in the nation) that year.

Incredibly bad luck has kept Tepper off the field in two different full seasons, but when healthy he can definitely be a contributor, and he appears to be fine heading into the fall. Entering his sixth season at Cal, there is little doubt that he will be looked up to as a leader.

Left Guard:

70 Mark Boskovich, 6-4, 304, Junior
75 Matt Summers-Gavin, 6-4, 291, Redshirt Freshman

- Boskovich, a former walk on who redshirted back in 2006, looks to have earned his chance to start here in 2009. Considered a quick learner and a great athlete, Boskovich has gotten better each season, learning the ropes during his redshirt year and seeing action in all 13 games (primarily on special teams) in 2007.

Penciled in as the starter at the beginning of the spring in 2008, he was eventually jumped for the spot by Chris Guarnero. When Guarnero was lost for the season due to injury, Boskovich took over as the starter and did well in the role.

Behind him is 4-star prospect Matt Summers-Gavin, who was ranked the 17th best offensive guard in the nation in 2007 by scout.com and the 11th best offensive tackle in the nation by rivals.com. Summers-Gavin should see plenty of playing time in relief in 2009

Center:

54 Chris Guarnero, 6-2, 275, Junior
65 Dominic Galas, 6-1, 281, Redshirt Freshman

- Chris Guarnero has the daunting task of trying to replace NFL first round draft pick Alex Mack. Giving up 35 pounds to the departed senior doesn’t help, either. But Guarnero isn’t going to be asked to be Alex Mack, he’s going to be asked to be himself; and that should be good enough.

A former 4-star recruit that was ranked the 19th best offensive guard in the nation in 2006, Guarnero has been groomed to take over the center spot for the past few seasons. While he only saw action in one game in 2007, he was listed as the backup center in every game. In 2008 he got off to a great start at left guard (he played too well to be left in a backup role) before suffering a season ending toe injury.

Guarnero plays bigger than his size would suggest and he had a great mentor in Mack. He should do fine in the starting role.

Right Guard:

58 Chet Teofilo, 6-3, 329, Senior
73 Richard Fisher, 6-4, 290, Junior

- Another sixth year senior (like Mike Tepper), Teofilo enters the 2009 season with plenty of experience. Recruited as a defensive linemen, the transition took three years from 2004-2006 (he saw no action in 2006 while making the adjustment). In 2007 he played in five games and made one start at left tackle, and in 2008 he was used at both left and right tackle before being lost for the season with an ankle injury.

Coaches believe that a move to the inside of the line will give Teofilo a better chance to show of his explosiveness. Like Tepper, Teofilo will provide leadership as another guy who has been in the locker room for quite a while.

Right Tackle:

72 Mitchell Schwartz, 6-6, 335, Redshirt Sophomore
78 Justin Prueitt, 6-4, 278, Junior

- Mitchell Schwartz was one of the key pieces to the line in 2008, starting in all 13 games as a redshirt freshman. He started three games at right tackle and then spent the rest of the season at left tackle due to shakeups on the line. The weight he put on during his redshirt year clearly translated to power last season, as he had some monster games including two pancakes and two knockdowns against Michigan State and four knockdowns against Stanford.

Ranked the 27th best offensive guard out of college by rivals.com for the class of 2007, Schwartz has hit the ground running so far and seems a very logical choice to see his game take another step forward in 2009 after the experience he gained starting as redshirt freshman.

My Take

This offensive line is powerful, and if they can stay healthy we should see a repeat of the success that they had in 2008. The future looks bright, too; Summers-Gavin should benefit from experience in relief, Dominic Galas was the ninth ranked center prospect in his class by rivals.com, and Mitchell Schwartz can only get better; and 4-star redshirt freshmen Tyler Rigsbee is buried in this depth chart, too.

Again, the key is health. While the young talent filling out the depth chart has plenty of potential, having guys like Guarnero and Tepper in there instead of inexperienced young players could be the difference between winning and losing in pivotal games against teams like USC and Oregon.

But from the looks of it, the pressure will be on Kevin Riley’s shoulders in 2009; because much like the running back tandem, all systems are go for the offensive line unit in Cal.

Willie Tuitama finished second among all Pac-10 starters in quarterback rating (144.9), completion percentage (64.9), passing yards (3,088) and touchdowns (23); all behind only USC’s Mark Sanchez. Nic Grigsby was fourth in the Pac-10 in total rushing yards, and was one of only 6 rushers in the conference with over 1000 yards (1153). The offense averaged 37.1 points per game, which was good for third in the conference and 17th in the nation.

