UTEopia
03-04-2013, 06:59 PM
I think we all know that for the offense to improve we will need to be better along the offensive line. All of the players who will play next year will be in camp for spring ball, so we will likely have a pretty good idea of where we stand at the conclusion of spring ball. The key to the OL is to identify the best 5 players and then hope that there are 2 or 3 additional players who can contribute if injury or inconsistent play requires. Here is how I think the top 8 will shake out after spring ball as well as a short description of each player. All heights and weights taken from 2012 online roster.
1. Poutasi: will start at LT
2. Jones: can start at either guard or center and fill in at tackle if needed
3. Salt: might be 1 or 2 but since we haven't seen him play it is tough to put him ahead of the other guys.
4. Aiono: has improved and can play center, guard or tackle.
5. Albers: has the size and build to play tackle and the Utes need him to come in and establish himself.
6. JT: has the physical ability to play if he improves his technique and learns the offense.
7. Friel: Could move up to 4 if he has shaken off the mission rust.
8. Too tough for me to call as very little has been reported about the improvement of the other players.
Latu Heimuli Sr 6'3" 315: Heimuli came to Utah as a highly touted DL and was expected to be a mainstay throughout his career. A recurring foot injury has limited his play and ultimately contributed to him moving from DL to OL. He has started several games over the past few years but each year ended the same, with Heimuli reinjuring his foot and being forced to the sidelines. Some reports have Latu moving to the DL for his senior season and it is doubtful even if he removes on OL that he would start or see significant time. Hopefully the move to DL will allow him to play 10-12 plays per game and stay healthy throughout the year.
Vyncent Jones Sr 6'3" 300: Jones has started several games each of the past two seasons and will likely be a starter this coming year. Whether he will be at center, guard or even tackle is still up in the air. That will be determined by which of the other potential starters steps up and establishes himself.
Percy (BOT) Taumoelau Sr 6'4" 305: Bot began 2012 as starter but was replaced by RS So Jeremiah Poutasi several games into the season. Bot has some talent, but does not appear to have the athleticism to play tackle in the PAC 12. He may get a look at guard which is more suited to his talent and could challenge for playing time at that position.
Jeremiah Tofaeono Sr 6'2" 320: Like Bot, JT began the 2012 season as a starter. Inconsistent play and injuries put him on the bench. JT will get another chance to claim a starting position but my guess is that we have seen his ceiling and that will not get it done as a PAC 12 starter.
Carlos Lozano RS Jr 6'6" 3??: Lozano arrived from Juco last summer terribly overweight and although he has worked hard to shed some pounds, indications are that he is still too heavy to play effectively at tackle. Although he will certainly get a look at tackle, he is more likely to play guard then tackle.
Marc Pouvave RS Jr 6'4" 336: Like Lozano, Pouvave arrived last summer and many anticipated that he would take one of the starting tackle positions. An early camp injury (ruptured achilles) put Pouvave out for the season and he will get a chance this spring. Indications are that Pouvave still has a ways to go physically and mentally in order to compete at a BCS level. We should know whether he can contribute after spring ball.
Junior Salt RS Jr 6'2"330: Salt was slated to play DT but an early season injury and inconsistent play on the OL resulted in his moving from DT to OL. Reports are that he has done a great job on the OL and that it is anticipated that he will be one of the starting guards when all is said and done.
Andrew Albers Jr 6'7" 310: Albers started his career at Utah as a walk-on early enrollee. After spring ball he decided he no longer wanted to play football and returned home to California. After two years of JUCO football, Albers joined the team as a scholarship player in December. Albers has prototypical OT size and will likely get the first shot to claim the OT spot opposite Jeremiah Poutasi.
Siaosi Aiono RS So 6'2" 305: Aiono saw limited playing time in 2012, but indications are that he really improved over the course of the season. Although Aiono is short for an OT, he has long arms and could get a look at OT, guard and center. Aiono will likely be one of the top 7 OL at the end of spring ball and his versatility (like Vyncent Jones) makes him a valuable player.
Kala Friel RS So 6'4" 305: Kala returned from an LDS mission last summer and made some early waves to snag some playing time. When Jeremiah Poutasi stepped up, Friel ended up not playing much. Before his mission, coaches saw enough in Kala to award him a scholarship believe with a year under his belt we will see Kala challenge for the OT position.
Daniel Nielson RS So 6'6" 320: Saw limited duty as a redshirt freshman after being given the opportunity to grab the starting job in spring 2012. From what I have seen I do not think Daniel has the athletic ability to play at Utah but he is a good kid and works hard.
Jeremiah Poutasi RS So 6'5" 342: Highly touted out of high school Poutasi came into camp last summer and showed that his high recruiting service ranking was well deserved. My guess is that Poutasi will get a lot of work at LT this spring to see if he can make the transition from RT to LT.
Derek Tuimauga RS So 6'3" 340: Tuimauga redshirted in 2008 and played sparingly in 2009 before leaving on an LDS mission. Tuimauga is a prototypical road grader guard and will likely compete for time on the interior OL. Tuimouga returned in late 2012 and should be in decent shape when spring rolls around.
Hiva Lutui RS Fr 6'2" 297: Lutui came highly touted to Utah from Texas HS a year ago. Lutui will play center and will have a pretty high learning curve with the OL calls. If he can establish himself as the starter, Jones will be free to move to guard.
J J Dielman RS Fr 6'4" 243: Dielman is a tough kid who has some ability but still needs to add size. He will get a chance at tackle and see how he performs. I don't think he will break into the top 8 OL this year, but I think he has the ability to be there down the line.
