2010 College Football Predictions: The Big Ten's Best O-Lines
Moving the pile every game is a must-have in the world of college football, as every yard means something, with one loss equaling elimination in most cases from National Championship discussion.
So it comes as no surprise to many that again this season, the Big Ten is loaded with talent in terms of offensive linemen, and their overall units. These teams will no doubt be blocking for talented quarterbacks and speedy, agile running backs, but at the end of the day, it is the big bruisers upfront who make all of the success even possible.
When looking into the past and seeing the best lines every year in the conference, many times it comes as no shock that the best lines are on the teams that have the most wins when the smoke rises in January. This season could be no different.
No. 11, Illinois Fighting Illini
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Returning 3 of 5 Starters
Randall Hunt, Jeff Allen, and Hugh Thornton return on the frontend for the Fighting Illini. They will be blocking for RBs Mikel LeShoure and Jason Ford. Both backs produced well a year ago, hopefully they can improve to help young quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase.
They have a few weapons on offense, so if this OL outproduces my expectations, then the Illini have a shot at reaching a bowl game. Until they actually produce, they will continue to struggle to win more than two Big Ten games.
This line will be playing under a new line coach in Joe Gilbert this season, and his years at Central Florida and Toledo will hopefully provide some help. Also, Paul Petrino is the coordinator for Illinois, hoping to get the passing game up to par with the success of the running game last season.
The team is looking to somehow replace Jon Asamoah, who was a bright spot on the line last season, leading to his third-round selection by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Allen, at tackle, will be looked upon to be the man to lead the boys upfront. He could be a pro player with two more good seasons.
No. 10, Purdue Boilermakers
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Returning 2 of 5 Starters
Miami transfer Robert Marve takes over as the signal-caller at the "Cradle of Quarterbacks," and must have some time to throw the ball down the field for this team to go bowling in 2010.
Ken Plue and Dennis Kelly are the lone starters returning on the line, and are middle-of-the-road Big Ten starters at this point in their careers.
Coach Danny Hope seems to be confident that he will find a good mix of players to replace the three starters who he has lost to graduation. What it might come down to is not experience, but whoever is playing the best in practice before the big opener against Notre Dame on September 4th.
Coach Hope and the Boilermakers may have to look to a converted defensive end in Nick Mondek, who has not played O-Line since grade school, and may be the right tackle (uh-oh).
They have a stud WR in Keith Smith, so if the OL just slightly improves, they will be just fine in the long run. But overall, this is a big question considering the lack of experience with these guys.
No. 9, Indiana Hoosiers
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Returning 3 of 5 Starters
For once, the Hoosier offense seems to locked and loaded for the 2010 season. QB Ben Chappell, RB Darius Willis, and WRs Tandon Doss, Damarlo Belcher, and Terrance Turner, lead an offense that just lacks a great OL. However, they are not the worst in the conference, by any stretch.
The offensive line could definitely improve on the rushing attack for a good runner in Darius Willis this season, but protecting Ben Chappell the way they did last year would be great. The senior QB Chappell was only taken down 16 times, much to the credit of the "big guys" protecting him.
James Brewer is the only senior on this line, and is the last link to the line built by late coach Terry Hoeppner. Justin Pagan and Will Matte are expected to retain their starting jobs from last season. All in all, this line has a lot of in-game experience, and should see some success this season.
Time will tell how bad these guys look against Ohio State, Iowa, and Wisconsin. The rest of the schedule looks manageable though.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 8, Michigan State Spartans
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Returning 2 of 5 Starters
Joel Foreman is a solid blocker in Big Ten country, but he needs more help to protect a big-time QB in Kirk Cousins. DJ Young is the only other starter and really the only other player who has seen significant time. The Javon Ringer Era is long and gone, and it may take some time before Sparty is running the ball with success despite going up against Western Michigan and Florida Atlantic the first two weeks.
The talent is there for Sparty to have a good season this year as the offensive line has much more depth than in past seasons. If they can live up to what is expected of them by Coach Mark Dantonio this season, than the Spartans should be able to command the running game against most Big Ten defenses.
We will find out early if this could be the special season that the East Lansing faithful have been waiting for as Spartan Stadium hosts the Irish on September 18th. If Cousins can avenge the heartbreaking interception thrown last season against Notre Dame, then it could catapult MSU to great things in 2010.
No. 7, Minnesota Golden Gophers
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Returning 5 of 5 Starters
Before Gopher fans get excited about the returning offensive line from 2009, just pop in a tape from any game of most of last season.
The Gophers return all five starters from a unit that struggled mightily down the stretch a year ago. They are used to running the ball with ease, however, that started to change after November last season. The talent is a bit worse at RB, but keeping Adam Weber healthy is vital.
If Weber were to miss any time, MarQueis Gray would be expected to pick up the slack, and would force the line to adjust to his running quarterback style. These linemen must perform under pressure, or else Head Coach Tim Brewster will be the next Big Ten coach to be packing.
This offensive line last season was as bad as it gets in the conference. And with the Trojans, Wildcats, Buckeyes, and Hawkeyes defenses coming to TFC Stadium in 2010, this line is going to be swamped often. Basically, the right side of the line should be average this season with Jeff Wills and Matt Carufel. Even if Laurence Maroney and Marion Barber were still around, it would be tough for them to be productive.
