Spring Practices

[Copper Griz]

Same kid won’t be 240 come fall. Everyone always complains about oline footwork and no mobility. Maybe someone 280 or 290 who can move would be an improvement. Also not accounting for another transfer or two. Going to be fine this year. Running back, QB tight end and receivers are stacked. Be surprised if there isn’t another drop down for oline.

I guess if you define “fine” as where we were last year then you’d be right. I don’t define it that way, but to each his own.

I just think it is too early to be concerned I guess. Given the direction of the team the last few years - I am positive on all things that are Griz football

 

[Carpe Diem Griz]

This may have been discussed somewhere else. I have been looking through the roster and making notes on which players have been mentioned in spring camp article publications and comments here on eGriz. I noticed that 2021 signee Bo Kinney is now gone.

He was listed at OL, 6’5” and 250 lbs. He was a PWO from Stilwel, Kansas.

Does anyone know if he left the team or maybe didn’t make it through winter condo and was asked to leave to open up a roster spot.

I also heard there will be a couple more possibly leaving after spring camp concludes. Pretty normal this time of year as spring camp is when starting positions are won or lost.

 

[AZGrizFan]

I guess if you define “fine” as where we were last year then you’d be right. I don’t define it that way, but to each his own.

I just think it is too early to be concerned I guess. Given the direction of the team the last few years - I am positive on all things that are Griz football

Well last year we weren’t starting with 3 new offensive linemen and didn’t have a 240 lb tackle in the 2-deep. And we STILL struggled throughout the year, despite the senior-laden O-line.

 

[kemajic]

I just think it is too early to be concerned I guess. Given the direction of the team the last few years - I am positive on all things that are Griz football

Well last year we weren’t starting with 3 new offensive linemen and didn’t have a 240 lb tackle in the 2-deep. And we STILL struggled throughout the year, despite the senior-laden O-line.

With no experienced RBs, I am the last to lay all the blame of our struggles on the OL We were even more exposed when Humphrey was not the QB. But I would say by close observation that our senior OLmen last year underperformed. We may benefit from some new blood.

 

[MammaB]

I guess I'm curious about who the 240 lb tackle is? You got Dreis at 275, Casey 285, and not sure where the McGinnis Brothers will line up, but 300 and 330. Plus have a few months to go.

 

[AZGrizFan]

I guess I'm curious about who the 240 lb tackle is? You got Dreis at 275, Casey 285, and not sure where the McGinnis Brothers will line up, but 300 and 330. Plus have a few months to go.

Lincoln, McCabe and Botner are all 260 or below. Given our current dearth of O-linemen in general, somebody on that list is gonna have to be on the 2-deep or in the rotation. Are they gonna ask one (or all) of them to put on 30-40 lbs in 4 months so we don’t have tackles that are getting run over by DE’s?

Praying for more drop downs to fill gaps just exposes Germer for more recruiting failure/development, IMHO. SEVEN YEARS in and we’re still praying for multiple drop downs every year on the O-line.

 

[Triwest]

I guess I'm curious about who the 240 lb tackle is? You got Dreis at 275, Casey 285, and not sure where the McGinnis Brothers will line up, but 300 and 330. Plus have a few months to go.

Lincoln, McCabe and Botner are all 260 or below. Given our current dearth of O-linemen in general, somebody on that list is gonna have to be on the 2-deep or in the rotation. Are they gonna ask one (or all) of them to put on 30-40 lbs in 4 months so we don’t have tackles that are getting run over by DE’s?

Praying for more drop downs to fill gaps just exposes Germer for more recruiting failure/development, IMHO. SEVEN YEARS in and we’re still praying for multiple drop downs every year on the O-line.

Weights on the 2022 roster are same weights as on the 2021 roster for the players you mention. I do not know their current weights and I bet that you do not also until the weights are updated during fall camp.

 

[AZGrizFan]

Lincoln, McCabe and Botner are all 260 or below. Given our current dearth of O-linemen in general, somebody on that list is gonna have to be on the 2-deep or in the rotation. Are they gonna ask one (or all) of them to put on 30-40 lbs in 4 months so we don’t have tackles that are getting run over by DE’s?

Praying for more drop downs to fill gaps just exposes Germer for more recruiting failure/development, IMHO. SEVEN YEARS in and we’re still praying for multiple drop downs every year on the O-line.

Weights on the 2022 roster are same weights as on the 2021 roster for the players you mention. I do not know their current weights and I bet that you do not also until the weights are updated during fall camp.

OK. I give. But when we’re struggling to move the ball because of a sieve offensive line this year, don’t come crying to me.

