Missouri State’s offensive line gave up a brutal 53 sacks last season. Yeah, you read that right: fifty-three. And if Saturday’s scrimmage is any indication, they’re still scrambling hard to find some solid answers for protecting their quarterback this season. The Bears’ line was a revolving door throughout the practice, leaving a critical area of the team very much up in the air as they push toward the fall.
Seven Different Bears, Still No Lock
Coach Casey Woods isn’t sugarcoating it. He wants this line solidified yesterday, but after that Saturday scrimmage, no single player locked down a spot. We saw seven different offensive linemen rotate through the first-team unit. Can you believe that? Seven! Junior Logan Scrivner and fifth-year Isaiah Villanueva were both taking snaps at center, showing they’re still battling it out for the middle. On the right side, senior Sebastian Espinoza and fifth-year Makhete Gueye were duking it out at right tackle. Gueye, the versatile beast, even slid over to right guard, sharing time there with junior Ryan Mitchell. Over on the left, junior King Large and senior Matthew Greene were both working at left tackle, with Greene also picking up reps at left guard. Coach Woods admitted they’re “comfortable with two or three positions,” but also, “We still have some open battles.” He wants nine or ten guys who can truly play in games, but right now they “probably have eight.” That kind of multi-faceted skillset is cool, but man, you gotta find your starters eventually!
Fresh Blood and Hard-Earned Experience
It’s not all new faces, thankfully, but there’s a lot of churn here. Fifth-year Isaiah Villanueva is a big get, transferring from Jackson State where he played all 12 games last season. That’s serious experience! Junior King Large followed the coaching staff from SMU, where he saw action in three games, so he’s got some previous college snaps under his belt too. Sebastian Espinoza, a senior, joined the squad from Coffeyville Community College this offseason. These guys need to step up. On the flip side, we’ve got some returning Bears who know the system. Makhete Gueye and Matthew Greene, for instance, both played in all 12 games last season. That’s some veteran presence right there, and they’ll be crucial. Logan Scrivner played twice last year, and Ryan Mitchell got one game on the line. And don’t forget 6-foot-8 sophomore Brayden Thompson, who started in the Xbox Bowl, even if he missed the regular season. The bad news? A lot of last year’s guys are gone: three transferred, and Erick Cade graduated. So yeah, big shoes to fill, especially after giving up all those sacks!
Coach Woods called it a “ton of good tape” from that scrimmage. They’re going to need every single bit of it to figure out this puzzle. Protecting the quarterback isn’t just critical; it is the standard for success. Every single snap matters. We’re watching intently to see who rises to the occasion and locks down those crucial spots. The Bears have big goals this fall, and the O-line stepping up is the first, biggest step towards hitting them. This battle isn’t over yet!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply