2019 Spring Practice #10: Notes

The defense picked off two passes today in scrimmage sessions with Greg Johnson and Briton Allen making big plays.

While all eyes are on the outside in Graham Harrell's offense, the offensive line still makes everything go. And lately, the line has been giving the quarterbacks plenty of time to make their best case for the job. "It all starts up front," Harrell said. "When your o-line is playing well, it makes it pretty easy for the quarterbacks. I think the quarterbacks are improving, but it might be because the o-line is getting better and better and better."

The offensive line has enjoyed some continuity this spring with all five projected starters healthy, so they are able to bond together on and off the field. "We all try to work as one unit, one person," said LT Austin Jackson. "That mentality helps us a lot plus our individual hunger and desire to get better."

There is a competition at the center spot to replace Toa Lobendahn between Brett Neilon and Justin Dedich. "I think we've both just been pushing each other and you know we're still teammates at the end of the day," Neilon said. "So I think we just push each other to be better players and at the end of the day, it is a competition. But he's a great player, great guy, and it's just been motivating both of us to elevate our game and play harder."

The unit has a new coach in Tim Drevno who is a familiar face but a fresh voice in their room. "He expects a lot out of us, but we know it's within our reach what he wants from us," Jackson said about Drevno. "He always makes sure we are prepared for everything, so all we have to do is go hard and go fast."

The line has had to adjust to Harrell's offense, which requires wider splits between linemen. "Having wider splits, there's a lot more movement for me on backside combinations and picking up blitzes, but all I have to do is think faster," Jackson said. "It's not too difficult."

Harrell also wants the offense to play at a fast break pace. "The speed that we expect them to play at, I definitely think is an adjustment," the new offensive coordinator said. "You set the tone for the entire team, especially the offense, and that starts with you setting the tempo. If you get lined up fast and you play fast, we are going to execute at a high level because no one is thinking, we are just playing."

Like everything else in this offense, the protection calls have been simplified as well. "The calls are mostly the same," Neilon said. "It's not as confusing, so if something is in a gray area we just make a call and we'll live with it. As long as we're all on the same page and I think Drevno has done a great job of boom, make your call, be physical."

The offensive line has heard the fan and media criticism over the last two years, and this group wants to forge its own identity. "The identity of this offensive line is fast and physical," Jackson said. "We want to get to the ball before the defense does. We want to set up before them. And we want to knock them over."

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