That would come down to Datko's health. Especially if he's able to play G.

Has Van Roten been getting time at C?

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I don't see why he is a long shot at this particular time. They like the guys who can play multiple positions, in this case G and B, and be available. That is Gus Van Roten!

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That is a reasonable question. Here is my opinion. Let's start with the depth chart from Ourlads website. 

Depth Chart:

LT 75 Bulaga, Bryan 10/1 69 Bakhtiari, David 13/4
LG 71 Sitton, Josh 08/4 77 Datko, Andrew 12/7
C 62 Dietrich-Smith, Evan CF09 64 Van Roten, Greg CF12 60 Lewis, Patrick CF13 72 Gerhart, Garth SF12
RG 70 Lang, TJ 09/4 65 Taylor, Lane CF13 68 Hughes, Kevin SF13 73 Tretter, JC PUP/ACT
RT 74 Newhouse, Marshall 10/5 67 Barclay, Don CF12 78 Sherrod, Derek PUP/ACT

Van Roten is the backup at C. But as you mentioned several players can play multiple positions. The need for a back up center is not so great. There are a few people on this board who, for various reasons, like a some of the free agents. That means they are pushing Van Roten for one of the last spots.

Are they going to keep 9 or 10 linemen? Who knows? what if they only stick with 8? It is rather doubtful that they will but not unheard of.

If Sherrod is healthy he is one of the top 8. Basically you have 3-4 players looking at the last 1-2 positions. That is what I mean by a long shot. He certainly has a better chance than an unproven street free agent but he has a fight none the less. Because of players being able to fill multiple positions I expect them to keep 9. One of the underlying issues is the question of EDS. Is he really the center of the future? If not who is? Tretter maybe? What if they think it is going to be Lewis once he gets a little seasoning. They won't put him on the PS and risk losing him. Van Roten may be better this year but will he still be better in 3 years? I don't know.

I ranked Van Roten right behind Datko. That puts in in 10th place on the overall OL depth squarely on the bubble.

Locks:

Bulaga
Sitton
EDS
Lang

Probable:

Newhouse
Barclay
Bakhtiari
Sherrod

Bubble:

Datko
Van Roten

Doubtful:

Lewis
Gerhart
Taylor
Hughes

IR:

Tretter
Sherrod?

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I like your analysis here. My thing about centers in camp is the less you hear about them the better. If you hear about them it is usually because they are doing something wrong. The coaches talk a lot of consistency and I think that speaks to them giving Barclay more play on the right side with starters. I have to make more assumptions than I would like because I am not there. Reports on the 1 on 1s don't show too much promise for Datko lately and you are right about the doubtfuls because all I hear is how specifically Taylor gets beat a lot.

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everything I do is based on assumption. I have not seen them workout at all.

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Sherrod is such a wild card. Imagine if he was healthy right now. That would have been awesome.

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