Finally, an article about the O-Line

[Iceberg]

http://www.cjonline.com/stories/081507/cat_191458239.shtml

The Eagle has been owned by the TCJ lately. Thats bad.

Offensive line key concern for Cats
By Tim Bisel
The Capital-Journal
Published Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Will Kansas State's offense have enough firepower to contend for a Big 12 North championship, or will the Wildcats have to scratch and claw for every point they get?

It all depends. On the offensive line.
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Ron Prince

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Saturday: Open practice, Manhattan, 11 a.m.

Sept. 1: Kansas State at Auburn, 6:45 p.m.

That has been coach Ron Prince's contention from day one — even before day one — and that remains the second-year coach's contention now.

"Offensive line, we all can understand what's at stake here," Prince said following Saturday's open practice in Olathe. "We've got to improve in that area."

The Wildcats have heard the message loud and clear.

"Whenever coach Prince feels strongly about something, he's going to let you know," sophomore right tackle Nick Stringer said. "He's been talking to us about how we all need to get on the same page and start working together soon, because once we do that then we can do anything."

"(Prince is) exactly right," added sophomore Trevor Viers, who is locked in a tight battle with junior Jordan Bedore for the starting center spot. "Every day we've got to get better and progress. You can't just stay the same. You either get better or you get worse."

Worse isn't an option for Prince, a former offensive lineman and offensive line coach.

Last year, K-State's offense ranked 11th in the Big 12 in pass efficiency with 10 touchdowns and 20 interceptions, 10th in total offense at 315.2 yards per game, ninth in rushing at 115.2 yards per game and eighth in sacks allowed (28). Plus, the team struggled mightily to convert in the red zone and on third downs.

The Wildcats hadn't tossed that many interceptions since 1988, hadn't averaged fewer total yards since 1992 and hadn't been worse on the ground since 1993.

Many of the inconsistencies were attributed to true freshman quarterback Josh Freeman, and rightly so. But ineffective line play also was a major culprit.

"I know last year we were definitely a weak point for the offense and for our team," senior left guard Logan Robinson said candidly. "We really took it upon ourselves, the guys that were here for the summer, to work hard and do all the things that we could do to get ready for this season."

Prince and the K-State staff also turned to the junior college ranks for help, partly out of necessity because Greg Wafford and Michael Frieson exhausted their eligibility and Matt Boss and John Hafferty left the team.

Generally speaking, that's a dicey proposition at the Division I-A level. In fact, only two juco transfers — Ryan Lilja and Brien Hanley — proved significant early contributors in K-State's trenches during former coach Bill Snyder's 17-year tenure.

Still, the Wildcats are counting on Alesana Alesana, of San Francisco Community College, to man the all-important left tackle position. They also believe Sacramento Community College's Ben Liu and Compton Community College's Eric Benoit could challenge for starting spots or, at the very least, provide depth.

"All the guys that coach brought in, they're going to help us," Robinson said. "They're going to help us in some way."

The hope is that they'll help provide Freeman enough time to reverse his woeful 15-to-6 interception-to-touchdown ratio and locate Jordy Nelson and Co. The hope also is that they'll help open enough lanes for running backs James Johnson and Leon Patton to bolster last year's modest rushing stats.

But most importantly, the hope is that a year under Prince and line coach Tim McCarty will provide enough experience to keep the Wildcats out of that scratch-and-claw mode.

"Just going through spring ball with the guys, the returning guys, we improved so much," Robinson said. "From the (Texas Bowl) game to the spring game, it was just unbelievable the stuff that we were doing, the stuff that we were reading.

"The knowledge of the offense is helping us so much. I definitely think we're going to be a lot better than we were last year as a position and as a team because of it."

Good enough to compete for the North crown? That's the goal.

"A lot of people say it starts up front, and that's how we feel," Stringer said. "Once we get our stuff taken care of, then the sky's the limit."

[SUPERKSUFAN]

http://www.themercury.com/k-statesports/article.aspx?articleId=a092566c74cd4b81b23b6eeeaccabffd


The Mercury had one this week too

[Pett]

The eagle will be fine now, dont worry about it. J-Mart returned with his wednesday article this week.

[KSU4ME]

In fact, only two juco transfers — Ryan Lilja and Brien Hanley — proved significant early contributors in K-State's trenches during former coach Bill Snyder's 17-year tenure.

 

[SUPERKSUFAN]

In fact, only two juco transfers — Ryan Lilja and Brien Hanley — proved significant early contributors in K-State's trenches during former coach Bill Snyder's 17-year tenure.

 

Well then....it is a good thing it is no longer the "Snyder" Era

[fb]

Expecting a JuCo guy to have the playbook understood and be ready without being here for spring practice is a tall order.

This isn't the year for the o line to break through.  Next season will be after guys like Liu and Benoit will have time in the system.  Viers will be settled into the center position.  Bedore might have been moved to guard.  This o line has a bunch of pieces finally but few of them are ready.

Ideally, I would like to see this group starting:
LT-Alesana
LG-Liu
C-Viers
RG-Bedore or Benoit
RT-Stringer

I still can't believe how Snyder left the o line.