Losing Tuitama was a huge hit to the offense, but with both running backs Nic Grigsby and Keola Antolin returning, the running game should still be in great shape; and it may even be improved upon with the athletic Matt Scott under center. The key to all of this, of course, will be another strong season from the big men up front.

With two departing seniors and one NFL-bound junior (Right Tackle Eben Britton, drafted 39th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars), there will be plenty of holes to fill; but with an experienced core of reserves, Coach Stoops is hoping his team can take their personnel losses in stride.

Colin Baxter paves the way

Left Tackle:

77 Jack Julsing, 6-8, 295, Junior
67 Phillip Garcia, 6-7, 325, Junior

- With the graduation of last year’s LT James Tretheway and Adam Grant’s move over to RT, the left tackle position is up for grabs this season with two JuCo transfers fighting for the spot. Phillip Garcia transferred in from Cerritos College (CA) last season, but injured his knee during last spring’s workouts and redshirted in 2008. He was considered the favorite to start this year heading into this spring, but College of the Desert (CA) transfer Jack Julsing had such a nice spring that he has taken over the top spot on the depth chart heading into the fall.

The battle for the starting job will resume come fall practices, but both of these guys are capable and experienced and should be a good 1-2 punch as long as they both stay healthy.

Left Guard:

74 Mike Diaz, 6-5, 320, Senior
55 Conan Amituanai, 6-4, 335, Junior

- Colin Baxter’s move over to center opens up the left guard spot for former JuCo transfer Mike Diaz. Diaz was a staple on the line in his first year as a Wildcat in 2008, starting the season as a top reserve at guard and tackle, and then after center Blake Kerley’s injury in game four he took over at right guard and started all nine of the remaining games. A versatile player that proved he could keep up with Arizona’s fast pace offense, Diaz can play both tackle and guard on either side, and will provide leadership all season long no matter where he ends up.

A good spring has put Conan Amituanai into the running for a starting job if Diaz is needed somewhere else on the line. The former two way player has also worked as a defensive linemen and a tight end, and will provide depth as he did last season (saw backup guard duty in four games).

Center:

64 Colin Baxter, 6-4, 295, Junior
54 Herman Hall, 6-3, 303, Senior

- When star center Blake Kerley went down with a season-ending knee injury last year, Colin Baxter stepped into the starting role at center and never looked back. He enters 2009 having started 24 straight games for the Wildcats (11 at left guard) and is on the 2009 Remington Trophy Watch List, the trophy awarded to the nation’s top center. He earned All-Pac-10 honorable mention in 2008, and should continue to be a force up the middle for the Cats this year. He is strong, smart, and athletic; a lethal combination for opposing defenses.

Kerley’s rehab will continue through the fall, but if he can get healthy enough to play, he would provide great depth.

Right Guard:

70 Vaughn Dotsy, 6-5, 335, Sophomore
57 Javon Hayes, 6-2, 300, Junior

- Vaughn Dotsy is built like a house, but he doesn’t move like one. Showing great potential and ability last season, the coaching staff had no choice but to keep him on board as a true freshman, and he played spot duty in four games in 2009. A great run-blocker that always seems to get a good first pop on defenders, he should be a great fit for this year’s offense. A standout in high school (St. Bonaventure High, CA) who has added a bit of weight to his frame, Dotsy has done nothing but impress so far in his short time in Arizona.

Right Tackle:

78 Adam Grant, 6-6, 325, Senior
72 Trace Biskin, 6-5, 295, Redshirt Freshman

- An experienced fifth year senior, Adam Grant has battled with injuries throughout his entire career, missing time in 2006 and 2007 with knee issues and last year with a hand injury. Originally recruited as a tight end, Grant has since been converted into a true linemen, but he still possesses the athleticism to work in a fast paced offense like this one. Trying to fill Eben Britton’s shoes will be nearly impossible, but I doubt Grant is worried about that; simply staying healthy will be his main goal, and if he does he should do fine.

My Take

From a talent perspective, Arizona has a lot to work with here, and I get the feeling that as the season progresses and the coaching staff finds the right fits on the line, the unit will do fine.

That said, the right side scares me a bit. While Dotsy looks to have all the tools to succeed in the role, I never feel comfortable penciling in a true sophomore for a relatively mistake-free season. Adam Grant is just one of those guys with no luck that can’t seem to stay healthy, and that is a major concern as well.

These two are replacing RG John Longacre (who received an invitation to the Buffalo Bill’s camp after going undrafted) and RT Eben Britton who will see playing time for the Jacksonville Jaguars next season. This is a pretty tall order to fill.