No. 6, Michigan Wolverines
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Returning 4 of 5 Starters
Senior Steve Schilling is among the best guards in America, and the rest of the line is solid at best. David Molk (Jr) and Mark Huyge (Jr) are the only other experienced linemen. These big boys need to have a big season, or else Slick Rick will be packing up sooner than later.
Huyge is moving to tackle this season, and will be one of the key pieces of the offensive line as they need to give confidence early on in the season to Denard Robinson and Tate Forcier. Of course, Schilling is the name that most people in the NFL will be taking a look at as he is currently ranked in the top five on Mel Kiper's list of college guards going into 2010.
Many believe that the line will be ranked much higher this season with the strides and position changes that have been made, but I'll have to see it to believe it. They are the most likely line that could prove me wrong.
If they have success running the ball, then it could lead to a few upsets, and move Michigan back where they belong, playing in a bowl game.
No. 5 Penn State Nittany Lions
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Returning 3 of 5 Starters
Stefen Wisniewski headlines this OL. RT Lou Eliades is more than capable of holding his own on the right side of the line, however, he needs more help for Royster to have a successful senior campaign.
Joe Pa has already stated that he does not completely like what he has seen thus far from his line this summer, and is looking for more consistency up front. The team is looking for someone to step forward and lock down the anchor at left guard before the season starts. No doubt they want some stability before they have to play the fiery defense of Alabama early on.
If the line comes together, they should be made to look better than they perhaps are with senior running back Royster and solid receivers Graham Zug and Derek Moye.
The biggest concern for this offensive line is that they have a brand-new QB waiting behind center. Johnnie Troutman and DeOnt’ae Pannell are expected to compete and share the left guard duties despite both starting last season. This OL is not built like usual Ford Nittany Lion-tough, but are talented enough to win their usual nine games and go bowling once again in 2010.
No. 4, Iowa Hawkeyes
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Returning 2 of 5 Starters
Riley Reiff came in last season for an often injury-plagued OL. Gone are Bryan Bulaga and Kyle Calloway. Yet, they will not miss a beat with Reiff, center Josh Koeppel, and left guard Julian Vandervelde. Those three will lead the way for a talented group of RBs led by Adam Robinson and Jewel Hampton.
Had Bryan Bulaga come back after the Orange Bowl victory, the Hawkeyes would have had two projected top 10 picks in 2011 NFL Draft in Adrian Clayborn and Bulaga. However, Bulaga is protecting many people's prized fantasy football interest in Aaron Rogers this year in Green Bay, and the Hawkeyes have to move on.
Iowa has a strong history of making great offensive lineman, and this year, many young players should step into the role, continuing this tradition. Koeppel or James Ferentz (Kirk's son) is where it all starts at center. If they can lead the attack, then Ricky Stanzi will know what to do with the pigskin.
Look for Reiff to be among the best sophomores in the entire land, and for Vandervelde to be the leader of a younger unit this season.
No. 3, Northwestern Wildcats
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Returning 3 of 5 Starters
They must protect their QB Dan Persa and with the uncertainty at running back, they must clear way for what does not look like one of the better backfields.
This unit is led by big left tackle Al Netter. Netter could be on his way to a season that will be one of best for any Northwestern lineman ever. He has the skill-set to use his imposing frame on almost any opponent. And, with the crop of great defensive lineman and linebackers that he will be facing this season, he will need to.
Despite some questions regarding the running back situation, many feel that this year's offensive line could be one of the better units the team has had in years. Center Ben Burkett is a solid Big Ten blocker and should be as good a leader as any in the Big Ten, and Neal Dieters is not half-bad either.
Persa has shown that if you give him the opportunity, he can make it happen. All the Cats need to make a run at the conference is a breakout year at running back a la Damien Anderson and Darnell Autry (cue Arby Fields).
No. 2, Ohio State Buckeyes
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Returning 4 of 5 Starters
Justin Boren and Mike Brewster are both expected to be First Team All-Big Ten and possibly All-American this season. Boren, the former Michigan Wolverine, has steadily improved his blocking, and with the help of Brewster, will enable Pryor and company to gash opponents when attempting to run.
Under-the-radar guys such as JB Shugarts, Bryant Browning, and Mike Adams are all capable of making it to the next level as well. Ohio State is not far off from being the best OL in the Big Ten.
Many people may be under the impression that the success of the Buckeyes hinges solely on Mr. Pryor. But if the line hinders or runs into injuries, then the Big Ten title streak will be in serious jeopardy with the strength of the conference in 2010.
The experience that the O-Line got last season, along with the confidence from the winning streak at the end of the season could really carry over. With a well-balanced running attack led by Boom Herron and Brandon Saine, the offensive line of the Buckeyes could be spending their January in South Beach.
No. 1, Wisconsin Badgers
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Returning 5 of 5 Starters
Led by All-American hog mollies Gabe Carimi and John Moffitt, the Badgers boast not only the best OL in the Big Ten, but also the best in the nation. Peter Konz (So.) is coming off a season in which he was named to the All-Big Ten Freshmen Team, College Football News All-Freshmen Second Team, and Academic All-Big Ten. Those three studs upfront will pave way for the best back in the Big Ten, junior John Clay.
Moffitt is moving to center this season and will be able to convert to the position well, as he has played it before in his career. Despite some injuries, this group should still be the best in the conference as they have a lot of depth at almost every position on the line.
If the Badgers challenge conference favorites Iowa and Ohio State this season, it will certainly be the result of the O-Line.
Feel Free to Discuss!
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.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
