Boston College Athletics
Offensive Line Continues To Grow In Preseason Camp
August 25, 2015 | Football
Written by Mark Daly
Chestnut Hill, Mass. -- For the Boston College football team, who has always been known for its powerful offensive line, the 2015 season marks a new chapter. When the Eagles host Maine on Sept. 5 they will have a completely reconfigured line from a year ago.
With the graduation of five starters and the return of Harris Williams, who missed the 2014 season after suffering a season-ending ankle injury in the opener at Massachusetts, there is no doubt that that the Eagles will be creating a new identity with the tradition of "O-Line U" in the back of their minds.
The chemistry of having five new players up front from a year ago has been a major talking point in preseason camp. While a work in progress, that chemistry has developed drastically since practice began on Aug. 10.
In the first two and a half weeks of camp, senior offensive lineman Dave Bowen has seen major progress from the newly formed group and he knows that will carry over to the regular season.
"I think we have done a good job," Bowen said. "We have been moving a lot of guys around to find the best fit and I think that has worked out well so far."
He credited the leadership of Williams, who the team calls "grandpa" for his six-year status, as helping in that progress.
"Harris Williams has done a phenomenal job leading us. We have to follow that lead," Bowen said. "We are excited to see where it goes."
In addition to the leadership of those who have been around the program, Bowen stated that just becoming familiar with his teammates has aided the growth of the offensive line.
"I think just getting reps next to the same guys [helps] develop chemistry by knowing where he is going to step and how he fits in the blocks and how you need to fit in the blocks."
Bowen recognized that learning how each lineman communicates is essential to the Eagles' success and he notices that communication growing every day in practice.
Besides protecting the quarterback, the offensive line also strives to create routes for the running backs and junior Tyler Rouse is just one of the backs who have seen how much progress the O-Line has made in such a small amount of time.
"We go when they go. When they are doing their thing, we are able to see holes, hit holes and move the ball," Rouse said. "[The offensive linemen] are our guys and we love them. We are all just working hard to embrace the common goal of winning football games and I think if we keep working hard, we'll be okay."
Knowing the role of the offensive line in regards to the running game, Bowen didn't hesitate when asked how it will work to help the Eagles succeed.
"We have a lot of great running backs who can make people miss. What we need to do as an offensive line is to get them to the second level so they can do their job."
Although there may be a surplus of new faces to the offensive line, their mission has not changed.
"It is our goal every year to be the toughest line in the ACC and one of the toughest in the country," Bowen said. "Those are our goals every year and what we are striving for, so it'll be exciting to get going."
With the confidence instilled by head coach Steve Addazio and the leadership of Williams, what once seemed like a new offensive line will quickly become the strength and core of the Eagles offense, continuing the great Boston College tradition of "O-Line U."
