Like much of the offense a season ago, the offensive line had its share of struggles. The unit had issues protecting the quarterback and opening up holes consistently in the running game.
Who is projected if the season started today? LT DeVante Lovett, LG Drew Kirkpatrick, C Kody Russey, RG Ethan Reed, RT Gewhite Stallworth
One positive about the spring is that projected starting five to every single snap together this spring. Getting some chemistry with one another is good.
I think this unit is at its best in the run game when they are exploding off the ball with a normal scheme. When ask to pull they seem to have some issues.
DeVante Lovett:
-appears to be on track to start for the first time as a fifth year senior, has made one career start at Miss State and performed well
-extremely good athlete, great feet
-effort has been lacking at time throughout his career, but it appeared better this spring
Drew Kirkpatrick:
-all indications are that he had a really strong spring
-he’s best when he knocks the guy off the ball in front of him, can’t get out on edge on a lead block because he’s not a great athlete
-can be too stiff at times, needs to stay in his legs
Kody Russey:
-the clear cut leader of the offensive line, heck he’s probably the leader of the entire offense
-he’ll be an all-conference center in 2019
-defensive linemen hate him because he never quits on a play, defines blocking until the whistle is blown
-one of my favorite players on the team
Ethan Reed:
-appears to be healthy this spring, banged up all of 2018 and it showed
-on track to be a 4-year starter at RG
-great kid, teammates gravitate towards him, never shows negative emotion
Gewhite Stallworth:
-missed all of 2018 with a shoulder injury
-was pretty rusty throughout the spring, back flared of late in spring, could be something to watch
-he’s in much better shape than when we’ve seen him in the past, will that change the tune on him?
-he’s good in the run game, struggles in pass pro with speed off the edge
Biron Rossell:
-probably the surprise of the spring on the offensive line after coming from a small HS
-there’s a chance he could be a real contributor if there is an injury or two
-has a meanness about him, good feet
Joshua Mote:
-I think he should start, he might be the best offensive lineman we have
-he’s nasty, you aren’t going to bully him on the inside, trust me, he won’t let it happen
Abraham Delfin:
-he would start at center at a lot of schools, but a lot of schools don’t have a Kody Russey
-he’ll be on scholarship one day
Christian Henderson:
-has made the moved to guard full time, that’s his best spot
-still working to get his body where it needs to be
-he’ll be a contributor down the road
Willie Allen:
-he will absolutely maul you in the run game, struggles with speed off the edge at RT
-still working on getting his body in better shape, but he’s better than where he was last season
-definitely in the running to start at RT
-will have mental lapses where you don’t know if he’s ever played football at times
Carter Habich:
-I can’t decide if he’s better at guard or tackle, working mainly at tackle right now
-still learning the offense
-has a redshirt year, I think he could benefit from using it, but getting 15 practices this spring should speed up his learning curve
Taylor Fondal:
-I wouldn’t be surprised if he transferred, but I’ve said that before
-he’s pretty far down the depth chart
Walker Hankinson:
-long way to go for Hankinson, needs more of a toughness to him
-needs to add a 20-30 pounds
Noah Pitre:
-walk-on in 2018, he’s going to be a good one
-still needs to add 25 pounds or so, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he was that extra tight end at times in 2019
-best athlete Tech has on the offensive line, and he’s a really hard worker
Overall:
-if the group can stay healthy, they have given me some optimism, but I want to see it in a game on a consistent basis
-they were really good in the last scrimmage, best I’ve seen them in a long time
-I thought I noticed a shift in McFarland the last week or so, seemed to be more of a controlled tone when he was explaining how he wanted things done, thought that was interesting
-the young players in Pitre and Rossell are exciting
-RT is a major concern for me, I hope Antawn Lewis can fill that spot, or maybe we get Josh Cooper
-While Kirkpatrick had a nice spring, I want Mote’s toughness
Who is projected if the season started today? LT DeVante Lovett, LG Drew Kirkpatrick, C Kody Russey, RG Ethan Reed, RT Gewhite Stallworth
One positive about the spring is that projected starting five to every single snap together this spring. Getting some chemistry with one another is good.
I think this unit is at its best in the run game when they are exploding off the ball with a normal scheme. When ask to pull they seem to have some issues.
DeVante Lovett:
-appears to be on track to start for the first time as a fifth year senior, has made one career start at Miss State and performed well
-extremely good athlete, great feet
-effort has been lacking at time throughout his career, but it appeared better this spring
Drew Kirkpatrick:
-all indications are that he had a really strong spring
-he’s best when he knocks the guy off the ball in front of him, can’t get out on edge on a lead block because he’s not a great athlete
-can be too stiff at times, needs to stay in his legs
Kody Russey:
-the clear cut leader of the offensive line, heck he’s probably the leader of the entire offense
-he’ll be an all-conference center in 2019
-defensive linemen hate him because he never quits on a play, defines blocking until the whistle is blown
-one of my favorite players on the team
Ethan Reed:
-appears to be healthy this spring, banged up all of 2018 and it showed
-on track to be a 4-year starter at RG
-great kid, teammates gravitate towards him, never shows negative emotion
Gewhite Stallworth:
-missed all of 2018 with a shoulder injury
-was pretty rusty throughout the spring, back flared of late in spring, could be something to watch
-he’s in much better shape than when we’ve seen him in the past, will that change the tune on him?
-he’s good in the run game, struggles in pass pro with speed off the edge
Biron Rossell:
-probably the surprise of the spring on the offensive line after coming from a small HS
-there’s a chance he could be a real contributor if there is an injury or two
-has a meanness about him, good feet
Joshua Mote:
-I think he should start, he might be the best offensive lineman we have
-he’s nasty, you aren’t going to bully him on the inside, trust me, he won’t let it happen
Abraham Delfin:
-he would start at center at a lot of schools, but a lot of schools don’t have a Kody Russey
-he’ll be on scholarship one day
Christian Henderson:
-has made the moved to guard full time, that’s his best spot
-still working to get his body where it needs to be
-he’ll be a contributor down the road
Willie Allen:
-he will absolutely maul you in the run game, struggles with speed off the edge at RT
-still working on getting his body in better shape, but he’s better than where he was last season
-definitely in the running to start at RT
-will have mental lapses where you don’t know if he’s ever played football at times
Carter Habich:
-I can’t decide if he’s better at guard or tackle, working mainly at tackle right now
-still learning the offense
-has a redshirt year, I think he could benefit from using it, but getting 15 practices this spring should speed up his learning curve
Taylor Fondal:
-I wouldn’t be surprised if he transferred, but I’ve said that before
-he’s pretty far down the depth chart
Walker Hankinson:
-long way to go for Hankinson, needs more of a toughness to him
-needs to add a 20-30 pounds
Noah Pitre:
-walk-on in 2018, he’s going to be a good one
-still needs to add 25 pounds or so, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he was that extra tight end at times in 2019
-best athlete Tech has on the offensive line, and he’s a really hard worker
Overall:
-if the group can stay healthy, they have given me some optimism, but I want to see it in a game on a consistent basis
-they were really good in the last scrimmage, best I’ve seen them in a long time
-I thought I noticed a shift in McFarland the last week or so, seemed to be more of a controlled tone when he was explaining how he wanted things done, thought that was interesting
-the young players in Pitre and Rossell are exciting
-RT is a major concern for me, I hope Antawn Lewis can fill that spot, or maybe we get Josh Cooper
-While Kirkpatrick had a nice spring, I want Mote’s toughness
