Unit Analysis: Offensive Line

The offensive line was one of the strengths of the Bulls last season, helping lead a great rushing attack and protecting B.J. Daniels as he set new career highs in the passing game.  The 2012 unit has both tackles returning, but has question marks at the guard positions and especially at center lead to questions on how effective this unit can be.  Let's take a look at the line and what they bring to the field in 2012.

Depth chart coming out of spring:

LT - Mark Popek (6-7 296-pounds); Darrell Williams (6-5 286-pounds)

LG - Damien Edwards (6-5 329-pounds); Brynjar Gundmundsson (6-4 293-pounds)

C - Austin Reiter (6-3 278-pounds); Thor Jozwiak (6-4 307-pounds)

RG - Lawrence Martin (6-3 309-pounds); Steven Jacques (6-3 304-pounds)

RT - Quinterrius Eatmon (6-6 313-pounds); Max Lang (6-5 282-pounds)

Who else is on the depth chart:  The Bulls have a strong group of young offensive linemen behind the starters that will continue to develop in the system.  Danous Estenor (6-3 304-pounds) who missed the spring due to an injury should be ready by the fall, John McGhin (6-4 343-pounds), Mak Djulbegovic (6-5 282-pounds), Jake Kaufman (6-9 333-pounds), and Jake Smith (6-5 287-pounds) round out the depth chart coming out of the spring.

What the team lost from last year:  Kevin McCaskill, Darren Powe, Jeremiah Warren, and Chaz Hine all graduated (Hine was the starter at the center and probably the biggest loss after the season was over).  Tony Kibler was arrested and dismissed from the program, Chandlor Mathews (part of the 2012 recruiting class) enrolled early but left to move closer to home in Mississippi, and David Simon left due to medical reasons (wish him the best).

Incoming 2012 recruits:  The Bulls added two linemen in the 2012 class, Kofia Amichia (6-4 270-pounds) and Kameron Davis (6-5 290-pounds).  Both have enrolled this summer and will participate in the fall camp Vero Beach.

Strengths of the unit:  The Bulls return both starting tackles from last season in Eatmon, who emerged on the scene as a freshman and in Mark Popek, who is a very experienced player.  Eatmon started all 12 games for the Bulls on the right side, so that side is protected and Popek has a wealth of experience at the left side (former All Big East freshman performer). The depth behind them in Darrell Williams (who played in one game as a freshman) and Max Lang (highly touted recruit) should be able to help provide solid depth if any injuries occur.  The guard position, even with Warren leaving, is strong with Damien Edwards and Danous Estenor (when healthy) returning and the addition of Lawrence Martin (JUCO star) help make the Bulls interior line strong.  Gundmundsson has been working hard during the summer, so he should be improved and could get on the field this season, adding more depth.

Weakness of the unit: There are some questions at the guard position.  The team is hoping Danous Estenor returns at full health, which he should, but they will need him to be at 100% if he is going to start.  The other question at guard is if Lawrence Martin is ready for the D1 level.  He has the size and skill, but will it lead to an easy transition at this level. The depth with Gundmundsson and Jacques have the size, but they have not been tested yet, so there will be questions if they are called to play major roles during the season.

The biggest question, however, comes at the center position. Both centers from last season, Hine and McCaskill, are gone, leaving the Bulls with a brand new center that has never taken a snap at the college level, Austin Reiter.  Reiter battled Jozwiak and Chandlor Mathews (before he left) for the position and won it hands down, according to the coaches.  He became vocal and led by example on the line, which is great, but does it mean he is ready for prime time?  The depth behind him, Jozwiak, is also inexperienced, so the growing pains could happen early in the season.

Overall grade: B+.  This was a tough unit to grade.  While I want to give them an A, the questions at center continue to concern me a bit due to the fact that it is the unknown with Reiter. The unit can easily be a A or even A+ unit, but with a new center in the middle of the line, we will have to wait and see how they turn out.