It depends on how you spin it, but the offensive line can be viewed as solid as it has ever been under head coach Dabo Swinney or you can say it has some holes to fill.
Either way is correct.
Clemson is coming off its best season on the offensive line in more than 10 years. Last year, the Tigers averaged nearly five yards per carry on the ground, 223 rushing yards per game and gave up just 18 sacks.
The Tigers return three starters in All-ACC center Jay Guillermo, All-ACC right guard Tyrone Crowder and All-ACC left tackle Mitch Hyatt. That’s obviously very good news for Clemson. But the Tigers also have to fill in some holes left open by two graduated seniors – Eric Mac Lain at left guard and Joe Gore at right tackle.
Though both were tremendous leaders, Mac Lain’s void might be harder to replace – both on and off the field, which leads us to question one.
Who will replace Mac Lain as the leader of the unit?
Mac Lain has been the vocal and flamboyant leader of the “Beard Gang” the last two years. Even when he was a backup, he still got the respect of his teammates. Mac Lain’s personality and character played a big role in the Tigers’ success up front. He held himself and his teammates accountable for everything they did. He was not afraid to get in someone’s face and let them know they needed to step up. He also was not afraid to take on the challenge of playing a big-time player from another team.
The guy most likely to succeed Mac Lain on this front is center Jay Guillermo. Like Mac Lain, he is colorful with the media, he is honest with his teammates and he does not back down from a challenge.
Who will start at left guard?
Replacing Mac Lain’s leadership might be hard, but finding his replacement might be a little easier. Taylor Hearn and Maverick Morris seem to be the two likely candidates.
Morris played in 15 games, while recording 430 snaps. He started three games at right guard when Crowder was injured.
Hearn played in all but one game last season, playing mostly as a reserve at left guard to Eric Mac Lain. In three of those games he played on special teams, only. The 6-foot-4, 325-pound guard played 170 snaps at guard overall, including a season-high 43 at Miami.
Justin Falcinelli, who will also backup Guillermo at center, is also someone who can help at the guard positions, along with redshirt freshman Noah Green and freshman enrollee Sean Pollard.
Who will backup Jake Fruhmorgen at right tackle?
Fruhmorgen played in 12 games last year and started one, while registering 262 snaps as Gore’s backup at right tackle. That was pretty good experience for a true freshman, and that experience should go a long way in helping the Tigers keep some continuity up front.
When push came to shove last year against Louisville, Morris was the first guy in at left tackle so there is at least reason to believe he could be crossed trained at tackle again this year as well as Hearn who was praised a lot at tackle by his coaches during fall camp.
Does Cannon Smith move from tight end to tackle?
Clemson has plenty of depth at center and plenty of depth at the guard spots, but with such little depth at the tackle positions do the coaches contemplate moving a guy like Cannon Smith from tight end to tackle? It would not be the first time they moved a tight end to the offensive line – see Eric Mac Lain’s story for a reference.
The Tigers are loaded with plenty of talent at tight end, especially with Jordan Leggett coming back for his senior year. The also just signed another, J.C. Chalk, earlier this month.
At 6-foot-5, 260-pounds, it wouldn’t take Smith too long to get up to the size he needs to be at to play tackle. Hyatt, who is also 6-foot-5, weighs 295 pounds.
Also, like Mac Lain, this might be the best way for Smith to see more playing time. Last year, Milan Richard and Garrett Williams were in front of him on the depth chart and that is not likely to change this coming season.
If you haven’t already order your copy today of Guts & Glory – Tales of Clemson’s Historic 2015 Football Season to help you celebrate and remember this special season.
