Senior offensive tackle Cody Balogh blocks Southern Utahdefensive tackle AaronFernandez from getting to Jeff Larson last Saturday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
Tim Kupsick/GameDay Kaimin
By: Jake Grilley
GameDay Kaimin
Playing offensive line can be humbling.
Each game day, fans pack Washington-Grizzly Stadium to cheer on their beloved Montana Grizzlies. Whenever the Griz make a big play, the decibel level inside the stadium increases exponentially as 23,000-plus fans collectively cheer. The definition of a big play is a rather broad one to most fans. A long run will get fans on their feet. An acrobatic reception will surely get people to put their hands together.
How about a well-executed base block?
Colin Dow, Cody Balogh, Eric Michel, Terran Hillesland and Brent Russum, the starting offensive line for the Montana Grizzlies, don't expect much of a reaction - and they are OK with that.
"No one notices us," senior left tackle Balogh said. "That's why we are the offensive line."
Junior center Dow echoed the sentiment.
"Sometimes it can be a pain in the ass," he said. "You want to be recognized, but you are conditioned to appreciate the recognition you get from other players and coaches."
The five starters on the offensive line agree that you don't play offensive line for the praises.
"We do it for the team," Balogh said. "You do it for the guy next to you."
The group, as Balogh put it, "is a team within a team."
The offensive line started an annual summer camping trip to bring the offensive linemen closer together off the field. They also have a weekly dinner and an occasional poker night.
"If you don't like the guy next to you, you won't work as hard," Dow said. "We love being around each other and love playing for each other."
The offensive line epitomizes its "team-within-a-team" mentality. It has its own separate meeting area and its own section of the locker room.
"We are a unit," said junior right tackle Russum. "As our coaches tell us, everything starts with the front five."
The offensive line finds that when things go right it doesn't see much of the credit, but when things go south it often has to shoulder much of the blame.
"We try not to worry about how other people think about our play," said senior left guard Michel. "It is lose-lose at times."
•••
According to stats from last season, fans have a reason to direct criticism toward the offensive line.
In 2006, the Grizzlies were last in the Big Sky Conference for giving up sacks. The team surrendered 49 sacks for 290 yards.
"We want to move to first in the conference," said sophomore right guard Hillesland. "It is something we worked on during spring and fall camps."
Russum agrees with Hillesland and noted sacks are a fair way to judge the offensive line.
But Russum and the rest of the offensive line believe other factors such as rushing yards, passing yards, effectively running the football and protecting the passer also help to define an efficient offensive line.
Grading Montana's offensive line by those statistics draws a vastly different conclusion. Montana was first in rushing offense in the conference in 2006 and second in passing offense.
"We measure our success in wins," Michel said. "Also how we come together with things on the line."
The offensive line knows even with success in passing and rushing and putting up wins it will receive heat if it doesn't give up fewer sacks.
"That's the great thing about being 6-5 and over 250 pounds," Dow said. "We have the broad shoulders to take the criticism."
Other than giving up fewer sacks, the offensive line has set goals it wants to achieve this season.
Each player said getting senior running back Lex Hilliard the university record in rushing yards is his number one priority.
"Our goals are based on other people's achievements," Balogh said.
The linemen each had individual goals for the season such as not being called for a false start or holding and not allowing their man getting in on a sack or a solo tackle.
The players agree that their success correlates directly to their coaches.
"Our coaches prepare us for the defensive schemes," Balogh said. "We pretty much know what the other team is going to do on game day."
When offensive line coach Pete Kaligis was asked about his offensive line he answered definitively.
"Don't talk to me about the offensive line," Kaligis said. "Talk to the guys, they are the ones doing the work."
•••
Russum believes the more hard work they put in, the better they will be come Saturday.
"It is all about preparation, putting in the time and knowing the defensive tendencies," he said. "When you are prepared it is just like starting a car, you just put the key in."
The players agree it takes a certain type of personality to play on the offensive line.
"You have to be tough, hard-nosed and bring it on every down," Michel said. "You can't take a play off. You are in there on every play."
Balogh said it comes with the territory.
"It takes a special breed to get hit on every play," he said.
Another unique aspect that the offensive line faces that other positions don't is that all five guys must play as one.
"The coolest part is that five guys have to be in sync and know what the other guys are going to do," Dow said.
Balogh said it takes a total team effort.
"You give it all you have," Balogh said. "It takes all five guys doing the right thing all at once for it to work."
The close-knit offensive line likes to keep its sense of humor.
"On the field we know each other's quirks," Michel said. "It keeps us loose, if we can crack a joke."
Hillesland echoed this.
"We are the jokesters of the team," he said. "Other guys will be serious, listening to music - we try to be laid back. We like to have fun."
The offensive line enjoys doing things that the average fan might not expect.
On their nights out it wouldn't be out of the ordinary seeing the members of the offensive line dancing or singing karaoke together.
•••
Even though fans don't often compliment the offensive line in terms of its singing and dancing abilities, the players do appreciate when fans notice their hard work.
"The support the offensive line does get can go unnoticed at times," Dow said.
He wanted to recognize those fans that have supported the offensive line and he and the rest of the players appreciate all their support.
Still, the offensive line tends to shy away from the limelight and instead gravitates toward one another.
"It is a humble position," Russum said. "You get the glory when you get it."
Balogh especially likes the family atmosphere of the line.
