OLine future

[Bigredhunter]

I don't think our OLine has ever struggled this bad. We struggle against 3 and 4 man rushes. You add in a blitz and we are completely screwed.

I went through our depth chart and each recruiting season to see if there was any glaring issue. My only takeaway is we have a lot of young potential.

Please help with reasons we should be optimistic about what's happening with our line.

Recruiting classes
Class of 2015. 5th year seniors:
Christian Gaylord 2 deep (out for the season)
Michael Decker
Jalin Barnett

Class of 2016. Redshirt juniors:
John Raridon 2 deep
Boe Wilson starter
Matt Farniok starter
Bryan Brokop

Class of 2017. Junior, no redshirt:
Brenden Jaimes starter
Redshirt Sophomores:
Matt Sichterman 2 deep
Brock Bando 2 deep
(Walk on) Trent Hixson starter

Class of 2018. Redshirt Freshmen:
Will Farniok 2 deep
Cam Jurgens starter
Wilie Canty

Class of 2019. Freshmen
Matthew Anderson
Michael Lynn
Bryce Benhart 2 deep
Brant Banks
Jimmie Fritzsche
Ethan Piper
Desmond Bland

 

[Husker Sledge]

I think Anderson, Benhart and Banks could be good. Combine that with this '20 class and there's hope. Gonna be a few years though. '16, '17 guys are definitely not athletic enough. They're stiff. How disappointing is Raridon? Man he had good high school film. Jurgens will probably be good in another 2 years.

 

[huskerbaseball13]

Frost hired a guy that had been a Oline coach in CFB for a whole two years.

Would programs like Bama, Oklahoma, Ohio St make that decision. Probably not. Unfortunately a lot of this staff still have their training wheels on.

 

[WoodRiverJennings]

We are in a bad place because we definitely need consistency, but some of these coaches seem to be in over their head.

 

[jpile01]

Forgot Ethan Piper

 

[onechase]

Why in the world would you hire an Oline coach with only 2 years experience in College football. Another sign Scott Frost does not know what he is doing.

 

[PeliniTheCrutch_rivals294365]

It takes 8-10 years to develop an OL and depth.

 

[TheBeav815]

That a young walk on and a true freshman are your best options at LG and C speaks volumes about the talent and/or mental toughness of the older guys in the room.

Only thing they can do is keep signing big OL classes and let the numbers crunch play out.

 

[huskerbaseball13]

That a young walk on and a true freshman are your best options at LG and C speaks volumes about the talent and/or mental toughness of the older guys in the room.

Only thing they can do is keep signing big OL classes and let the numbers crunch play out.

Jurgens is not a true freshman.

And, there are a lot of folks close to the program that are questioning if Jurgens really is our best option at center.

 

[SoFL Husker]

It takes 8-10 years to develop an OL and depth.

4-5 if you recruit right. Set the alarm clock!

 

[Redscarlet]

Jurgens is not a true freshman.

And, there are a lot of folks close to the program that are questioning if Jurgens really is our best option at center.

And we don’t have any other alternative besides Will Farniok and Raridon, maybe that is why he is starting now...

Matt Farniok should be playing right guard not right tackle but we don’t have anyone at the present time better there either..

 

[skintight]

i've been beating the drum of needing more O ine and D line recruits every time we get a commit from a speed RB, QB, WR position every time i do this i get bombarded by other peeps on this board about how well we are set for o and d linemen. we may have some great recruits last year and some great commits for next signing day but we are so week at o and d line that we need to overload these positions we just cant afford to whiff on anyone or have one of the promising guys to have career injuries that causes them to whiff

 

[HominidHusker]

The OL definitely needs the youth movement to pan out. I’d say 2 years from now we’re gonna know a lot, but that still leaves Corcoran as RS Frosh and Prochazka as true frosh.
So really 3 years may tell us more, and Jurgens could still be in the middle.
Cheers to him for staying healthy this year. That’s been something positive I guess.
Waiting 2-3 more years to see “IF” the OL can develop is a tough pill to swallow.
Austin may need to prove himself but there’s not much question he was given a pretty empty cupboard. Seeing Farniok and Jaimes struggle could be a sign, but the fact there’s no one to push for their spots, well...

