Barring some sort of unforeseen calamity, spring practices for the Colorado football team already are much more successful and beneficial than drills run at the same time last year.

That's saying something considering the first whistle hasn't been blown yet in 2008.

There is a simple explanation here. The program has an offensive line once again.

The Buffs managed to get through two- and three-hour practices last spring despite having only five or six offensive linemen available depending on the day.

It set the entire team back because full 11-on-11 work had to be limited to six or seven plays at a time. Otherwise, the defensive line would have had its way with fatigued offensive linemen and not much would have been accomplished.

Eight true freshman linemen joined the program last summer and made an impact in fall camp.

Two of them became starters early in the season and entering spring practices that begin Monday afternoon at 4 p.m., coaches will be trying to find at least three new starters, figuring incumbents Daniel Sanders and Ryan Miller earn their positions once again.

The Buffs are scheduled to practice 14 times before the annual spring game slated for April 19 at Folsom Field. All practices are open to the public and they figure to be much more active with 13 offensive linemen on the roster, not including longsnappers and Kai Maiava, who is moving to fullback.

Offensive line coach Jeff Grimes is entering his second spring with the program, which is another reason the unit and the team should be better off right from the start. There are no dramatic changes to learn in the way one coach does things compared with another.Grimes said his first spring in Boulder was tough.

"You can't do anything if you don't have enough offensive linemen," Grimes said. "If you only have two quarterbacks, you can still practice, but if you don't have enough offensive linemen, you can't operate as a team."

Grimes has set a simple goal and a lofty one for the spring.

When the spring game is over, he wants to have a solid idea of who his best five or six linemen are. That should be accomplished relatively easily. The second goal is much more difficult to reach.

"My personal definition and my goal is that we be the toughest offensive line in the country," Grimes said. "I don't know that it's quantifiable necessarily. I don't know how you would ever be able to say that we are or we aren't, but I know the kinds of things I'm looking for."

He said those things are defenders being knocked to the ground and his players playing inspired, smart and tough football, never quitting on a play.

Grimes said even with increased numbers, he is prepared for some rough spots this spring because he is still working with so many youngsters.

Sanders, the starting center last season, is one of two seniors in the group. The other is Erick Faatagi, who transferred to CU two years ago, but missed the 2006 season recovering from surgery and missed last season because he was academically ineligible.

Faatagi has junior college experience and figures to be a strong candidate to earn a starting job at one guard spot next to Sanders.

Miller will man one of two tackle positions, but which one remains to be seen.

Grimes said he plans to rotate all his guards and tackles between both sides of the line while also cross-training them to play both guard and tackle.

He said he does this so if someone is injured in a game during the season, he can insert the next best player as opposed to skipping over players because they don't know certain positions.

Moving Maiava to fullback after he was named a freshman All-American lineman by The Sporting News last fall is not the only big change in the line this spring.

Coaches are excited to add sophomore Nate Solder to the mix at tackle. He spent his first two seasons in the program playing tight end but coaches believe he is naturally suited to be a left tackle.

The adjustment could take some time, but coach Dan Hawkins said he believes the best left tackles are generally very good athletes in the mold of Solder, while the best right tackles are generally beefy bulls such as Miller, who was one of the most sought-after offensive line recruits in the nation a year ago.

Redshirt freshmen Ethan Adkins, Matt Bahr and Sione Tau also will compete at tackle.

Miller said this group of linemen have become close in less than a year together in the program.

Many of them already have earned nicknames. Miller is Five Star for obvious reasons.

Ethan Adkins is Boss Man because he is allegedly constantly bossing his teammates around.

Sanders remains Girthy, a nickname first bestowed on him by former defensive tackle Matt McChesney three years ago.

Sione Tau is Shrek, and David Clark is Hasselhoff because his teammates believe he looks like former Baywatch star David Hasselhoff.

Miller said the unit needs to develop the same camaraderie on the field.

"I think it's definitely to get on one page as a unit," Miller said. "Everyone has their own little things as an individual like footwork or hand placement. I think we need to grow closer as an entire offensive line."

Grimes also must begin to identify the best option to back up Sanders at center. Sophomore walk-on Keenan Stevens and redshirt freshman Shawn Daniels will compete for the job. Both are likely to work at guard as well, competing there with Faatagi, Devin Head, Mke Iltis, Blake Behrens and Clark.

"No matter what I do as a coach, nothing motivates players more than competition," Grimes said. "Creating a situation where guys have to fight for their jobs and earn playing time is a valuable thing."