Bulls' O-line in a camp cram session

[Brad]

Bulls' O-line in a camp cram session

August 12, 2009 10:30 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

South Florida coach Jim Leavitt made no secret this spring that his No. 1 concern going into training camp would be the offensive line.

That's understandable, given the amount of new faces in new places on the line, and how much time the presumed starters missed during spring drills.

But the offensive linemen are confident that they won't be the team's downfall this season.

"We've been hearing it all the time," guard Zach Hermann said. "I don't think we'll be a problem. We're coming together pretty well right now, and I think we'll definitely be all right."

Hermann was one of the missing first-stringers from this spring, as he dealt with a concussion. Jacob Sims couldn't participate in contact work either because of a broken index finger on his right hand. Sampson Genus, who moved over from the defensive line, hurt his knee during spring work. And Jamar Bass, who's expected to start at left tackle, didn't arrive from junior college this summer.

So much for building cohesion and chemistry in the spring. The Bulls had to try and make up for that in June and July.

"We spent a lot of time doing extra stuff on our own, extra position work," Sims said. "We'd stay and hang out together after class, and we would eat a lot together. We gelled pretty well, and I think our chemistry is pretty good."

Sims was ticketed to move to center this year, but so far Leavitt has been extremely pleased with how Genus is handling the snapping duties.

"He's getting pretty strong at center right now," Leavitt said of Genus. "He is playing probably better than I expected, which is unusual because I have pretty high standards."

Sims, then could move to right tackle, with Jeremiah Warren sliding into Genus's spot at left guard. Warren missed most of the spring, too, because of academics. Bass has drawn positive reviews early on.

"He has real quick feet and great technique," Hermann said. "And it seems like he's a fast learner."

The Bulls may be a little quicker as a unit up front. Sims said the coaching staff mandated that the linemen get sleeker in their offseason conditioning work to get ready for new offensive coordinator Mike Canales' spread offense.

"We've been cutting down the fat with a lot of the bigger guys," he said. "We have a lot quicker feet, and we're getting off the ball with a lot of energy. It's definitely important, because if you're able to get a step on that D-lineman, you could break a play for 50 yards."

First, South Florida has to make sure its offensive linemen get all their roles down -- in a hurry.

"A couple more weeks (of training camp) will do us good," Hermann said. "We're trying to pick some stuff up, and it's mostly small things. But a couple of weeks will definitely help us out a lot."

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[DELdaBull]

These guys and the DBs are the crucial group for this year.

[usfbullcpa]

I know that this will be a game time review, but I am really feeling my more at ease with the OL with the recent articles I am reading.  These guys are sounding like they are stepping up to the challenge.  That they are beating the DL in drills is both a positive, and scares me that the DL may be less predictable that first thought.

Keep working....