Any thoughts on 2 deeps for the O line next year? Also, I know that Wattenberg has rightfully been criticized this year for his play at LG but I remember him looking good as a tackle when he filled in when Trey went down last year. I’m not an O Line expert but his biggest asset to me looks to be his athleticism and his ability to move his feet. Any thoughts on this guy maybe having a resurgent senior year at tackle?
O Line next year and Wattenberg
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Depending on the offense, I think a lot will have to be re-evaluated. Players are slower and make more mistakes when they are confused and that horrific offense we saw last year was doing nobody any favors.
I am hopeful, given everything @subk said in the round table pod, that changing up the offense will result and a significant uptick in OL play despite losing starters.
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It will be a learning year for the o-line. Going to be some tough games to endure. Bain needs to have a huge offseason. If Murano is ready, Mele could be a beast at guard paired with Kirland.
The youth offers tremendous upside but experience is crucial for the position group. Huff will need to coach his ass off. The 2019 o-line was a disappointment of epic proportions.
It is a position of concern for next year.
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Please Run Block well.
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Please god let M.J. Ale play, no more Watty
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This is probably my biggest area of concern for next year. I think we have the guys to step in though, we just need to see them prove it. Also it’s interesting to see Murao is listed @ OG on UW website.
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This is probably my biggest area of concern for next year. I think we have the guys to step in though, we just need to see them prove it. Also it’s interesting to see Murao is listed @ OG on UW website.
All of our centers under Pete started out as guards, so not too surprising.
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The talent is clearly there, but do they understand the schemes and can they patch together a group that communicates well together?
Huff is a great recruiter. We’re about to find out if he can coach.
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What I saw from Wattenberg at Tackle a couple years ago was not encouraging. I don’t think that’s the move they want to make. Wattenberg has been one of the Guards that has been practicing snapping the ball in practice the past two years with a possible move to Center in mind for him. That’s where I see him playing next season.
O-line projection:
2020:
LT: Matteo Mele (RS Soph)
LG: Henry Bainivalu (RS Junior)
OC: Luke Wattenberg (Senior)
RG: Jaxson Kirkland (RS Junior) Early entry NFL after season
RT: Victor Curne (RS Soph)2021:
LT: Troy Fautanu (RS Soph)
LG: Henry Bainivalu (RS Senior)
OC: Matteo Mele (RS Junior)
RG: Myles Murao (RS Freshman)
RT: Victor Curne (RS Junior) Early entry NFL after season2022:
LT: Troy Fautanu (RS Junior) Early entry NFL after season
LG: Nathaniel Kalepo (RS Junior) Early entry NFL after season.
OC: Matteo Mele (RS Senior)
RG: Myles Murao (RS Soph)
RT: Roger Rosengarten (RS Soph)2023:
LT: Roger Rosengarten (RS Junior)
LG: Geirean Hatchett (RS Junior)
OC: Myles Murao (RS Junior)
RG: Gaard Memmelaar (RS Junior)
RT: Samuel Peacock (RS Junior)I could easily be totally wrong about these projections. There are so many different combinations and positions guys can play as well as position battles that will take place. Right now I don’t have Julius Buelow projected as ever being a starter here. I need to see him really get his body into shape to be able to hold off Rosengarten and Peacock down the road at tackle. But perhaps he gets moved inside to Guard so who knows how that competition would play out. I think he could make me look stupid for doubting him because his upside is so high. Low floor, high ceiling kind of guy. I could see him being an all-conference starter and NFL draft pick or a transfer portal casualty. I have no idea. No disrespect to MJ Ale either. I think he could play a role as run blocking specialist in a heavy goal line package. But I just don’t see him having the agility necessary to pass block consistently enough to be a starter. Again, he could prove me wrong. We’ll see.
2021 will be interesting because I view those guys as being the top-5 lineman on the roster at that point, but in order to get them all on the field, Mele would have to go from starting LT to starting Center to make room for Fautanu as well as Myles Murao starting his career at RG instead of Center. Center is a super cerebral position so you typically only want upperclassmen being the starter there. Murao’s career path at UW could totally mirror Nick Harris’ going from RG his first couple years and then moving to Center later.
