Down in the trenches

Football intellectuals recognize that a good running game can only be as successful as the offensive line. Last year, the football team's offensive line was arguably the best unit on the team.

The line had all five starters start in every game and helped maintain the team's promising run game even amidst star junior running back Branden Oliver's absence with a leg injury. In 2012, the Bulls rushed for 176.7 yards per game in a season that featured a true freshman running back (Devin Campbell) for a large portion of the year.

However, this season's consistency will be a bit less concrete, as soon-to-be senior Jasen Carlson and juniors Trevor Sales and Andre Davis are the only three returning starters.

Carlson, the oldest of the group, was the recipient of the team's offensive line UBelieve Award last season.

"He was voted and recognized as the No. 1 offensive lineman from our coaching staff," said head coach Jeff Quinn. "We really felt, when you watch him play each and every snap, that he hit his assignments and played with great sound and fundamental technique. It's a great honor to see how well Jasen has done."

Carlson finished last season second on the team in total snaps played, only trailing the man to his left - the quarterback's blindside protector at left tackle, Davis.

Davis made the transition from defensive line to offensive line while he redshirted in his freshman season. Since then, he has started in all 24 games the Bulls have played the last two seasons.

"One of the games, not only did [Davis] have the most plays in the game, total, but he also made three tackles [as starting shield on the punt team] in a game which was a big win for us," Quinn said, referencing the Bulls' 29-19 win at Massachusetts Nov. 17. "It's really good to see a big fella like that be on the field and want to see his team win."

The line knows its best chance at helping the team win will likely come via a successful running game. Sales, the center, is an important vocal leader who loves nothing more than hearing Quinn call a running play right up the middle.

"The goal is to get as many yards as we can on the ground," Sales said. "When the play's called to run up the gut, that's awesome for us. That's our favorite play. We're gaining yards no matter what, so that's our philosophy up front."

The new Bulls to fill the empty positions (after Graham Whinery and Gokhan Ozkan graduated last year) will be juniors Dillon Guy and Jake Silas.

Guy played in 10 games last season and Silas played in five, giving the duo more experience than any other reserve lineman on the roster.

"They've worked hard and they've gotten playing time over the last two years, so they've gotten a little bit of a taste and now is their chance to be that full-time guy," Quinn said. "The test will come quickly when we have to go line up against Ohio State and Baylor and a lot of good competition. We're expecting big things out of them."

Carlson noted that losing the experience and the leadership of Whinery and Ozkan will be tough, but the three returners are ready to step up and assume leadership roles.

"It's nothing different for us," Carlson said. "We rotate a lot of guys in practice, so we're used to the guys we line up next to, so it really hasn't been that different. All three [veterans] do a pretty good job of stepping up and really taking control of the offensive line and making calls and everything. So it's more of a three-way leadership role, not just me."

Last week, in The Spectrum's wide receiver season preview, senior receiver Fred Lee said the goal for the offense this season is to be the best in the Mid-American Conference. The offensive line agrees.

"That's always a goal," Sales said. "You always want to be the best. That's the kind of people we breed around here."

The Bulls' line hopes to pound the ball up front as they try to conquer the MAC this season.

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