2013 Boston College Football Unit Preview: Offensive Line
By Joe Micik
Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Boston College has been known in the past as “O-Line U.” With the overall decline of the complete product over the last several years, that moniker has faded away. It’s now up to the new coaching staff to get it back and restock one of the Eagles’ historically-strong units.
This Boston College football team in 2013 will go as far offensively as the five guys up front take it. Chase Rettig, Andre Williams, and Alex Amidon are three capable seniors leading their own respective units, but their contributions might all be for naught if the offensive line can’t step up to the mark. What can we expect this season from Coach Justin Frye’s men?
2013 BC Football Unit Preview: Offensive Line
The Starters
According to preseason depth chart
Dan Lembke, sophomore, LT
Lembke only played in 30 snaps all of last season as a redshirt freshman, but someone was going to rise to the position as both ends of the offensive line graduated; right now, the depth chart says it’s his job to lose. His measurables are 6-6, 304 lb.
Last week, Matt Patchan (featured next page) started with the first-team offense while Lembke backed up. As Patchan is a veteran player who is immediately eligible, Lembke may back up again.
Bobby Vardaro, junior, LG
Vardaro has starting experience on the interior of BC’s offensive line. He has made 24 game appearances over his first two years, including starting all 12 games last year as the left guard. Rarely have there been many complaints about his play, as Vardaro is typically solid, and not just in terms of build.
Andy Gallik, junior, C
Gallik will be entering his third year and it’s time that he takes a step forward. He did not have a stellar 2012 season but the other available centers are all inexperienced, so until further notice, it’s him or nobody. The Eagles need Gallik to hold down those blocks up the middle, and it’s possible that he may have just been a victim in the past of bad coaching. Either way, Gallik is this unit’s wild card and we’ll find out for certain what he’s made of this year.
Harris Williams, junior, RG
Williams is one of those guys that could become a solid mainstay on this line, and might have been on his way last year if not for a broken foot that set him back almost the entire season. Nevertheless, he’s gone from hurt and mostly on the bench to starting right guard as Ian White has slid over one space.
Ian White, senior, RT
White is the most senior offensive lineman we have, and as the new right tackle, he’s been slotted into all positions from center to its right. He was good as the right guard, which is why they ultimately aborted his move to center, and it remains to be seen how he’ll be at right tackle if that’s where BC leaves him. White has had most of his success at right guard, so this will be an interesting experiment.
Next page: Backups/others