New Offensive Line at UConn?!?

[Kizarvexis]

Due to injuries on Saturday, the Bulls were playing with a new offensive line.

Center John Miller hurt his arm early in the game, so Chris Carothers moved over to his first action at center.

Don't we have a backup center?

Right tackle Walter Walker shifted to right guard to replace Carothers.

Don't we have a backup guard?

Left tackle Thed Watson didn't start with a hurt ankle, so USF shifted left guard Frank Davis for his first start at left tackle.

Don't we have a backup left tackle?

Oh look, we do have some backup linemen.

Redshirt freshman Matt Huners got his first start at left guard when Davis moved to his first start at left tackle.

Redshirt freshman Marc Dile took over at right tackle, when Walker moved to right guard.

Guess who showed up at TE? Clearwater's Nick Capogna , a center who normally wears No.69, wore 44 and saw his first action at tight end.

What I want to know, is why didn't the coaches just plug in the backup at the needed position, instead of shifting the line all around. Especially the center to Carothers who the St. Pete Times says had his first action at center?!?

Anyone? Anyone?

[E.T.]

c'mon ... you follow the BULLS.

We have a young O-Line and these are the back ups ... Carother IS the Back Up Center ... we are deeper at Tackle than Guard this season.

[bulls96go]

sounds like lack of prep

if you are thin and have guy's that may need to play other positions

we should play them in those positions at sometime thru the year, like famu, ucf blowout, louisville blowout ect. so when you need them they have some experience and you would KNOW if they can do it or not!

boy lets just toss the coaching staff on the offensive side of the ball!

btw i thought our oline coach was excellent, what happened?

[E.T.]

We have  :

What happened? We got beat by the other team. 1 game and soem 4get what happened all year.

Did you guys watch the game? Miller came back in at Guard also.

[Kizarvexis]

c'mon ... you follow the BULLS.

We have a young O-Line and these are the back ups ... Carother IS the Back Up Center ... we are deeper at Tackle than Guard this season.

Here is the starting line before the injuries. (Got the stats from GoUSFBulls.com)

55 Watson, Theodric Jr.  OT  6-04  300  

68 Davis, Frank Sr.  OG  6-04  310

61 Miller, John Sr.  OC  6-00  275

74 Carothers, Chris Sr.  OG  6-03  300  

75 Walker, Walter So.  OG  6-05  295

Here are the two backups inserted after the line was shifted around after injuries.

71 Huners, Matt Fr.  OG  6-03  290  

78 Dile, Mark So.  OT  6-04  275

My guess is Nick couldn't bulk up, so would that be why he was moved to TE?

69 Capogna, Nick So.  OC  6-03  255

I'm guessing these three are redshirting.

62 Fox, Jason Fr.  OC  6-00  255

67 Tolley, Danny Fr.  OT  6-06  300  

77 Griffin, Jake Fr.  OC  6-04  300

So that leaves just two more backups?

70 Carnes, Jared So.  OT  6-07  285  

72 Springfield, Jerome So.  OT  6-08  320

Is it normal for a college football team to go into a season with only 9 linemen? I know the pros have a 53 man limit, but doesn't I-A have an 85 scholarship limit?

[E.T.]

Well, if I could shake my magic wand, I would have stronger backups and also another QB and OC  8)

[E.T.]

Dile has started games this year already, ahead of Watson and Walker.

Huners, Capogna & Griffin have also played.

[WoolyBully]

Well, if I could shake my magic wand,

Well...it's not a "magic wand" - regardless of what you think, and stop shaking it.  You could poke someboedy's eye out with that thing...8)

[E.T.]

Is that why I'm losing site  

Oh, and Carothers HAS played Center before, just not this season.

[Kizarvexis]

We have  :

If the Times is right, then Carothers didn't see time at center during those blowouts.

What happened? We got beat by the other team. 1 game and soem 4get what happened all year.

Yep, and USF played like poop. Just trying to learn more about why USF played like poop than "It was cold". If you don't ask and learn, then you are just a couch potato.  ;D

Did you guys watch the game? Miller came back in at Guard also.

Yep, he did return at guard according to the Times and replaced Walker who must have moved back to right tackle.

But why all the shifting in the first place? Why not just plug the gaps, or is the USF line depth too thin to do that? What happens next year when the center and guards all have to be replaced? Looks like we may have two centers in the wings, but what about the guards?