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The experienced offensive line caught the attention of head coach Doug Marrone on day three of 2010 Orange preseason camp. Led by senior center Ryan Bartholomew, the line returns nine veterans while adding five new faces. Offensive line coach Greg Adkins has spent the first three days of camp mentoring the projected starters while Marrone has been working with the second and third units.
“We’re better up front, they just haven’t done it in a game situation, but they’re better with their movement skills," Marrone said. "I think Justin Pugh will have a very good year for us. We have Justin for four years. I think he’ll be a solid left tackle. Our goal as an offensive line is to improve our foot speed. We’re definitely a much more physical offensive line at this point, more so than we’ve ever been, which is a good thing. Now we just have to work on some of the protections and moving our feet better.
Marrone and the Orange kick off the 2010 season at Akron on Saturday, September 4 (6:00 p.m., ESPN3). SU opens at home against Maine on September 18 at 7:15 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. Tickets are available online (click here) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (888-DOME-TIX). starting at $100.
Pugh gained experience practicing with the team while redshirting last season. He enters preseason camp as the projected starter at left tackle.
"Ryan Bartholomew is a natural move. He is very good at center, even though I know he can play guard," Marrone said. "At right guard, Andrew Tiller has lost quite a bit of weight and is playing very well to this point. Michael Hay is moving better than he did in the spring, which is exciting. Sean Hickey is a freshman who can swing at one of the tackles. We think he has the same type of ability that Justin Pugh had when he first came in. Zach Chibane is the backup center with Macky MacPherson. Both of them are doing a very good job. We haven’t had a lot of balls on the ground, which is a priority for us with the turnover situation. Jarel Lowery, it is going to be interesting during camp to see how he comes along because he has done some nice things. Nick Lepak, same situation, we need to increase his foot speed. Andrew Phillips, he is tough and getting better. That group will probably be one of the keys to how successful we’ll be.”
Bartholomew started all 12 games last season, eight at guard and three at center in place of the injured Jim McKenzie. Redshirt senior Adam Rosner, who is listed as the starting left guard on the preseason depth chart, started six games between left and right guard last season. Tiller also gained game experience in his first season with the Orange, playing in 10 games including three starts.
One of the new additions to the line in 2010, Hay joined the Orange in January, transferring from Nassau Community College and is already the probable starter at right tackle.