 

[HominidHusker]

... yeah that’s sinking in that we may have to wait 3 years to see our OL make the jump. I’d like to see 2 more OL in this recruiting class at least since more competition is needed.

 

[Baxter48_rivals204143]

i've been beating the drum of needing more O ine and D line recruits every time we get a commit from a speed RB, QB, WR position every time i do this i get bombarded by other peeps on this board about how well we are set for o and d linemen. we may have some great recruits last year and some great commits for next signing day but we are so week at o and d line that we need to overload these positions we just cant afford to whiff on anyone or have one of the promising guys to have career injuries that causes them to whiff

That’s why Toms teams were so consistent, because of his offensive line. Throw in the d line. Usually toms teams were redshirt juniors or redshirt seniors. Now look at the current line. Farniok and Jamis no redshirts hixon might be a warrior but isn’t good enough. Cam is getting better, again where is a redshirt senior to be starting center so cam can improve? Nothing, zero, if we want to get back to being competitive and winning championships, we have to get depth it going to a little rocky the first several years. Most of us saw top and the downward spiral, I don’t have anything else to do let’s see what this team looks like in year 5. Nebraska is my team, it sucks to lose but I’m not changing my allegiance

 

[z28craz]

Our OL is just plain bad. There was one play our LG was on his butt before Vedral even caught the snap. We desperately need some big, nasty Olinemen. Until our line get bigger and more physical on both the offensive and defensive lines this will be fairly typical. Sadly I think we’re another 2-3 recruiting cycles away. Hopefully we use the 4 game redshirt rule to get some of those true freshman linemen some game snaps.

 

[Hedley Lemar]

Our OL is just plain bad. There was one play our LG was on his butt before Vedral even caught the snap. We desperately need some big, nasty Olinemen. Until our line get bigger and more physical on both the offensive and defensive lines this will be fairly typical. Sadly I think we’re another 2-3 recruiting cycles away. Hopefully we use the 4 game redshirt rule to get some of those true freshman linemen some game snaps.

I’m pretty sure the back of Hixon’s Jersey was dirty with footprints all over the front.

 

[F5Tornado]

I’m pretty sure the back of Hixon’s Jersey was dirty with footprints all over the front.

I'd say that's correct, Hedy. (And your response is)..

 

[Bigredhunter]

Forgot Ethan Piper

Updated it.
The size of last years OLine class is exciting and was needed. Let our young guys eat and develop. Redshirt them and build this program the right away!

 

[SeaOfRed75]

How can anyone look at those classes and blame Austin and/or Frost?

Numbers were bad for a number of years and when you do that, guys that are total busts like 4 star Rairdon and Barnett, hurt you even more.

 

[Hedley Lemar]

I'd say that's correct, Hedy. (And your response is)..

That’s Hedley!!

 

[cubsker_rivals142943]

Watch how many times our OL end up on the ground...it's embarrassing.

 

[dinglefritz]

Forgot Ethan Piper

Piper is going to be a stud. There's hope for the O line. Frost has recruited athletic guys with big frames. We're going to field a huge O line by the time this freshman class is juniors.

 

[nu2u]

Piper is going to be a stud. There's hope for the O line. Frost has recruited athletic guys with big frames. We're going to field a huge O line by the time this freshman class is juniors.

You never know for sure whether these guys will develop and progress in college. OP mentioned 2016 recruit John Raridon, a top 10 national recruit for his position. To sign him, Nebraska beat the likes of Wisconsin, Iowa. Oklahoma, Stanford, Oregon, and many others. He hasn't played much at all. Piper may or may not be "a stud" Of course, every school faces this same challenge. Some players just don't pan out.

 

[dinglefritz]

You never know for sure whether these guys will develop and progress in college. OP mentioned 2016 recruit John Raridon, a top 10 national recruit for his position. To sign him, Nebraska beat the likes of Wisconsin, Iowa. Oklahoma, Stanford, Oregon, and many others. He hasn't played much at all. Piper may or may not be "a stud" Of course, every school faces this same challenge. Some players just don't pan out.