I’m rooting for Nate Kalepo so hard right now. We had a misunderstanding during his recruitment but I love the kid and he’s been through a lot and I hope he gets his bag as soon as possible. I see him as a starter at LG for one season in 2022 and then jumping to the NFL early, even if it’s as a mid-round draft pick. He deserves that money.
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Myles Murao starts day one at center.
Besides that I think the 2020 looks pretty accurate to what I would think
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Myles Murao starts day one at center.
Besides that I think the 2020 looks pretty accurate to what I would think
No way bro. He’s never even played Center before. Doesn’t even know how to snap yet and you think 9 months from now he’s going to be ready to start? It’s the most mentally demanding position on the O-line. You never want a true Freshman starting at Center. Or even an underclassmen.
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What I saw from Wattenberg at Tackle a couple years ago was not encouraging. I don’t think that’s the move they want to make. Wattenberg has been one of the Guards that has been practicing snapping the ball in practice the past two years with a possible move to Center in mind for him. That’s where I see him playing next season.
O-line projection:
2020:
LT: Matteo Mele (RS Soph)
LG: Henry Bainivalu (RS Junior)
OC: Luke Wattenberg (Senior)
RG: Jaxson Kirkland (RS Junior) Early entry NFL after season
RT: Victor Curne (RS Soph)2021:
LT: Troy Fautanu (RS Soph)
LG: Henry Bainivalu (RS Senior)
OC: Matteo Mele (RS Junior)
RG: Myles Murao (RS Freshman)
RT: Victor Curne (RS Junior) Early entry NFL after season2022:
LT: Troy Fautanu (RS Junior) Early entry NFL after season
LG: Nathaniel Kalepo (RS Junior) Early entry NFL after season.
OC: Matteo Mele (RS Senior)
RG: Myles Murao (RS Soph)
RT: Roger Rosengarten (RS Soph)2023:
LT: Roger Rosengarten (RS Junior)
LG: Geirean Hatchett (RS Junior)
OC: Myles Murao (RS Junior)
RG: Gaard Memmelaar (RS Junior)
RT: Samuel Peacock (RS Junior)I could easily be totally wrong about these projections. There are so many different combinations and positions guys can play as well as position battles that will take place. Right now I don’t have Julius Buelow projected as ever being a starter here. I need to see him really get his body into shape to be able to hold off Rosengarten and Peacock down the road at tackle. But perhaps he gets moved inside to Guard so who knows how that competition would play out. I think he could make me look stupid for doubting him because his upside is so high. Low floor, high ceiling kind of guy. I could see him being an all-conference starter and NFL draft pick or a transfer portal casualty. I have no idea. No disrespect to MJ Ale either. I think he could play a role as run blocking specialist in a heavy goal line package. But I just don’t see him having the agility necessary to pass block consistently enough to be a starter. Again, he could prove me wrong. We’ll see.
2021 will be interesting because I view those guys as being the top-5 lineman on the roster at that point, but in order to get them all on the field, Mele would have to go from starting LT to starting Center to make room for Fautanu as well as Myles Murao starting his career at RG instead of Center. Center is a super cerebral position so you typically only want upperclassmen being the starter there. Murao’s career path at UW could totally mirror Nick Harris’ going from RG his first couple years and then moving to Center later.
I’m rooting for Nate Kalepo so hard right now. We had a misunderstanding during his recruitment but I love the kid and he’s been through a lot and I hope he gets his bag as soon as possible. I see him as a starter at LG for one season in 2022 and then jumping to the NFL early, even if it’s as a mid-round draft pick. He deserves that money.
The only thing I’d change here is all the early entry nfl guys. It’s super rare to leave early as an offensive lineman. I’d project most if not all to stay their full 5 years.
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What I saw from Wattenberg at Tackle a couple years ago was not encouraging. I don’t think that’s the move they want to make. Wattenberg has been one of the Guards that has been practicing snapping the ball in practice the past two years with a possible move to Center in mind for him. That’s where I see him playing next season.
