Q&A with offensive line coach Jim Marshall
UTSA will lack experience and depth at virtually every position when it begins play this fall. But nowhere are those qualities more important than up front along the offensive line. The man whose job it will be to whip that unit into shape, Roadrunners assistant Jim Marshall, took a few moments on Thursday to answer some questions about how the group looks with spring practice on the horizon.
Do you even have a depth chart yet?
Right now, to be honest, we finished the fall up, and we had guys playing everywhere. We’re flipping from right side to left side. We won’t know (who’s going to play where) until we finish spring practice. In a regular situation, the young guys would redshirt. Not with us. They’re going to play. Every (position) is wide open, up for grabs. That’s as honest as I can be.
Were you disappointed about not signing any Junior College transfers?
You’re always disappointed when you don’t get guys. But we’ve been around long enough to know how it works. We had three guys in, and they loved San Antonio, but they went to other schools. They had two years to play. They told us, we hear what you’re saying, but we can’t see it. They’d only have one year to play for a conference championship. One of them actually committed to us, and his dad wouldn’t sign the Letter of Intent because he wanted him to play somewhere else . It happens. We’re in a situation now where we’re coming into something. We’ll be in the conference when they come. That will make a big difference.
How many linemen would you like to sign next year?
Probably two or three. See, what you have to do is put everything in context. You can’t think about two years. You have to think four or five years ahead. If everything holds, we’re going to graduate everyone at once. We have to stagger things, and it’s better to do that now than to have a huge hole in a few years. We’d like to get (a j.c. player), but we’re not going to sell the house for that. This year, realistically, we were only looking to sign two. Every year you go after more than what you can sign. But these kids have other choices too. That’s why recruiting goes down to the wire like it does.
What’s your assessment of the players you do have?
At certain positions, it’s the best freshman group I’ve ever had. We have a couple of guys, I won’t name them, but they’re going to be big-time players. As we came out of the fall, the guys learned what we wanted and what we expected. But until we play our first game, they won’t know what real college competition is like. All they have to look at is film of them playing against other freshmen who don’t know either. We’re trying to get them to realize how quick the game is going to be. We have a long way to go. Mentally, they’re starting to learn the scheme. But physically, we’ve got a long way to go. This offseason right now is huge for our guys. That’s where your offensive line is built, in the winter.
What’s your biggest concern?
Depth. Injuries. Getting a key guy hurt. Once we get to the full 85, you’d love to have 14 or 15 linemen. That means five are being red-shirted. But, I’ve never been at a Ohio State or Texas, but any place I’ve ever been, we have never, ever had enough where you were comfortable with what you had. You’re happy with eight (dependable) guys. We showed numbers, which looks good in the press box on the depth chart. But I’m talking about guys you knew you could get the job done.