I don't know if it's fire in the belly with Raridon or what. He looked really quick and effective to me in the spring game. I know he doesn't look athletic but man I have a hard time believing he couldn't be better than Hixson.

 

[nu2u]

I don't know if it's fire in the belly with Raridon or what. He looked really quick and effective to me in the spring game. I know he doesn't look athletic but man I have a hard time believing he couldn't be better than Hixson.

Don't know what is holding Raridon back but I'm a firm believer that what you mentioned -"fire in the belly" - a commitment to improving, putting in the work off the field, and practicing / playing with intensity is a critical factor when predicting future success.

 

[TheBeav815]

Their OL class last year was a step in the right direction. They need numbers along those lines so they can finally be getting ahead 2-3 years from now.

OL has looked just atrocious the last 3 games

 

[dinglefritz]

Don't know what is holding Raridon back but I'm a firm believer that what you mentioned -"fire in the belly" - a commitment to improving, putting in the work off the field, and practicing / playing with intensity is a critical factor when predicting future success.

You can not coach it. The want to has to be there. Too many of our guys still suffer from the "going through the motions" disease. Sadly I think in part at least it is generational. IMO MIchigan is going through some of the same problems even with all of their talent.

 

[oldjar07]

Frost hired a guy that had been a Oline coach in CFB for a whole two years.

Would programs like Bama, Oklahoma, Ohio St make that decision. Probably not. Unfortunately a lot of this staff still have their training wheels on.

I don't have a problem with Frost bringing anyone over from the offense. UCF had the #1 ranked offense. However Greg Austin is proving to be one of the most problematic coaches and Frost may need to let him go.

 

[Tahoe78]

If you really want to see how bad the OL is look at the 2nd or 3rd down from our own 3 in the 3rd .. I thought that it might be a trick play.. all 5 of the linemen were down flat with nobody under them. looked as if they were all pancaked.. I think for the last 4 games they stick Barnhart to R tackle and move Farniok to a Guard position and also think about sticking Piper in.

 

[oldjar07]

You can not coach it. The want to has to be there. Too many of our guys still suffer from the "going through the motions" disease. Sadly I think in part at least it is generational. IMO MIchigan is going through some of the same problems even with all of their talent.

BS it's generational. There's plenty of other teams that are playing hard. This might be the best group of teams college football has seen at the top. There might be 5 teams this year who would be good enough to win a national title in previous years. There are several other teams that are right behind them that are playing very well too.

I think it's highly unlikely that the players we recruited are all going through the motions type players and the players other teams have are all running through wall players.

It starts at the top, it's all about leadership, and unfortunately we don't have much of it right now. Frost can be and needs to be better from here on out, it starts and ends with him.

 

[Shoxsker]

Updated it.
The size of last years OLine class is exciting and was needed. Let our young guys eat and develop. Redshirt them and build this program the right away!

Problem is Iowa and Wisc are getting better O lineman. For every 1 in the top 30 that we have, they have 2 each. And they are killing us recruiting guards. It is an embarassment of riches how well Oklahoma is recruiting the interior. We would have to have better coaching to overcome that and guess what, Ferentz is pretty good on the O line, and Wisc has written the book.

 

[dinglefritz]

BS it's generational. There's plenty of other teams that are playing hard. This might be the best group of teams college football has seen at the top. There might be 5 teams this year who would be good enough to win a national title in previous years. There are several other teams that are right behind them that are playing very well too.

I think it's highly unlikely that the players we recruited are all going through the motions type players and the players other teams have are all running through wall players.

It starts at the top, it's all about leadership, and unfortunately we don't have much of it right now. Frost can be and needs to be better from here on out, it starts and ends with him.

I see it everyday in kids who would rather just quit than work. Ultimately coaches bear responsibility for their players, but I think it's WAY too soon to start pulling the plug on assistants based on the performance of guys they didn't recruit. JMHO.

