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Fonzie · 04-07-2006, 10:28 PM

The Offensive Line:

Code:

Player                  #   Pos  Exp  Cur/Fut/Yrs 
Odum, Steven            78  C    13   64/64/---  
Buckley, Luther         59  C    3    37/50/1 yr.
Poplawski, Ross         60  LG   3    56/62/3 yrs
Eaddy, Richard          61  RG   10   46/47/1 yr.
Connell, Kelvin         64  RG   4    52/60/2 yrs
Wickham, Cory           62  RG   2    12/24/---  
Franck, Chris           71  LT   14   47/49/1 yr.
Lyle, Stan              65  LT   4    36/44/---  
Puente, Rob             69  LT   2    22/43/1 yr.
Kaczmarek, Freddy       67  RT   11   37/45/---  
Pitman, Matthew         63  RT   6    71/71/2 yrs

Back when the CFL began in 2003, Steven Odum was a standout guard on an excellent O-line. That O-line was not to last, however, as two of our stars there suffered severe injuries and the rest succumbed to the ravages of age. Odum, however, made a successful transition to center after we let David Pless leave via FA last year, and he's done everything we've asked of him. Except, of course, for staying healthy. He was one of the reasons our O-line was in flux last year, as he missed six games due to injury. He's only played in all 16 games once in his career, and has only started 75 of 112 possible games. He's our O-line leader, but two players have conflicts with him. And he's a free agent. He most likely won't be back, unless his asking price is dirt cheap. His backup, Luther Buckley, hates his guts, but probably isn't good enough to take over as a full-time starter. We may have to bring in some fresh blood here.

Guard was another position of instability last year, as Ross Poplawski was out half of the season with injury. He was only occasionally effective when he did play, and was perhaps single-handedly responsible for our tragic loss to Santa Cruz last year thanks to his 0/0 KRB and 4 sack-allowed performance. We can only hope this promising player improves, as he's our no-doubt-about-it starter at LG. On the other side we have Kelvin Connell, who had something of a breakout year in 2009 (40/105 KRO, but 10 sacks). If he can do a better job of keeping Hogan upright he'll be an all-pro. Our backups at guard are Eaddy, who is talented enough to keep around as well as a mentor, and Cory Wickham, who was only brough in last year because Steven Odum liked him. If Odum is gone, Wickham will be too.

We were thankfully stable at tackle last year, as both starters played in all 16 games. Chris Franck is another old warrior from our inaugural year, and he has done well in making the transition from RT to LT. He's a mentor and will almost certainly be out starter again this year. Pitman is our O-line's indisputable best player and anchor. He was recognized as 2nd-team all-pro last year, and has never missed more than 2 games in a season. He's our starter. Our depth at tackle is reasonable, but Kaczmarek is a free agent and almost certainly won't be back. He was "Angry" when we signed him for depth mid-season, and stayed that way when he wasn't inserted as our starter. Adios, stupid. Lyle was also picked up mid-season and looks like a pretty good young player - if he keeps developing he may replace Franck as our starter in a year or two. He's a RFA, so we'll lock him up. Puente was an undrafted free agent who looks to also have considerable talent - we'll try to keep him active this year so that he can benefit from Franck's mentorship.

In sum, we're in the market for a starting center and perhaps some depth at guard. Not too bad.

04-07-2006, 10:28 PM	#173
Fonzie Pro Rookie Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Illinois	The Offensive Line: Code: Player # Pos Exp Cur/Fut/Yrs Odum, Steven 78 C 13 64/64/--- Buckley, Luther 59 C 3 37/50/1 yr. Poplawski, Ross 60 LG 3 56/62/3 yrs Eaddy, Richard 61 RG 10 46/47/1 yr. Connell, Kelvin 64 RG 4 52/60/2 yrs Wickham, Cory 62 RG 2 12/24/--- Franck, Chris 71 LT 14 47/49/1 yr. Lyle, Stan 65 LT 4 36/44/--- Puente, Rob 69 LT 2 22/43/1 yr. Kaczmarek, Freddy 67 RT 11 37/45/--- Pitman, Matthew 63 RT 6 71/71/2 yrs Back when the CFL began in 2003, Steven Odum was a standout guard on an excellent O-line. That O-line was not to last, however, as two of our stars there suffered severe injuries and the rest succumbed to the ravages of age. Odum, however, made a successful transition to center after we let David Pless leave via FA last year, and he's done everything we've asked of him. Except, of course, for staying healthy. He was one of the reasons our O-line was in flux last year, as he missed six games due to injury. He's only played in all 16 games once in his career, and has only started 75 of 112 possible games. He's our O-line leader, but two players have conflicts with him. And he's a free agent. He most likely won't be back, unless his asking price is dirt cheap. His backup, Luther Buckley, hates his guts, but probably isn't good enough to take over as a full-time starter. We may have to bring in some fresh blood here. Guard was another position of instability last year, as Ross Poplawski was out half of the season with injury. He was only occasionally effective when he did play, and was perhaps single-handedly responsible for our tragic loss to Santa Cruz last year thanks to his 0/0 KRB and 4 sack-allowed performance. We can only hope this promising player improves, as he's our no-doubt-about-it starter at LG. On the other side we have Kelvin Connell, who had something of a breakout year in 2009 (40/105 KRO, but 10 sacks). If he can do a better job of keeping Hogan upright he'll be an all-pro. Our backups at guard are Eaddy, who is talented enough to keep around as well as a mentor, and Cory Wickham, who was only brough in last year because Steven Odum liked him. If Odum is gone, Wickham will be too. We were thankfully stable at tackle last year, as both starters played in all 16 games. Chris Franck is another old warrior from our inaugural year, and he has done well in making the transition from RT to LT. He's a mentor and will almost certainly be out starter again this year. Pitman is our O-line's indisputable best player and anchor. He was recognized as 2nd-team all-pro last year, and has never missed more than 2 games in a season. He's our starter. Our depth at tackle is reasonable, but Kaczmarek is a free agent and almost certainly won't be back. He was "Angry" when we signed him for depth mid-season, and stayed that way when he wasn't inserted as our starter. Adios, stupid. Lyle was also picked up mid-season and looks like a pretty good young player - if he keeps developing he may replace Franck as our starter in a year or two. He's a RFA, so we'll lock him up. Puente was an undrafted free agent who looks to also have considerable talent - we'll try to keep him active this year so that he can benefit from Franck's mentorship. In sum, we're in the market for a starting center and perhaps some depth at guard. Not too bad.