Few Deep Thoughts Required

Thin is not a word normally associated with offensive linemen, but it’s an apt description of the Bruin front five.

Not thin as in supermodel. Thin as in not enough to go around.

The starters are excellent. Center Troy Danoff and tackles Mike Saffer and Bryce Bohlander are returning starters and guards Eyoseph Efseaff and Shane Lehmann were impressive in training camp. But the only reserves on the depth chart are redshirt freshmen Paul Mociler, Steven Vieira and John Ream.

Mociler is the backup tackle and guard on the left side. Vieira is backup tackle and guard on the right side. Ream is backup center.

“I think we’ll be fine,” Danoff said. “The new guards have done a great job. We don’t need all that much depth as long as we’re healthy.”

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Injuries might force one or more of a promising group of five true freshman linemen into duty, something Coach Bob Toledo wants to avoid.

“It’s hard for a freshman to step in and contribute on the offensive line,” he said. “That’s probably the hardest position to do that. But they will all be good football players.”

In fact, if the future of the line doesn’t appear bright, it’s only because the towering freshmen are blocking the sun. Four are 6 feet 7 or taller.

“I stood next to them and felt like I was lost among the redwoods,” Toledo said.

Crane your neck and meet 6-9 Ed Blanton of Napa, 6-8 Collin Barker of Wortham, Texas, 6-8 Matt Mosebar of Santa Ynez, 6-7 Robert Cleary of Canyon Lake and 6-5 Mike McCloskey of Laguna Hills.

The linemen are as integral to the Bruin recruiting class as the handful of freshman defensive backs who will play right away.

“We didn’t miss on any of them, I’ll say that,” Toledo said.

“I’m taking them to Alabama so I can stand behind them when we get off the bus.”

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Approximately 85 players will make the trip to Alabama, including all freshman on scholarship, even those who will redshirt.

“I promised them they would make this trip when I recruited them,” Toledo said. “It’s good for them to go to a hostile environment. We’ll see how they sleep on the road.”

A travel squad of 60 is allowed for Pacific-10 Conference games.