Bucknell University Athletics
Photo by: Jon Lambert
Bucknell Football Position Preview: Offensive Line
8/19/2019 10:31:00 AM | Football
At first glance, it would appear that Bucknell boasts experience and depth at offensive line. The Bison return seven offensive linemen with starting experience, including three who have started at least 10 career games. Only one 2018 starter, All-Patriot League Second Team honoree Pat Finn, was lost to graduation. Yet, head coach Dave Cecchini admitted that the offensive line is one of the biggest areas of concern for him and his staff.
"It's really underrated when you get five guys who are confident in what they're doing and have gelled with each other," Cecchini said. "We haven't seen that in this group. A lot of them played at separate times or moved around on the line. So that gel isn't there. And then you throw in that it's an entirely different offense. Quarterback and offensive line are the two positions where it takes the longest to get comfortable with a new offense. It takes longer for them to process what they're supposed to do and then execute it at 100 percent speed."
Entering camp, sophomore Noah Sansalone (left tackle), junior P.J. Barr (left guard), sophomore Jacob Russ (center), junior Alex Bolinger (right guard) and sophomore Michael Killiri (right tackle) were listed as the starters. Unfortunately for the Bison, Russ, who impressed Cecchini during the spring, went down with an injury that will keep him out for the first few games.
In Russ's absence, freshman Zack Tarburton has stepped up. A product of Pennridge High School, he was originally listed second on the depth chart at right guard; Cecchini said that Tarburton's play has been one of the most pleasant surprises of camp.
"It's rare to have a true freshman start on the offensive line, and it's even rarer for a true freshman to start at center," Cecchini said. "Offensive line is the hardest position to start at as a freshman, and center is the hardest position on the offensive line. We didn't have that happen during my time at Lehigh or Valpo. But Zack has been phenomenal. He showed up in August eager to learn and in shape. He's really surprised us when we transitioned him over to center from guard. He's a freshman so he's going through some growing pains, but he's done a great job. He's learned the offense quickly, and he's gelling with the rest of the offensive line."
Junior Justis Peppers, who missed the spring to injury, is locked in a furious battle with Sansalone for the starting job at left tackle. Peppers, who started 10 games a year ago, is a physical specimen at 6-foot-4 and 330 pounds, and Cecchini noted that he could see both Peppers and Sansalone taking snaps at that position.
"We've got an interesting battle going on at left tackle," Cecchini said. "That competition is making each of them better. One day, one of them looks like they could be the guy, and the next day, the other guy shows up. That might be a position where we'll play both to start the season. We'll just have to see how it hashes out."
Cecchini has been especially impressed with junior P.J. Barr. Barr boasts the most experience on offensive line; one of only two juniors to appear in all 22 of Bucknell's games during his time in Lewisburg, he leads the team with 19 career starts. Barr, who is currently the starting left guard, primarily played right guard in 2018.
Cecchini said that Bolinger, who has yet to see the field, stood out during the spring. While Bolinger battled some injuries during the early days of camp, he returned in time for the scrimmage, and Cecchini believes he will be ready for the season opener at Temple.
"Bolinger was impressive," Cecchini said. "He stood out because he became confident with the offense much faster than everyone else. He'll get a chance to hopefully do some good things this year."
Before he went down with injury, Russ impressed Cecchini with his work ethic and ability to snap the football.
"We think Russ has an exciting future in our offense," Cecchini said. "He's really pushing himself in our strength program, and he's starting to become a more physical football player. He and Chuck Sanders have also done a great job snapping the football. It's a process you take for granted until you don't get that snap, and I've been pleased with how well they've taken to the center/quarterback exchange in our new offense."
Sanders, an experienced senior who can play every position on the line, could still win the starting job at center. Even if he doesn't, Cecchini believes he will be a vital piece of Bucknell's offensive line rotation.
NOTES: The Bison have 14 offensive lineman on the roster: four seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and three freshmen ... Vinny Giacalone is the offensive line coach ... P.J. Barr (19), senior Erik Lukner (10) and Justis Peppers (10) are three of the 10 players who enter 2019 with at least 10 career starts ... Barr and defensive lineman Roger Mellado are the only two juniors who have played in all 22 of Bucknell's games during their time in Lewisburg ... Three of Bucknell's starters entering camp—Noah Sansalone, Jacob Russ and Alex Bolinger—have yet to appear in a game ... Giacalone praised Barr and Michael Killiri, the only two offensive lineman who have locked in their starting spots, for their attention to detail, noting that "What we're asking them to do now is more complicated than what we asked them to do in the spring. They've already learned the basics, and they're getting to the levels beyond that" ... Giacalone said that the starting center battle between Chuck Sanders and Zack Tarburton is the classic "experience vs. youth" battle; Giacalone said that Sanders is the "elder statesman" of the line while Tarburton brings enthusiasm and an eagerness to learn ... Giacalone said that Noah Sansalone and Justis Peppers have both shown flashes of potential; he noted that each has "a ton of skill but hasn't put it all together yet" ... Freshman R.J. Mehan is steadily learning the offense, and Giacalone said that he has a "bright future here at Bucknell" ... Junior Simon Krizak is the lone foreign player on the roster; a native of Stuttgart, Germany, he spent one post-graduate year at Pennsylvania's Hill School in 2016 ... Lukner is the lone Washington native on the roster ... Seniors Justin Falcone and Josh Yoder round out Bucknell's offensive line ... Yoder attended nearby Southern Columbia ... Freshman walk-on Seth Pletcher hails from nearby Mifflinburg and also attended Southern Columbia ... Giacalone said that depth remains a concern on the offensive line, explaining that "Guys are going to have to be ready to play multiple positions if injuries occur. And that's the hardest part because we're asking them to learn something new and then learn multiple positions at a time."
