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Demon Deacons hope O-line comes together against Tigers

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Posted 6:28AM on Wednesday 1st September 2004 ( 20 years ago )
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - No one has to tell Jim Grobe that his Wake Forest offensive line is untested heading into Saturday&#39;s opener against No. 15 Clemson.<br> <br> With their offense focused on the running game, the Demon Deacons will have to get by with a line that could feature two redshirt freshmen and a sophomore in their first collegiate starts against the Tigers.<br> <br> ``They don&#39;t look young they are young,&#39;&#39; Grobe said Tuesday.<br> <br> Grobe said there&#39;s been plenty of competition for playing time along the line during preseason camp, with as many as nine players in the mix. But youngsters like redshirt freshmen Matt Brim and Brodie Overstreet stood out.<br> <br> Guard Arby Jones, a sophomore who saw some playing time last season, is another of the possible new starters. Senior center Blake Lingruen and sophomore left tackle Steve Vallos are the lone returning starters.<br> <br> ``I feel better about it,&#39;&#39; Grobe said about how the offensive line. ``I felt really uneasy in the spring, really uneasy going into the start of August, although I thought our linemen in the weight room in the offseason had really made some great improvements. So I kind of like what I see right now and I may be wrong but we&#39;ll see on Saturday.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Quarterback Cory Randolph says he has made a conscious effort not to worry about the inexperienced line.<br> <br> The Demon Deacons (5-7 last season) thrive on the ground, led by Chris Barclay&#39;s 1,192 rushing yards. With Randolph having a full year under his belt as the starter and Barclay 100 percent healthy, the maturity of the offensive line will be important.<br> <br> ``Those young guys are just going to have to step in there and play,&#39;&#39; Randolph said. ``Any starter in their career has to make that first start and that&#39;s the thing with us here at Wake Forest. You get a chance to play early, you want to play early, and this is their chance to prove they are ready.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Grobe called the line a ``work in progress.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> ``That&#39;s the key for us, if we play well enough up front we&#39;ll have a chance,&#39;&#39; Grobe said. ``I think we&#39;ve got enough skill players to move the football. We&#39;ve got to have a great effort out of offensive line on Saturday, and they certainly have worked hard enough.&#39;&#39;

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