One of Blue Jay Football's greatest assets is the offensive line. We're talking about an elite unit of linemen that some of DIII football's finest.
Without these guys, we wouldn't be seeing the fantastic dashes by our running backs and fullbacks, nor would we have weeks where senior Hewitt Tomlin puts up record yards.
Now a lot of people who aren't as football-conscience might think that just any big strong guy can play these positions. I mean, how hard can it be to hold off other guys in what seems to be a veritable pushing contest?
Well to the surprise of many of the would-be doubtful, it's a hell of a tough spot to play. It's even harder to excel at the position.
It's not all about weight. Strength and speed are a huge part of it too. Our guys bring all three together for a powerful, destructive formula where opponent's defensive lines are overpowered and outmatched.
The line has only allowed 10 sacks through eight games this season, less than half of what the defense has inflicted on Hopkins's opponents this season.
Our offense has gotten the Jays to a high and mighty rank of 11th in the nation. The whole team is responsible for this feat.
Why don't we hear about these guys more often? Offense is always portrayed by the quarterbacks and running backs in the media. We rarely give proper coverage to the supporting cast. They don't get touchdowns or rack up the yards. We usually see the O-line come up when theres a flag called on a play.
"The only time we get any attention is if we are called for a penalty, but that's part of the job." said senior guard Doug Drummond.
In no way does that common perception represent what the guys are doing for the team.
I'm a Bears fan, and if there are any NFL fans who appreciate an effective offensive line (something we lack), it would likely be Chicago fans.
The Blue Jays have a great O-line. I can't say it enough.
They move mountains for the offense. There are some defensive players out there who look like they weigh twice as much as I do- and they get pushed aside like it's their job.
It should come as no surprise that this line is as good as it is. Three seniors lead the charge in the company of several skilled sophomores in the starting rotation.
Senior tackle Roland Massimino transferred to Hopkins in the Spring of ‘09, is formerly of the Hoffstra football squad and has been a fantastic addition to the Blue Jay family.
Ed Rodger, another senior, plays at center and spearheads the group.
They are joined by sophomores Ben Cranston (guard), Armand Jenifer (tackle) and Vincenzo Bonaddio (guard).
Including Drummond, these six players make up the core of our offensive wall, allowing the attack components of the offense to load up and strike.
These guys are all Big Friendly Giants off the field, but once the game gets rolling they're as intense as can be. I've never seen people as pumped up as the football players before gametime.
All that intensity and pressure gets channeled into the game each week. But how much pressure is it?
"Our coach always does a good job keeping things in perspective. He reminds us that pressure is for soldiers and surgeons and that what we do is fun." said Rodger.
"We prepare hard every week and are confident we can handle anything the defense throws at us."
His words are well grounded in eight weeks worth of victories.
The excitment on the field follows closely with the intensity. Being the muscle in such a dynamic offense gives the players an interesting perspective.
"You never know what play we're going to score on and it always feels like the next play is the one." said Massimino.
"As a senior, it's very rewarding to know that we're playing so well in my last year. All the hard work and dedication comes down to this last year- it's great to see it paying off so far."
"We just want to keep going forward and keep working hard by taking each game at a time. If we can do this and each do our job, we have unlimited potential." said Drummond.
The team has made their case each week, beating off opponents who challenge the Hopkins Authority. These guys look at each game the same way. Each game has two opponents to deal with.
There's the obvious opposing team on the other side of the line, but there's another challenger that lay within during each game.
"Our offensive coordinator, Dan Swanstrom, says we play a faceless opponent each week." said Rodger.
"We just focus on what we need to do in order to play our best game consistently."
As the season winds down, the challenges will only get tougher for this team. The ultimate result will depend heavily on these Purveyors of Punishment.
"It goes back to the faceless opponent mentality. We focus on playing at a high level consistently. It doesn't matter who we play, they're just next." said Rodger.
Terrific words for some terrific players. Watch and see how each game plays out. The entire football team is gifted with various talents in just about every position. The O-line is no different, to say the very least.
