Strategy Session: Offseason OL Gains

Entering the 2011 offseason, there has been some discussion about strength/quality weight gain in the weight room.  Coach Bill Curry has mentioned publically that the S&C program lacked organization and post spring Doug Roberson of the AJC mentioned:

Then this past Monday, the school posts an Assistant Athletic Director - Speed, Strength & Conditioning position.

As a team, Curry said in the 12 to 18 months that most of the players have been in the program, he hasn’t seen enough improvement from time spent in the weight room. He said he is working to fix that area, but declined to offer any details.

So what is bugging Coach Curry?  Today, I'll start with our projected two deep along the starting Offensive Line.

  

Position	Name	2010 Weight	2011 Weight
LT	Clyde Yandell	287	287
	Ulrick John	280	290
LG	Joe Gilbert	280	290
	Michael Davis	280*	295
C	Ben Jacoby	270	285
	Tim Wynn	270*	270
RG	Harrison Clottey	310	310
	LaDeven Kirkland	340	340
RT	Grant King	285	285
	Gabriel Hampton	320	320

*Cade Yates served as back up in 2010 while Michael Davis was out after suffering a season ending ACL tear.

My Analysis: Our starting offensive line has gained a total of 25lbs (2.5lbs per man).  This is not good enough to improve upon a run game that struggled mightily in 2010.  I look for this new hire to push the OL for much bigger gains and hope to see a combined weight gain near 45-50lbs total by September.

A Big Thanks to my man Bud Elliot at Tomahawk Nation for the inspiration behind this series.