OL Group 2016

http://www.cougarboard.com/board/message.html?id=16264936



Coach Sitake mentioned they didn't want to cross-train as much on the OL and wanted to be two deep all the way across. Assuming Brad Wilcox and Kyle Johnson don't make it back for the season below is what a two-deep could look like. One person who has been strangely absent from OL discussions is LeRoy Tanoa'i (6'4, 315 and Kalani's half-brother), a redshirt freshman, who originally committed to Utah. Would love to see him in the two-deep on the left side.



Center

Tejan Koroma: 6'0, 290 (I think he reclaims his starting spot)

Parker Dawe: 6'3, 307 (coaches seem to be pretty high on him)



Right Guard

Tuni Kanuch: 6'3, 335 (seems to be the leader of the OL)

Keyan Norman: 6'3, 305 (if Ului moves to tackle, maybe he replaces him at left guard)



Right Tackle

Andrew Eide: 6'5, 301 (coaches said he would push the starters for a spot before the season)

Kieffer Longson: 6'7, 295 (we'll see how quickly he can shake the mission rust)



Left Guard

Ului Lapuaho: 6'7, 335 (does he move to tackle and Keyan Norman take his spot?)

Jacob Jimenez: 6'5, 285 (listed on spring two-deep; thought he would have gained some beef)



Left Tackle

Austin Hoyt: 6'8, 295 (wondering if he changes to the left side with Wilcox out)

JJ Nwigwe: 6'5, 278 (listed on spring two-deep; thought he would have gained some beef)



If I remember correctly, this is only the second year of playing OL at the college level for both of the SUU transfers. They may both have good upside to develop this season.

At Church yesterday I spoke to a friend that attended a practice this last week and he said his only concern was the OL. He said he has serious concerns. We'll see. It's not like he can tell everything from one practice, but I think a lot of us are just a bit concerned.

scott715 wrote:
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865660240/BYU-football-position-preview-the-offensive-line-video.html?pg=1

That article made it sound like things are rather rosy.

Shocking, BYU's offensive line is struggling. Last time BYU had an offensive line was 2007 and it has steadily gotten worse since then. Funny how that was the last time BYU had an offensive line coach worth his pay.

It's kind of refreshing in a weird way. Usually we hear how great our O-line will be from the first day of Spring Camp up to opening day, and then they proceed to screw the pooch the first half of the season.



Might be nice to go into a season with low O-line expectations for a change.

snoscythe wrote:
It's kind of refreshing in a weird way. Usually we hear how great our O-line will be from the first day of Spring Camp up to opening day, and then they proceed to screw the pooch the first half of the season.



Might be nice to go into a season with low O-line expectations for a change.

What we hear is how improved they will be because of weight gain or loss, or a new coach or whatever. What we get is continued poor to mediocre play. Taysom Hill would probably have finished more than 1 of his injury seasons if he wasn't continually running for his life behind that offensive line. Even Tanner ran around a bunch last year until he found open guys down field.

I think we had a good O-line last year who gave Tanner lots of time to throw, and that they, as a group, got better every year under Coach 2J.

Schmoe wrote:
I think we had a good O-line last year who gave Tanner lots of time to throw, and that they, as a group, got better every year under Coach 2J.

That's probably were I'd like to see Mangum do better. Short to mid routes. He was great when given a lot of time. I didn't think the O line was world beater last year, but they did improve a lot. No line is going to give their QB 7-10 seconds to find an open guy down field every play.

http://www.cougarboard.com/board/message.html?id=16280506



Assessing the OL depth



MOST LIKELY STARTER CANDIDATES

OT - Austin Hoyt 6'8"/295 SO... played in 9 games LY, started 2. Looks beefed up, should take a leap forward this year.

OG - Parker Dawe 6'3"/307 SR... played in 10 games LY, started 2.

OG - Tuni Kanuch 6'3"/335 JR... played in 12 games LY, started 7.

C - Tejan Koroma 6'0"/290 JR... played in 12 games LY, started 12. So glad he is back on the team!

OT/OG - Ului Lapuaho 6'7"/335 JR... played in 10 games LY, started 10. He has a lot of experience now... is a breakout year as a junior coming where he's more dominant?

OT - Brad Wilcox 6'7"/310 SR... played in 13 games LY, started 12.



MOST LIKELY CANDIDATES FOR 2-DEEP

OG - Jacob Jimenez 6'5"/292 SO... played in 3 games LY. Former 3-star recruit (ESPN) de-committed from Oregon State to come to BYU.

OT/OG - Kieffer Longson 6'7"/295 FR... will the former 4-star prospect (with offers from Florida State, UCLA, Missouri, etc.) come in and make an impact right away?

OG - Keyan Norman 6'3"/305 JR... graduate transfer from Southern Utah played in all 12 games LY for the Thunderbirds.

OG - Andrew Eide 6'5"/301 SR... graduate transfer from Southern Utah. Started 10 games LY for the Thunderbirds.

OT/OG - JJ Nwigwe 6'5"/278 SO... played in 3 games LY as a freshman.



THE FRESHMEN

Austin Chambers, Zac Dawe, Chandon Herring, Addison Pulsipher, Thomas Shoaf, Leroy Tanoai... will any of these 6 freshmen be ready to make an impact this year?



WILDCARD

? Kyle Johnson 6'4"/319 SR... will he play? Injuries? (played in 10 games LY, started 8)

Dick Harmon eats like an Olineman, so he would know:


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That would be awesome if we could get a couple of these guys into the NFL. Koroma and Lapuaho would be lead candidates.

Andrew Eide is turning out to be a player it sounds like. He is a senior this year and is the one the scouts are visiting for right now. But having them see those 2 guys who are juniors is a plus.



I'm also encouraged to see freshman Thomas Shoaf pushing sophomore Austin Hoyt for reps at right tackle. Getting contributions from young players will add to the depth.It is also a little surprising to hear Jacob Jimenez not being named in the 2-deep--as he is the only non-freshman (Herring, Z.Dawe, Tanoa'i, Pulsipher, Chambers)/non-injured player (Wilcox/Johnson/Longson) in that status.