Offensive line stats-what are the most important?

krc1995

krc1995

Donor
We've talked to death about how banged up the o-line starters are, but what about their backups? Decker, Whitaker, Barnett, Conrad, etc-how have they played in their back-up roles? What are some stats that are posted that can be used to evaluate their performance?

looking at the 0-line depth chart is scary. One season ending injury away from complete devastation. How did it get this way?

LEFT TACKLE 68 Nick Gates, 6-5, 290, So. 62 Cole Conrad, 6-5, 305, So. 65 Christian Gaylord, 6-6, 300, RFr.

LEFT GUARD 73 Sam Hahn, 6-7, 300, Sr. 58 Corey Whitaker, 6-5, 295, Sr.

CENTER 66 Dylan Utter, 6-1, 295, Sr. 79 Michael Decker, 6-4, 285, RFr.

RIGHT GUARD 63 Tanner Farmer, 6-4, 295, So. 58 Corey Whitaker, 6-5, 295, Sr. 74 Jalin Barnett, 6-4, 310, RFr.

RIGHT TACKLE 77 David Knevel, 6-9, 315, Jr. 62 Cole Conrad, 6-5, 305, So

 
The best stat would be for a coach to go through films and grade them out for each game. But that's not you're looking for, I guess.
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Whitaker and Conrad have played a lot can't remember seeing Decker or Barnett out there or Gaylord maybe in garbage time in the non con but that's it.

 
This cannot be our 'depth chart' as that is only a total of 10 guys for five positions. We have a roster of approx 150 for a total of about 25 spots. That figures out to roughly 6 players PER position. And we know we don't have 6 punters and 6 place kickers so that means there are some 'extras' available. You have 11 offensive positions, 11 defense and a holder and two kickers. Certainly one can argue there are some hybrid positions that could suggest as many as 27 different 'positions' perhaps but we know that some players play multiple positions.

If we take out the approximate 25 or so guys who would be redshirting each year theoretically plus another 25 or so who may be injured or otherwise disabled or disqualified for some reason. That still leaves about 100 players to fill the 25 positions (or about FOUR (4) deep. We certainly don't need 4 deep at each of several receiver positions arguably and I believe we are discussing how we are really barely 4 deep at QB.

Someone please explain where are the 8 or so additional O linemen hiding?

 
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84HuskerLaw said:
This cannot be our 'depth chart' as that is only a total of 10 guys for five positions. We have a roster of approx 150 for a total of about 25 spots. That figures out to roughly 6 players PER position. And we know we don't have 6 punters and 6 place kickers so that means there are some 'extras' available. You have 11 offensive positions, 11 defense and a holder and two kickers. Certainly one can argue there are some hybrid positions that could suggest as many as 27 different 'positions' perhaps but we know that some players play multiple positions.

If we take out the approximate 25 or so guys who would be redshirting each year theoretically plus another 25 or so who may be injured or otherwise disabled or disqualified for some reason. That still leaves about 100 players to fill the 25 positions (or about FOUR (4) deep. We certainly don't need 4 deep at each of several receiver positions arguably and I believe we are discussing how we are really barely 4 deep at QB.

Someone please explain where are the 8 or so additional O linemen hiding?
Click to expand...
Well, aren't there 4 or 5 true frosh redshirting? Also, Dwayne Johnson is on scholarship and hasn't done a thing at NU. DJ Foster is out all season with an injury.

 
Look at our 2 deep from last week. Looked like a couple guys were the #2 at several spots. Numbers on paper and numbers on the depth chart are, sadly, 2 different things..... We are incredibly thin on both lines.....

 
Sub-par recruiting/horrible roster management (mostly by the last staff) is how it got this way. Take a look at the scholarship OL the past 5 years:

2012 OL recruits (2016 Seniors):

-Corey Whitaker (Been injured most of his career; Career backup)

-Paul Thurston (Started a few games after starters were injured/Transferred to Colorado St. before the season)

2013 OL recruits (2016 RS Juniors/TR Seniors)

-Dwayne Johnson (Nothing.)-

-Chongo Kondolo (JUCO; graduated last year)

-Matt Finnin (JUCO; transferred last year)

-David Knevel (First year starter in 2016)

-Zach Hannon (Nothing.)

So those are our upper classmen.......1 starter and 1 backup out of the group. Taking only 2 Offensive Linemen in 2012 has turned out to be a failure, though it would be nice to have Thurston. The 2013 class, outside of Knevel, can pretty much be chalked up as a failure. Just my opinion, but we should be taking 4 high school OL in each class.

2014 OL recruits (2016 RS Sophomores/TR Juniors):

-Nick Gates (Stud / 2 year starter)

-Jerald Foster (Out for the season / Would be a starter)

-Tanner Farmer (1st year starter)

Really good class, props to the last staff on this one. But, once again only 3 guys, two of which were for sure going to be interior guys and Gates had the ability to play inside and outside. Needed another Tackle.

2015 OL recruits (2016 RS Freshmen):

-Christian Gaylord (Probably the next guy up at the Tackle spot / Been said many times that he needed to get stronger, sounds like the potential is there.)

-Jalin Barnett (Highly rated guy brought in by Cav / High potential / Needs to continue to reshape his body)

-Michael Decker (Backup at the Center position / Will continue to be in line for playing time, starting next year)

Once again I would have liked to see another OL in this class, specifically a Tackle, but the new staff was put in a tough spot, not knowing exactly what they had.

2016 OL recruits (2016 Tr Freshmen)

-Boe Wilson (Almost burned his RS)

-John Raridon (Highest rated OL of the group)

-Bryan Brokop (Potential to play inside or outside)

-Matt Farniok (OT of the future? / Some say he may be better suited inside)

 
84HuskerLaw said:
This cannot be our 'depth chart' as that is only a total of 10 guys for five positions. We have a roster of approx 150 for a total of about 25 spots. That figures out to roughly 6 players PER position. And we know we don't have 6 punters and 6 place kickers so that means there are some 'extras' available. You have 11 offensive positions, 11 defense and a holder and two kickers. Certainly one can argue there are some hybrid positions that could suggest as many as 27 different 'positions' perhaps but we know that some players play multiple positions.

If we take out the approximate 25 or so guys who would be redshirting each year theoretically plus another 25 or so who may be injured or otherwise disabled or disqualified for some reason. That still leaves about 100 players to fill the 25 positions (or about FOUR (4) deep. We certainly don't need 4 deep at each of several receiver positions arguably and I believe we are discussing how we are really barely 4 deep at QB.

Someone please explain where are the 8 or so additional O linemen hiding?
Click to expand...
That's what I thought. What happened? We talk about renting a QB sometimes but maybe we should rent some linemen. I cut and pasted the roster from the depth chart on Huskermax. If desperate can a long snapper play center?

 
No he couldn't - rules state that you can't go after a special teams center, however an every down center is fair game. Our long snapper is the size of a half a line man for good reason.

 
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