"It's really underrated when you get five guys who are confident in what they're doing and have gelled with each other," Cecchini said. "We haven't seen that in this group. A lot of them played at separate times or moved around on the line. So that gel isn't there. And then you throw in that it's an entirely different offense. Quarterback and offensive line are the two positions where it takes the longest to get comfortable with a new offense. It takes longer for them to process what they're supposed to do and then execute it at 100 percent speed."
Entering camp, sophomore Noah Sansalone (left tackle), junior P.J. Barr (left guard), sophomore Jacob Russ (center), junior Alex Bolinger (right guard) and sophomore Michael Killiri (right tackle) were listed as the starters. Unfortunately for the Bison, Russ, who impressed Cecchini during the spring, went down with an injury that will keep him out for the first few games.
In Russ's absence, freshman Zack Tarburton has stepped up. A product of Pennridge High School, he was originally listed second on the depth chart at right guard; Cecchini said that Tarburton's play has been one of the most pleasant surprises of camp.
"It's rare to have a true freshman start on the offensive line, and it's even rarer for a true freshman to start at center," Cecchini said. "Offensive line is the hardest position to start at as a freshman, and center is the hardest position on the offensive line. We didn't have that happen during my time at Lehigh or Valpo. But Zack has been phenomenal. He showed up in August eager to learn and in shape. He's really surprised us when we transitioned him over to center from guard. He's a freshman so he's going through some growing pains, but he's done a great job. He's learned the offense quickly, and he's gelling with the rest of the offensive line."
Junior Justis Peppers, who missed the spring to injury, is locked in a furious battle with Sansalone for the starting job at left tackle. Peppers, who started 10 games a year ago, is a physical specimen at 6-foot-4 and 330 pounds, and Cecchini noted that he could see both Peppers and Sansalone taking snaps at that position.
"We've got an interesting battle going on at left tackle," Cecchini said. "That competition is making each of them better. One day, one of them looks like they could be the guy, and the next day, the other guy shows up. That might be a position where we'll play both to start the season. We'll just have to see how it hashes out."
Cecchini has been especially impressed with junior P.J. Barr. Barr boasts the most experience on offensive line; one of only two juniors to appear in all 22 of Bucknell's games during his time in Lewisburg, he leads the team with 19 career starts. Barr, who is currently the starting left guard, primarily played right guard in 2018.
"Barr is a guy who's played a lot of snaps," Cecchini said. "He's confident. He's physical. He has an attitude about him on the playing field that we're excited about. He's the anchor on the line. He's an intelligent, experienced player so he's doing a great job leading that group.""You're playing college football, and you got to take advantage of it."
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) August 19, 2019
Junior P.J. Barr is ready to be a leader on the O-Line.#ACT | #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/EGS45J9YKX
Cecchini said that Bolinger, who has yet to see the field, stood out during the spring. While Bolinger battled some injuries during the early days of camp, he returned in time for the scrimmage, and Cecchini believes he will be ready for the season opener at Temple.
"Bolinger was impressive," Cecchini said. "He stood out because he became confident with the offense much faster than everyone else. He'll get a chance to hopefully do some good things this year."
Before he went down with injury, Russ impressed Cecchini with his work ethic and ability to snap the football.
"We think Russ has an exciting future in our offense," Cecchini said. "He's really pushing himself in our strength program, and he's starting to become a more physical football player. He and Chuck Sanders have also done a great job snapping the football. It's a process you take for granted until you don't get that snap, and I've been pleased with how well they've taken to the center/quarterback exchange in our new offense."
Sanders, an experienced senior who can play every position on the line, could still win the starting job at center. Even if he doesn't, Cecchini believes he will be a vital piece of Bucknell's offensive line rotation.
NOTES: The Bison have 14 offensive lineman on the roster: four seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and three freshmen ... Vinny Giacalone is the offensive line coach ... P.J. Barr (19), senior Erik Lukner (10) and Justis Peppers (10) are three of the 10 players who enter 2019 with at least 10 career starts ... Barr and defensive lineman Roger Mellado are the only two juniors who have played in all 22 of Bucknell's games during their time in Lewisburg ... Three of Bucknell's starters entering camp—Noah Sansalone, Jacob Russ and Alex Bolinger—have yet to appear in a game ... Giacalone praised Barr and Michael Killiri, the only two offensive lineman who have locked in their starting spots, for their attention to detail, noting that "What we're asking them to do now is more complicated than what we asked them to do in the spring. They've already learned the basics, and they're getting to the levels beyond that" ... Giacalone said that the starting center battle between Chuck Sanders and Zack Tarburton is the classic "experience vs. youth" battle; Giacalone said that Sanders is the "elder statesman" of the line while Tarburton brings enthusiasm and an eagerness to learn ... Giacalone said that Noah Sansalone and Justis Peppers have both shown flashes of potential; he noted that each has "a ton of skill but hasn't put it all together yet" ... Freshman R.J. Mehan is steadily learning the offense, and Giacalone said that he has a "bright future here at Bucknell" ... Junior Simon Krizak is the lone foreign player on the roster; a native of Stuttgart, Germany, he spent one post-graduate year at Pennsylvania's Hill School in 2016 ... Lukner is the lone Washington native on the roster ... Seniors Justin Falcone and Josh Yoder round out Bucknell's offensive line ... Yoder attended nearby Southern Columbia ... Freshman walk-on Seth Pletcher hails from nearby Mifflinburg and also attended Southern Columbia ... Giacalone said that depth remains a concern on the offensive line, explaining that "Guys are going to have to be ready to play multiple positions if injuries occur. And that's the hardest part because we're asking them to learn something new and then learn multiple positions at a time."
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