'Dogs see line as an offensive weapon

Group goes mum, but experience may tell tale.

Published online on Monday, Aug. 20, 2007

Offensive line coach Derek Frazier wants a red wave on the field this season at Fresno State.

Not the frantic Bulldogs faithful, but a swell of offensive linemen quickly rumbling down field as one unit to make blocks.

"You want to see guys that take on their guy, finish their guy and move on to another," Frazier said. "Extra effort, that's what you want to see."

Effort is the quality the coaches are raving about with this group, so Frazier might get what he asks.

Though the media may not.

The offensive line is declining interviews, saying they want to remain anonymous and intact as a group. Staying together is a possibility, anonymity may not be.

The entire group returns, with all five first-stringers having started at one point last season -- which is expected to make it a strength for the team.

The leader of the line is center Ryan Wendell, who has started 35 consecutive games and, according to coaches, has adapted well from his guard position of a season ago. Wendell took over for Kyle Young when the highly touted senior was suspended from the team for poor academics.

"I feel very comfortable as far as [Wendell] being able to redirect protection versus whatever look we get and getting us into the right run-game checks," offensive coordinator Jim McElwain said. "If you can do that, you're ahead of the game. You're not wasting valuable seconds on the clock trying to make checks from the quarterback spot."

Left tackle Bobby Lepori started eight games last season before injuring his knee.

Left guard Cole Popovich started a total of seven games last season but was moved to right guard by season's end.

Adam McDowell was originally a defensive end, but started seven games last season at right guard. He's been hampered by injury this fall and has split time with redshirt freshman Andrew Jackson, but Hill said McDowell should be ready for practice today.

Right tackle Kenny Avon also made the move from the defensive line last season and started the last four games at left tackle.

Coach Pat Hill said the line struggled with certain protections as the lineup was juggled last season. The offseason has seasoned them a bit though.

"We're a lot more sophisticated now in that we can audible at the line of scrimmage," Hill said. "If the quarterback sees the safety down and sees the blitz coming, we can make adjustments where we couldn't do that much last year."

The team has about 12 different protections and success will be found on the line if McElwain and Hill can flip the playbook from its first page to its last and feel confident that the offensive line can accomplish its task, whether it be a bread-and-butter power run by tailback Lonyae Miller or a play-action pass that quarterback Tom Brandstater needs more time to execute.

Frazier said the line won't judge its success on whether it has another 1,000 yard rusher, but whether the team wins games. He said the line wants the game on their broad shoulders and backs each week.