Open Season On The Offensive Line
posted by Scott Hood on Thursday, November 08, 2007
Unfortunately, it never happened.
It’s Week 11 of the college football season and we’re still seeing changes on USC’s O-Line. The Gamecocks started five different combinations in the first 10 games.
You can make that six different combinations in 11 games. Gurminder Thind will start at left guard, replacing Seaver Brown, who had started six straight games after taking over for Garrett Anderson, who started three of the first four games at the position.
The right guard spot? Don’t ask. Four different players – Lemuel Jeanpierre, Anderson, James Thompson and Heath Batchelor have all had the opportunity to start.
Truthfully, it’s been a mess.
Unlike some, I don't think you can point the finger at any one person for what's happened to the offensive line this season. Does OL coach John Hunt deserve some heat? Yes. Do the players? Yes. How about Spurrier? Maybe.
Last year, USC found the right combination at halftime of the Vanderbilt game when they inserted Justin Sorensen into the lineup and right tackle and moved Jamon Meredith over to left tackle.
With the offensive line finally stable, the USC offense took off in the second half of the season.
The Gamecocks have piled up some impressive offensive numbers over the last six quarters against Tennessee and Arkansas after going eight quarters without scoring a touchdown.
So, things are improving.
But, this season could turn out to be an enormous “what might have been” unless the Gamecocks win at least one of its final two games and go to a respectable bowl game.
That’s because much of the blame for the Vanderbilt loss falls squarely on the offensive line, after surrendering seven sacks and committing five false start penalties.
Of course, the quarterbacks played poorly as well with ill-advised throws like Chris Smelley’s pass into the end zone that was intercepted by the Commodores.
The thing that makes me shake my head about the offensive line’s inconsistency is that there’s talented players there. None of these guys are chopped liver. Most of them were all-state players.
James Thompson, if you recall, was one of the best high school offensive linemen in the country when he signed with USC in 2004. He was named a High School All-American by more than one publication and played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio.
USC fans were ecstatic when Thompson chose to play for the Gamecocks. Today? He’s not even on the radar screen. Sure, four-game suspensions in back-to-back seasons have taken their toll on the senior from Sumter, S.C. and substantially cut into his time on the field.
But, when he was given a chance to play, he didn’t perform. Thompson started three consecutive games at right guard before he was replaced by Jeanpierre, a hard-working, team-oriented guy that made the switch from defensive line last spring.
Who’s playing that position now? Batchelor, a redshirt freshman.
Sorry, but there’s something seriously wrong with that picture. It’s completely backwards.
In most of your well-established programs, the seniors play and the younger guys watch, learn and develop for two or three years before they even step onto the field. I can assure you that’s the way Tennessee does it.
The freshman shouldn’t be flat out outperforming the senior, especially on the offensive line. In that regard, USC is still an immature football program.
Another enigma is sophomore Garrett Anderson. After a promising start to his career, he’s now standing on the sidelines. He played as a true freshman in 2006 because USC needed him to. He started the first four games this season but has been barely heard from since.
In other words, it’s been a wasted year for the Irmo, S.C. product.
Realistically, SEC offensive linemen shouldn’t play as true freshman. They’re simply not ready. Instead, they should redshirt.
Anderson, who turned 19 in July, didn’t enjoy the benefits of having a year to settle into things and develop his body for the rigors of major college football.
In my opinion, Spurrier and Hunt should do the right thing and redshirt Anderson next year to give him the best chance to compete for a starting job in 2009.
Short term pain, long term gain.
In the end, the offensive line will be better for it.
- Permalink, Discuss, Blog Home
Steve Spurrier told us in late July that he wanted South Carolina to quickly identify the five best offensive linemen and let them play.
Unfortunately, it never happened.
It’s Week 11 of the college football season and we’re still seeing changes on USC’s O-Line. The Gamecocks started five different combinations in the first 10 games.
You can make that six different combinations in 11 games. Gurminder Thind will start at left guard, replacing Seaver Brown, who had started six straight games after taking over for Garrett Anderson, who started three of the first four games at the position.
The right guard spot? Don’t ask. Four different players – Lemuel Jeanpierre, Anderson, James Thompson and Heath Batchelor have all had the opportunity to start.
Truthfully, it’s been a mess.
Unlike some, I don't think you can point the finger at any one person for what's happened to the offensive line this season. Does OL coach John Hunt deserve some heat? Yes. Do the players? Yes. How about Spurrier? Maybe.
Last year, USC found the right combination at halftime of the Vanderbilt game when they inserted Justin Sorensen into the lineup and right tackle and moved Jamon Meredith over to left tackle.
With the offensive line finally stable, the USC offense took off in the second half of the season.
The Gamecocks have piled up some impressive offensive numbers over the last six quarters against Tennessee and Arkansas after going eight quarters without scoring a touchdown.
So, things are improving.
But, this season could turn out to be an enormous “what might have been” unless the Gamecocks win at least one of its final two games and go to a respectable bowl game.
That’s because much of the blame for the Vanderbilt loss falls squarely on the offensive line, after surrendering seven sacks and committing five false start penalties.
Of course, the quarterbacks played poorly as well with ill-advised throws like Chris Smelley’s pass into the end zone that was intercepted by the Commodores.
The thing that makes me shake my head about the offensive line’s inconsistency is that there’s talented players there. None of these guys are chopped liver. Most of them were all-state players.
James Thompson, if you recall, was one of the best high school offensive linemen in the country when he signed with USC in 2004. He was named a High School All-American by more than one publication and played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio.
USC fans were ecstatic when Thompson chose to play for the Gamecocks. Today? He’s not even on the radar screen. Sure, four-game suspensions in back-to-back seasons have taken their toll on the senior from Sumter, S.C. and substantially cut into his time on the field.
But, when he was given a chance to play, he didn’t perform. Thompson started three consecutive games at right guard before he was replaced by Jeanpierre, a hard-working, team-oriented guy that made the switch from defensive line last spring.
Who’s playing that position now? Batchelor, a redshirt freshman.
Sorry, but there’s something seriously wrong with that picture. It’s completely backwards.
In most of your well-established programs, the seniors play and the younger guys watch, learn and develop for two or three years before they even step onto the field. I can assure you that’s the way Tennessee does it.
The freshman shouldn’t be flat out outperforming the senior, especially on the offensive line. In that regard, USC is still an immature football program.
Another enigma is sophomore Garrett Anderson. After a promising start to his career, he’s now standing on the sidelines. He played as a true freshman in 2006 because USC needed him to. He started the first four games this season but has been barely heard from since.
In other words, it’s been a wasted year for the Irmo, S.C. product.
Realistically, SEC offensive linemen shouldn’t play as true freshman. They’re simply not ready. Instead, they should redshirt.
Anderson, who turned 19 in July, didn’t enjoy the benefits of having a year to settle into things and develop his body for the rigors of major college football.
In my opinion, Spurrier and Hunt should do the right thing and redshirt Anderson next year to give him the best chance to compete for a starting job in 2009.
Short term pain, long term gain.
In the end, the offensive line will be better for it.
- Permalink, Discuss, Blog Home
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.