 

[kemajic]

Weights on the 2022 roster are same weights as on the 2021 roster for the players you mention. I do not know their current weights and I bet that you do not also until the weights are updated during fall camp.

OK. I give. But when we’re struggling to move the ball because of a sieve offensive line this year, don’t come crying to me.

You continue to blame struggling to move the ball solely on the OL and you speculate a negative outcome for the upcoming season. Both are suspect assumptions. I don't see our 2022 OL to be any weaker than the 2019 unit in which soph Knight gained over 1000 yards and scored 25 TDs. He personally made that 2019 OL look better than they were. Good RBs can do that, running, blocking and receiving. We will be far better at RB this year and we can expect better blocking support from our TE/HBs. Both take significant pressure of the interior 5 OLmen.

 

[Bear Axed]

Guns kill people just like spoons made me Fat!

 

[Alaska Griz]

I guess I'm curious about who the 240 lb tackle is? You got Dreis at 275, Casey 285, and not sure where the McGinnis Brothers will line up, but 300 and 330. Plus have a few months to go.

Lincoln, McCabe and Botner are all 260 or below. Given our current dearth of O-linemen in general, somebody on that list is gonna have to be on the 2-deep or in the rotation. Are they gonna ask one (or all) of them to put on 30-40 lbs in 4 months so we don’t have tackles that are getting run over by DE’s?

Praying for more drop downs to fill gaps just exposes Germer for more recruiting failure/development, IMHO. SEVEN YEARS in and we’re still praying for multiple drop downs every year on the O-line.

You're throwing out vague numbers for the sake of disparaging. It appears you've at least glanced at the online roster, which most of us know is not accurate this time of year. What do you mean "dearth of o-lineman in general?" I took a peek at some other FCS rosters to compare our "dearth." For example, NDSU shows 14 OL (with a number of them in the 270-280s range and only 1 guy over 305), MSU shows 14, UM shows 13. I could list more schools if you'd like? Granted, these numbers will fluctuate over the next 5 months just as they do every year. Point being, take all these numbers with a grain of salt.

It's already been pointed out that you either don't understand the significance of TE, QB, and RB in the effectiveness of a blocking scheme or you choose to ignore it. We will likely see some dropdowns in the coming months, yes, to bolster the O-line as well as other positions, which nearly all college football teams will do and have been for decades. By your logic, signing JD Quinn (who we needed at the time) was somehow an indictment of our recruiting and development of high schoolers. I believe you commented (I could be wrong) favorably regarding the multiple cornerback transfers a couple months ago. Perhaps you don't think we should utilize the same recruiting tools for other position groups?

I really don't know how good the o-line will become this offseason and throughout the course of the season. Health is always a factor. I'm excited to watch the emergence of new players, and don't see the need to write them off before the season even starts. Enjoy the process! Or don't.

 

[argh!]

If argh? had his way, Engstrom would still be prez, Stitt at head coach, BH would have been stoned to death in the Oval years ago, and K-pop would be blaring in the Championship Center.

Ooof! You have a way with words, very descriptive. What came to mind was the scene from "The Pink Panther Strikes Again" with claws on a chalkboard, by Herbert Lom. Left me with the same left eye twitch. :lol:

shit. i have been exposed. except, of course, you missed that it would be south-east asia rap, not k-pop. good job, garizzalies. also, i must relate to 3-7-77 that this thread had been doing well without us. hint hint.

 

[AZGrizFan]

OK. I give. But when we’re struggling to move the ball because of a sieve offensive line this year, don’t come crying to me.

You continue to blame struggling to move the ball solely on the OL and you speculate a negative outcome for the upcoming season. Both are suspect assumptions. I don't see our 2022 OL to be any weaker than the 2019 unit in which soph Knight gained over 1000 yards and scored 25 TDs. He personally made that 2019 OL look better than they were. Good RBs can do that, running, blocking and receiving. We will be far better at RB this year and we can expect better blocking support from our TE/HBs. Both take significant pressure of the interior 5 OLmen.

Yes, a healthy Knight will make the line look better—which really means we’re hiding a weakness. But I’m more concerned about the pass protection. Our all-conference left tackle looked like he was on roller skates many times, and the number of blocking breakdowns from simple stunts by the D leaves even the most pedestrian fans scratching their heads.

 

[SaskGriz]

You continue to blame struggling to move the ball solely on the OL and you speculate a negative outcome for the upcoming season. Both are suspect assumptions. I don't see our 2022 OL to be any weaker than the 2019 unit in which soph Knight gained over 1000 yards and scored 25 TDs. He personally made that 2019 OL look better than they were. Good RBs can do that, running, blocking and receiving. We will be far better at RB this year and we can expect better blocking support from our TE/HBs. Both take significant pressure of the interior 5 OLmen.

