O-line upperclassmen establish new attitude, play style after losing starters
With the graduation of four-year starting center Nick Beamish and three-year starting left tackle Ramadan Ahmeti on the offensive line, Central Michigan has holes to full up front.
Even with an experienced line, the Chippewas struggled to run the ball last season, finishing last in the Mid-American Conference in rushing.
CMU finished the season with 1,317 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns on 3.1 yards per carry — numbers Frazier would like to see improve. The Chippewas also finished tied for seventh in the conference in sacks allowed with 28.
"We were far from content with the run game last year," offensive line coach Derek Frazier said. "That's one area we need to keep working at and it has to become a part of our personality."
Although Frazier said total yardage won't define success for his offensive line, he wants to see them play fundamentally sound and have the team's running backs average at least four yards per carry.
Even before the Chippewas have taken the field for their first game, Frazier has seen improvement in the line.
"The guys are working their tails off," Frazier said. "They're doing a great job of listening and taking coaching."
Junior right tackle Derek Edwards acknowledged the holes left by Beamish and Ahmeti's departure, but said new players are filling their roles.
"We've had a lot of guys step up from last spring coming in knowing that we had two really big gaps to fill when Nick and Ramadan left," Edwards said.
Junior Austin Doan made the switch from left guard to center this season, something both he and his coaches said has been a smooth transition.
"I feel a lot more natural at it and we've had great fill in from the left guard spot," Doan said.
Frazier said Doan’s willingness for change has helped make the transition easier for the rest of the offense.
"(Doan) is a very smart young man and he has really taken to the position and practiced it," he said.
Although the Chippewas lost two veteran linemen, the mixture of older and younger players on the roster provides a sense of cohesiveness in the trenches due to the experience still on the roster.
"We're seeing some really good growth," Frazier said. "We're doing a great job of gelling together as a unit and playing together, getting that personality about us.
Doan and Edwards said they have seen improvement in their own skill to go along with the development of the rest of the offensive line.
In addition to developing technique, Frazier is developing the attitude and style of his lineman, which he has seen come out during fall camp.
"They're playing with more confidence." Frazier said. "We're playing faster and more physical, which is what you need to do at offensive line. That's what coach wants; smart, hard-nosed, fundamental football players."
Starters are expected to be Edwards, Doan, junior Joe Austin and a rotation at both guard positions consisting of senior Kenny Rogers, junior J.P. Quinn and sophomore Shakir Carr.
The Chippewas open the season against Presbyterian Thursday at 7 p.m. at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