 

[oldjar07]

The OL definitely needs the youth movement to pan out. I’d say 2 years from now we’re gonna know a lot, but that still leaves Corcoran as RS Frosh and Prochazka as true frosh.
So really 3 years may tell us more, and Jurgens could still be in the middle.
Cheers to him for staying healthy this year. That’s been something positive I guess.
Waiting 2-3 more years to see “IF” the OL can develop is a tough pill to swallow.
Austin may need to prove himself but there’s not much question he was given a pretty empty cupboard. Seeing Farniok and Jaimes struggle could be a sign, but the fact there’s no one to push for their spots, well...

Farniok and Jaimes were both highly regarded linemen coming out of high school and they've regressed this year. Other highly regarded linemen like Raridon and Sichterman have hardly seen the field. It's obvious to me with all the highly regarded linemen not panning out the issue is coaching. If we don't change the coaching, the highly ranked linemen we have coming in are just going to end up nowhere near to their potential.

 

[dinglefritz]

Farniok and Jaimes were both highly regarded linemen coming out of high school and they've regressed this year. Other highly regarded linemen like Raridon and Sichterman have hardly seen the field. It's obvious to me with all the highly regarded linemen not panning out the issue is coaching. If we don't change the coaching, the highly ranked linemen we have coming in are just going to end up nowhere near to their potential.

Geezus. Highly regarded out of high school doesn't necessarily mean squat. Jalin Barnett was a 4 star and he was a wasted scholarship. Farniok was a 3 star I think. Farniok was rated in part because his dad played in the NFL. Jaimes is playing with a severe high ankle sprain. Farniok has never been good so he hasn't regressed. Maybe he takes a step forward his senior year but I suspect he is what he is.

 

[oldjar07]

I see it everyday in kids who would rather just quit than work. Ultimately coaches bear responsibility for their players, but I think it's WAY too soon to start pulling the plug on assistants based on the performance of guys they didn't recruit. JMHO.

This coaching staff had no urgency bringing in OL when they got here. Apparently they thought they could work with what they had. The guys they have on the roster are this coaching staff's responsibility. You really think the problems are going to go away by bringing in different players? Most of the problems we have are coaching issues. Those aren't going to go away without changing something.

 

[oldjar07]

Geezus. Highly regarded out of high school doesn't necessarily mean squat. Jalin Barnett was a 4 star and he was a wasted scholarship. Farniok was a 3 star I think. Farniok was rated in part because his dad played in the NFL. Jaimes is playing with a severe high ankle sprain. Farniok has never been good so he hasn't regressed. Maybe he takes a step forward his senior year but I suspect he is what he is.

Iowa and Wisconsin have 3 star and walkon linemen all over the place and they seem to do just fine. That it's going to take 3 or 4 year with recruiting to get the OL playing at even an average level is just a bs excuse.

 

[Sporty]

It has been touched on a couple of times in this thread already so thought I would add to it. I know of at least one grad asst that does not feel the best players are playing at more than one position on the OL. Rumors are there is a huge doghouse and Raridon is unable to get out of it and that he is the best OLineman on the roster. True or not it makes one question things when you see Hixson laying on the ground more plays than not. When Farniok is playing out of position and Jurgens should be playing guard not center. Just passing on info that has been leaked..

 

[dinglefritz]

This coaching staff had no urgency bringing in OL when they got here. Apparently they thought they could work with what they had. The guys they have on the roster are this coaching staff's responsibility. You really think the problems are going to go away by bringing in different players? Most of the problems we have are coaching issues. Those aren't going to go away without changing something.

They did in fact scramble to try to find some guys in that first class. That didn't pan out and they clearly were mislead by the "star ranking" of some of the guys Riley left. Jaimes is a good player when healthy. Farmer and Foster were reasonably good players. Franiok looked the part. We did lose one senior to a knee injury who would have played this year. I could see how they would have thought we could get by initially. The bottomline is that we're starting a walk on soph and a freshman. We are what we are and the only way to fix the issue is to develop the freshman class and keep recruiting. IF 2 years from now we're seeing the same issues then something will have to change.

 

[dinglefritz]

Iowa and Wisconsin have 3 star and walkon linemen all over the place and they seem to do just fine. That it's going to take 3 or 4 year with recruiting to get the OL playing at even an average level is just a bs excuse.

We're ahead of Iowa in the B1G standings. Iowa is not doing "okay".