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Here's our projected starting lineup, from left to right: Brown, Fluker, Britt, Iupati, Ifedi. We also have G Jordan Simmons, who looked good in relief of Fluker until he got injured, and Jamarco Jones, who was brought in to challenge Ifedi (pending return from injury). Plus we resigned George Fant, and we have yet to see who we might pick up in the draft.

Toss in what is virtually another tackle in the form of Will Dissley, if he can make a successful return from his injury, and the offensive line has the makings for what could be the strongest, deepest unit on our team.

What a difference a year makes!

I think Fluker stays at RG so it would be
Brown, Iupati, Britt, Fluker, and Ifedi.
That's a lot of beef up front in any way it is combined.

NorthHawk wrote:I think Fluker stays at RG so it would be
Brown, Iupati, Britt, Fluker, and Ifedi.
That's a lot of beef up front in any way it is combined.

Thanks for the correction.

If everything falls right, ie players returning from injury, this is the best shape we've been in on the offensive line going into training camp since 2005, at least on paper.

There's still a long ways to go before September, particularly the draft and resolving the dispute with Frank Clark, but at this point, I'm unusually optimistic about our prospects for next season.

Injuries are the real concern.
All 3 Guards (Iupati, Fluker, and Simmons) lost time to injury last year, so some good luck will have to come our way
for them to be a unit all year long.

NorthHawk wrote:Injuries are the real concern.
All 3 Guards (Iupati, Fluker, and Simmons) lost time to injury last year, so some good luck will have to come our way
for them to be a unit all year long.

And recovery from season ending injuries, as was the case with Jones and Dissly.

The good thing is that we seem to have some pretty decent depth that should help if we experience some injuries.

I'll take a stab that we would have the heaviest OLine in the NFL next year if that starting lineup holds. Sweezy about 80 lbs lighter than Iupati and some big butts out there. I see us running a lot next year, to no ones surprise.

jshawaii22 wrote:I'll take a stab that we would have the heaviest OLine in the NFL next year if that starting lineup holds. Sweezy about 80 lbs lighter than Iupati and some big butts out there. I see us running a lot next year, to no ones surprise.

So in your Guys expert opinions, will our OL be better, worse, or about the same?

jshawaii22 wrote:I'll take a stab that we would have the heaviest OLine in the NFL next year if that starting lineup holds. Sweezy about 80 lbs lighter than Iupati and some big butts out there. I see us running a lot next year, to no ones surprise.

obiken wrote:So in your Guys expert opinions, will our OL be better, worse, or about the same?

On paper, it should be better. We return 4 of 5 starters that have had a year to work in Solari's system, plus we have two experienced backups in Fant and Simmons that can step in. Plus our backfield is comprised of veterans that are equally familiar with the players and the system. IMO pass protection, which was still an issue last season, is more of a group effort than run blocking (like to hear Cbob's thoughts on that issue) and stands the most to benefit from the increase in familiarity we should see this season.

obiken wrote:So in your Guys expert opinions, will our OL be better, worse, or about the same?

First, last year was a good year for our O-line, the best we've had in a decade. The biggest thing we're adding this year is continuity. We're returning 4 of 5 starters and IMO the biggest problem we had under Cable was that he couldn't keep a similar lineup from one season to the next ... we've had some good players, but they were never able to gel as a unit.

Second, Iupati is an upgrade over Sweezy so the one change we did make is a positive. He's a seasoned pro who understands Solari's system and loves him as a coach; he names Solari (who was his coach in San Fran) as a big reason he came here. The coach's familiarity with the player and his strength is a huge deal too.

So yeah, as Riv said, on paper at least (and I'm confident that on the field as well), we're better.

I think we appear far better on the O-line than we did last year (or decade, as Bob said). Not offering anything new, just agreeing. Hi guys.

Hawk Sista wrote:I think we appear far better on the O-line than we did last year (or decade, as Bob said). Not offering anything new, just agreeing. Hi guys.

Hi Sis! How the hell you been?

Hawk Sista wrote:I think we appear far better on the O-line than we did last year (or decade, as Bob said). Not offering anything new, just agreeing. Hi guys.

IMO the last time our OL was in this good of a situation was in 2005 when we had Walt, Hutch, Tobeck, Gray, and Locklear.

Hi back at you, my friend!

If even one recovery project works out, that'll help a lot.

The health of the Guards will determine how well the OL plays this year.
I suspect there will be an addition to them at some point either before or in the Draft.
Look for a bruiser if we draft one.

NorthHawk wrote:The health of the Guards will determine how well the OL plays this year.

Yup, as will the ability of Ifedi to stay penalty free.

NorthHawk wrote:I suspect there will be an addition to them at some point either before or in the Draft. Look for a bruiser if we draft one.

Agreed. Solari definitely likes a different type of lineman than Cable did, which is probably one of the things that's hurting Pocic.

Here's hoping we can get out of training camp this summer with no major injuries to starters. That has been a bugger in recent years IIR.

I’m doing fine. It’s gonna be 73 degrees & sunny today. I’m excited to play outside.

I’m so happy we resigned DJ Fluker!

Hawk Sista wrote:I’m so happy we resigned DJ Fluker!

Me too!

Me 3! And I’m also seeing our oline as its best performance since 2005.

Now to fix the defense ...

I've been away for a couple days but to come in and find that we resigned Fluker and we got Iupati (an Idaho State alum) is fantastic!

I am so stoked for this oline now. Will reduce the load on RW to have to throw or even to have to do the Read Option. These big fellas are going to be blowing holes the size of craters in the defenses. This will be like the olines of the Hogs where you know we are going to run, we know we are going to run, now can you last as long as we do when we run?

Also, I'm not so worried about Ifedi now that Fluker is coming back. He did fairly well while Fluker was in there.

idhawkman wrote:I've been away for a couple days but to come in and find that we resigned Fluker and we got Iupati (an Idaho State alum) is fantastic!

Idaho State? Iupati is from the University of Idaho. Where was it that you said you are from?

RiverDog wrote:
Idaho State? Iupati is from the University of Idaho. Where was it that you said you are from?

HA! Busted. I'm a BSU fan and U of I and Idaho State are the same in my opinion.