Wanna see Jeff Brohm fret? Ask him about his offensive line
Ask any coach, and he’ll tell you it’s relatively easy to get skill-position talent. But linemen? GOOD linemen? That’s an entirely different story.
Jeff Brohm knows the struggle. He has had to cobble together fronts on both sides of the ball his first two seasons. And, given the circumstances he inherited, Brohm and his staff have done well. Still, three years in, and the challenge remains in the trenches.
One area that keeps Brohm up at night: The interior of the offensive line, where guards Shane Evans and Dennis Edwards and center Kirk Barron are gone.
“It is actually very concerning for us because we lose a lot of productive players that had a lot of experience,” said Brohm. “We have a long ways to go there. A long ways. We are going on our third year, but we are very concerned going into Game One that we have to get that position ready to go. Right now, it’s not.”
Purdue looks good at the tackle slots, with Grant Hermanns on the left side and Matt McCann on the right.
“Those two guys we feel very confident about,” said Brohm, whose squad starts spring drills on February 25.
But both have had knee injuries, so that's a worry. Still, they are known commodities. The interior? It’s a vast unknown.
“The interior three are all new guys and they really haven’t played,” said Brohm. “We have seen some promise in practice, but we have to see more. We have to do a great job this spring getting guys ready to go in the summer and fall and hopefully they understand the challenge ahead and they do their part because it’s concerning at this point.”
It’s hoped sophomore Viktor Beach can take over at center for Barron, who was a key leader and the driving force of the front the last three seasons.
“Viktor Beach is a guy who has step up and be our starting center,” said Brohm. “He has shown some signs. But he has been injured at times and had some ups and downs, which is common. We still have confidence in him that he can get the job done.
“We have to have more than one center because he has been injured. We have to get Viktor up to speed. I think he’s capable.”
While Purdue has a good idea who its center will be, the guard spots are more murky.
“We have a lot of work ahead at the guard positions,” said Brohm. “That is a very green position where we will play guys we haven’t before.”
Offensive line coach Dale Williams has a lot to sort through. Among the players looking to impress at guard are sophomore DJ Washington, redshirt freshman Jimmy McKenna and former defensive tackle Alex Criddle, a senior.
Redshirt freshmen Will Bramel and Eric Miller also could play guard but also could have futures at tackle. Same for sophomore Mark Stickford.
A wild card: true freshman Spencer Holstege, who is on campus. Purdue also inked Kyle Jornigan, Dave Monnot and Cam Craig along the o-line in the 2019 recruiting class.
And, of course, there's always the prospect of adding a grad transfer. The last two years, Purdue has brought in three who have played key roles: Evans (Northern Illinois), Edwards (Western Kentucky) and Dave Steinmetz (Rhode Island). But for now, the staff is focused on who is on campus--and the youngsters set to arrive this summer.
“I like all four linemen we signed,” said Brohm. “I think they will be good players. That position is gonna take a year or two. These four guys we signed may take a year or two. If they are ready before, than great. But Spencer being here in the spring will get every opportunity. He will have to play interior for us right now.”
Stay tuned. There is a lot to sort out at guard and center.
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