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The place to talk Marshall University sports! => HerdFans => Topic started by: ZackUSAF82 on April 05, 2011, 07:41:40 AM
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Dave Wilson
Huntington
The Thundering Herd is trying to solidify the most important positions on the field this spring so the “other” most important position can grow and mature. True, position battles on the offensive front are not as sexy as a quarterback controversy, but finding the right combination of five guys to anchor the offense is just as, if not more important than finding the right guy for them to block. The sooner Doc Holliday can find a starting front five the quicker they can begin to mesh together and work as a single cohesive unit.
Just two starters are back for the 2011 campaign in the trenches for The Herd, guard C.J. Wood and tackle Ryan Tillman. Tillman has started 34 games in his career and Wood 25. To go down the list of other returning lineman and their experience is to look down a list of potential without a lot of time trying to block D-1 defenders.
“That’s one area that’s hard for young kids to play because they’re just not strong enough,” asserts Holliday.
Chris Bowers, Corey Tenney, Jordan Jeffries, Josh Bruhin and Alex Schooler all return some experience, but have only five starts among them. Schooler will miss the spring with a shoulder injury.
Last season, Marshall’s offensive line was solid, but Holliday is still looking for improvement. Marshall allowed only 13 sacks last season, but was a veteran group with the likes of Chad Schofield leading the men in the trenches. However, too often the quarterback was throwing under duress and holes for the running backs just weren’t there.
Link: http://www.wvmetronews.com/sports.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=44402
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Anyone else find Hollidays comments interesting about "wanting" it?
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No, I think he wants kids who will play hard and give effort all of the time. Thats why AJ was in the doghouse at the start of last year.
Doc's not going to hand hold and coddle these young men. You either do what the coaches say and play hard, or, you can ride the pine for 4-5 years. The choice is up the the players.
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I think the boys we have right now and the ones coming will be great juniors and seniors but we need them to mature fast.
Hopefully, Doc digs up some quality walk-ons before the fall. I'm sure there is some special player out there who needs a second chance, etc.
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Hope we have more run plays in the book and give these guys a chance. Lovell somewhere? Bowers at center? He played good in the bowl game as a walk-on freshman.