Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/114977
round of the NFL Draft, Jones was shifted from right guard to left tackle ��� where he won the Outland Trophy and another national title. His presence was needed more at the crucial position protecting the quarterback���s blind side. When three-year starter William Vlachos graduated at center (he was originally a guard) after the 2011 campaign, 6-6, 311-pound sophomore left tackle Cyrus Kouandijo was deemed ready to play and was classified as one of the ���five best��� offensive linemen on the team. Therefore, Jones shifted to center this time. In 2012, Alabama won a third national title in four seasons with Jones at his third different position, while Kouandijo thrived at left tackle. Players with the versatility of Jones are rare, but it speaks to the importance of finding a way to get your five best offensive linemen on the field at the same time, and not just have someone pigeonholed. Three In, Two To Go The 2013 Notre Dame offensive line has three of its five pieces returning, but with plenty of options still forthcoming. The starting tackle slots feature fifthyear senior captain Zack Martin and junior Christian Lombard, with fifthyear senior guard Chris Watt teaming with Martin a third straight year on the powerful left side. The vacancies are at center and right guard, where 2012 fifth-year seniors Braxston Cave and Mike Golic Jr. (also the No. 2 center) graduated. This is where the Rubik���s Cube along the offensive front enters into the conversation: ��� Offensive line coach Harry Hiestand indicated he prefers to not have two inexperienced players lining up right next to each other. In 2013, this could mean current sophomores Nick Martin or Matt Hegarty at center, with classmate Conor Hanratty lining up at right guard. But ��� ��� What if current freshman backup left tackle Ronnie Stanley is one of the five best linemen? Then, maybe Stanley can move to right tackle and shift Lombard to right guard ��� where he took some reps last spring ��� thereby putting an experienced figure in Lombard between both a newbie at center and Stanley at right tackle. ���You prefer to have a guy with experience next to a guy with less experience,��� Hiestand said. ��� What if Watt moved to center (like Jones did at Alabama) with Nick Martin and Hanratty then flanking him at the two guard spots, if they are indeed two of the five best linemen? The two young guards then also would have veteran tackles next to them (Zack Martin and Lombard) in addition to a fifthyear graybeard at center. Is it too late and disruptive at this point for Watt to switch? Or could he be like former Irish lineman Eric Olsen, a guard his first three seasons (2006-08) before starting at center in 2009 as a senior? There is a lot to be said for continuity, so breaking up the left side with Watt at guard and Zack Martin at tackle ��� the two have started 26 straight contests together, and Martin 39 overall ��� might appear ill advised. Even last year with the veteran Golic (who started the last four games at