Merry Christmas to all! Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the holidays.
I've been looking ahead to next season. Our OL looks interesting next season. I've been looking at PFF grades lately and it's honestly shocking how poorly some of our guys graded in comparison to other teams, specifically in pass pro. I'll be intruiged to see if we look to the portal to bring in some better pass pro, especially in the interior of the OL. People can shit on PFF all they want, and they do deserve some of it. But they also give a completely objective evaluation of players and that should carry some respect.
Here's my projection of the OL next season, assuming Case Cook is NOT coming back:
A bunch of this is dependent on whether or not Case Cook returns. Cook returning could change so much. I really think there's a great possibility we'll be starting a True Freshman somewhere up front next year, which is not something you want to do in the SEC. Cook returning would allow us to start all upperclassmen with plenty of experience. Anybody hear anything on his return status? I assumed he's not coming back, but I admittedly have little evidence to back that claim.
I've been looking ahead to next season. Our OL looks interesting next season. I've been looking at PFF grades lately and it's honestly shocking how poorly some of our guys graded in comparison to other teams, specifically in pass pro. I'll be intruiged to see if we look to the portal to bring in some better pass pro, especially in the interior of the OL. People can shit on PFF all they want, and they do deserve some of it. But they also give a completely objective evaluation of players and that should carry some respect.
Here's my projection of the OL next season, assuming Case Cook is NOT coming back:
- LT:
- Javon Foster (R-SR)
- Valen Erickson (FR)
- Zeke Powell could possibly get the seniority nod, but he has performed so poorly I could see him getting passed up.
- LG:
- Luke Griffin (R-JR)
- Xavier Delgado (R-SR)
- Delgado got replaced by Griffin as the season went on. He hasn't performed well as a Tiger, but I could see him transferring away to a G5/FCS school where he could be a servicable starter. He's just not a guy you want starting in the SEC
- C:
- Armand Membou/Tristan Wilson (FR)
- Connor Tollison (R-FR)/Drake Heismeyer (R-SO)
- This is a bold prediction, I know. But I'm really high on Membou and Wilson as immediate OL contributors. They're both so physical and Membou especially is just barrell-chested and strong as an ox. I really see this as a four-way competition
- This is a huge team need if we're going to look for guys in the portal. We will absolutely miss Mike Maetti.
- RG:
- Connor Wood (R-SR)
- E.J. Ndoma-Ogar (R-JR)/Armand Membou (FR)
- If they don't want to slide Membou in at Center, I firmly believe he would make a serviceable backup at Guard.
- RT:
- Hyrin White (GR)
- Bobby Lawrence (R-SR)
- I believe White was our weakest link up front after Delgado was benched. He consistently gets beat in pass protection and doesn't have a great physical presence in the run game. I'll be interested to see if we hit the portal or even kick Wood out to OT and play either Delgado or a young guy at RG.
A bunch of this is dependent on whether or not Case Cook returns. Cook returning could change so much. I really think there's a great possibility we'll be starting a True Freshman somewhere up front next year, which is not something you want to do in the SEC. Cook returning would allow us to start all upperclassmen with plenty of experience. Anybody hear anything on his return status? I assumed he's not coming back, but I admittedly have little evidence to back that claim.
