55 Days till Kickoff

[AstroDin]

Well, folks — it's now 55 days till kickoff. #55 belongs to Bo Layton who's getting some pre-season all American accolades.
I expect Bo and his fellow linemen to prove to be one of the top SoCon offensive lines (Furman, Wofford, Samford).

A nugget from his bio: Consensus first-team All-Southern Conference selection in balloting by head coaches and media...started at left tackle in all 10 games, totaling a unit high 574 plays...graded out a season-high 95 percent on another season-high 80 plays in the Paladins’ season finale 35-30, Southern Conference title-clinching win over Mercer, the program’s 14th league crown...credited with a season-high eight knockdowns on 58 plays against Wofford.

My armchair take — Bo is just one player on a very talented Furman offensive line. We have to tip our hat to how quickly CCH and Pete Lusk have transformed the offensive line.

LT Layton 6-7 287 (JR) 10 starts in 2018
LG Kroeber 6-4 286 (JR) 10 starts in 2018
C Neeley 6-3 273 (JR) 9 starts in 2018
RG Harris 6-4 288 (SO) 9 starts in 2018
RT Godwin 6-4 281 (SR) 8 starts in 2018

T Auer 6-3 266 (JR) 2 starts in 2018
T McKinney 6-7 307 (SO) 3 starts in 2018
T Detamore 6-4 263 (SO) saw reserve action in 2018
G Tomlin 6-5 275 (RSFR) appeared in one game

Incoming

C Jumper 6-4 245 (FR) played in the spring game, appears to be a lock as the #2 center
G Johanning 6-3 260 (FR) I'd pencil in Johanning as the incoming player with the best shot to make the depth chart at guard
G Dodd III 6-4 285 (FR) Dodd I've heard played off the beaten path - physically Dodd is ready to play, he could also make the depth chart at guard
T Toomey 6-3 250 (FR) If not for the depth at tackle - Toomey could get reserve action in 2019.

Furman also brings in three PWO linemen; Soapes 6-2 280, Vivona 6-3 315, Hughes 6-4 290.

[apaladin]

I expect this OL to be good but is there any concern with the smallish size and overall depth?. No starter at 290 or better and except for McKinney the reserves and incoming fall into the "tiny" category. I know size isn't everything but this offensive line looks really small compared to others for the most part.

[gofurman]

Apaladin, I think our OL will be very good and could be better in 2020. All but one starter will return in 2020!!! And in 2020 despite the loss of one guy (Godwin) we will have 4 starters plus ALL of the next guys - Auer, McKinney, Detamore, Tomlin, Jumper, Johnanning and Dodd. Of all those players only Godwin graduates after 2019. That’s crazy ... looks good !

That said, to show objectivity we need a better push in the middle of the OL this year. We struggled w that last year. A few times it took THREE downs to get one yd last yr. need improvement for sure

[The Jackal]

I expect this OL to be good but is there any concern with the smallish size and overall depth?. No starter at 290 or better and except for McKinney the reserves and incoming fall into the "tiny" category. I know size isn't everything but this offensive line looks really small compared to others for the most part.

None. The coaching staff is going after taller, leaner, and more athletic players. These are the type of players this coaching staff wants, not guys they are just left with.

Give me athletic, quick, and well-coached offensive linemen over guys that are just big any day of the week. Of course, you'd love to have a team full of 6'7 315 lbs guys that run a 4.4, but those type of players don't make it past the major programs.

Watch Jordan Harris' (RG) athleticism on this play. Great footwork and speed, cuts off his man and drives him to the other side of the field.

Watch the technique on this one against UTC. Inside trap play, but Harris (RG) first fakes a pass block. He then scoops out to the DE while Kroeber comes from LG to open the hole. Godwins (RT) get to the second level to throw the block to open Watkins for a 16 yard gain. In fact, both OTs are 5 or 6 yards down field throwing a block when the RB breaks the line.

Incidentally, the DL that Furman's hoodoos on that play was the SoCon DPOTY, Isaiah Mack. Ran right at him, but fooled his eyes, and got him out of position. From my view, Harris' fake pass block got Mack to not realize he was being trapped until Kroeber was on him. Often a DT as good and big as Mack (6'3 305) will recognize the trap, keep their body low, and slam into the pulling guard and close the hole.

Athleticism and technique allows our offense to get their "firstest with the mostest." Even undersized, we need just that half second opening to gain the advantage.