"How soon can they gel together? Can they learn each other's little idiosyncrasies on their steps to work together. It's important for a center to know how his two guards work. It's important for the guards to know how the two tackles work."

So far in fall camp, Lions offensive line coach Allen Rudolph has been something of a chess master, pushing pawns around and trying to find the right combination.

It remains a work in progress, and even more so because one of the key pieces to the puzzle, prized juco tackle Willie Pritchett (6-6, 320) has not yet cleared Southeastern's admissions obstacle course and has yet to see the field.

Pritchett and a second juco lineman, Kenny Stallings (6-3, 300) had been counted on to occupy two of those graduation voids.

One of the givens is the lone returning starter, senior Brad Bardy (6-0, 290), who started at center last season but could also play guard.

The Lions are also counting heavily on redshirt sophomore David Ward (6-4, 295) and his surgically repaired knee. Ward started 10 games as a true freshman before blowing out his knee in the spring last year and missing the entire season.

Ward was a guard as a freshman but is capable of playing center and this week was getting a look at tackle during Pritchett's continued absence.

And former Amite Warrior Kevin Hughes (6-5, 275) saw extensive action last season and looks ready for a starting role.

Hughes is hardly the only local guy bucking for a spot. Senior Brent Blazevich (6-2, 328) is one of the strongest Lions, and there are two more sophomores who also figure prominently. Former Hammond Tor Jordan Powell (6-3, 290) was a walk-on who opened some eyes last season when pressed into spot duty by injuries.

And former Springfield Bulldog Josh Bridges (6-2, 275) played on the defensive side as a freshman but was moved back to offense - his best position in high school - to help fill the breach this season.

"In the offensive line, we've got to find the right combination," Lucas said after practice this week. "Coach Rudolph has played a lot of different guys in a lot of different spots. We have to find out who the best five are, and then the next two or three. That's something we've got to get lined up. But everywhere else (on offense) I think we know where we're going."

Up until today, it's been difficult to get a good read on the offensive line's progress in camp during non-contact work. But the start of full contact on Friday and two-a-days today should help bring the picture into better focus.

But in the non-contact part of camp, there's no doubt the Lions' lightning-quick defensive linemen were getting the best of the battles. Still, Lucas sees a bright spot in that.

"We're not playing anybody today, and blocking our defensive ends right now will help our guys when we get to the season," he said.

All of the turnover could also turn out to be a good thing, however, as the Lions purge themselves of the last vestiges of the Air Raid offense they used at the outset of their football resurrection. With talent on the order of Jay Lucas pounding the rock, the Lion O-line has had to develop a new mind-set.

"The guys we played with last year have been pass block, pass block, pass block," Coach Lucas said. "We had to change their mentality for them. Now we're we're going to run the football 50 percent of the time, you've got to come off the ball and hit people in the mouth.

"The kids we have now have done more run blocking. They're accustomed to more of the things we want to do."