Thin line separates MSU from Cal

EAST LANSING - In a move that would make Miss Manners beam, Javon Ringer and Jehuu Caulcrick left thank-you cards in the lockers of their offensive linemen last season, giving love to the big fellas for all their yards and touchdowns.

Ringer, whose Michigan State senior season begins Saturday at California, has always credited his line. That means they get some of the pressure, too.

Ringer has not hesitated to declare the rebuilt line's play as one of the keys to the 2008 season.

"No, I told them that, too," Ringer said. "We're gonna win and lose by them. It's not about (quarterback Brian) Hoyer, me, our receivers - it's about our offensive line."

Four 2007 contributors are gone, the left side is new and the depth is questionable. On top of that, the new line must start together in a hostile environment against a team with fast, experienced linebackers.

The communication and execution will have to be sharp from the start.

"Yeah, it's a question mark," offensive line coach Dan Roushar said of his group. "As I sat here a year ago, it was a big question mark about what we were gonna be. We evolved. Our tight end play I thought was outstanding, it made a big difference in our run game.

"And I think people can sometimes put too much ownership on just the offensive line for the effectiveness of what you're doing. ... We get far too much credit and it goes with the territory. There's probably too much criticism when things don't go well, but we welcome that and that's part of it. I'm good with that. We'll be all right."

The good news for MSU is that the right side is back, with tackle Jesse Miller and guard Roland Martin entering their third seasons as starters and fifth seasons at MSU. Junior center Joel Nitchman is back after starting seven games last season.

The left side is where eligibility expiration hit. Starting left tackle Pete Clifford and starting left guard Kenny Shane are gone. So is key guard reserve Mike Gyetvai and part-time starting center John Masters.

Junior Rocco Cironi steps in at left tackle, with senior Mike Bacon (Lansing Catholic) and redshirt freshman Joel Foreman set to split time at left guard.

Those are the only six players guaranteed to play - unless injuries hit. And if they do, MSU could be in trouble.

"I'm not worried about our front line at all, what I'm worried about is if we lose someone," Miller said. "Do we have someone to step in and not miss a beat?"

That's not to say Miller agrees with the idea that the offensive line is a question mark on this team, even though he said he's used to it.

"Is it fair to say? I don't really worry about that because it's gonna be said," Miller said. "It's been said since I've been here so I expect it to be said. When we play well, we don't get no recognition for it, but we do get put down if we mess up."

No recognition, that is, except for Ringer's Hallmark moments. Miller and his linemates appreciate the appreciation, and they don't seem to mind that Ringer is putting the heat on them now.

They'd know better than anyone the truth in Ringer's words.

"You can take LaDainian Tomlinson, put him back there," Martin said, "and if we don't block for him, even he could never get away."

Contact Joe Rexrode at 377-1070.