While I expect the line as a unit to take a step backwards from 2008, I don’t think it will be a huge one, especially with QB Matt Scott’s running ability to help lessen the blow. Expect a few more mistakes in 2009; but also expect the offense to continue having success finding the endzone.

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.

What hurts more for Cougars fans than re-living last season’s offensive line woes might be looking forward to this season’s. Every starter returns with one glaring exception; the 6′5″ 329 pound Vaughn Lesuma, the biggest man on the line last year for the Cougs. Lesuma’s graduation leaves only one star on the line this season; Center Kenny Alfred.

With Kenny Alfred at center, one thing is for sure; the middle of the line will not be a weakness for the Washington Cougars. Alfred will do his best to lead by example and get the most out of his teammates on the field. On the strategic side of things, Coach Paul Wulff is determined to institute the no huddle offense next season; a project he had to abandon last season due to injury and personnel issues.

With an extra year of experience under his starter’s belts, Wulff hopes that the no huddle offense will be a success this time around; and perhaps if he can keep opposing defenses guessing, he can keep the quarterback on his feet a little more often.

Kenny Alfred holds his ground

Left Tackle:

78 Steven Ayers, 6-4, 315, Sophomore
75 Tyson Pencer, 6-6, 297, Red-shirt Freshman

- Ayers earned his varsity letter last season after starting in five games (and seeing action in six others as well). A former wrestler in high school and a standout student, Ayers has both the mind and the toughness to work in the no-huddle offense if he can build on last season’s experience.

Left Guard:

55 Zack Williams, 6-4, 293, Junior
68 Mike Bruce, 6-4, 304, Sophomore

- The lone new projected starter, JuCo transfer Zack Williams brings three things this line desperately needs; talent, experience, and enthusiasm. Described as an energetic player, Williams was a standout on the line at Glendale College. He received CCCFCA Region III All-American honors, and was also named Glendale College’s offensive MVP and lineman of the year. He has spent his redshirt season in 2008 working hard on his game, and should provide leadership alongside Kenny Alfred.

Center:

69 Kenny Alfred, 6-2, 300, Senior
73 Andrew Roxas, 6-1, 306, Junior

- Kenny Alfred is not only the best player on the line for the Washington State Cougars; he’s the best player on the entire offense. Playing at one of the most underrated positions on the field for a team at the bottom of a largely underrated conference, Alfred truly is a diamond in the rough that will very likely get a look in the pros next season. Last season Alfred started in all 13 games and earned All-Pacific-10 Conference honorable mention honors.

Looking forward to 2009, Alfred has been named to the Rimington Trophy Spring Watch List; a list that focuses on the top centers in the country, one of which will eventually win the trophy honoring the nation’s best center. He is one of only 12 players in the country who have been on the list before, and one of only three on the list in the Pac-10 (Arizona’s Colin Baxter and USC’s Kristofer O’Dowd). Alfred was unable to play during the Spring as he was still recovering from an off-season surgery, but he should be 100% come Fall practices. Alfred will provide leadership and stability throughout 2009.

Right Guard:

72 B.J. Guerra, 6-3, 311, Sophomore
79 Brian Danaher, 6-3, 284, Junior

- Guerra earned valuable experience last season, starting in five games and playing in all 13 games as a red-shirt freshman. Very athletic for his size (was a two sport athlete in high school, earning varsity letters in basketball as well as football), Guerra looks to be the favorite to win the spot over Brian Danahar at this point. Danahar started in eight games last season, and at the very least will provide depth next season.

Right Tackle:

76 Micah Hannam, 6-4, 284, Junior
67 Joe Eppele, 6-8, 306, Junior

- Hannam started in all 13 games last season, the only lineman besides Alfred to do so. Eppele played in 10 games last season, mostly in relief of Hannam. This year will likely go the same way at RT, but the bulk of the playing time will go to the guy who steps up and earns it.

True Freshman Factor:

Sebastian Valenzuela, 6-2, 315
William Prescott 6-5, 280

- As a general rule, you will almost always see Rivals 3-star ranked linemen red-shirt in their freshman year; and that may very well be the case for these two as well. But with the lack of production last year and questionable depth again this year, it isn’t a forgone conclusion yet that Wulff’s pair of solid recruits won’t see playing time in 2009. Especially Valenzuela, who is built like a house and has a ton of power.

My Take

Coach Paul Wulff is enthusiastic about his unit and really seems to believe that last year’s experience will pay off and the line will show a great deal of improvement this season. I have trouble seeing it.

Unlike ASU and UCLA that injected some top-flight young talent into their lines, Washington State is sending out almost the exact same guys that struggled horribly last season. Zach Williams was a great addition and a growth spurt from Ayers and/or Guerra doesn’t seem out of the question, but there are just too many question marks on this line to make me believe that defensive lines won’t find some holes to slip through.

