Looking at the 2014 Roster: Offensive Line

Charlotte 49er Football 🏈
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Continuing a look at our 2014 Football roster, here is a break down of our offensive line.

The 49ers offensive line returns all six lineman who started a game from last season. In 2013, the line finished 11th in FCS football in Fewest Sacks Allowed Per Game (0.91) and led the way for 49er rushers to gain an average of 206.8 yrds/game which ranked them 26th in the FCS. The only questions going into the season along the line are how the newcomers will fit in and will everyone stay in the same position from last season.

RS-SO Jamal Covington started all 11 games last season at Left Tackle. Covington was named a team captain in 3 games last season, and was honored as a flag carrier twice in 2013. Listed behind Covington on the depth chart at LT all of last season was RS-FR Eugene German. Since he did not play, he was able to RS and will likely be on the 2-deep depth chart at LT to start the season.

In 2013 RS-SO Mason Sledge started 7 games at Left Guard. He also started twice at RG and once at C due to injuries. Sledge was honored as a flag carrier for the 9ers in one game last season. RS-SO Casey Perry started 4 games at LG last season and was one of three offensive lineman to be honored with the #49 jersey when he wore it for the MSU game. These 2 will likely compete for the starting LG spot this season. Perry was the starter for the Green team during the Spring Game in April while Sledge played on both Green and White. Sledge is currently listed as a Center on the roster and Perry is listed as a Tackle.

RS-SO Thomas LaBianca started 10 games at Center last season, missing one game with an injury. He was honored with the #49 jersey before the Gardner-Webb game and was chosen as a flag carrier for a game in 2013. He started for the Green team in the Spring Game and will likely be the starter there this fall. In the only game he missed last year, Mason Sledge started at Center. RS-SO Jarred Barr was listed as LaBianca’s back-up last season on the depth chart and played for both Green and White teams in the spring game. RS-FR Tevin Lawshe out of Mallard Creek HS was listed as the Center for the White team during the spring game. He sat out last year as a RS. Labianca, Barr, and Lawshe are currently listed as Guards on the roster.

One of the few Seniors on this offense is Wake Forest transfer Daniel Blitch. Blitch started all but two games at Right Guard last season. Mason Sledge started 2 games there when Blitch was out with an injury. Blitch provides much needed veteran leadership to the line and was honored as a team captain and flag carrier for multiple games last season. He is expected to be the starter here this season. RS-JR Zach Thomas was listed 2nd on the depth chart much of last season at RG.

Another veteran leader on the line, RS-JR Danny Book, started every game at Right Tackle for the 49ers last season. Book was honored as a team captain for a game last season and wore the honorable #49 jersey for the JMU game. Sophomore Wolfgang Zacherl saw some action last year as a true Freshman and was listed 2nd on the depth chart behind Book.

Other returning Guards for the 49ers are RS-SO Zach Bumgarner, RS-SO Kyle Hoffman, and RS-Fr Jeff Walker. Returning Tackles include RS-SO Cameron Curlings, RS-SO Joe Wolljung, and RS-FR Mitch Monska.

Incoming Freshmen that will be added to the roster this season are FR Nate Davis (3*), FR Chris Brown (2*), and FR Jean Luc-Cerza Lanaux (2*). These three are candidates to be red shirt this season unless they impress the staff enough to earn playing time.

LEFT TACKLE:
73 Jamal Covington RS-SO
75 Eugnene German RS-FR

LEFT GUARD:
70 Casey Perry RS-SO
55 Mason Sledge RS-SO

CENTER:
74 Thomas LaBianca RS-SO
72 Tevin Lawshe RS-FR
50 Jared Barr RS-SO

RIGHT GUARD:
76 Daniel Blitch RS-SR
61 Zach Thomas RS-JR

RIGHT TACKLE:
68 Danny Book RS-JR
77 Wolfgang Zacherl SO

Linemen:
51 Zach Bumgarner RS-SO
78 Kyle Hoffman RS-SO
63 Cameron Curlings RS-SO
66 Joe Wolljung RS-SO
67 Mitch Monska RS-FR
79 Jeff Walker RS-FR
64 Nate Davis FR
71 Jean Luc-Cerza Lanaux FR
60 Chris Brown FR

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[quote=“Mr. Bojangles, post:1, topic:28886”]Continuing a look at our 2014 Football roster, here is a break down of our offensive line.

The 49ers offensive line returns all six lineman who started a game from last season. In 2013, the line finished 11th in FCS football in Fewest Sacks Allowed Per Game (0.91) and led the way for 49er rushers to gain an average of 206.8 yrds/game which ranked them 26th in the FCS. The only questions going into the season along the line are how the newcomers will fit in and will everyone stay in the same position from last season.

RS-SO Jamal Covington started all 11 games last season at Left Tackle. Covington was named a team captain in 3 games last season, and was honored as a flag carrier twice in 2013. Listed behind Covington on the depth chart at LT all of last season was RS-FR Eugene German. Since he did not play, he was able to RS and will likely be on the 2-deep depth chart at LT to start the season.

In 2013 RS-SO Mason Sledge started 7 games at Left Guard. He also started twice at RG and once at C due to injuries. Sledge was honored as a flag carrier for the 9ers in one game last season. RS-SO Casey Perry started 4 games at LG last season and was one of three offensive lineman to be honored with the #49 jersey when he wore it for the MSU game. These 2 will likely compete for the starting LG spot this season. Perry was the starter for the Green team during the Spring Game in April while Sledge played on both Green and White. Sledge is currently listed as a Center on the roster and Perry is listed as a Tackle.

