Uncertain line is now Indians' strength

A year's work has made plenty of difference in Southeast Missouri State University's offensive line.

The unit has gone from a major question mark to "probably the strength of our team," coach Tim Billings said -- all in roughly 12 months.

Billings was nervous about his interior line entering last season. That's usually the case when several true freshmen and other young players are asked to start at a position where experience and physical maturity are usually necessities.

"It's unusual to have that many young guys starting on the line, but they really developed into a cohesive unit," Billings said.

Four starters return up front for the Indians, the most experienced being 6-foot-3, 315-pound junior left guard Eugene Amano, entering his third season as a starter.

Rounding out the returning regulars are junior left tackle Justen Meyer (6-5, 295), sophomore right guard Dan Bieg (6-4, 305) and sophomore right tackle Dan Connolly (6-4, 295). Those three are all St. Louis natives while Amano is from San Diego, Calif.

Amano and Connolly both were second-team all-Ohio Valley Conference selections last year and Meyer made the honorable-mention list. This year, Connolly was picked to the league's all-preseason team and Amano made honorable-mention.

Battling for the remaining starting spot, center, are a pair of junior transfers: Amos Misilao (6-4, 315) from Palomar Junior College and Eric Krauss (6-4, 280) from Division I-A Marshall University. Krauss can also play guard.

Adding more size and experience to the unit is sophomore tackle Taurean Robinson (6-4, 320), who saw quality action as a true freshman backup last year.

"I think our line is looking good," Meyer said. "We've gotten a lot stronger and a lot smarter since last year. That experience should really pay off."

The linemen credit the Indians' summer strength and conditioning program for not only making them bigger and stronger but also helping develop the kind of camaraderie that a cohesive unit needs.

"Most of us have basically been together since last summer," Connolly said. "I don't think we've been apart more than a month in all that time."

Said Bieg, "We all worked our asses off this summer. We should be a lot better."

Not only do the offensive linemen play and practice together, they also spend time together socially. One of their favorite pastimes is hitting Cape Girardeau's restaurants --preferably the all-you-can-eat establishments.

"We all hang out together," Connolly said. "We do a lot of things, but after games and practices we like to go out to eat."

And who can put away the most food? The four returning starters were unanimous.

"Connolly, definitely," Amano said. The others nodded in agreement.

"These guys aren't just big," Billings said. "They're real athletes. They're in good shape and they can all move."

Offensive linemen generally toil in obscurity. When an offensive play does go for long yardage, it's often the skill position people who get notice. But that doesn't bother the Indians' men up front.

"Our job is to make others look good," Amano said.

The Indians' linemen say they get their kicks out of contributing to offensive plays that work well. And it also doesn't hurt to inflict a little physical damage to the defense every now and then.

"Knocking somebody on their back is the best feeling we get," Connolly said with a smile.

If Billings' assessment of his team's strength is accurate, then that just might happen quite a bit this season.

mmishow@semissourian.com

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