Help is on the way with Valenzuela, Prescott, and some other young players on the depth chart; and Wulff has already locked up another strong recruit for 2010 in John Fullington. But for the present, let’s just try to focus on Kenny Alfred and enjoy his final season in Pullman.

Kevin Craft had a miserable season leading one of the nation’s most anemic offenses last year, and much of that had to do with some terrible decision making on his part. But when the offensive line is consistently letting the pocket around the quarterback collapse, it is difficult to fault the quarterback entirely for making a bad decision or two (or three, or four…)

Riddled with injuries last season, the UCLA linemen never had a chance to build any chemistry together or get comfortable in one spot, as they were constantly being shuffled around and subbed in and out. For the glass-half-full types out in Westwood, this shuffling did give a lot of these guys valuable playing time, as well as giving the coaching staff a good chance to evaluate each player’s strengths and weaknesses. Coach Rick Neuheisel will have plenty of options, depth, and healthy competition all the way up to and through the 2009 season.

Coach Rick Neuheisel doesn't look too confident

Left Tackle:

60 Jeff Baca, 6-4, 305, Sophomore
78 Brett Downey, 6-7, 285, (RS) Freshman

- Baca played in nine games last season and started eight at left tackle as a true freshman (missed some time with a strained hamstring), and was named to the rivals.com Pac-10 All-Freshman team. Baca’s true position is at guard, where he will likely see some playing time this season as well, but he played so admirably at left tackle last season that he has given Neuheisal the choice to leave him there to get his best five guys out there on the line. A versatile young player that can even play a bit of center as well, Baca figures to be a staple of this line for years to come.

Left Guard:

73 Micah Kia, 6-5, 320, Senior
55 Sonny Tevaga, 6-5, 345, Junior

- Just one of two Seniors in the offensive line core for UCLA, Kia possesses good agility for his size and has proven to be both durable and versatile over the course of his three-year career at UCLA. Last season Kia played in all 12 games at three different positions (LT, RT, and LG), and played at least 50 snaps in five of the 12 games. Kia brings experience to a very young core.

Center:

51 Kai Maiava, 6-1, 322, Sophomore
57 Jake Dean, 6-4, 311, Junior

- An extremely tough transfer out of Colorado, Maiava has sat out his required year and will compete for (and likely win) the center job at UCLA. He became just the eighth true freshman since 1972 to start on the line in Colorado when he did so in 2007, recording 74 knockdown blocks (second most on the team) in the process. He was also tied for the team lead with five touchdown blocks and received many All-Freshman honors. With three years of eligibility remaining, UCLA fans have plenty to be excited about in Maiava. Jake Dean filled in admirably at the position last season and will provide depth when called upon.

Right Guard:

75 Nick Ekbatani, 6-5, 308, Senior
77 Darius Savage, 6-4, 335, Junior

- The only other Senior in the lineman core, Ekbatani was the only lineman to start in all 12 games last season, starting the first six games at right guard and the last six at right tackle. Like Kia, Ekbatani brings leadership, versatility, and durability to a young core.

Right Tackle:

65 Mike Harris, 6-5, 314, Sophomore
72 Sean Sheller, 6-5, 295, Junior

- Mike Harris missed Spring Practice with a fractured bone in his foot, but figures to be ready by Fall camp and will likely claim the job. After recovering from an ankle sprain last season, Harris started five games at right tackle and did a good job in them.

Sheller has been extremely unlucky over the course of his young career, suffering season-ending injuries before the season even started in both 2006 and 2008 (he red-shirted in 2007). Loaded with talent (Was a four-star rated prospect at both rivals.com and scout.com) but lacking game experience, Sheller is a risky choice as a starter but too good of a player to spend too much time on the bench. Definitely expect him to see playing time in 2009, be it as a starter or the first called upon when injuries/struggles set in.

My Take

With an extremely talented young core featuring guys like Jeff Baca, Kai Maiava, Mike Harris, and Sean Sheller (not to mention a few four-star 2009 OL recruits in Stanley Hasiak and Xavier Su’a Filo), there is no question that the future is bright for this offensive line.

That said, I think the future is probably still a year away. With so many young players on the line likely to go through the growing pains that young lineman often do and without a truly shut-down kind of veteran on the line, this will very likely be a unit that has some great games and some very bad games.

Last year’s experience should help the line be a bit better than it was last year, but I’m expecting this year’s step forward to be a small one, with a potentially huge one coming in 2010. Credit Neuheisal for getting so many good pieces in place so quickly, and remember that successful football programs aren’t built overnight; but the future looks promising.

