There hasn’t been a talking point more around Notre Dame football recently than the odd situation happening on the offensive line. It all began with the injury to starting left tackle Charles Jagusah earlier this month, which raised the question for how the Irish would fill that massive void. We knew that there was a fierce battle taking place at left guard, but now the whole formation of the left side was in question.
With less than a week until Notre Dame kicks off the season at Kyle Field against the Texas A&M Aggies, it appears that we have been getting more clarity for what the offensive line could be on Saturday. There have been recent reports that freshman Anthonie Knapp will indeed start at left tackle, while he could be joined by redshirt freshman Sam Pendleton next to him at left guard.
While there are some positives to this move, namely offensive line coach Joe Rudolph’s willingness to let younger players compete, this is a move that does feel to have some unnecessary risk. There is a lot that could go wrong here, with some unsettling support.
Starting Knapp: Good or bad idea?
As I illustrated before, I am all in on Knapp getting the start against the Aggies. No, starting a true freshman against a talented defensive line in a hostile environment isn’t ideal, but neither is starting an offensive tackle you don’t believe in. Tosh Baker had his chance, and from the sounds of it, Knapp is just a better player right now.
He’s a lighter-built offensive tackle right now at 291 pounds, but Knapp makes up for it with outstanding strength. The Georgia native has garnered a reputation for his weight room strength while at Roswell, and during his brief time in South Bend. Add that to his reported 34 inch arms, advanced technique and overall athleticism, and you do have a player who is talented enough to play early on if the need is there.
There also is something to be said about baptism by fire for younger players. For some, being brought along slowly is the best process. For others, getting thrown in the deep end is a chance to learn on the fly. From there, it’s all about taking to the coaching and growing. Facing off against the likes of Nic Scourton, Shemar Stewart and Shemar Turner is sure to make an offensive lineman grow quickly.
With the new 12-team playoff format, there is a bigger margin for error than in the past. If you’re Notre Dame, you can afford to lose a game and still be able to get into the dance. In most cases, you can probably make the field even with two losses. While losing is never the ideal scenario, with that thought in mind, taking some personnel changes early in the season isn’t a terrible idea.
Support around him
With everything considered, playing Knapp makes a lot of sense. But the decision at left guard seems a bit more odd for several seasons. It has nothing to do with Pendleton, who is a player that brings a lot of good to the table. If he’s the best option on the table, then that’s great, in a vacuum.
The problem is that when you are talking about starting a true freshman at left tackle, especially one in an away environment, having experience around him is very much preferred. Whether it’s Pat Coogan or Rocco Spindler, either would have been able to provide that for this debut.
If Pendleton is the best option for the long term, then there’s an opportunity to play him in the second game of the season against Northern Illinois, which begins a three-game stretch of the Huskies, Purdue and Miami (OH). That presents an opportunity for someone like Pendleton, or Sullivan Absher, to get three starts under his belt before having to take on a talented Louisville defensive line.
This first game feels like it needs some sort of stability up front, particularly on the left side. Coogan would provide that, including starting 13 games last season. Instead, the Irish head into the game against Texas A&M with a grand total of six starts as a group. That isn’t ideal, and could have been remedied, at least on the short term.
Most Popular
Comments / 0