🏈 Does Fluker start Day one?

[Guest]

There's one thing that needs to be considered/remembered in all of this "Fluker starts at LT" and comparisons to Andre when he came in as a freshman.

Andre played LT for a long time in high school. This is Fluker's first year playing LT.

Therein is one of the reasons why I'm cautious about saying "he starts from day one" when he comes in for fall camp.

We would be hard pressed to finds someone, at any position, that would say that accumulating snaps is not a big help. Playing Time is a big deal. And, snap is High School do not count the same as snaps facing guys who are a year from playing on Sundays.

I too am cautious with so many edging toward believing recruiting High School Superstars at OL is our path to glory in '09. We will learn a great deal about how good of a coach Coach Pendry is come next season.

 

[Guest]

There's one thing that needs to be considered/remembered in all of this "Fluker starts at LT" and comparisons to Andre when he came in as a freshman.

Andre played LT for a long time in high school. This is Fluker's first year playing LT.

Therein is one of the reasons why I'm cautious about saying "he starts from day one" when he comes in for fall camp.

We would be hard pressed to finds someone, at any position, that would say that accumulating snaps is not a big help. Playing Time is a big deal. And, snap is High School do not count the same as snaps facing guys who are a year from playing on Sundays.

I too am cautious with so many edging toward believing recruiting High School Superstars at OL is our path to glory in '09. We will learn a great deal about how good of a coach Coach Pendry is come next season.

I would agree with you normally...

Fluker is a different animal. He is like Julio was last year - even though he is just coming out of HS he could play on Sundays right now. You could not say that about Andre when he was graduating from HS. Fluker is just so big and strong, it is not normal...

 

[TerryP]

I agree - as it pertains to the LT position. I do feel that he is too good to sit on the sidelines, and WILL start day one at a position on the OL. My guess would be RT, with Carpenter at LT. Davis moves to guard.

If we get Massie and/or Moses, things get really interesting on the OL in 2010.

Do you think Love will be moved to center - or guard, or battle for playing time at tackle? Again, I think he is probably too good to keep off the field, but I don't think he is good enough to beat out Carpenter or Fluker...or davis. Maybe left guard?

One more thing, have you heard anything about Barrett Jones?

Heard anything on Barrett as it relates to what? His rehab? If so, should be ready to go when spring camp hits.

You and I see this differently...but like I said earlier in the thread, it's just educated guesses (emphasis on guesses) at this point.

If we look to the fall, my guess right now would be along these lines.

Left Tackle

Fluker
Love

Left Guard.
Johnson
Motley/Vlachos

Center
Jones
Vlachos **

Right Guard
Carpenter
Ross/Boswell

Right Tackle
Davis
Ross/Boswell

** This is player to watch as well. He was getting some reps at Center during the bowl prep, but his father has said it looks like they are leaning towards him playing guard.

Questions I'll look to see answered?

It all falls down to who ends up 'shirting. I know Warmack has the ability to contribute early and being in camp for spring will help. Massie is another interesting situation b/c he's had a chance to mature another year versus say Williams and McKeller.

 

[Guest]

Since Murphy has apparently made it into school, could he contribute on this side of the ball as well?

 

[TerryP]

Since Murphy has apparently made it into school, could he contribute on this side of the ball as well?

All indications I've heard has him playing behind Cody and Chapman (maybe Dareus as well) next season.

Possible? Yes. Likely? No.

 

[Guest]

I agree - as it pertains to the LT position. I do feel that he is too good to sit on the sidelines, and WILL start day one at a position on the OL. My guess would be RT, with Carpenter at LT. Davis moves to guard.

If we get Massie and/or Moses, things get really interesting on the OL in 2010.

Do you think Love will be moved to center - or guard, or battle for playing time at tackle? Again, I think he is probably too good to keep off the field, but I don't think he is good enough to beat out Carpenter or Fluker...or davis. Maybe left guard?

One more thing, have you heard anything about Barrett Jones?

Heard anything on Barrett as it relates to what? His rehab? If so, should be ready to go when spring camp hits.

You and I see this differently...but like I said earlier in the thread, it's just educated guesses (emphasis on guesses) at this point.

If we look to the fall, my guess right now would be along these lines.

Left Tackle

Fluker
Love

Left Guard.
Johnson
Motley/Vlachos

Center
Jones
Vlachos **

Right Guard
Carpenter
Ross/Boswell

Right Tackle
Davis
Ross/Boswell

** This is player to watch as well. He was getting some reps at Center during the bowl prep, but his father has said it looks like they are leaning towards him playing guard.

Questions I'll look to see answered?

It all falls down to who ends up 'shirting. I know Warmack has the ability to contribute early and being in camp for spring will help. Massie is another interesting situation b/c he's had a chance to mature another year versus say Williams and McKeller.

Yes, my question regarding Barrett Jones was in relation to his rehab and also how he has done in the weight room. He arrived on campus a bit small.

I don't know that we disagree, hard to disagree on guesses. My reasoning with Fluker to RT is that he does not have enough experience to handle the LT spot at D1. Physically he can, but there are concerns with his pass blocking. Carpenter has a career worth of experience, two years of which were at the JUCO level.

If Carpenter could anchor the position for two years to allow Fluker to develop, it would help a lot - not to mention that the front of Carpenter - Vlachos - Love - Davis - Fluker would be formidable...if Love does move to Center as some have suggested may happen.

 

[TerryP]

One of the reasons I'm curious to watch what happens with the LT spot is due to some of the film I saw on Carpenter. He looked very good in pass blocking situations at CCC...which, leads me to think he'll have his shot at tackle as well.

It's just going to be interesting to see how it all plays out.

 

[Guest]

It seems to be good problem to have with all this great talent (unproven though)coming aboard.

If Carpenter and Fluker are all they're supposed to be and they get the 09' start, I guess we could start to make a list of sophomore, junior OLinemen jumping ship.

 

[reger60]

I'll say it again. I likes me some Vlachos.

 

[TerryP]

It seems to be good problem to have with all this great talent (unproven though)coming aboard.

If Carpenter and Fluker are all they're supposed to be and they get the 09' start, I guess we could start to make a list of sophomore, junior OLinemen jumping ship.

Likely scenario...

 

[Guest]

It seems to be good problem to have with all this great talent (unproven though)coming aboard.

If Carpenter and Fluker are all they're supposed to be and they get the 09' start, I guess we could start to make a list of sophomore, junior OLinemen jumping ship.

Likely scenario...

That #1 OL recruiting class from a few years ago is looking less and less like it was an accurate depiction of reality.

 

[Guest]

You can never tell for sure until they see the field, but:

Off this year's line we return the following scholarship players:

Tackles: Davis, Boswell, Love

Guards: Johnson, Ross, Motley, Pharr

Centers: Vlachos, Jones.

Johnson and Davis will be the only seniors next year. Throw in a recruiting class with Carpenter, Fluker, Massie (likely) and Warmack (the ones I see with the best shot at playing eartly) plus Steen, Williams, and McKeller. That is a lot of talent. In 2010 we migh feature tackles Fluker, Massie, Love and Boswell, guards Carpenter, Warmack, Ross and Steen, Centers Vlachos and Jones. That starts looking like the kind of depth we want to just plug in the back up when a lineman gets nicked up.