2024 Offensive Line Position

[D_G87]

Pancake isn’t a Guard, stop putting him there…

 

[JHallCanes]

Another thread where we move our LT to LG for no reason

 

[Bird4um]

Wait a minute here!

Assuming Ward is a righty? Have you really not seen Ward's highlights? That's impressive if so.

You dont like our center from Indiana? So you've seen Indiana games, but not Ward highlights?

I don’t watch west coast.
Saw some highlights but didn’t pay attention to his arm.
Center isn’t better than Lee.

 

[Bird4um]

if the two tackles are better than Rivers? Which would be difficult but amazing.

You move him inside.

 

[ColdCane]

If we got guys that can play LT better than rivers last year, we cooking with grease .

 

[San Amaro Dr]

if the two tackles are better than Rivers? Which would be difficult but amazing.

You move him inside.

Right. Pretty rare and off the top of my head the only one I remember is Barret Jones at Alabama after winning the Outland trophy at that.



Rarely happens and if it does, the Joe Moore award is headed to Coral Gables.

 

[gogeta4]

They're not taking Rivers out of playing Left Tackle after dominating the position this year.

He's the LT.

dont know how much times this has to be said.

 

[LuCane]

Top 10 in Yards per rush (also need a RB who can break one or at least get YAC) and pressure rate or GTFO!

 

[prg3Kane]

When's the last time we saw a an entire position group overhaul like this?

 

[No_Fly_Zone]

Like Samson’s potential, but would it make sense to start him at LG and leave Rivers at tackle?

Once upon a time this was the way. It seemed like many promising young OLs would start at either RT or LG before getting a crack at LT.

Either way, it seems like we're looking at a top 7 of:

Rivers
Mauigoa
Cooper
Carpenter
Okunlola
McCoy
Bell

That's a strong group.

 

[BCntyCane]

I don’t watch west coast.
Saw some highlights but didn’t pay attention to his arm.
Center isn’t better than Lee.

So just curious What is this based on watching game film? Sure hope it’s not PFF. New center is bigger/stronger than Lee and started in big boy Big ten football and did well.

 

[BigWindyCane1]

They're not taking Rivers out of playing Left Tackle after dominating the position this year.

He's the LT.

Jalen Rivers was an all ACC LT. Most sites had him either first team or second team. PFF had him first team All ACC. It has been a while since the Canes have had an LT who could sniff any ACC spot.

 

[423Hurricane]

Jalen Rivers was an all ACC LT. Most sites had him either first team or second team. PFF had him first team All ACC. It has been a while since the Canes have had an LT who could sniff any ACC spot.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

 

[grover]

Once upon a time this was the way. It seemed like many promising young OLs would start at either RT or LG before getting a crack at LT.

Either way, it seems like we're looking at a top 7 of:

Rivers
Mauigoa
Cooper
Carpenter
Okunlola
McCoy
Bell

That's a strong group.

Any word on Kinsler. I'd like to see him claw his way into this list.

 

[Hstokes1447]

This Offensive Line will be better than last years offensive because of experience and depth.

Here is why
1. System Experience. Last season this entire offensive line was learning this offensive system, this year only two players (Zach Carpenter, & Markel Bell) in the two deep will be learning this system.
2. Playing Experience. There will not be 1 true freshman in the two deep
3. Depth. There are now at least 8 starter level offensive lineman on this roster

LT Jalen Rivers RSR 6-5 325 (2023 All-ACC Second Team)
LT Markel Bell JR 6-9 345

LG Samson Okunlola RFR 6-6 310 (Former 5 star)
LG Matthew McCoy RSO 6-6 300

C Zach Carpenter RSR 6-5 295 (2023 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention)
C Ryan Rodriguez RSO 6-2 275

RG Anez Cooper JR 6-6 325 (2023 All-ACC Honorable Mention)
RG Matthew McCoy RSO 6-6 300

RT Francis Mauigoa SO 6-6 325 (2023 All-ACC Second Team)
RT Tommy Kinsler RFR 6-6 340

Thats two second team All Conference starters, two Honorable mention All Conference starters, and one former 5 star starter. In addition Bell, McCoy, and Kinsler providing starter level depth.

 

[Damiencane86]

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Facts. Everyone so eager to move Rivers out of a spot he thrived in and it makes no sense at all.

 

[OrangeBowlMagic]

Don’t think this is a crazy take and honestly you should be better from year 2 to year 3 when you only lost 2 kids.

Let’s go position by position:

LT - Holdover in Jalen Rivers. Was excellent last year and odds are he’s going to be even better. 2nd year at the position and starting, another year removed from his serious knee injury, another year older/stronger, another year learning from a great OL coach.
Verdict: Even better than 2023

LG - We don’t know who will play this spot, but they’ll have some decent sized shoes to fill. Cohen was very good, although he wasn’t drafted. Is it impossible to think a future NFL player takes this spot and we don’t have much of a downgrade? No. I would say smart money is on us taking a step down here, but we didn’t lose a Day 1/2 pick.
Verdict: Small step down from 2023

C - Lee was excellent as well, as we know. But Carpenter is no slouch and is experienced and tough. I saw someone earlier make this comment and it’s so true. We don’t know what exactly this kid will be, but it’s safe to assume he’ll be at least pretty good. This isn’t Tommy Kennedy, this kid has a proven body of work against equivalent skill he’ll see in the ACC. Honorable mention all B1G.
Verdict: Even, possibly a small step down

RG - Basically the same story as Rivers, except imo the NFL potential of Cooper is even greater. Odds are at least a small step up here but there is potential for a 3rd year explosion where this kid blossoms into a first-team All-ACC player
Verdict: definite step up from 2023, possible we get a truly elite player here

RT - This is the one. The jump from Year 1 to Year 2 is often where pros begin to separate. Mauigoa was a freshman all-America last year and played extensively. Was very good, albeit had some lumps as a true freshman. If this kid is a Day 1 talent like we expect him to be, we will see a massive jump here and he and Cooper could be the best RG/RT combo in the conference.
Verdict: Very good chance there’s a massive jump here

So we got:
LT - Better
LG - likely worse
C - likely very slightly worse
RG - better, good chance for much better
RT - much better, good chance for superstardom

No ******* reason in the world this OL shouldn’t be even better than last year. Throw in the TE’s, who you know will be blocking in a Mario program, and this should be AT WORST a really good OL with legit potential for more.

 

[grover]

Starters are roughly the same but more experienced so better. Depth is night and day better. They don’t have a statue for a QB. Overall we’re going to take a major jump in all the key metrics.

 

[Home Slice]

Not at all concerned about the OL if we stay relatively healthy.

 

[canes_aaron]

LG is the only concern. Is there talent? Yeah sure. But no experience.

Hoping one of Samson/Kinsler/Mccoy can take the spot and be solid. Could be an issue for the season if LG is not solidified.