I recently devoted a "Fight Card"to the left tackle position, but what about the rest of the o-line? Well, with four starters returning, I don't think there will be much of a roster battle for starting spots this summer. The closest competition would have been at center, but with Anthony Mihota finding his way to the Al Groh doghouse this Spring -- based on Mihota's inability to find some consistency with his shotgun snaps; shotgun formation being the primary staple of the GreggBrandonnohuddleshotgunspread offense -- it looks like all training camp competition has been extinguished before it could ever really begin. This is a good thing (the starting o-line can continue to practice together and gel as a unit) and a bad thing (the starting o-line won't feel much pressure from behind them on the roster, and could thus fall a bit complacent.) Anyway, it's time to take a look at the roster breakdown of the offensive line.
The Starters...
LT) Probably Landon Bradley. See the left tackle "Fight Card" for more details.
LG) Austin Pasztor (So.) -- Pasztor came from out of nowhere as a 17-year old freshman to claim a spot on the starting o-line, and he didn't fail to impress. He's big and athletic, and should be a four-year starter on UVA's o-line. Pasztor has a lot of ability as a one-on-one blocker, and if the staff can keep him in those types of situations he has a good amount of star potential.
C) Jack Shields (Jr.) -- As a converted tight end, Shields has a fair amount of athleticism for an interior lineman. He's a little on the small side and can be overpowered at times, but he's a heady guy who understands leverage. He's also improving his play recognition and line calls, which helps the entire line.
RG) B.J. Cabbell (Jr.) -- When he's at his best, Cabbell looks a lot like Elton Brown and Branden Albert as a pulling guard, getting around the edge and blocking with authority. The problem is that Cabbell is a streaky player who runs hot/cold throughout the course of games. If he can find some consistency this season, it would really help the offense, and especially the power running game. Fighting through a leg injury this Spring didn't help...
RT) Will Barker (Sr.) -- He's always had a lot of upside, a lot of unrealized potential. Now Barker heads into his final season as a Hoo still trying to complete his development into an all-around blocker. He oozes talent (some NFL scouts view him as a 3rd rounder in the 2010 draft), but lacks concentration and consistency. Can he step up in 2009 as the elder statesman on the o-line?
The Depth Chart...
OT) Lamar Milstead (So.) -- As mentioned in the left tackle "Fight Card," Milstead will likely be a primary backup at both tackle positions.
OT) Matt Mihalik & Aaron Van Kuiken (RS Fr.) -- This pair of tackles are entering their second year in the program, and are still developing. It's hard to say if either are ready for playing time in '09.
OT/OG) Isaac Cain (Jr.) -- He's an athletic battler who always finds a way to excel in practice and earn his spot on the gameday two-deep. He worked with the first team at right guard in Cabbell's absence this Spring.
OG) Billy Cuffee (So.) -- Cuffee is huge but doesn't move all that well, and might never be able to shake the "project" tag.
OG) Patrick Slebonick (Sr.) -- He's athletically challenged, and will probably never see much time on the o-line, but he has found a nice niche for himself as the "swinging gate" on the punt team.
OC) Anthony Mihota (So.) -- An aggressive, nasty blocker with quick feet and good athleticism, Mihota is the kind of guy for whom we need to find a role. He's probably a better player than Jack Shields, but until he improves his shotgun snaps, we'll never see him on the field with the starting o-line.
The Incoming Freshmen...
Don't forget that our 2009 class is LOADED with quality o-line recruits. I doubt any will see the field this year (unless Morgan Moses qualifies and/or Oday Aboushi beats out Landon Bradley at left tackle), but it's important to note that the future of our o-line appears very bright. These guys should redshirt and enter the mix in 2010.
Morgan Moses -- high 4-star, projects to right or left tackle, superstar potential
Oday Aboushi -- 4-star, projects to left tackle
Sean Cascarano -- 3-star, projects to tackle or guard
Luke Bowanko -- 3-star, projects to tackle
Hunter Steward -- 2-star, projects to any o-line position, was woefully underrated coming out of high school
Cody Wallace -- 2-star, projects to center
Wahooze-Style Fearless Prediction...
You've already heard my doom and gloom about Morgan Moses, so let me restore my karmic balance by offering you an optimistic take on the 2009 o-line. The Bradley / Pasztor / Shields / Cabbell / Barker offensive line is the most balanced group Al Groh has had in his nine seasons in Charlottesville. I'm not saying it's the most talented group, I'm not saying it's the best, but I am saying it is the most balanced -- there are no glaring holes on this line, no glaring weaknesses. And with a year of playing together already under their belts, this line will emerge as an absolute team strength toward the end of the 2009 season.
Position Grades:
LT -- B
LG -- A-
OC -- B-
RG -- B
RT -- B+
Overall Grade: B/B+
There are a few questions swirling around this o-line: Can Landon Bradley really replace Eugene Monroe? Will B.J. Cabbell and Will Barker iron out their inconsistencies on the right side? Can Jack Shields take the next step making line calls for an entirely new offense? Is Austin Pasztor really a star-in-the-making? At the end of the day, I have a lot of faith in this o-line, and I fully expect this group to gel into something much greater than the sum of its individual parts.
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