How would one describe the offensive line for the 2005 MSU football team? The terms that surface aren't flattering.
"Porous" comes to mind, as does "sieve-like" and "much-maligned." The group gave up 24 sacks last season, including 12 to Ohio State. If the Spartans are to avoid yet another late-season collapse, strengthening the offensive line will be of utmost importance.
With the departures of tackle Stefon Wheeler, center Chris Morris and guard Gordon Niebylski, there are plenty of gaps to fill.
Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland said there are plenty of young players battling hard to earn a starting position and looking to pick up where the seniors left off — particularly at center, where junior John Masters is currently listed first on the depth chart.
Masters doesn't have a starting job locked down, however.
"The young kid, Nitchman, is learning fast," Stoutland said of redshirt freshman Joel Nitchman. "He's a very good learner, a very smart individual. He's a football kid. He's getting some work with the first team, too."
Junior Joe Toth and senior Kyle Cook, who is listed on the spring depth chart as the starting left guard, round out the options at center.
"We always have Cook that's there, that's played center, that knows the center position inside and out," Stoutland said.
Stoutland said whether or not Cook sees time at center will depend on how well the other candidates perform.
"I better feel good about that position," Stoutland said. "Wherever I've been, I've always been this way. I'm like the baseball field. I better have a good short stop, I better have a good catcher, I better have a good second baseman. Right up the middle, it'd better be strong. I've always believed that.
"If I don't, I always have that card in my back pocket where I can say, 'Cook, go play center.'"
Rounding out the starters on the depth chart are junior Mike Gyetvai at left tackle, sophomore Roland Martin at right guard and sophomore Jesse Miller at right tackle.
After a string of losing seasons, Gyetvai said it's time for the line to produce some better results.
"We come off of a 5-6 season and a 5-7 season before that," Gyetvai said. "We're starting to focus in on what we need to get done here. Up the effort, up the tempo and everything and try to get it done."
Stoutland said 6-foot-7, 320-pound junior Pete Clifford might be the most versatile lineman on the team and could find playing time anywhere on the offensive line.
"I think he's a really important piece to this whole puzzle," Stoutland said. "He can play right tackle, he can play left guard, he can play right guard. He's done it since he's been here. I've asked him to do it since he's been here."
Clifford said he welcomes the challenge of knowing multiple positions.
"I'm learning," Clifford said. "I'm doing the best I can right now, and I'm getting better with it every day."
Stoutland said having players who can jump from position to position, like Clifford, will be crucial.
"It's one of those years — probably like two years ago — where you've got to be able to move guys around," Stoutland said. "Play multiple positions with them."
