OL post Portal

[slugboy]

Losing Rutledge is a blow. A program like Tech does not replace him easily. OTOH, he was unknown to us fans coming in. We didn't entice him from OSU with a NIL package. If we get better play at C, which shouldn't be that hard to do given what we had there last year, and find a T or two that can allow Carney to play G which seems a better fit for him, I think the line will be at least the equivalent of last year's. But a word of caution here - I am usually optimistic about these sort of things.

Our offensive scheme makes it a little tougher to analyze line play, because we pull so much.

Rutledge was an all American player—one of the best around. You don’t really replace him.

I kind of think of offensive lines like poker hands. We had an ace in Rutledge, but the rest of the hand didn’t fit together as well as it could have. You like to have a pair or three of a kind that you can use to get a couple of line yards. We had C-G-T of Moore/Alo-Tupuola - Rutledge - Carney. Moore and Carney were average, and Moore was better when he wasn’t at center. Alo-Tupuola was below average. We had a baller in Rutledge, but you couldn’t get behind two or three of them and pick up an easy first down. If your guard is awesome, but your center doesn’t get a good block, you have a defender penetrating. We had some good cards, but the overall hand wasn’t as good as it should have been. It showed up in Jamal Haynes’s stats—he had 4.3 yards per carry and ran the ball more than anyone other than Haynes King. He averaged 41 yards per game and Hosley averaged 54.

For NCST, Wake, Pitt, and a few other games, we couldn’t score methodical drives when we had opportunities in the opposing 40. A lot of our scores were Haynes King scampering for 15 yards, or something similar, but that dried up later in the season.

We rushed for 197 yards per game. About 80 yards of that was Haynes King. That’s something that should be icing on the cake, but instead it was the cake. Hosley, Jamal, and the backs combined for about 95, and the rest was jet sweeps from the WRs.

Both of our 2025 centers are gone. If you think that was one of our weak spots, the turnover there makes sense. To me, it looks like Key thought that the OLine wasn’t the team strength that it should have been, and he’s making some dramatic changes.

I think the OL will be different, and we’ll see stronger blocking out of the G-C-G center of the line

One item not mentioned is the new coach who was an old coach Mogridge. He was involved with the line in 24, when they played better. Hopefully with him back it will lead to improved OL.

Although I was worried about losing Geep Wade, it looks like Key’s opinion was different, and he wanted a change

 

[Richland County]

One item not mentioned is the new coach who was an old coach Mogridge. He was involved with the line in 24, when they played better. Hopefully with him back it will lead to improved OL.

Bullseye baby.

 

[MtnWasp]

Except for RB, the entire offense is a re-build, including the OL. Lost QBs #1 & #2, Lost most of the experienced WRs, experienced, TEs, Most of the OL snaps, the OC and multiple offensive position coaches = RE-BUILD.

We'll have no idea what we got until we start to play next Fall. Could be bad. Could be good.

 

[1979jacket]

Thanks for the writeup. It's good and thorough. I think MacKenny, Carney, and Riggs are almost sure to start. Then it comes down to Samuels, Petty and Ionata for the final two spots and maybe Peay who I don't have a clue about. I could see from left to right MacKenny, Petty, Riggs, Carney, Samuels. For this to work Petty has to be able to play guard and Riggs center. We shall see but I like the group and hope it can build depth. .

 

[takethepoints]

One thing about Riggs. One reason his PFF score is low is that he was filling in at all spots except center. If he can find a spot to play regularly, he'll do fine. I expect him start. Somewhere.

I agree about Carney to guard, but I'm just an old OL, not his coach.

I think Petty will win a start, probably taking Fusile's place. But that'll depend on whether Carney stays at OT. He will start. He will be an AA some day. The guy is probably the best OL athlete at Tech since John Davis.

I'm pretty sure Ionata can take the center job. Certain … not really. Moledor might end up playing as a frosh. Or Riggs could try it. Or something.

I don't know what to make of the transfers. I'll leave that to the coaches.

Tech has several OLs coming up who will work in somehow. I'm guessing that Peay will take Riggs's place as first off the bench and that Rosinski will play. Both of them were 4 stars in high school. But the others could assert themselves instead.

Losing Rutledge is too bad and I don't think he will be replaceable with the upcoming OLs (but watch Petty). Oth, I wouldn't be surprised if this OL ends up working better than the last outfit.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

Except for RB, the entire offense is a re-build, including the OL. Lost QBs #1 & #2, Lost most of the experienced WRs, experienced, TEs, Most of the OL snaps, the OC and multiple offensive position coaches = RE-BUILD.

We'll have no idea what we got until we start to play next Fall. Could be bad. Could be good.

I console myself with the fact that once you are an established program you never again have to rebuild. You just reload.

 

[takethepoints]

Oh, and thanks for the write-up. I love it when someone else does all the work and all I have to do is disagree.

 

[SOWEGA Jacket]

Some of you guys kill me. A year ago none of us had a clue who Rutledge was. And even when he signed we had no clue how good he was or wasn’t. Yet, now he’s irreplaceable and woe is us? None of us know how good or bad any of these transfers or young guys are.