O-line projection:
2020:
LT: Matteo Mele (RS Soph)
LG: Henry Bainivalu (RS Junior)
OC: Luke Wattenberg (Senior)
RG: Jaxson Kirkland (RS Junior) Early entry NFL after season
RT: Victor Curne (RS Soph)2021:
LT: Troy Fautanu (RS Soph)
LG: Henry Bainivalu (RS Senior)
OC: Matteo Mele (RS Junior)
RG: Myles Murao (RS Freshman)
RT: Victor Curne (RS Junior) Early entry NFL after season2022:
LT: Troy Fautanu (RS Junior) Early entry NFL after season
LG: Nathaniel Kalepo (RS Junior) Early entry NFL after season.
OC: Matteo Mele (RS Senior)
RG: Myles Murao (RS Soph)
RT: Roger Rosengarten (RS Soph)2023:
LT: Roger Rosengarten (RS Junior)
LG: Geirean Hatchett (RS Junior)
OC: Myles Murao (RS Junior)
RG: Gaard Memmelaar (RS Junior)
RT: Samuel Peacock (RS Junior)I could easily be totally wrong about these projections. There are so many different combinations and positions guys can play as well as position battles that will take place. Right now I don’t have Julius Buelow projected as ever being a starter here. I need to see him really get his body into shape to be able to hold off Rosengarten and Peacock down the road at tackle. But perhaps he gets moved inside to Guard so who knows how that competition would play out. I think he could make me look stupid for doubting him because his upside is so high. Low floor, high ceiling kind of guy. I could see him being an all-conference starter and NFL draft pick or a transfer portal casualty. I have no idea. No disrespect to MJ Ale either. I think he could play a role as run blocking specialist in a heavy goal line package. But I just don’t see him having the agility necessary to pass block consistently enough to be a starter. Again, he could prove me wrong. We’ll see.
2021 will be interesting because I view those guys as being the top-5 lineman on the roster at that point, but in order to get them all on the field, Mele would have to go from starting LT to starting Center to make room for Fautanu as well as Myles Murao starting his career at RG instead of Center. Center is a super cerebral position so you typically only want upperclassmen being the starter there. Murao’s career path at UW could totally mirror Nick Harris’ going from RG his first couple years and then moving to Center later.
I’m rooting for Nate Kalepo so hard right now. We had a misunderstanding during his recruitment but I love the kid and he’s been through a lot and I hope he gets his bag as soon as possible. I see him as a starter at LG for one season in 2022 and then jumping to the NFL early, even if it’s as a mid-round draft pick. He deserves that money.
The only thing I’d change here is all the early entry nfl guys. It’s super rare to leave early as an offensive lineman. I’d project most if not all to stay their full 5 years.
It’s going to become less rare at UW because the O-line talent we have. Kirkland wanted to leave after his RS Soph season and was talked out of it. He’s for sure gone after next season. Kalepo is even more motivated to make it to the NFL as soon as possible for obvious reasons. He’ll likely be gone at the first opportunity. I have Curne and Fautanu being two-year starters and 1st-team All-Conference both seasons. No reason for them to stay their RS Senior years after that. That’s what happens when you recruit elite O-line talent. Trey would have been gone early too had he not gotten injured.
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Myles Murao starts day one at center.
Besides that I think the 2020 looks pretty accurate to what I would think
I think it’s going to be hard to keep Murao off the field, he’s been impressive everywhere he goes.
Here’s how The Athletic sees the starting 5
Starters: LT Henry Bainivalu, LG Luke Wattenberg, C Matteo Mele, RG Jaxson Kirkland, RT Victor Curne
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Myles Murao starts day one at center.
Besides that I think the 2020 looks pretty accurate to what I would think
I think it’s going to be hard to keep Murao off the field, he’s been impressive everywhere he goes.
Here’s how The Athletic sees the starting 5
Starters: LT Henry Bainivalu, LG Luke Wattenberg, C Matteo Mele, RG Jaxson Kirkland, RT Victor Curne
That is a lot of talent on the field. I would rather see Mele at LT and Bain at LG, but I don’t know if anyone else will be ready to play center.
