Central Michigan starting left tackle Jake Olson will miss the remainder of the 2010 football season due to a knee injury suffered during the Eastern Michigan game.

The coaching staff was hopeful for Olson to return this year but when swelling in the injured knee didn't subside, they knew surgery would be required, which forces Olson to miss the rest of the season.

Rocky Weaver will make the change from right tackle to left tackle for the remainder of the year while Eric Fisher will stay at right tackle.

Olson, a redshirt sophomore, started 12 games last season at left tackle and earned freshman All-America honors by collegefootballnews.com.

The more I think about it, the more I strongly feel that the 2009 CMU football season comes down to really just two players:

Jake Olson and Rocky Weaver.

When you break down the CMU roster, the Chippewas seem pretty solid in almost every category. The quarterback is at the elite level, as are the wide receivers. You have a large group of young running backs, your linebacking core looks to have more depth and youth, the defensive secondary should be greatly improved, and your defensive line is thin, but has some top talent. Really, the big concern is at offensive line, yet the line will be anchored by two 3-year starters. Colin Miller and Jeff Maddux are reliable and senior Allen Ollenburger has playing experience to go on, but the two tackle positions, which are arguably the most important, are dominated with inexperience.

I hate to put the whole season on two young guys, but I really can't see things any other way. If Dan LeFevour has time to make throws, CMU will be just fine. But, in order for that to happen, Olson and Weaver have to play well.

I think early in the season against teams like Arizona and Michigan State, it could look ugly as the two get a feel for starting at tackle in a college football game. Hopefully by the start of the MAC schedule, they will feel better about the position.

CMU has all the talent in the world, but football is a team game and you are only as strong as your weakest link in the chain. Weaver and Olson are clearly coming into the season as the weak link, but can become the strongest link if they catch on to the position quickly. I know Butch Jones is high on Olson, so hopefully he can live up to that billing.

Let me know what you think. What do you think is the key this upcoming season for CMU or is there a particular player that you think will be the difference maker in 2009?