Early reports on K Thompson

[msstate7]

Nice...Using the Patriots OL to help make a point about MSUs OL and this subject is top notch.

What about harbaugh at Michigan? Good enough? Read about mason cole

[Lumpy Chucklelips]

I wouldn't mind experimenting with the OL "IF" we were set and comfortable with who our starting line was going to be and they were to the point where there was only minimal room for them to get better.

I don't think we currently have that luxury. Rankin still has a lot of room to grow at LT. And to me the only way for him to get better at LT is to actually practice at LT. Same goes for every other OL we have. I don't think we have any that couldn't get better at their one primary position.

The reason you hear Hev always say he wants his guys to know more than one position is because we always only have about 6 and at the most 7 guys who are actually capable of holding their own. And I use the phrase holding their own very loosely. Go back and look at past seasons. How many have we had that we didn't have a guy start on one side of the line and end up on the other side later in the season? We've never been able to plug and play. Your LG does down with an injury? Instead of plugging in a 2nd string LG, we have to move the RT to RG; move the LT to RT and then move the RG to LG. And yes, that's an exaggeration, but not by too much. And when you do that you just lose continuity and then guys are playing positions that they aren't as comfortable in. Which equals less production.

Bottom line is we don't have the depth that we need to compete at the level we want. And that simply goes back to recruiting. No way around it.

[msstate7]

I do think it's a luxury that our best olineman can play both of the most important oline positions (LT and center) if needed.

[CadaverDawg]

Let me know when we have the OL talent of Michigan and LOL the Patriots, and those comparisons might be worth reading.

And as for those complaining about the thread...c'mon man. It's day 1. So this could have been a 10 post thread about Thompson or a 7 page thread about Thompson plus the guys that will be responsible for keeping him safe, and are our biggest ? Year in and year out.

But the thread jokes have been funny haha

[msstate7]

I wouldn't mind experimenting with the OL "IF" we were set and comfortable with who our starting line was going to be and they were to the point where there was only minimal room for them to get better.

I don't think we currently have that luxury. Rankin still has a lot of room to grow at LT. And to me the only way for him to get better at LT is to actually practice at LT. Same goes for every other OL we have. I don't think we have any that couldn't get better at their one primary position.

The reason you hear Hev always say he wants his guys to know more than one position is because we always only have about 6 and at the most 7 guys who are actually capable of holding their own. And I use the phrase holding their own very loosely. Go back and look at past seasons. How many have we had that we didn't have a guy start on one side of the line and end up on the other side later in the season? We've never been able to plug and play. Your LG does down with an injury? Instead of plugging in a 2nd string LG, we have to move the RT to RG; move the LT to RT and then move the RG to LG. And yes, that's an exaggeration, but not by too much. And when you do that you just lose continuity and then guys are playing positions that they aren't as comfortable in. Which equals less production.

Bottom line is we don't have the depth that we need to compete at the level we want. And that simply goes back to recruiting. No way around it.

Alabama does the same thing after injuries...

https://www.questia.com/read/1P2-381...-around-due-to

They just need to recruit better

[lamont]

Alabama does the same thing after injuries...

https://www.questia.com/read/1P2-381...-around-due-to

They just need to recruit better

Everybody shuffles around during the season due to injuries. Not sure what you are arguing. This is Spring Practice

[msstate7]

Everybody shuffles around during the season due to injuries. Not sure what you are arguing. This is Spring Practice

It was 1 day and no one here is even sure how many of the snaps he took there and we're down 2 centers. Does anyone know who all took snaps at center or tackle?

[msstate7]

Everybody shuffles around during the season due to injuries. Not sure what you are arguing. This is Spring Practice

Do you think when bama shuffled those guys that if it was their first time at the new position or that they practiced there some?

[StatesboroBlues]

What about harbaugh at Michigan? Good enough? Read about mason cole

Rankin is there for depth purposes only...he is going to be a Tackle for us. This is really not just about Rankin...it is about continually having to work players at multiple positions because of talent problems. Well...and having a roster full of guards for most of the last 8 years.

Michigan obviously knew Cole could handle it and had a plan at Left Tackle...do we for next season? I would say no...

"Eat a Peach"

[msstate7]

He actually made the switch...he was not going back and forth practicing both positions when he was playing tackle. This is really not just about Rankin...it is about continually having to work players at multiple positions because of talent problems. Well...and having a roster full of guards for most of the last 8 years.

"Eat a Peach"

He played both and made the switch permanently on oct 29th vs Michigan state

[HSVDawg]

I wouldn't mind experimenting with the OL "IF" we were set and comfortable with who our starting line was going to be and they were to the point where there was only minimal room for them to get better.

I don't think we currently have that luxury. Rankin still has a lot of room to grow at LT. And to me the only way for him to get better at LT is to actually practice at LT. Same goes for every other OL we have. I don't think we have any that couldn't get better at their one primary position.

