OL Preview 2021

[scott715]

https://247sports.com/college/byu/Artic ... 158342193/

Focus on OT postion.

[scott715]

https://www.deseret.com/sports/2021/1/7 ... -ryan-pugh

[scott715]

[Fido]

Its a bit of a "changing of the guard", but there is some experience in that group as well.

[scott715]

I like the group. Depth could be an issue. The new coach has his work cut out for him, but a lot to work with.

[scott715]

https://www.deseret.com/2021/6/1/224518 ... n-freeland

[scott715]

https://lawlessrepublic.com/2021/06/09/ ... sive-line/

[Fido]

One to watch BYU fans! Recruited at OL out of HS, Ben Ward came off his LDS mission having lost 50 pounds. He was moved to TE. Since then he gained back 50 pounds and is back on the OL. He dominated against some of the best talent in 6A Pennsylvania football. Rise and shout!

[scott715]

It sounds like he has been back a year so the mission rust should be gone.

[E-Zone15]

https://lawlessrepublic.com/2021/06/09/ ... sive-line/

I have to say this Adam Gibby is trying, but I think he could do a lot better.
Some examples:
" Empey has been a big part of the offensive line since 2018 and has seen playing time in 34 games."
In truth Empey has started all 34 games he has played in.

"Barrington was a starter for the last part of the year last season"
Fact is Barrington started in BYU first 10 games 2020, but did not play in the last 2 games (SDSU & UCF) do to injury.

"and Harris LaChance and Blake Freeland saw the field in all 11 games last season while Connor Pay got limited reps in all of the blowout games."
BYU played 12 games in 2020, LaChance did not play in the Coastal Carolina game.
Freeland also did not play in Coastal Carolina game and was a starter 8 games in 2020.
Pay played in 8 BYU blow out games, but the problem I have is in with the limited rep part. Pay almost the whole Bowl game after Joe Tukuafu went down in the first or second series of the game.

Then there was this:
"It would have been really good to have Eric Mateos back again this year to continue to build up this offensive line, but with him gone, the O-line will have to adjust some to Darrell Funk and what he wants the line to do."
With a little research he might of thought about this, Mateos was recently unemployed when BYU hired him (aka... he had been let go of his old job). Who was in truth building BYU's OL? I believe it was mainly Coach Grimes and not so much a Coach Pugh or Coach Mateos.
Eric Mateos came to BYU with 8 years of coaching experience and Ryan Pugh had 6. Where Darrell Funk comes to BYU with 33 years, FWIW Jeff Grimes had 9 years (1st time) and 24 years (2nd time). I've been a huge fan of coach Grimes (both times at BYU), but now you can't look back he is at Baylor.