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Myles Murao starts day one at center.
Besides that I think the 2020 looks pretty accurate to what I would think
I think it’s going to be hard to keep Murao off the field, he’s been impressive everywhere he goes.
Here’s how The Athletic sees the starting 5
Starters: LT Henry Bainivalu, LG Luke Wattenberg, C Matteo Mele, RG Jaxson Kirkland, RT Victor Curne
I’d expect nothing less from the lazy media who don’t pay attention like I do.I recommend watching the 2019 Spring Preview if you want to see why Bainivalu isn’t a Tackle anymore for UW. He just doesn’t have the feet for it and gets caught with his feet “stuck in the mud” as they say and bending at the waist when he tries to punch. I don’t know why people think he’s going to play Tackle. Coach Huff tried him out at Tackle for as long as he could and it just didn’t work out so now he’s a Guard only and a mauler inside. He won’t even be the back up left or right tackle in case one of the starters gets hurt. Curne, Mele, and Fautanu are the top three tackles.
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I think the days of a true Freshman offensive lineman starting at UW are over for a while unless the kid is as good and physically ready to play as Penei Sewell was as a true Freshman. That’s a good thing. It means we have good O-line depth. Otherwise, you’re setting a kid up for failure and to have an injury riddled college career. Let Murao get a year in the weight room and more separation from his broken ankle in high school before putting him on the field. There’s a difference between him dominating high school kids and dominating guys like Levi Onwuzurike who can bench press 400 pounds for reps. I think that redshirt year is so important for offensive lineman. Kaleb McGary redshirted and then was a 4 year starter and never missed a game. Trey Adams started as a true Freshman and look what happened. Redshirt ALL lineman IMO.
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I think the days of a true Freshman offensive lineman starting at UW are over for a while unless the kid is as good and physically ready to play as Penei Sewell was as a true Freshman. That’s a good thing. It means we have good O-line depth. Otherwise, you’re setting a kid up for failure and to have an injury riddled college career. Let Murao get a year in the weight room and more separation from his broken ankle in high school before putting him on the field. There’s a difference between him dominating high school kids and dominating guys like Levi Onwuzurike who can bench press 400 pounds for reps. I think that redshirt year is so important for offensive lineman. Kaleb McGary redshirted and then was a 4 year starter and never missed a game. Trey Adams started as a true Freshman and look what happened. Redshirt ALL lineman IMO.
I think you are spot on. My hope is they can get Murao on the field a couple times in mop-up duty at the end of the year so he can keep his redshirt but have a great chance to play the next season.
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I feel like Wattenberg is a given with his experience level. I also think sliding him to C makes sense on a few levels, primarily giving Murao a redshirt year and then a wide open center spot the next year. So I think the OL looks something like this:
LT – Mele
LG – Curne
OC – Wattenberg
RG – Kirkland
RT – FautanuBainivalu plays the versatile 6th man role with Ale strictly an OG backup.
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I feel like Wattenberg is a given with his experience level. I also think sliding him to C makes sense on a few levels, primarily giving Murao a redshirt year and then a wide open center spot the next year. So I think the OL looks something like this:
LT – Mele
LG – Curne
OC – Wattenberg
RG – Kirkland
RT – FautanuBainivalu plays the versatile 6th man role with Ale strictly an OG backup.
You think Fautanu is ready? I don’t disagree, just asking.
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I feel like Wattenberg is a given with his experience level. I also think sliding him to C makes sense on a few levels, primarily giving Murao a redshirt year and then a wide open center spot the next year. So I think the OL looks something like this:
LT – Mele
LG – Curne
OC – Wattenberg
RG – Kirkland
RT – FautanuBainivalu plays the versatile 6th man role with Ale strictly an OG backup.
You think Fautanu is ready? I don’t disagree, just asking.
No idea but I sure hope so. I like Curne a lot more inside than outside. We need some maulers at OG and Curne could be one. Also, I think Fautanu is probably the most talented guy in the OL corps. All this assumes he’s healthy – I have no idea what his status is coming off last year’s injury.
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