Versatility on Tulane Offensive Line Is Quietly a Top Trait

The Tulane Green Wave are starting to see better play on the line of scrimmage as they keep heading into American Conference play, and that’s nothing to sneeze at.

Despite a myriad of changes, the offensive line had one of their best performances against the Army Black Knights, probably only rivaling the game against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles.

That’s despite a new starting line in nearly every game this season -- and multiple different quarterbacks under center.

Before the season even started, they lost Elijah Baker who was slotted to start at left guard. Gresham Perry has performed well considering his total lack of experience in his place and has been the only member on the line who hasn’t moved around.

The first game against the Duke Blue Devils saw Dominic Steward at left tackle, Perry at left guard, Gavin Marks in place of an injured John Bock at center, Reese Baker at right guard, and Ryan Mickow at right tackle.

Then Steward got banged up. Mickow moved to left tackle, and Darion Reed started Game 2 at right tackle in his place. Bock returned from his injury and started at center.

That line was stable until conference play, where they debuted yet another combination due to Reed being out and Steward still injured.

Against the Black Knights, Mickow was at left tackle, Perry at left guard, Marks was back at center, Bock moved to right guard, and Baker moved to right tackle.

This week, Steward was back taking reps at left tackle. Mickow was on the sidelines but didn’t participate in team drills Tuesday, possibly a bit banged up from a grueling game fending off Army.

The rest of the lined remained in the new combination. That’s a lot of changing around to ask out of a line that was certainly scrutinized heading into the year for some size issues and depth that was relatively unproven.

If Perry is the first test of that unproven depth of a young player developed within, he certainly makes a great case.

He’s also had multiple combinations of left guard and center surrounding him. The right side of the line has played total musical chairs, with Bock and Baker’s versatility becoming essential.

A lot of players can play multiple positions on the line, but not particularly well, often clearly favoring one spot over the other. Size can also be a major factor there.

But Bock can legitimately play center and right guard. Baker can genuinely play right guard and right tackle.

Most teams would be down far on the depth chart with these injuries. They’ve managed to keep four of the starting five parts from the opener on the field along with an intended opening starter in Bock by that versatility.

The offense has a ton to figure out. The offensive line hasn’t been perfect.

They’re, at this point, the most consistently executed unit on that side of the ball.