Last season Rudy Carpenter was sacked 34 times, third highest in the nation only behind New Mexico State’s Chase Holbrook (40) and Arkansas’ Casey Dick (38). What’s sadder than being sacked more than all but two quarterbacks in the nation? The fact that it was actually the lowest amount of sacks he’d had to absorb since his freshman season, taking 37 sacks in 2006 and a ridiculous 54 sacks in 2007.

Usually when a team returns all but one of its starters on the line, it is a good thing. But when you are dealing with the worst offensive line in the conference you have to temper your excitement. That said, the Sun Devils do appear to have some bright spots this season; they have shuffled some guys around on the line hoping to better cater to their strengths, and also have a few underclassmen that they believe can step in and make a big impact this year.

Shawn Lauvao shores up the left side

Left Tackle:

67 Shawn Lauvao, 6-3, 305, Senior
78 Kyle Johnson, 6-7, 292, (RS) Freshman

- Lauvao is one of the best players on the offensive side of the ball for the Sun Devils, one of the few bright spots on the line during these last few years.

Lauvao was the youngest of seven starting linemen on the team in 2007, seeing action in the first four games of the season as a backup and taking over as the starter at left guard for the rest of the season in Week 5.

Last season he started in all 12 games, playing the first eight games at left guard before moving to right tackle for the last four. He didn’t miss a beat no matter where he was placed on the line, and earned All-Pac-10 Honorable Mention honors for his efforts.

Versatile enough to play both guard and tackle efficiently, Lauvao will undoubtedly be the backbone and leader of this offensive line.

Left Guard:

59 Jon Hargis, 6-3, 312, Junior
77 Adam Tello, 6-3, 290, Sophomore

- After red-shirting as a freshman and playing 2007 as a defensive tackle (recording 20 tackles on the season), Dennis Erickson decided that Hargis had even more potential as an offensive linemen and made the switch last year. Hargis is known to be an extremely hard worker both on the field and in strength and conditioning, and a step forward this season seems very plausible now that he has experience at the position under his belt. Tello was injured for spring drills which has hurt his chances of grabbing a starting spot, but he has a lot of potential and should provide good depth when necessary.

Center:

52 Garth Gerhart, 6-1, 302, Sophomore
56 Thomas Altieri, 6-1, 301, Senior

- It isn’t easy to dethrone a returning senior, but Gerhart did just that, clearly outplaying Altieri in the spring and earning the job. Earning some valuable playing time at guard last year, Gerhart will return to his natural position in 2009. Both rivals.com and scout.com listed Gerhart as the 7th best center in his draft class. He clearly has the raw talent and the work ethic to succeed, but only time will tell if it translates into success in his first full year as a starter. Having a backup as experienced as Altieri at a key position like center certainly never hurts.

Right Guard:

73 Zach Schlink, 6-4, 331, Sophomore
70 Mike Marcisz, 6-5, 298, Sophomore

- Perhaps even more exciting than Gerhart is Zach Schlink, the most massive man on the line for the Sun Devils who plays with enough physicality and toughness to match his enormous frame. Earning a spot as a starting guard as a true freshman last year, Schlink looked poised to live up to his billing as the top offensive line recruit out of the state of Arizona when he suffered a season ending injury in early November against Washington. If he can put together a healthy campaign in 2009, he may definitely turn some heads.

Right Tackle:

74 Tom Njunge, 6-5, 272, Senior
66 Matt Hustad, 6-5, 292, Sophomore

- Senior JuCo transfer Tom Njunge enters his final year of eligibility at ASU as the likely starter at right tackle. The tallest of the projected starters, Njunge was considered a good pass blocker out of Pasadena City College, a reputation that will certainly be tested this year.

My Take

On paper, there are plenty of reasons to believe that ASU can take a big step forward this year. With Hargas’s year of experience under his belt and potential stars-in-the-making in Gerhart and Schlink, led by the steady Lauvao, the line certainly doesn’t look like one that should be among the absolute worst in the country.

But with all of the position shifting and young inexperienced players being asked to do so much so soon, it requires a lot of wishful thinking to believe it will all go smoothly. And while Erickson is getting there when it comes to depth, this team can not afford any injuries; and keeping an entire line healthy for the whole season is a virtually impossible task.

I believe the line will definitely be better than it was last season, but that isn’t saying much. If the positional transitions all go well and this unit can stay healthy and gel together, ASU will finally be able to shed their bad o-line reputation. If reality is too harsh on the Sun Devils, I hope that QB Danny Sullivan took some notes from Rudy Carpenter on how to take a hit.