 Offensive linemen (from l to r) junior Brett Irvin, junior Daniel Kilgore and senior Mario Acitelli are placed on the all-conference preseason list for this coming season. Photo by Tommy Penick
|
by LINDSEY HUNTSINGER
Sports Reporter
As the Appalachian State Mountaineers gear up for the 2009 football season, the spotlight is focusing in on a group of important players that are often overlooked: the offensive line.
Three members of this season’s offensive line have been named preseason first team All-Southern Conference: senior Mario Acitelli, and juniors Daniel Kilgore and Brett Irvin.
Last season Acitelli was an honorable mention All-American, and the accolades continued into the 2009 season as he was recently named a preseason second team All-American.
“It’s something to
live up to, but it really comes down to how well you perform for the
team,” Acitelli said. “It’s not added pressure, you know, but it
definitely puts you in the spotlight more.”
Many of the players on the offensive line will be taking the field in a new position this season.
Acitelli
will be moved from left guard to left tackle, a position in which he
garnered all-conference awards as a true freshman in his 2006 season.
“I know
the position. I played it freshman year,” Acitelli said. “It’s
different than guard, but it’s actually what I prefer. It’s a
challenge, but not a big adjustment.”
Kilgore
will also be fielding a new role this season. In his third position
change in as many years, he will now be in charge of protecting
left-handed quarterback Armanti Edwards’ blindside as right tackle.
“This is
my first time playing tackle so I’m still transitioning,” Kilgore said.
“There are even better athletes on the edge, so I just have to be
patient.”
Last
season Irvin, the Apps center, started all 14 games, and helped anchor
an offense that scored 37.3 points a game, rushed for 3,210 yards and
passed for 3,281 yards.
“Taking
70 plus snaps a game, with no under center playing is a big role,”
Irvin said. “You have to worry about what you’re doing and get the ball
into [the quarterback’s] hands so he can make things happen.”
Offensive
line coach Shawn Elliott feels the members of the offensive line can
overcome the challenges caused by position changes this season.
“These
five guys are one big group. They’re almost interchangeable,” Elliott
said. “They need to understand all the positions and be prepared.”
The
Mountaineers’ offensive line has spent the preseason preparing
themselves for the upcoming season and the physically demanding nature
of their positions.
“Preparations
for these guys is really tough. They have to play in extreme
conditions,” Elliott said. “They are some of the hardest working guys
on the field.”
Not only is the line preparing themselves for the physical aspect of the game, but also the mental aspect of the offensive line.
“Eventually
it turns into mental preparation,” Elliott said. “Most people think of
the O-line as just big guys, but they’re some of the most intelligent
people on the field.”
Last
year the Mountaineers were able to start the same five offensive line
members in all 14 games for the first time since 1989.
The consistency and continuity of the offensive line contributed to the Mountaineers’ fourth consecutive SoCon title.
Some worry starting the same players may cause a lack of depth for Appalachian’s offense, but Elliott argued the depth of the
Mountaineer offense should be of no concern.
“It’s
great to have consistency, but it’s not a big concern. I play as many
as I can play,” Elliott said. “Someone has to start it, but we play
seven or eight guys a game. You only worry about depth when people get
hurt.”
The
Mountaineers will have the chance to prove themselves as they face the
Pirates of East Carolina in their first game of the season Sept. 5 at
noon in Greenville.
“Preseason
accolades are not much. Post-season awards are what you look into,”
Elliott said. “Up until this point we haven’t proven anything to
anyone.”
Photo by Tommy Penick | The Appalachian
Trackback(0)
 |
TrackBack URI for this entry
Show/Hide comments