O Line rotation

[johnny2x2x]

Bollman brought this with him from Ohio State. In the past we've had to play kids because of injury, Bollman's method of heavily rotating the O line is rare in football. I know communication is key and developing cohesiveness is improtant, but I just never understood why the O line would play every snap against a front 7 that rotated fresh players all game. Jackson and Clark are each getting 25 snaps a game as backups and Conner Kruse gets 15-20, and not just situational snaps either, they get whole drives while a starter gets a blow. We've played 8 linemen extensively all year sometimes 9 if you count Dennis who is 6-7, 300 lbs at TE, but has played some tackle. We've also moved guys around within the game. Conklin plays left tackle 80% of his snaps, but Right Tackle when Clark comes in. Fou plays Right Tackle most of the time, but always gets some snaps at LT. Allen starts at center, but plays guard when Jackson comes in. Even Blake Treadwell gets a rest for a series or two.

The results? It's the best O line Dantonio has had at MSU. They seem to wear defenses down in the 4th quarter, and we've remained the healthiest we've been in a long time on the O line. It also means that the 3 O linemen we lose for 2014 will be replaced with guys who have played all year in 2013. Feel pretty confident with an O line of Conklin, Allen, Jackson, Kruse, and Clark next season. We'll rotate in guys like Keiler, McGowan, and Jones.

Rotating just makes sense for college to me. Especially given the turnover you'll have every year or two.

Of course the O line wouldn't have the depth if we hadn't found Jack Conklin as a walk on. Who would have thought we would get a 4 year starting LT at 6-6-1/2, 326 lbs out of a zero star guy with no offers? Conklin has been very good this year and if he continues to improve he'll be a high NFL draft pick in a few years.