Rutgers 2013 Season Preview: The Offensive Line

Last season, the offensive line transformed from being Rutgers’s biggest problem in the previous two seasons, into being one of the team’s greatest strengths. The line allowed only 11 sacks all season, which was the ninth fewest in the nation, and they did a pretty solid job run blocking as well. Last year’s line produced two first team all-conference performers in Kaleb Johnson and Antwan Lowery, and sent RJ Dill to the NFL. This season, the Scarlet Knights return four of five starters and five of the seven players who received significant playing time up front, but there were still a lot of changes among this solid group. Kyle Flood has shuffled the line throughout spring practice and fall camp, and it’s still a bit unclear of how this unit will shake out this year, even though the depth chart has been released.

The lone constant on the offensive line has been Betim Bujari at center. The junior was rock solid in the middle for Rutgers last season, setting up protections, making calls and making double team blocks and scraping to the second level. He was named to the preseason Rimington Award watch list, and he should be able to keep his role as the line’s rock and be one of the best centers in the Big East.

Kaleb Johnson performed very well at left tackle last season, and I believe he did not allow a single sack while protecting Gary Nova’s blindside a year ago. Although he performed well enough to stay at left tackle a year after performing well at right tackle, the coaching staff felt his best position is inside at guard, and he will open his junior season at left guard. Johnson is an athletic lineman who can also move people, so although I’m not exactly happy about this move, it should work out. He’s more than powerful enough of a run blocker to handle big defensive tackles, and he’s athletic enough to pull or scrape to the second level in on zone plays. He is Rutgers’ best lineman and one of their best players overall, so another all conference caliber performance is to be expected.

At right guard, incumbent Andre Civil hung on to his job over last year’s starting left guard Antwan Lowery and highly touted redshirt freshman Chris Mueller.  Civil is a bit undersized at guard, but he was okay last season in this spot since he is moves very well, but I’m not estatic in him starting. Lowery was fantastic last year, and he is massive and powerful and a more traditional guard. He was set back in camp by an ankle injury and that appears to have cost him the opportunity to compete for this spot. Mueller may be the most talented lineman Rutgers has, but I guess the coaching staff isn’t ready to have him start just yet. He offers the best blend of size, athleticism and power of any of Rutgers’ offensive lineman, and Kyle Flood says “he will play a lot of football for us” this year, despite being listed as a backup.

Taking over at left tackle is redshirt sophomore Keith Lumpkin. Lumpkin came to Rutgers from St. Peter’s Prep with his high school teammate Savon Huggins, and he was viewed as a high ceiling player. Listed at 6’8’’, he has tremendous length and his basketball background made him an outstanding athlete for someone of that size. It will be interesting to finally see how his technique and strength have improved –those were always the questions about him—because he is capable of being a special player.

Book ending the line at right tackle is Taj Alexander, who received a lot of playing time at right guard a year ago. He is a similar player as Andre Civil, as they are both converted defensive lineman who move very well, but are a bit undersized. He has held this position down without much competition throughout the offseason and training camp, so the coaching staff must have a lot of faith in him,

 The reserve guards are Marquise Wright and Derrick Nelson. Wright began his collegiate career on the defensive side of the ball, but he was always viewed as an offensive lineman long term. He isn't athletic enough to play on the defensive side of the ball at Rutgers, but he could be a very good guard. He is a very strong, physical player who has a low center of gravity and should be able to knock people around inside. Nelson is a physical player who plays with a mean streak, and he impressed during practices while redshirting a year ago. He looks to have a future role on the team, and he might be the backup center this year.

Rounding out the rest of the roster on the offensive line is JJ Denman, Ryan Brodie and Brian Ardiocono, who were part of the “fab-5” group of lineman brought in a year ago, true freshman Dorian Miller and veterans Dallas Hendrickson, Chris Fonti and Bryan Leoni.

Rutgers offensive line should be another one of the team’s strengths again this season. They have a very athletic group starting, led by Johnson who might be the very best offensive lineman in the conference, and they have two reserves in Lowery and Mueller who would both be starting at a lot of places. The future at this position should be very bright as well, with Mueller leading the “fab-5.” I’m not in love with a lot of the position changes and how the depth chart shook out with in this unit, but with Kyle Flood, Ron Prince, Damian Wroblewski, Norries Wilson, and Darnell Stapleton on the coaching staff, you have to trust that they made the right decisions. They know offensive lineman as well as anybody.