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Center

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Past few centers

AJ Trump
Xavier Shannon
Tyler Horn
Shane McDermott

There's been nothing special at the center position at Miami for a long time now. Granted McDermott has been solid, but nothing great here. Now I'm not an offense line or X and O's expert, but watching some good interior rushing teams last year you see guys like Jonnothan Harrison at Florida and Barrett Jones at Alabama, they were big lineman consistently taking on defensive tackles by themselves and opening up guards to get into the second level when they weren't themselves. Centers never been a big topic of discussion or concern on offense line because there's a sentiment that they should just "Help with double team" or "be the quarterback of the offensive line". We just took a guy in Linder who's on the smaller side and not exactly the most dominating lineman in the world. Are there different theories about how the position should be used based on scheme or what not?

Just wondering what some of you guys who know a lot more than me think about the position.
 
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McDermott will be a first or second rounder. That's pretty special to me.
 
Mcdermott is a very good starter and we have 2 more years of him. Wheeler is a solid backup to have for depth. If you've got a bone to pick, Center is a funny position on this team to do it with. Plenty of other spots we are much weaker at. Like the fact we havent had a decent safety come out of here since Kenny Phillips
 
ACC Honorable Mention last year and a Rimington watch lister this year and he still has a year of eligibility left for 2014? Yeah, he sucks
 
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McDermott played all of last year with a torn labrum (I believe). He had surgery in the offseason and all reports are that he is fully recovered and has his strength back. I don't expect him to be dominant like a Barrett Jones, but it is definitely reasonable to believe he should be able to be pretty improved going into this season.
 
Name 10 great college centers in the last 5 years. Actually, name 10 non-Cane centers total in college the last 5 years. No Google.
 
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Shane McDermott would start on most BCS schools offensive lines.... he's good enough and is an NFL draft prospect.
 
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ben said:
anything beats john rochford
Click to expand...

I forgot about him, is this the same guy:

http://www.bustedmugshots.com/florida/miami/john-rochford/121241201

612.jpg
 
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You'll be hard pressed to fine a very good college offensive line without at least a good center. Centers are the anchor to the offensive line and make the line calls and adjustments. That's why they're typically the smartest guy on the line. McDermott is a very good center.
 
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Pentagon Cane said:
You'll be hard pressed to fine a very good college offensive line without at least a good center. Centers are the anchor to the offensive line and make the line calls and adjustments. That's why they're typically the smartest guy on the line. McDermott is a very good center.
Click to expand...

He's nice in pass protection, but I wish he were a little more physical in the run game and not so sloppy in the second level. Feliciano is the only interior lineman that I'm not convinced is more of a finesse type lineman. Our short yardage rushing hints at this.
 
Pentagon Cane said:
You'll be hard pressed to fine a very good college offensive line without at least a good center. Centers are the anchor to the offensive line and make the line calls and adjustments. That's why they're typically the smartest guy on the line. McDermott is a very good center.
Click to expand...

Exactly, but the point is there are very few stars at the position, which is what the OP is alluding to. Far more important for them to be smart then able to pile drive a nose tackle. Otherwise every team would just put their third guard there and call it a day.
 
Barrett Jones got destroyed by any DT with quickness. Nix rocked that dude.

Horn was a good player here, and is in the NFL now (ATL, then TENN, then HOU).

McDermott will probably end up as a late round pick. Dude was a rSO last year and played fairly well. Needs to get stronger and get to the 2nd level better, but he's a pretty darn good player. Knighton and Linder both are solid center prospects.

You can get away with being very limited in college at center as long as you're quick and have good technique. Centers arent often asked to make a lot of the more difficult blocks just because most play designs have them going backside where they have an angle, or 2nd level. Not often you're going to have a center making a key block on a play unless you have a scheme where they're pulling (UGA does this, but it's fairly rare). Most difficult block they'll normally have is trying to reach a DT that's lined up on the guard, which is where the quickness and technique come in. I can't remember his name for the life of me but the center at Wake Forest (found it, Steve Justice) a few years ago was like 6-3 285 and just dominated weekly because he could get position on anyone and just turn them. You don't need to dominate at center, just need to be effective.
 
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McDermott has been very solid and even Tyler Horn before him came out of nowhere to become serviceable. I don't think center is a problem right now. Now safeties is another question.
 
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