Young offensive line gets little notice when performs job well

When Penn senior quarterback Jim McGeehan lines up for the team's first snap of the season, against Dartmouth on Saturday, few eyes will be on sophomore right tackle Jon Freeman. When junior running back Terrance Stokes takes a handoff, few fans will be watching junior left guard David Broeker. When the Quakers need a spark on offense, few fans will notice senior captain and right guard Frank Caccuro psyching up the squad. The offensive line is certainly not a glamour position. When the five men up front are doing their job, the average fan probably won't even notice. But when the quarterback is sacked or the running back is nailed behind the line of scrimmage, all eyes will be on the offensive line. While last year's offensive line boasted five seniors, this season's group is made up of a rather interesting mixture of young and old. "We have a decent nucleus coming back," offensive line coach Chuck Priore said. "[Junior] Peter Giannakoulis saw some time in five games last year. We also add some experience with Frank Caccuro, who was injured the last two years, but is a senior at guard." Caccuro, the Quakers' co-captain, retakes the field after a knee injury sidelined him for all of the 1992 season. His experience and leadership will be essential in helping the offensive line become a more cohesive and effective unit. "Frank reminds me a lot of [1993 graduate] Tommy Gibbs," Penn coach Al Bagnoli said. "He's a very vocal type of a kid, a rallying point for the team." Giannakoulis started several games at center last season and should be comfortable at his position come the season opener on Saturday against Dartmouth. Broeker, also a junior, will line up next to Caccuro and sophomore Jon Freeman. Sophomore William Glascott will start at left tackle. Sophomores Rick Knox and Christopher Brauser will also push for time. Michael Teller and Bill Whalen, both juniors, should see action, as well. The offensive line will be counted on more so this year than last year to provide holes for the running game. Whereas 1993 graduate Sundiata Rush was able to use his strength and power to bulldoze would-be tacklers, Stokes possess more speed and less power, thereby making him more dependent on the offensive line. A gap sprung by the linemen will allow Stokes to use his speed and cutting ability in the open field. Pressure to protect Penn's quarterback will also be felt. The Quakers' offense will never get into high gear without adequate support from the offensive line. Helping out the offensive line in some short yardage situations will be the tight ends. Between one and four tight ends should be on the field at all times. On third and short the tight ends will enhance the offensive line's blocking ability. The tight ends will also help the line deal with heavy pass rushes. The only thing standing in the way of the offensive line is the always present question of experience. Can the seniors and juniors help the sophomores adapt to football at a higher level? "If you look at the team last year, the experience wasn't there either," senior Ben Holman said. "There were guys like Chris Fragakis and Greg Peeke who didn't even travel their junior year, who came on during the year, were first time starters and played great ball. "You keep hearing, 'they're young, they're young, they're young,' but it just really doesn't bother me. The line's really good. It was kind of a question coming into the season, but everyone's constantly improving." But most improvements take some time. "The biggest thing is that in time I think they'll gel and make a better offensive line," Priore said. "I think its not going to happen right away, but their progress is definitely in a positive direction right now." If Penn is going to excel this season, the men on the offensive line are going to have to put the spectre of inexperience behind them, and contain the opponent's defense. Most of the spotlight will be on the more marquee positions, but the offensive line is doing its job best when it is not noticed.

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