Replacing former left tackle Matt Coppage will be no easy task. Coach Keven Lightner knows this.
Of the 11 starters who graduated, Coppage may be the biggest loss when looking at both the stability and leadership he brought to the offensive line. Josh Leuck, a junior, is slotted to fill the void left by Coppage, a former team captain and All-Mid-American Conference selection from last year's squad.
The best thing about Matt was that he was so experienced
Lightner, the team's offensive line coach, said. He was just a smart football player and the toughest kid you could find.
But Lightner has a pretty smart kid ready to fill that void with Leuck. Leuck has had less than a year to learn the position since switching from the defensive line to the offensive line last season after a number of injuries and off-the-field infractions decimated the Bobcats' front five.
I feel a lot better out there said Leuck, who saw 17 snaps at offensive tackle last season. It's a lot better than last year after being thrown in there. It hasn't been as hard as last season.
Lightner seems to think so as well.
I think Josh has all the athletic tools Lightner said. He's as tough as Matt and is as athletic a kid you'll get at left tackle. He'll just get better and better. I think he's got a shot to be a great player out there for us.
Another key cog lost from last year's group, which ranked 22nd in the nation in sacks allowed, is center J.J. Knabb. Lightner said that junior Tommy Stuck and sophomore David White will compete for the position.
Aside from the two key losses, the Bobcats' O-line should be as reliable as it was last season, when it helped tailback Kalvin McRae run for his second-straight 1,000-yard season. Guards Matt Miller and Mike Eynon and right tackle David Shelby all saw significant action last season and will work to build chemistry with the new guys.
Miller, who ranked second on the team in snaps taken last year, missed most of spring camp with a knee injury, but Lightner said he should be ready to go when fall camp begins Aug. 5.
Making life easier for the Bobcats' front five, of course, is having to block for one of the best and most experienced tailbacks in the conference in McRae.
Obviously we're excited to block for Kalvin
Shelby said. He makes us look good at times
and we do the same for him.
Lightner will get a look at five new linemen with the incoming freshman class this fall. Although it looks like he has reliable players ready to fill the vacancies from last season, he is always able to be impressed.
If I've got one of those guys that can come in and physically look like he can do it then I'll get him in the mix
Lightner said. There could be one of those guys able to do it. It's a really talented class and a bunch of smart kids.
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