Reading between the lines, looks like they may try a few guys at RT. Bielema mentioned Jalen Merrick, Brian Wallace and Zach Rogers. Obviously Merrick and Wallace could play RT. If Rogers was at RG, Jake Raulerson could presumably slide out to RT.
I really like Rogers at guard, so as versatile as Raulerson is, maybe he could do a good job at that right tackle spot. Would be worth a look against TX State.
Rogers was recruited as the #1 C in the country. Let him play C, move Ragnow back to G (where he played last year) and let Jake from State Farm play RT. May be the answer instead of more people playing out of position.
IF (and it’s a big IF), they were to move Ragnow from C - doesn’t he have the length we need at a tackle spot? I know he hasn’t played T in college, but he should be intelligent enough to know the position - OR has Wallace developed the stamina to play? Wallace has the size and length. The problem with Raulerson playing T (if there is a problem) is that he doesn’t have the length. Is Merrick performing well enough? I apologize for all of these questions and no solutions, but obviously we need a shuffle - Jackson has the size/length, but may need a little more development (I do believe he will be a great starter for this team in the future). Any word on Ramirez? He’s got some length, too.
LT - Skipper
LG - Froholdt
C - Ragnow or Rogers
LG - Raulerson
RT - Wallace/Merrick or Ragnow
I don’t think they’ll move Ragnow from C. They really like him there and aside from the very, very early stages of fall camp, he’s been the unquestioned guy there even with all the shuffling elsewhere.
But I hadn’t considered that idea. It’s an interesting thought, even if it isn’t maybe likely.
I’m proud of the win but anytime you have the ball inside the 5 yard first and goal there’s no reason to go backwards ( penalty, missed assignment blocking or a fumble). The TCU game was close because we field goals instead of TD’s. What ever the coaches do it will be fine the hogs have (heart). You can’t coach or teach that! Last year in the first few games we could not get a field goal when we needed it we could not complete a pass for pay dirt against Toledo ! The sense of urgency in the first half on offense is what concerns me ! We have a great group of kids on the hill and all fans need to support them and be proud of them. WPS!!!
I’m proud of the win but anytime you have the ball inside the 5 yard first and goal there’s no reason to go backwards ( penalty, missed assignment blocking or a fumble). The TCU game was close because we field goals instead of TD’s. What ever the coaches do it will be fine the hogs have (heart). You can’t coach or teach that! Last year in the first few games we could not get a field goal when we needed it we could not complete a pass for pay dirt against Toledo ! The sense of urgency in the first half on offense is what concerns me ! We have a great group of kids on the hill and all fans need to support them and be proud of them. WPS!!!
Is Rogers one of the five best offensive linemen, or is he not?
If he is, do you play Rogers at guard, or center?
If Rogers plays center, is the line better with Ragnow at guard, or tackle?
Really mystifies me, why on earth Arkansas would not have a guy as good as Ragnow at tackle instead of center. Center is not the position that makes this system go. Past few seasons, was our center ever better than our third-best Olineman?
Why all of a sudden do we want our best Olineman at center? Especially when we could use an upgrade at almost every other position on the line?
Seems like “position coach transition issues” to me.
I’m interested in your opinion that center is not the position that makes this system go? Bret says it is the most important position. He’s had very good centers every place he’s been. He wants great players at center. He loves to pull his center. It’s something that can be a devastating part of a blocking scheme. Center makes the reads. I think you probably are wrong on that tidbit.
We don’t run belly option. And the offense was pretty good with the third-best Olineman (if that) at center. The worst of the pass rush doesn’t come up the middle. If we run the football as often as most of Bielema’s Wisconsin teams did, we’re not going to score many points.
The main point is that the backup at center might be one of the five best offensive linemen on this football team. The starting right tackle might not be one of the top six. That is a problem. Moving the backup center to right tackle is not really an option.
On the other hand, it maybe that Colton is one of the top 5? This may be a situation of “it is what it is”? Now that we’re staring down the SEC gauntlet, it’s time to settle on the 5.
While the SEC gauntlet will feature other DEs who will challenge Colton, most are ignoring that this freshman has played against two decent teams – and the Hogs have won.
I don’t recall a period of such consternation against a single lineman while the Hogs have been winning.
Did anyone finally notice that on one of the penalties attributed to Jackson was actually on the RG for flinching and causing both Jackson and Skipper to move?
Hate to be “that guy” but how awesome would it be to have Kirkland back for one more year. Kid just seemed dead set on going pro, even after feedback from the NFL said to stay. He didn’t even wait to talk to coach B, now he’s on the practice squad in Oakland.
If he sticks with it and stays on the whole year he’ll make more than $100k. Not bad for someone just out of college without (I am guessing) a degree. Obviously if he’d stayed he would’ve had a better chance to make more next year, but it’s hard to second guess when you don’t know all the facts. Obviously it’s been reported that he comes from a poor family, so that is a big factor. Also, don’t know his academic situation, maybe he wasn’t going to be eligible next year anyway.
I think your question is correct to identify “this system” because it is obvious in the NFL, the OT is the most important since they pass so much, whereas in the play action game of CBB, perhaps the best needs to be up the middle. The thing that mystifies me is that is year 4 we don’t have 3 great OTs waiting in line to play. Given CBB’s reputation for OL and his glorification of that, we should be getting 4/5 star OTs every year. Instead we are getting OGs.
It is painfully obvious that we don’t have anyone ready to play right tackle right now. Jackson is good with the run as of now. The staff just needs to get his pass blocking worked out. To date, Jackson has been the best option. If we had someone who was better at right tackle, he would already be playing. The only linemen in the starting lineup who have the size and body type to play right tackle are Skipper and Ragnow. Skipper holds down left tackle, the more important of the two tackle positions. Ragnow is the center and the captain of the offensive line. Teams don’t normally move centers around if they can avoid it because of the skill level and learning required for the position. The staff may be leaning to waiting for Jackson to ripen.