"“Overall understanding of the playbook….Last year, we understood the playbook and worked it constantly, but with these new summers that we’ve had – where everyone works with the coaches a little bit and have meetings – we have a great understanding of the playbook. We’ve been able to study our opponents much more. We’ve been able to study our defense much more and we have an idea of what’s happening and what’s on the field and we can make our adjustments. I’m very pleased with the ones we’ve been running – we run very smooth and are doing a great job, understanding exactly what’s going on."
Senior starting center and Junior backup left guard Tyler Gauthier to give the offensive line some flexibility at guard and center. Gauthier started the final four games of last season at guard after Linder was out for the remainder of the season with an injury.
Searles is still getting a feel for who will play where this season. He spoke about where he sees Linder and Gauthier in 2017.
"“I think Nick [Linder] has played a lot of ball and Tyler has really come on in the last year or so and played well for us,” Searels said. “Both of them can play center and both of them can play guard and both of them are going to help us win this year.”"