RS-SO Thomas LaBianca started 10 games at Center last season, missing one game with an injury. He was honored with the #49 jersey before the Gardner-Webb game and was chosen as a flag carrier for a game in 2013. He started for the Green team in the Spring Game and will likely be the starter there this fall. In the only game he missed last year, Mason Sledge started at Center. RS-SO Jarred Barr was listed as LaBianca’s back-up last season on the depth chart and played for both Green and White teams in the spring game. RS-FR Tevin Lawshe out of Mallard Creek HS was listed as the Center for the White team during the spring game. He sat out last year as a RS. Labianca, Barr, and Lawshe are currently listed as Guards on the roster.

One of the few Seniors on this offense is Wake Forest transfer Daniel Blitch. Blitch started all but two games at Right Guard last season. Mason Sledge started 2 games there when Blitch was out with an injury. Blitch provides much needed veteran leadership to the line and was honored as a team captain and flag carrier for multiple games last season. He is expected to be the starter here this season. RS-JR Zach Thomas was listed 2nd on the depth chart much of last season at RG.

Another veteran leader on the line, RS-JR Danny Book, started every game at Right Tackle for the 49ers last season. Book was honored as a team captain for a game last season and wore the honorable #49 jersey for the JMU game. Sophomore Wolfgang Zacherl saw some action last year as a true Freshman and was listed 2nd on the depth chart behind Book.

Other returning Guards for the 49ers are RS-SO Zach Bumgarner, RS-SO Kyle Hoffman, and RS-Fr Jeff Walker. Returning Tackles include RS-SO Cameron Curlings, RS-SO Joe Wolljung, and RS-FR Mitch Monska.

Incoming Freshmen that will be added to the roster this season are FR Nate Davis (3*), FR Chris Brown (2*), and FR Jean Luc-Cerza Lanaux (2*). These three are candidates to be red shirt this season unless they impress the staff enough to earn playing time.

LEFT TACKLE:
73 Jamal Covington RS-SO
75 Eugnene German RS-FR

LEFT GUARD:
70 Casey Perry RS-SO
55 Mason Sledge RS-SO

CENTER:
74 Thomas LaBianca RS-SO
72 Tevin Lawshe RS-FR
50 Jared Barr RS-SO

RIGHT GUARD:
76 Daniel Blitch RS-SR
61 Zach Thomas RS-JR

RIGHT TACKLE:
68 Danny Book RS-JR
77 Wolfgang Zacherl SO

Linemen:
51 Zach Bumgarner RS-SO
78 Kyle Hoffman RS-SO
63 Cameron Curlings RS-SO
66 Joe Wolljung RS-SO
67 Mitch Monska RS-FR
79 Jeff Walker RS-FR
64 Nate Davis FR
71 Jean Luc-Cerza Lanaux FR
60 Chris Brown FR[/quote]

Nice work Mr. Bojangles… I love where we are for this year on the O-Line. I expect all of our freshmen to redshirt along with [font=Tahoma][size=13px]Wolfgang Zacherl who played last year but could really benefit by having a year off[/size][/font][/size][size=2][font=tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif] to add strength. That would add 4 more linemen in 2015 while only loosing Blitch. It all comes down to staying healthy but it looks like we have enough pieces, and added experience for 2014. [/font][/size][size=13px]

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I think the offensive line might be our biggest strength right now. The staff has done a good job of building some depth already and those young guys are only going to get bigger and stronger.

4

[size=13px]From the Observer article, it looks like Wolfgang will likely RS this year like you said. [/size]

[size=13px]One thing I remember about Wake Forest when they were at their best a few years back, it seemed like they always had an o-line full of Seniors. It would be great if we could set that foundation here and keep it that way for years to come.[/size]

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[quote=“49erAlumnus, post:3, topic:28886”]I think the offensive line might be our biggest strength right now. The staff has done a good job of building some depth already and those young guys are only going to get bigger and stronger.[/quote]o-line or receivers has to be the strength on this years team. We still lack depth on the d-line and we’re pretty young at the other positions I believe.

6

We only allowed 10 sacks last season, that’s outstanding. Our O-Line is one of our biggest strengths, and the players and recruits seem to love Coach Ratliff.

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[quote=“MikeNiner11, post:6, topic:28886”]We only allowed 10 sacks last season, that’s outstanding. Our O-Line is one of our biggest strengths, and the players and recruits seem to love Coach Ratliff.[/quote]eh, well that number is probably a bit deceiving. Matt had a few games where he was on the run a lot and simply made bad passes or barely crossed the line of scrimmage.

8

O Line could improve, but it was probably the least of our concerns.

We really need to step up D Line play this year. We have to make teams scared of our ability to create pressure and contain the run.

9

A couple of notes from practice today:

NinerReport.com @CharlotteRivals ·
Backup LT today is R-SO Kyle Hoffman and not Wolfgang Zacherl. Looks like they will see what he can do. if he can go? possibly RS Wolfgang

NinerReport.com @CharlotteRivals ·
Lineman normally need to add size as underclassman. Freshman Nate Davis has good bull to him already. Needs more but looks good.

NinerReport.com @CharlotteRivals ·
LG is a position to pay attention to. Casey Perry and Mason Sledge split time last yr. Perry won spring and gets first shot with the 1’s

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http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/08/05/5088224/offensive-line-is-the-rock-of.html#.U-F6mVeCOSM