This is a major summer for the offensive line room that has had some consistency issues the past two seasons when we needed them the most (ie Clemson/Oklahoma/Iowa)...
One of the things the coaching staff has not had to worry about has been the center position, due to the stellar play of both Pat Elflein and Billy Price...
This spring did not provide that luxury as the crew of centers (namely Brady Taylor and Josh Meyers) have been very spotty. Brady started of hanging in there, but he still worries Meyer the most...
The solution?
Michael Jordan has been snapping since March to get rolling in case these guys cannot do it. He is a veteran and knows the calls, thus he will continue the APEX tradition that Meyer started with the Pouncey brothers (when one declared early the other slid over to center) and Corey Linsley...
Meyer is equally concerned about Left Tackle after the Spring Game. Isaiah Prince got the initial try and wasn't able to process the calls well enough to avoid missing assignments. His footwook in pass pro was also a mess. Thus, they slid Thayer Munford over to LT. They didn't feel it was "fair" for Prince to have to play a new spot he was struggling at during his NFL "money year". Thayer did not do much better and graded out as the lowest starter on the offense during the Spring Game (granted he played against Chase Young and Nick Bosa)...
So who else is in the mix for time? Malcolm Pridgeon is making a move along with last year's surprise player Brandon Bowen. Both are better inside at guard, but they may have to both play on the left side if Thayer cannot do it. Want my Week 1 starting OL?
LT-Munford/Bowen (with help)
LG-Pridgeon
C-Jordan/Taylor
RG-Knox/Bowen
RT-Prince
Opening with Oregon State and Rutgers gives Jordan two starts at center before the bright lights of TCU shine down on the Buckeyes. Meyer is always thinking about beating Clemson (who returns likely Top 5 pick Dexter Lawrence at nose guard) and Alabama (who returns DT Raekwon Davis, a 6'7 320 lb monster). Here are some articles that got Meyer and Stud thinking of putting Jordan at Center. If you are unfamiliar with these two National Title roadblocks, feel free to read these two articles:
https://bleacherreport.com/articles...-dexter-lawrence-the-supersized-ndamukong-suh
https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2018/04/why_alabama_is_optimistic_abou.html
Stud had great success with moving 6'7 Ethan Pocic to center at LSU. He sold this to Mike and the fact that Ethan's versatility helped him be a second round pick (along with it helping Billy and Pat). A 6'7 center is an anomaly, but it is a luxury versus the kind of nose tackles we'll see if we make the playoffs...
As always, take it for what it is worth. Meyer is always looking at the big picture, and shifting our best offensive lineman to the APEX spot is no different...
One of the things the coaching staff has not had to worry about has been the center position, due to the stellar play of both Pat Elflein and Billy Price...
This spring did not provide that luxury as the crew of centers (namely Brady Taylor and Josh Meyers) have been very spotty. Brady started of hanging in there, but he still worries Meyer the most...
The solution?
Michael Jordan has been snapping since March to get rolling in case these guys cannot do it. He is a veteran and knows the calls, thus he will continue the APEX tradition that Meyer started with the Pouncey brothers (when one declared early the other slid over to center) and Corey Linsley...
Meyer is equally concerned about Left Tackle after the Spring Game. Isaiah Prince got the initial try and wasn't able to process the calls well enough to avoid missing assignments. His footwook in pass pro was also a mess. Thus, they slid Thayer Munford over to LT. They didn't feel it was "fair" for Prince to have to play a new spot he was struggling at during his NFL "money year". Thayer did not do much better and graded out as the lowest starter on the offense during the Spring Game (granted he played against Chase Young and Nick Bosa)...
So who else is in the mix for time? Malcolm Pridgeon is making a move along with last year's surprise player Brandon Bowen. Both are better inside at guard, but they may have to both play on the left side if Thayer cannot do it. Want my Week 1 starting OL?
LT-Munford/Bowen (with help)
LG-Pridgeon
C-Jordan/Taylor
RG-Knox/Bowen
RT-Prince
Opening with Oregon State and Rutgers gives Jordan two starts at center before the bright lights of TCU shine down on the Buckeyes. Meyer is always thinking about beating Clemson (who returns likely Top 5 pick Dexter Lawrence at nose guard) and Alabama (who returns DT Raekwon Davis, a 6'7 320 lb monster). Here are some articles that got Meyer and Stud thinking of putting Jordan at Center. If you are unfamiliar with these two National Title roadblocks, feel free to read these two articles:
https://bleacherreport.com/articles...-dexter-lawrence-the-supersized-ndamukong-suh
https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2018/04/why_alabama_is_optimistic_abou.html
Stud had great success with moving 6'7 Ethan Pocic to center at LSU. He sold this to Mike and the fact that Ethan's versatility helped him be a second round pick (along with it helping Billy and Pat). A 6'7 center is an anomaly, but it is a luxury versus the kind of nose tackles we'll see if we make the playoffs...
As always, take it for what it is worth. Meyer is always looking at the big picture, and shifting our best offensive lineman to the APEX spot is no different...