The reason you hear Hev always say he wants his guys to know more than one position is because we always only have about 6 and at the most 7 guys who are actually capable of holding their own. And I use the phrase holding their own very loosely. Go back and look at past seasons. How many have we had that we didn't have a guy start on one side of the line and end up on the other side later in the season? We've never been able to plug and play. Your LG does down with an injury? Instead of plugging in a 2nd string LG, we have to move the RT to RG; move the LT to RT and then move the RG to LG. And yes, that's an exaggeration, but not by too much. And when you do that you just lose continuity and then guys are playing positions that they aren't as comfortable in. Which equals less production.

Bottom line is we don't have the depth that we need to compete at the level we want. And that simply goes back to recruiting. No way around it.

The problem is we have lost our top 2 centers to injury, and we don't have an adequate 3rd center for the spring. The fact that Moon isn't getting reps there should basically tell you that either the coaches are processing him and he will no longer be on the roster after this semester, or he is exclusively a guard and can't really handle the snap and line call responsibilities. In either case, the problem will resolved after the spring at the latest when the walking wounded return and maybe even during the spring if we find some guys from the JUCO group that we can move into that spot for added depth. Until then, we have to explore some contingencies here and there. Another possibility is that our coaches want to get looks at some other players at the tackle spots because they know what Rankin can do, so this lets them kill two birds with one stone. And I still think its silly to jump to all these conclusions based on one day of practice. Its a given that Rankin won't be at Center long term unless we hit a major rash of injuries, and its really likely he will go back to Tackle at some point during the spring and also go there exclusively during the fall.

In the end, the complaints about general recruiting on the OL are valid, but its reaching by a good bit to use the fact that we don't have 3 centers that can play as a means of justifying that argument. Nobody has 3 centers that can play....not even the Alabamas of the world.

[TimberBeast]

Everybody shuffles around during the season due to injuries. Not sure what you are arguing. This is Spring Practice

He's arguing as usual that mullen is the greatest coach ever, and that everyone that questions anything about our oline has a melting agenda, or is melting and has an agenda, or something along those lines.

[CadaverDawg]

I love when people try to defend our OL coaching/recruiting. It's like defending Hugh Freeze's integrity...How do you defend something that is nonexistent

[msstate7]

Does anyone know who all took snaps at center? Does anyone know if Rankin took snaps at LT? Just wondering if anyone has actual insight or just melting blindly

[CadaverDawg]

Does anyone know who all took snaps at center? Does anyone know if Rankin took snaps at LT? Just wondering if anyone has actual insight or just melting blindly

It doesn't matter. The fact that our 5th Year Senior LT that hasn't even mastered LT, is taking snaps at Center, is a microcosm of our entire issues with the OL. It's dumb as hell and shows a lack of depth, recruiting, and smarts at OL coach. But maybe that's just me

[StatesboroBlues]

Yeah...didn't know that. Having said that...he is an exception to the rule and Michigan thought it made them better. Like I said above...Rankin getting practice time at C is not because we feel good about his backup. It is more about our depth at C...considering our roster at the position for the last two years and who we had returning there is no way Tankin should even be an option.

[MSUDawg99]

Where did Jenkins line up? Who were the primary tackles?

Elgton Jenkins is hurt & out for the Spring. Another reason for the diff playing positions. Some of y'all just need to calm down a bit. It'll be ok.

[msstate7]

It doesn't matter. The fact that our 5th Year Senior LT that hasn't even mastered LT, is taking snaps at Center, is a microcosm of our entire issues with the OL. It's dumb as hell and shows a lack of depth, recruiting, and smarts at OL coach. But maybe that's just me

It does matter. What if it was 5 snaps at center vs 50 at LT or whatever. If the context doesn't matter then you aren't objective. I realize I'm gonna side with Mullen until it proves to be dumb in games. Most (you included) are biased on the other side and just looking for a reason to pile on

[CadaverDawg]

Yeah...didn't know that. Having said that...he is an exception to the rule and Michigan thought it made them better. Like I said above...Rankin getting practice time at C is not because we feel good about his backup. It is more about our depth at C...considering our roster at the position for the last two years and who we had returning there is no way Tankin should even be an option.

You may have just accidentally created a new nickname there ^

[CadaverDawg]

It does matter. What if it was 5 snaps at center vs 50 at LT or whatever. If the context doesn't matter then you aren't objective. I realize I'm gonna side with Mullen until it proves to be dumb in games. Most (you included) are biased on the other side and just looking for a reason to pile on

We HAVE a reason to pile on. And no, it doesn't matter if it is 1 snap at center....why?? Why put your LT at Center? Put the damn 10th string center in there and get him snaps...don't confuse a guy that is already a work in progress at one of the most important positions on the field. That's my point.

After what we saw of Rankin a majority of last year, how can anyone say they are ok with him taking snaps at Center and then being our LT all year?