Just imagine if O'Reilly hadn't gotten his waiver... we'd be in pretty bad shape. That early bye week is looking more like a blessing with all these injuries.
I am majorly worried. We're basically down to our 4th string center if we're playing O'Reilly. He's a guy that Sewak said just a few months ago still had a long way to go (before he was forced to move to C out of our desparation). Finch down, Burden down, Alford quit ... We're in a tight spot, a that's a major freakin' understatement. With a healthy Finch in there to go along with superstar Shaq Mason and senior leader Will Jackson, we're looking at an unstoppable force - smashing people on the dive, which then forces the defense's hand and makes the entire offense open up. A sweet season of the spread option show, hosted by Vad Lee.
But, Shaq Mason-superstar and Vad Lee-superstar won't matter if we've got a NT owning us or can't cut off the backside ILB or don't know who to block or can't pass block with pressure coming up the middle or can't convert a 4th and short on a QB sneak.
I am majorly worried. We're basically down to our 4th string center if we're playing O'Reilly. He's a guy that Sewak said just a few months ago still had a long way to go (before he was forced to move to C out of our desparation). Finch down, Burden down, Alford quit ... We're in a tight spot, a that's a major freakin' understatement. With a healthy Finch in there to go along with superstar Shaq Mason and senior leader Will Jackson, we're looking at an unstoppable force - smashing people on the dive, which then forces the defense's hand and makes the entire offense open up. A sweet season of the spread option show, hosted by Vad Lee.
But, Shaq Mason-superstar and Vad Lee-superstar won't matter if we've got a NT owning us or can't cut off the backside ILB or don't know who to block or can't pass block with pressure coming up the middle or can't convert a 4th and short on a QB sneak.
What's the ETA on Finch's return? Should have been back this week right? We still have 3 weeks before the Duke game so he should be back right?
Look folks, injuries are part of the game. If Finch is out it goes to Beno, or perhaps O'Reilly is he can improve a whole lot in the next 3 weeks. Most teams do not go through a season without injuries on the OL. Sure I would like to go through the 12 games with the best starting 22 not missing any games. But, not gonna happen.
We believe we have quality depth. We will find out. It is a TEAM you know.
Look folks, injuries are part of the game. If Finch is out it goes to Beno, or perhaps O'Reilly is he can improve a whole lot in the next 3 weeks. Most teams do not go through a season without injuries on the OL. Sure I would like to go through the 12 games with the best starting 22 not missing any games. But, not gonna happen.
We believe we have quality depth. We will find out. It is a TEAM you know.
His shirt is already gone, he's listed on the two deep behind Beno at LT. Beno will most likely move to center bumping Griffin up to first team. That's a bit scary, a true frosh starting at LT.Count me as a person worried, not just because Finch is the key to our Oline, but the domino affects this is going to have. I bet if Finch is gone for a long time, that means Griffin's shirt is pulled for depth.
That's really the biggest separator though between a GT and a factory. We can find some really good players, but we can't get them in the same quantities as the factories. Key players staying healthy has always been one of the biggest (often overlooked) factors affecting our success (or lack thereof). A season can change in the blink of an eye (see 2010 Josh Nesbitt, 2007 Tashard Choice, 2002 Tony Hollings). And, the hard part is it's out of anyone's control. It can define a coach's career (and a program) and he has no control over it whatsoever.Look folks, injuries are part of the game. If Finch is out it goes to Beno, or perhaps O'Reilly is he can improve a whole lot in the next 3 weeks. Most teams do not go through a season without injuries on the OL. Sure I would like to go through the 12 games with the best starting 22 not missing any games. But, not gonna happen.
We believe we have quality depth. We will find out. It is a TEAM you know.
Have heard that Chase Roberts may go before Griffin regardless of the depth chart in order to preserve the redshirt. This would make a lot of sense if it's really just to bide time in the first couple games until we get Bailey back.His shirt is already gone, he's listed on the two deep behind Beno at LT. Beno will most likely move to center bumping Griffin up to first team. That's a bit scary, a true frosh starting at LT.
I wonder how many of these injuries would be "suck it up and get out there" injuries if they happened in season?