SEMO football preview: Three starters return to offensive line that surrendered fewest sacks in OVC

This story is part of the Southeast Missouri State football preview series. Click here to read the personal story of senior receiver Paul McRoberts, who has gone from almost quitting football to being an NFL prospect.

Southeast Missouri State offensive line coach Jon Wiemers likes to think one part of his job is a game, and not of the football variety.

That game is figuring out where each of his top linemen will fit within the offensive line scheme.

He returned three of his starting offensive linemen from last season -- junior center Jake McCandless, junior guard Garret Baker and senior guard Traven Mable.

The remaining two spots that were vacated by Kyle Finney and Corey Porter were filled by sophomore tackle Alex Snyder and junior tackle Michael Cooke.

Snyder played in five games and Cooke played in three for the Redhawks last season.

Finney and Porter each started in all 12 games during their senior seasons.

"I have to find a way to play the best five, whether I have to move one to a different position and play musical chairs, so to speak, with them," Wiemers said.

The Redhawks' offensive line allowed just eight sacks last season, which was fewest in the Ohio Valley Conference.

They didn't allow a sack against then-nationally ranked Tennessee State, the team which led the country in that stat at the time.

"I think they just bought in not only to our team culture, but the chemistry with an offensive line is so important, and they bought into our offensive line culture as well," Wiemers said. "They bought into what we want to do offensively, what we're trying to accomplish, and they're very coachable kids."

The offensive line paved the way for record-breaking quarterback Kyle Snyder. The Redhawks former quarterback broke the school's single-season record for total offense with 3,243 yards. He rushed for 661 yards and nine touchdowns and threw for 2,582 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Southeast's offense averaged 201.6 yards rushing per game last season, led by second-team all-conference running back DeMichael Jackson, who is back again for his senior year.

"Our priority is that we want to be able to run the ball first, so their physicality, to me, is the most important thing, and their ability to pick up on our offense and execute it how we want them to," Wiemers said.

The entire Southeast football team spent the offseason making gains in the weight room, but Wiemers said his group of guys increased their personal bests on all of their major lifts as part of an "excellent offseason."

Wiemers said he considers Mable, McCandless and Baker to be "coaches on the field." They understand his expectations and make sure that the other members of the line do as well, including freshmen Drew Forbes, Mitch Yant and Drew Swihart, whom Wiemers said have good futures ahead.

The chemistry and bonding amongst the members of the offensive line also has been critical to the team's improvement.

"We have to all be on the same page, and we're basically one heartbeat with five guys," Wiemers said. "I guess a good analogy would be that we're a chain and you can't have one link break because it'll disrupt everything we're trying to do. I think that's something that right now they've been executing very well."