Yes, a healthy Knight will make the line look better—which really means we’re hiding a weakness. But I’m more concerned about the pass protection. Our all-conference left tackle looked like he was on roller skates many times, and the number of blocking breakdowns from simple stunts by the D leaves even the most pedestrian fans scratching their heads.

Of course we are hiding a weakness. You think Harris would be as good in RPO as Knight? Not sure what state you are in but exhale.

 

[AZGrizFan]

Yes, a healthy Knight will make the line look better—which really means we’re hiding a weakness. But I’m more concerned about the pass protection. Our all-conference left tackle looked like he was on roller skates many times, and the number of blocking breakdowns from simple stunts by the D leaves even the most pedestrian fans scratching their heads.

Of course we are hiding a weakness. You think Harris would be as good in RPO as Knight? Not sure what state you are in but exhale.

I need to keep holding my breath for at least 30 more seconds to get the full effect.

 

[AZGrizFan]

Yes, a healthy Knight will make the line look better—which really means we’re hiding a weakness. But I’m more concerned about the pass protection. Our all-conference left tackle looked like he was on roller skates many times, and the number of blocking breakdowns from simple stunts by the D leaves even the most pedestrian fans scratching their heads.

Of course we are hiding a weakness. You think Harris would be as good in RPO as Knight? Not sure what state you are in but exhale.

The issue isn’t that we’re “hiding a weakness”. The issue is we’re attempting to hide the SAME weakness year after year after year. And yet some wonder why we never seem to get past the quarterfinals each year….

 

[SoldierGriz]

Of course we are hiding a weakness. You think Harris would be as good in RPO as Knight? Not sure what state you are in but exhale.

The issue isn’t that we’re “hiding a weakness”. The issue is we’re attempting to hide the SAME weakness year after year after year. And yet some wonder why we never seem to get past the quarterfinals each year….

AZ is correct on all accounts and the rest of you have completed the annual ritual. Germer is the single biggest underperformer on the staff. Period. The O-line has had substantial issues during his tenure.

Every offseason...right about now, the rest of you come on here and spout off about O-line weight gains...bench press numbers etc..."just wait until this season..."

Same story, new year. The O-line will continue to hold the Griz back until changes are made on the staff. DOLA is a relic.

 

[HookedonGriz]

The issue isn’t that we’re “hiding a weakness”. The issue is we’re attempting to hide the SAME weakness year after year after year. And yet some wonder why we never seem to get past the quarterfinals each year….

AZ is correct on all accounts and the rest of you have completed the annual ritual. Germer is the single biggest underperformer on the staff. Period. The O-line has had substantial issues during his tenure.

Every offseason...right about now, the rest of you come on here and spout off about O-line weight gains...bench press numbers etc..."just wait until this season..."

Same story, new year. The O-line will continue to hold the Griz back until changes are made on the staff. DOLA is a relic.

Yes I’m starting to come around this way of thinking as well. I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about Germer but let’s face it there seems to be issues with depth, there seems to be issues with guys leaving the program, and there seems to be issues with our oline being able to dominate. he’s had a long time to do this now, and it is still in the same spot we were years ago

 

[mthoopsfan]

AZ is correct on all accounts and the rest of you have completed the annual ritual. Germer is the single biggest underperformer on the staff. Period. The O-line has had substantial issues during his tenure.

Every offseason...right about now, the rest of you come on here and spout off about O-line weight gains...bench press numbers etc..."just wait until this season..."

Same story, new year. The O-line will continue to hold the Griz back until changes are made on the staff. DOLA is a relic.

Yes I’m starting to come around this way of thinking as well. I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about Germer but let’s face it there seems to be issues with depth, there seems to be issues with guys leaving the program, and there seems to be issues with our oline being able to dominate. he’s had a long time to do this now, and it is still in the same spot we were years ago

The Griz need some more topnotch Power 5 starter quality guys to get kicked out of the school and come to UM. Like Quinn and Russum. The 2 transfer sophomores from last year may be close to that quality, I am told.

 

[AZGrizFan]

Yes I’m starting to come around this way of thinking as well. I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about Germer but let’s face it there seems to be issues with depth, there seems to be issues with guys leaving the program, and there seems to be issues with our oline being able to dominate. he’s had a long time to do this now, and it is still in the same spot we were years ago

The Griz need some more topnotch Power 5 starter quality guys to get kicked out of the school and come to UM. Like Quinn and Russum. The 2 transfer sophomores from last year may be close to that quality, I am told.

Apparently that’s the only answer…as they don’t seem to be able to recruit/develop them. THAT much has certainly been proven…