Salesi Uhatafe Fr 6'5" 295: Salesi will not arrive until summer and unless the players here this spring disappoint and Salesi impresses it is likely that he will redshirt.
1. Poutasi: will start at LT
2. Jones: can start at either guard or center and fill in at tackle if needed
3. Salt: might be 1 or 2 but since we haven't seen him play it is tough to put him ahead of the other guys.
4. Aiono: has improved and can play center, guard or tackle.
5. Albers: has the size and build to play tackle and the Utes need him to come in and establish himself.
6. JT: has the physical ability to play if he improves his technique and learns the offense.
7. Friel: Could move up to 4 if he has shaken off the mission rust.
8. Too tough for me to call as very little has been reported about the improvement of the other players.
Latu Heimuli Sr 6'3" 315: Heimuli came to Utah as a highly touted DL and was expected to be a mainstay throughout his career. A recurring foot injury has limited his play and ultimately contributed to him moving from DL to OL. He has started several games over the past few years but each year ended the same, with Heimuli reinjuring his foot and being forced to the sidelines. Some reports have Latu moving to the DL for his senior season and it is doubtful even if he removes on OL that he would start or see significant time. Hopefully the move to DL will allow him to play 10-12 plays per game and stay healthy throughout the year.
Vyncent Jones Sr 6'3" 300: Jones has started several games each of the past two seasons and will likely be a starter this coming year. Whether he will be at center, guard or even tackle is still up in the air. That will be determined by which of the other potential starters steps up and establishes himself.
Percy (BOT) Taumoelau Sr 6'4" 305: Bot began 2012 as starter but was replaced by RS So Jeremiah Poutasi several games into the season. Bot has some talent, but does not appear to have the athleticism to play tackle in the PAC 12. He may get a look at guard which is more suited to his talent and could challenge for playing time at that position.
Jeremiah Tofaeono Sr 6'2" 320: Like Bot, JT began the 2012 season as a starter. Inconsistent play and injuries put him on the bench. JT will get another chance to claim a starting position but my guess is that we have seen his ceiling and that will not get it done as a PAC 12 starter.
Carlos Lozano RS Jr 6'6" 3??: Lozano arrived from Juco last summer terribly overweight and although he has worked hard to shed some pounds, indications are that he is still too heavy to play effectively at tackle. Although he will certainly get a look at tackle, he is more likely to play guard then tackle.
Marc Pouvave RS Jr 6'4" 336: Like Lozano, Pouvave arrived last summer and many anticipated that he would take one of the starting tackle positions. An early camp injury (ruptured achilles) put Pouvave out for the season and he will get a chance this spring. Indications are that Pouvave still has a ways to go physically and mentally in order to compete at a BCS level. We should know whether he can contribute after spring ball.
Junior Salt RS Jr 6'2"330: Salt was slated to play DT but an early season injury and inconsistent play on the OL resulted in his moving from DT to OL. Reports are that he has done a great job on the OL and that it is anticipated that he will be one of the starting guards when all is said and done.
Andrew Albers Jr 6'7" 310: Albers started his career at Utah as a walk-on early enrollee. After spring ball he decided he no longer wanted to play football and returned home to California. After two years of JUCO football, Albers joined the team as a scholarship player in December. Albers has prototypical OT size and will likely get the first shot to claim the OT spot opposite Jeremiah Poutasi.
Siaosi Aiono RS So 6'2" 305: Aiono saw limited playing time in 2012, but indications are that he really improved over the course of the season. Although Aiono is short for an OT, he has long arms and could get a look at OT, guard and center. Aiono will likely be one of the top 7 OL at the end of spring ball and his versatility (like Vyncent Jones) makes him a valuable player.
Kala Friel RS So 6'4" 305: Kala returned from an LDS mission last summer and made some early waves to snag some playing time. When Jeremiah Poutasi stepped up, Friel ended up not playing much. Before his mission, coaches saw enough in Kala to award him a scholarship believe with a year under his belt we will see Kala challenge for the OT position.
Daniel Nielson RS So 6'6" 320: Saw limited duty as a redshirt freshman after being given the opportunity to grab the starting job in spring 2012. From what I have seen I do not think Daniel has the athletic ability to play at Utah but he is a good kid and works hard.
Jeremiah Poutasi RS So 6'5" 342: Highly touted out of high school Poutasi came into camp last summer and showed that his high recruiting service ranking was well deserved. My guess is that Poutasi will get a lot of work at LT this spring to see if he can make the transition from RT to LT.
Derek Tuimauga RS So 6'3" 340: Tuimauga redshirted in 2008 and played sparingly in 2009 before leaving on an LDS mission. Tuimauga is a prototypical road grader guard and will likely compete for time on the interior OL. Tuimouga returned in late 2012 and should be in decent shape when spring rolls around.
Hiva Lutui RS Fr 6'2" 297: Lutui came highly touted to Utah from Texas HS a year ago. Lutui will play center and will have a pretty high learning curve with the OL calls. If he can establish himself as the starter, Jones will be free to move to guard.
J J Dielman RS Fr 6'4" 243: Dielman is a tough kid who has some ability but still needs to add size. He will get a chance at tackle and see how he performs. I don't think he will break into the top 8 OL this year, but I think he has the ability to be there down the line.
Salesi Uhatafe Fr 6'5" 295: Salesi will not arrive until summer and unless the players here this spring disappoint and Salesi impresses it is likely that he will redshirt.