Projected OL Starters 2012-13 Season

[olddawg]

Okay, I've been looking at the updated FB roster, and outside of Earl Watford, who will be the projected starters on the OL?

JMU only lists one true center, a RFr Andrew Baumgardner, who seems a bit undersized at 6'3" 250#....is there a potential reposition move there? And if so, who would that be?

Lane, Wells and Austin seem ready to start...Fucci and Kroll should also see action...but I'm curious as to what our collective mind-trust has to say. I'm big believer that it all starts up front with the OL...and we'll go just as far as the big guys take us.

Couldn't agree more.

Not sure what Mickeys plans are for center. Anyone know who played center in the Spring Game?

I would think that Scott Jones might get a look. He did play that position in HS and also has starting experience (at guard) from back in 2010. He also was an outstanding wrestler in HS which I would think is an added bonus- think Matt Magerko. Don't know much about Baumgardner, his resume doesn't jump out at you, but like Jones, he did wrestle rather well in HS.

Would have to think that Josh Wells would be a likely starter at one tackle. He continually drew praise from coaches last year, even though he had no previous college experience as a lineman. The other spot is harder to project. AJ Scott has starting experience and Wray Fucci had rave reviews during the Spring Game. Would think Fucci would need to bulk up a bit from last years listed weight of 260. That's more of a TE build on a 6'6" frame. Ordinarily you could reasonably expect a pattern of weight/ strength gain from freshman year to RS FR year- until you got a look at Williams and Cunningham when they made their appearances in the ODU game as redshirt freshman. 255-260 lb. O-lineman are not going to cut it at our level.

At guard, Watford is a lock and would think that Austin Lane has the inside track due to his game experience from last year. Of the others, I have the feeling that Matt Williams has the inside track at the playing rotation provided he's gained some strength. Cunningham, IMO, was overmatched and will likely be surpassed by Casey Kroll on the depth chart.

If it turns out that we go Wells, Watford, Jones, Lane and Scott, that would be, without a doubt our tallest O-line ever- averaging 6'5" per man. I'm used to our 6'2" 280 pound squatty guys.

[Boris]

LT - AJ Scott
LG - Earl Watford
C - Scott Jones
RG - Austin Lane
RT - Josh Wells

First replacements - Matt Williams (center or guard), Wray Fucci (tackle)
Still developing - Cunningham, Kroll, Buchholz, Baumgardner

[JMU2009]

What is the listed height/weight of each projected starter + Fucci, Kroll & Lane? Sorry guys, I'm too lazy to look this up on my own.

Looked it up myself:

Wells: 6' 5" 295 LBS
Scott: 6'6" 280 LBS
Watford: 6'4" 290 LBS
Lane: 6'5" 290 LBS
Jones: 6'5" 290 LBS

Williams: 6'3" 255 LBS
Fucci: 6'6" 260 LBS
Kroll: 6'5" 265 LBS
Kirsch: 6'5" 265 LBS

I know weight doesn't = success, but still... if you see some of these guys around the burg, buy them a burger or 10...

[JMU2004]

Looked it up myself:

Wells: 6' 5" 295 LBS
Scott: 6'6" 280 LBS
Watford: 6'4" 290 LBS
Lane: 6'5" 290 LBS
Jones: 6'5" 290 LBS

Williams: 6'3" 255 LBS
Fucci: 6'6" 260 LBS
Kroll: 6'5" 265 LBS
Kirsch: 6'5" 265 LBS

I know weight doesn't = success, but still... if you see some of these guys around the burg, buy them a burger or 10...

Our offense requires a mobile OL....not the big bruisers of 2004-2006. Long arms and quick feet are much more valuable than another 30-50 lbs.

[JMU2009]

Our offense requires a mobile OL....not the big bruisers of 2004-2006. Long arms and quick feet are much more valuable than another 30-50 lbs.

I get that. I'd take athleticism over size any day.

[dunkanddukin]

And you're not really going to get a heck of a lot better going from 290 to say 320. There's a quickly diminishing return on getting that freaking big. I too will take 285 and moderately athletic, or even very athletic for that size, than some big heavy that can't get in a decent stance or is taking a knee between every play.

[Longhorn]

Looked it up myself:

Wells: 6' 5" 295 LBS
Scott: 6'6" 280 LBS
Watford: 6'4" 290 LBS
Lane: 6'5" 290 LBS
Jones: 6'5" 290 LBS

Williams: 6'3" 255 LBS
Fucci: 6'6" 260 LBS
Kroll: 6'5" 265 LBS
Kirsch: 6'5" 265 LBS

I know weight doesn't = success, but still... if you see some of these guys around the burg, buy them a burger or 10...

Not that our guys (as a group) are NFL level, but by size they're about the same as those famous lines on the Denver Broncos when Denver was churning out one 1000+ yard back after another. If they can work together their size and athleticism could be the best line we've had since 2004.

[JMUHarpoo]

Last year's devastating injuries on the line have created an experienced group for this year. If only Krout didn't quit school...

[BSKB 24]

Who cares. We are only 1AA. Nobody cares about 1 AA football.

[Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuukes]

Last year's devastating injuries on the line have created an experienced group for this year. If only Krout didn't quit school...

Yeah, I don't know what his deal was but that was a big loss because it's almost inevitable that somebody will go down. Don't want another situation like what happened at ODU last year.