O-Line hits fall camp in stride
8/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Mike Kramer reached a point just before spring drills began last April when he almost did something unprecedented. “I almost cancelled spring ball, I really did,” he says, four months removed from the panic that set in with the realization that only seven healthy offensive linemen were available.
“It was a drastic situation,” Kramer said after three days of fall camp. “That’s why I made the comment in May that the best thing about spring ball was that our next practice would be with a full, healthy offensive line.” Center Nic Stevenson and guards Mataio Toilolo and Jeff Bolton each spent the spring rehabilitating injuries, which left a patchwork of new and out-of-position players to man the offensive front with All-America tackle Brent Swaggert.
The offensive line that assembled for the opening of fall practice on Monday is as good as Kramer had previously advertised, MSU’s veteran head coach says. “This is our fourth year here, and it’s the fourth layer in the progression of our improvement,” Kramer said. “We haven’t even been in (full) pads yet, but this group has exceptional athletic ability. These guys move well.”
Kramer said that while athleticism in the offensive line doesn’t necessarily change the offense schematically, it gives a team more options. “Basically, you do the same things, but you just do them better,” Kramer said. “Guys don’t get out of position, and they’re able to recover easier.”
The offensive line’s athleticism and versatility, coupled with Travis Lulay’s understanding of the system, gives the Bobcat offense more complexity. “In the past we’ve had to tailor our offense to the limitations of the offensive line,” Kramer said. “More and more of the playbook is available to us because of the prowess of the offensive line.”
The Bobcat offensive line remains a work in progress early in fall camp. Starting center Nic Stevenson is battling a shoulder injury, and starting guard Mataio Toilolo is stranded in California with car problems. Swaggert, a 35-game starter, remains the foundation on which the line is built, while sophomore Zach Wolf, whose only action as a true freshman last year came in the I-AA Playoff game at McNeese State, has turned heads early in camp.
The emergence of freshman tackle Joe Hirst and converted tight end Dusty Daws not only allowed the Bobcats to progress through the spring, but have proven to be more than April mirages, Kramer said. “Joe Hirst has the ability to be an outstanding player for us. He is first on the depth chart, and has a chance to be a guy who won a job rather than a guy who had one handed to him because there was no one else available.”
Hirst enters the full-contact portion of camp as the first team right tackle. Toilolo is expected to regain his starting left guard role upon his return, while Zach Wolf has manned the center position in Nic Stevenson’s absence. Joaquin Echauri is MSU’s starting right guard.
The best news for Kramer isn’t necessarily the starting offensive linemen, but the fact that there are solid players behind them. “We have more quality depth that we’ve had,” Kramer said. “We experienced at the end of last season and in the spring what can happen when you aren’t deep in the offensive line. We’re much better suited to endure the rigors of the season this year.”
“It was a drastic situation,” Kramer said after three days of fall camp. “That’s why I made the comment in May that the best thing about spring ball was that our next practice would be with a full, healthy offensive line.” Center Nic Stevenson and guards Mataio Toilolo and Jeff Bolton each spent the spring rehabilitating injuries, which left a patchwork of new and out-of-position players to man the offensive front with All-America tackle Brent Swaggert.
The offensive line that assembled for the opening of fall practice on Monday is as good as Kramer had previously advertised, MSU’s veteran head coach says. “This is our fourth year here, and it’s the fourth layer in the progression of our improvement,” Kramer said. “We haven’t even been in (full) pads yet, but this group has exceptional athletic ability. These guys move well.”
Kramer said that while athleticism in the offensive line doesn’t necessarily change the offense schematically, it gives a team more options. “Basically, you do the same things, but you just do them better,” Kramer said. “Guys don’t get out of position, and they’re able to recover easier.”
The offensive line’s athleticism and versatility, coupled with Travis Lulay’s understanding of the system, gives the Bobcat offense more complexity. “In the past we’ve had to tailor our offense to the limitations of the offensive line,” Kramer said. “More and more of the playbook is available to us because of the prowess of the offensive line.”
The Bobcat offensive line remains a work in progress early in fall camp. Starting center Nic Stevenson is battling a shoulder injury, and starting guard Mataio Toilolo is stranded in California with car problems. Swaggert, a 35-game starter, remains the foundation on which the line is built, while sophomore Zach Wolf, whose only action as a true freshman last year came in the I-AA Playoff game at McNeese State, has turned heads early in camp.
The emergence of freshman tackle Joe Hirst and converted tight end Dusty Daws not only allowed the Bobcats to progress through the spring, but have proven to be more than April mirages, Kramer said. “Joe Hirst has the ability to be an outstanding player for us. He is first on the depth chart, and has a chance to be a guy who won a job rather than a guy who had one handed to him because there was no one else available.”
Hirst enters the full-contact portion of camp as the first team right tackle. Toilolo is expected to regain his starting left guard role upon his return, while Zach Wolf has manned the center position in Nic Stevenson’s absence. Joaquin Echauri is MSU’s starting right guard.
The best news for Kramer isn’t necessarily the starting offensive linemen, but the fact that there are solid players behind them. “We have more quality depth that we’ve had,” Kramer said. “We experienced at the end of last season and in the spring what can happen when you aren’t deep in the offensive line. We’re much better suited to endure the rigors of the season this year.”
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
