It all starts up front.
In an offseason that featured a lot of turnover for the Mavericks, they are bringing back some key pieces on the offensive line. Junior center Caelan Keenan, senior tackle Oswaldo Torres, redshirt junior tackle Zach Farrow and redshirt sophomore guard Caleb Rodriquez all return after starting on last year’s team.
Redshirt sophomore Garret Beckman holds the other starting guard spot for the Mavericks. Beckman spent the last two seasons with the University of Northern Las Vegas.
The offensive line is a forgotten position when it comes to football. It’s a group of five
guys who go unnoticed amid triumph, but are highlighted when the offense runs a bad
play.
“There’s a lot of accountability between every single one of us. The reason being is, you don’t notice the O-linemen until we mess up. So, if there’s a sack or tackle for a loss in the run game,
it’s automatically on us,” Torres said.
In terms of statistics, defensive players are credited with a plethora of stats, from interceptions to sacks. On offense, the quarterback and skill positions get yards and touchdowns credited to them. Offenses are praised for their statistical performances, but the offensive line that gives them time to complete those plays are seldomly discussed.
“If we don’t do our jobs, the offense can’t start. If we don’t run block correctly, we can’t run the ball. If we don’t pass block correctly, we can’t pass the ball,” Torres said.
The five on the front line are the building blocks for any good offense. They are the foundation on offense and every play starts with them.
“The o-Line is the protector of the family. The way I was brought up is that the O-line is like being a father. Everybody else comes first and you have to make sure you handle your business. The glory that you get is everytime we score, it’s because we did our job. Then, when we score, we make sure to celebrate with the offense because we were a part of that score,” offensive line coach and offensive coordinator Trevor Wirke said.
The game on the front line isn’t measured in stats or with praise. It’s a battle of pride and a mindset of selflessness. Offensive linemen must play the game for something other than fame and name recognition. It’s a position where each lineman plays for their teammates and overall team success. They play for something bigger than themselves.
Perhaps one of the most crucial positions on the offensive line is the center. On top of making sure the quarterback gets the ball, they have many other responsibilities that fans don’t see.
“The center is responsible for making sure everyone goes and blocks the right person. I call out our ID points, and it basically ensures that whatever play we’re running, we’re protected on. You’re just trying to get everyone on the same page and make sure that your quarterback and running backs are protected.” Keenan explained.
The o-line exerts a “lead by example” type of leadership style. The five men up front take all initial beatings; they hit together and they bruise together.
“The offensive line position is all about toughness. You must have the mentality that you’re
just going to put your head down and work, and I think other guys on the offensive line really feed off that kind of leadership,” Keenan said.
Earning D2CCA All-Region Second Team and All-RMAC Second Team accolades in the 2021 season, Keenan helped the offense average an approximate 33 points per games and more than 452 yards of offense a game.
“It felt good because there are no statistics for the o-line, and how good you are on the line is all just hearsay. It feels good that other players and coaches that we play against in our conference and in our region see the work I’m putting in, but it also makes me hungry. There’s always room to improve though. I mean, to be second team all-region, I feel like I got cheated. I want to be first this season,” Keenan said.
Colorado Mesa University (CMU) got their first win of the season, 37-14 over William Jewell College on Thursday, Sept. 1.The offensive line helped the unit gain nearly 400 yards of total offense, and four touchdowns in the first five drives. However, in the second half, the Mavericks only amounted nine points from field goals.
“We came out hot, and we moved the ball well, and our pass protection was good. As the game went on, we got into some slumps, especially after the first interception. We have a saying on our team about ‘always playing to the level of five.’ Even if you mess up on a play, you have to play to the level of five on the next.” Farrow said.
The CMU Maverick’s face off against the Black Hills State on Saturday Sept. 24 at Lyle Hare Stadium, in South Dakota.