Our head coach, a former GT OLineman, has hand picked every lineman now on this team. We best as heck have replacements lined up. We gave a 5 star a huge hunk of GT cash to sign with us so his butt better see the field otherwise he’ll be at Miami or UGA in 2027. Our OLine needs to be and should be the strength of our team. If it’s not then our head coach should be on the hot seat by giving a stud RB a lot of money to be given the ball behind a bad line. I believe our OLine will be very good. And if they aren’t then Key will have to answer for why.

 

[Jerry the Jacket]

We produce maybe one outstanding offensive lineman every decade or so. Most of our guys are workman like but are not going to win any awards. On the face of it, it looks like we are going to have an average at best offensive line in 2026. I know Coach Key wants to field a tough, physical run first offense, but until he gets more talent of the offensive line, it will continue to look like it has since he assumed the reigns. Hopefully I will be wrong, and we will field the type of team he says he wants to field.

Go Jackets!

 

[Gtech50]

I think we still need to add at least 1 more IOL. Seems like we don't have much depth there unless we think the Freshmen will be ready to play which isn't a safe bet.

 

[1979jacket]

I think the offensive line will be fine. Last year we struggled at center and it hurt us at times. Harrison Moore was good but not a good center. I think there is plenty of talent for a good first team and the question mark will be center and more so depth. I worry much more about our defensive line than this group.

 

[GoJacketsInRaleigh]

Some of you guys kill me. A year ago none of us had a clue who Rutledge was. And even when he signed we had no clue how good he was or wasn’t. Yet, now he’s irreplaceable and woe is us? None of us know how good or bad any of these transfers or young guys are.

Our head coach, a former GT OLineman, has hand picked every lineman now on this team. We best as heck have replacements lined up. We gave a 5 star a huge hunk of GT cash to sign with us so his butt better see the field otherwise he’ll be at Miami or UGA in 2027. Our OLine needs to be and should be the strength of our team. If it’s not then our head coach should be on the hot seat by giving a stud RB a lot of money to be given the ball behind a bad line. I believe our OLine will be very good. And if they aren’t then Key will have to answer for why.

He has to answer why any position is or isn't very good. Anything without team is speculative next year.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

I think the offensive line will be fine. Last year we struggled at center and it hurt us at times. Harrison Moore was good but not a good center. I think there is plenty of talent for a good first team and the question mark will be center and more so depth. I worry much more about our defensive line than this group.

You make a good point that I had not thought about before. There were multiple exchange problems through the course of the year between center and QB, and there were several instances of illegal snaps. The uncertainty at the center position can throw the timing off for the entire OL, making them a little slow off the snap, less bold, more uncertain and less effective. Getting that corrected would be a huge improvement.

 

[Root4GT]

Some of you guys kill me. A year ago none of us had a clue who Rutledge was. And even when he signed we had no clue how good he was or wasn’t. Yet, now he’s irreplaceable and woe is us? None of us know how good or bad any of these transfers or young guys are.

Our head coach, a former GT OLineman, has hand picked every lineman now on this team. We best as heck have replacements lined up. We gave a 5 star a huge hunk of GT cash to sign with us so his butt better see the field otherwise he’ll be at Miami or UGA in 2027. Our OLine needs to be and should be the strength of our team. If it’s not then our head coach should be on the hot seat by giving a stud RB a lot of money to be given the ball behind a bad line. I believe our OLine will be very good. And if they aren’t then Key will have to answer for why.

Come on man. Rutledge was a first team All Conference player in Conference USA.

So anyone who paid a lick of attention knew he was a very good lineman.

Same for Hosley coming in as the Ivy League Conference player of the Year last season and Rivers as a First Team Vonference USA player.

Production at high level matters. Potential is nice but production means proven. The proven guys who receiver honors turned out very well for GT. Frankly better than most guys who were highly rated H.S. players who were backups at P4 schools.

 

[Richland County]

Except for RB, the entire offense is a re-build, including the OL. Lost QBs #1 & #2, Lost most of the experienced WRs, experienced, TEs, Most of the OL snaps, the OC and multiple offensive position coaches = RE-BUILD.

We'll have no idea what we got until we start to play next Fall. Could be bad. Could be good.

Kinda feels like when Paul arrived. A lot of unknowns that first year. Turned into a pleasant surprise.

 

[LongforDodd]

Reading all of these assessments of the OL makes me curious what went on between Justice Haynes and GT during the negotiations. JH must have gotten a sweet deal.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

Reading all of these assessments of the OL makes me curious what went on between Justice Haynes and GT during the negotiations. JH must have gotten a sweet deal.

Part of the sweetness is coming home.

 

[LongforDodd]

Part of the sweetness is coming home.

good one!

 

[GT#1]

What about Ndukwe? Has anyone heard anything about him?

 

[vamosjackets]

Kinda feels like when Paul arrived. A lot of unknowns that first year. Turned into a pleasant surprise.

Except we don't have Paul.