Offensive Line: Our Take and Breakdown of the Clemson Offensive Line Position
After numerous trips to campus this spring and summer, for camp and practice sessions, as we had the availability to take in for ourselves the progress this group has made as a whole here in 2018. From January and the arrival of Carman to spring practices, until now with fall camp ending and game week arriving, a definite and notable difference can be seen in this current offensive line group
The Clemson offensive line has a problem that it has never had in the past, solid quality depth is now an issue? . Since the addition three years ago of Mitch Hyatt and consensus 5 star all American out of Gwinnett, GA . The recruiting efforts on the offensive line have really paid off.
With the past three recruiting classes yielding top end line talent. . . with the likes of highly recruited lineman John Simpson, Matt Bockhorst, Blake Vinson and now add 5 star phenom Jackson Carman and a host of very capable guys that can be plugged in at any position across the line.
Blake Vinson
Note that players like Treymane Anchrum, Sean Pollard ,Chandler Reeves and Cade Stewart were very under the radar recruits that have superseded the vision laid out by this staff upon their intial arrival on campus. Both Anchrum and Pollard have spent the past two seasons moving all over the line, being that Clemson and line coach Robbie Caldwell has always had a propensity to “cross training” the lineman to be versatile enough to play center, guard or either of the tackle spots.
Just today, the staff just put out the 2018 week one depth chart. And as it stands the first five out will be Hyatt, Simpson, Falcinelli, Pollard, and Anchrum. With the second team out there left to right coming off the bench led by newcomer Jackson Carman, Matt Bockhorst, Gage Cervanka, Cade Stewart, and Chandler Reeves.
Who ever runs out there first, you can count on seeing a “mixed bag” out of this group all season long. As this staff has always played a potpourri of one’s and two’s and even three’s on the line at different times in games always keeping fresh legs and bodies in rotation .
A luxury that was a “pipe dream “ just as little as four years ago when the line was the starting five an a couple solid reserves and then it was over talent and effort wise. Now circa 2018 this line is 2 deep and has a third team developing strongly behind it and pushing the talent level even farther than ever.
With college football 2018 still a fast paced get in and get 80-90 snaps a game environment . You can look all over the map and see staffs emulating the Clemson “Cross training “ of lineman. With more and more line coaches all over are falling in line with a solid” two deep rotation:” . And you can look right here in Clemson for the blue print that several staff’s are talking note of and following .
Look for this group to exceed expectations, and a star will be born this season if all we hear about both Simpson and Carman come to fruition. So keep an eye on the “big uglies” all season as they “plow the road” for this stable of backs and look to keep Clemson QB’s uniforms nice and neat for 60 minutes at a time.
