Perhaps the most overlooked question mark heading into fall camp is the offensive line. The Beavers lose right guard Roy Schuening (50 career starts) and center Kyle DeVan (three year starter). But three starters return: Andy Levitre, Jeremy Perry, and Adam Speer. Perry missed most of last season with injuries, and Tavita Thompson was deemed ineligible after the Cal game. He'll be eligible November 1 when the Beavers host Arizona State, but that means he'll have to miss the first seven games.
Marcus Henderson will take over for the departed Kyle DeVan at center, and there's still a big question mark at right tackle. That's where Tavita Thompson should be playing, but he'll be gone the first half of the season. Redshirt freshman Mike Remmers out of Portland's Jesuit High is atop the depth chart currently, but we'll see what happens once fall camp starts.
So, let's make a table.
LT
Andy Levitre (Sr. 6-3 317)
Wilder McAndrews (rFr. 6-4 290)
LG
Jeremy Perry (Sr. 6-2 338)
Brent McNeil (So. 6-3 325!)
C
Marcus Henderson (Sr. 6-5 286)
Ryan Pohl (So. 6-3 285)
RG
Adam Speer (Sr. 6-3 286)
Greg Peatt (Jr. 6-3 296)
RT
Mike Remmers (rFr. 6-4 286)
Tavita Thompson (Sr. 6-6 308) (Elig. Nov. 1)
At least for me, concerns lie at center, right tackle, and left guard. If Jeremy Perry stays healthy, there's no concern at left guard. But we've never seen Marcus Henderson of Mike Remmers play, and like we saw last year, things can get ugly if you have weaknesses in your offensive line. Last year the solution was shifting players to different positions, but hopefully we don't have to do that again this year.
We'll revisit this unit when our "Depthchartology" series gets there (I'll explain that later), but for now, there it is.
Your thoughts welcome.
GO BEAVERS!
--JB--