"We are all brothers, we are the first to get in each others face and we are the first to congratulate," Balogh said. "We are close, we are the kind of guys that can call each other at 3 a.m."
GameDay Kaimin
Playing offensive line can be humbling.
Each game day, fans pack Washington-Grizzly Stadium to cheer on their beloved Montana Grizzlies. Whenever the Griz make a big play, the decibel level inside the stadium increases exponentially as 23,000-plus fans collectively cheer. The definition of a big play is a rather broad one to most fans. A long run will get fans on their feet. An acrobatic reception will surely get people to put their hands together.
How about a well-executed base block?
Colin Dow, Cody Balogh, Eric Michel, Terran Hillesland and Brent Russum, the starting offensive line for the Montana Grizzlies, don't expect much of a reaction - and they are OK with that.
"No one notices us," senior left tackle Balogh said. "That's why we are the offensive line."
Junior center Dow echoed the sentiment.
"Sometimes it can be a pain in the ass," he said. "You want to be recognized, but you are conditioned to appreciate the recognition you get from other players and coaches."
The five starters on the offensive line agree that you don't play offensive line for the praises.
"We do it for the team," Balogh said. "You do it for the guy next to you."
The group, as Balogh put it, "is a team within a team."
The offensive line started an annual summer camping trip to bring the offensive linemen closer together off the field. They also have a weekly dinner and an occasional poker night.
"If you don't like the guy next to you, you won't work as hard," Dow said. "We love being around each other and love playing for each other."
The offensive line epitomizes its "team-within-a-team" mentality. It has its own separate meeting area and its own section of the locker room.
"We are a unit," said junior right tackle Russum. "As our coaches tell us, everything starts with the front five."
The offensive line finds that when things go right it doesn't see much of the credit, but when things go south it often has to shoulder much of the blame.
"We try not to worry about how other people think about our play," said senior left guard Michel. "It is lose-lose at times."
•••
According to stats from last season, fans have a reason to direct criticism toward the offensive line.
In 2006, the Grizzlies were last in the Big Sky Conference for giving up sacks. The team surrendered 49 sacks for 290 yards.
"We want to move to first in the conference," said sophomore right guard Hillesland. "It is something we worked on during spring and fall camps."
Russum agrees with Hillesland and noted sacks are a fair way to judge the offensive line.
But Russum and the rest of the offensive line believe other factors such as rushing yards, passing yards, effectively running the football and protecting the passer also help to define an efficient offensive line.
Grading Montana's offensive line by those statistics draws a vastly different conclusion. Montana was first in rushing offense in the conference in 2006 and second in passing offense.
"We measure our success in wins," Michel said. "Also how we come together with things on the line."
The offensive line knows even with success in passing and rushing and putting up wins it will receive heat if it doesn't give up fewer sacks.
"That's the great thing about being 6-5 and over 250 pounds," Dow said. "We have the broad shoulders to take the criticism."
Other than giving up fewer sacks, the offensive line has set goals it wants to achieve this season.
Each player said getting senior running back Lex Hilliard the university record in rushing yards is his number one priority.
"Our goals are based on other people's achievements," Balogh said.
The linemen each had individual goals for the season such as not being called for a false start or holding and not allowing their man getting in on a sack or a solo tackle.
The players agree that their success correlates directly to their coaches.
"Our coaches prepare us for the defensive schemes," Balogh said. "We pretty much know what the other team is going to do on game day."
When offensive line coach Pete Kaligis was asked about his offensive line he answered definitively.
"Don't talk to me about the offensive line," Kaligis said. "Talk to the guys, they are the ones doing the work."
•••
Russum believes the more hard work they put in, the better they will be come Saturday.
"It is all about preparation, putting in the time and knowing the defensive tendencies," he said. "When you are prepared it is just like starting a car, you just put the key in."
The players agree it takes a certain type of personality to play on the offensive line.
"You have to be tough, hard-nosed and bring it on every down," Michel said. "You can't take a play off. You are in there on every play."
Balogh said it comes with the territory.
"It takes a special breed to get hit on every play," he said.
Another unique aspect that the offensive line faces that other positions don't is that all five guys must play as one.
"The coolest part is that five guys have to be in sync and know what the other guys are going to do," Dow said.
Balogh said it takes a total team effort.
"You give it all you have," Balogh said. "It takes all five guys doing the right thing all at once for it to work."
The close-knit offensive line likes to keep its sense of humor.
"On the field we know each other's quirks," Michel said. "It keeps us loose, if we can crack a joke."
Hillesland echoed this.
"We are the jokesters of the team," he said. "Other guys will be serious, listening to music - we try to be laid back. We like to have fun."
The offensive line enjoys doing things that the average fan might not expect.
On their nights out it wouldn't be out of the ordinary seeing the members of the offensive line dancing or singing karaoke together.
•••
Even though fans don't often compliment the offensive line in terms of its singing and dancing abilities, the players do appreciate when fans notice their hard work.
"The support the offensive line does get can go unnoticed at times," Dow said.
He wanted to recognize those fans that have supported the offensive line and he and the rest of the players appreciate all their support.
Still, the offensive line tends to shy away from the limelight and instead gravitates toward one another.
"It is a humble position," Russum said. "You get the glory when you get it."
Balogh especially likes the family atmosphere of the line.
"We are all brothers, we are the first to get in each others face and we are the first to congratulate," Balogh said. "We are close, we are the kind of guys that can call each other at 3 a.m."
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