Troy University Athletics
Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer
Spring Practice Position Breakdown: Offensive Line
4/10/2012 10:19:00 AM | Football
With last year's disappointing 3-9 record leaving a bad taste in their mouths, the Troy Trojans are looking to get back to the top of the Sun Belt. In order to do that, Troy must discover what they'll be working with as they head into battle for the 2012 season. TroyTrojans.com is offering a positional breakdown of the Trojans during the coming days as spring practice unfolds.
Today's installment will focus on the offensive line, where Troy looks to replace center Zach Swindall and two-time All-Sun Belt left tackle James Brown while they look to put together a line that can dominate the point of attack and allow for Troy to set the tone on offense.
In terms of imposing one's will on the opposition, it usually starts up front with the offensive line. However, Troy looks to have a tough task ahead as they try to replace two of their most consistent players while creating the best combination to trot out onto the field.
The offensive line as a whole was relatively strong in protecting the quarterback, only allowing 20 sacks on the year. It was anchored by all-Sun Belt tackle James Brown, who is now poised to join the NFL in the upcoming draft. Troy head coach Larry Blakeney spoke of the holes his team had to fill, but expressed confidence in the players that he has ready to step into the lineup.
“We lost James Brown, which is a big hole to fill, and we lost our center (Swindall) but I think we're going to be OK,” Blakeney said.
The head man for Troy emphasized that he wanted the team to increase its physical edge and to become even sounder in the fundamentals of the game, blocking being one area of priority. He discussed other players that he expected to be difference makers in the trenches as Troy looks to right the ship this upcoming season.
“Chris Hawkins is a guy that I think is going to be a factor. Dalton Bennett is a young guy, Jared Fleming is a guy that we're giving some work,” Blakeney said. “Andrew Phillips needs to be our center, Zach Johnson is a guy that started last year and Terrence Jones is a RS freshman that started last year.”
One player that should help the Trojans is senior Kyle Wilborn. He brings experience, toughness and versatility to the O-line. While he is currently nicked up, Blakeney expects Wilborn to add yet another layer to the position when he is ready to go.
“We've got several guys back and when Wilborn gets back, he gives us another good player that we can play at a lot of positions. He can play guard, he can play tackle, he can play center if called upon,” Blakeney said.
In the end, Blakeney says that it's all about finding the right pieces to the puzzle and making sure that those pieces are able to fit in more than one way.
“We've got some guys back, we're just trying to find the right combination and put the best five out there. We're working guys in more than one position to see if we can find those guys.”
Today's installment will focus on the offensive line, where Troy looks to replace center Zach Swindall and two-time All-Sun Belt left tackle James Brown while they look to put together a line that can dominate the point of attack and allow for Troy to set the tone on offense.
In terms of imposing one's will on the opposition, it usually starts up front with the offensive line. However, Troy looks to have a tough task ahead as they try to replace two of their most consistent players while creating the best combination to trot out onto the field.
The offensive line as a whole was relatively strong in protecting the quarterback, only allowing 20 sacks on the year. It was anchored by all-Sun Belt tackle James Brown, who is now poised to join the NFL in the upcoming draft. Troy head coach Larry Blakeney spoke of the holes his team had to fill, but expressed confidence in the players that he has ready to step into the lineup.
“We lost James Brown, which is a big hole to fill, and we lost our center (Swindall) but I think we're going to be OK,” Blakeney said.
The head man for Troy emphasized that he wanted the team to increase its physical edge and to become even sounder in the fundamentals of the game, blocking being one area of priority. He discussed other players that he expected to be difference makers in the trenches as Troy looks to right the ship this upcoming season.
“Chris Hawkins is a guy that I think is going to be a factor. Dalton Bennett is a young guy, Jared Fleming is a guy that we're giving some work,” Blakeney said. “Andrew Phillips needs to be our center, Zach Johnson is a guy that started last year and Terrence Jones is a RS freshman that started last year.”
One player that should help the Trojans is senior Kyle Wilborn. He brings experience, toughness and versatility to the O-line. While he is currently nicked up, Blakeney expects Wilborn to add yet another layer to the position when he is ready to go.
“We've got several guys back and when Wilborn gets back, he gives us another good player that we can play at a lot of positions. He can play guard, he can play tackle, he can play center if called upon,” Blakeney said.
In the end, Blakeney says that it's all about finding the right pieces to the puzzle and making sure that those pieces are able to fit in more than one way.
“We've got some guys back, we're just trying to find the right combination and put the best five out there. We're working guys in more than one position to see if we can find those guys.”
Thursday, May 28
Saturday, April 18
Saturday, April 18
Saturday, April 18