Don Mahoney: most important staff hire

#51
#51
Pittman was the best OL coach we have had in years. Mahoney hopefully is close to as good.
 
#53
#53
Pittman is overrated, dont get me wrong he is a good coach......but

Most of that O line has been together since freshmen year.

Bray never held on too the ball, he eather got it out of his hand fast, or if he didnt like the read he would throw it away. So he never was sacked.
 
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#54
#54
VFL1953 said:
Mike Shanahan ran a zone blocking scheme in Denver for years, and it seems that his team was at or near the top of the league in rushing every year, often with less than superstar backs. Other than Terrell Davis, frankly I don't remember who any of them were.

Be prepared for complaints from opposing defenses. Zone blocking offenses are often accused of cut blocking, and borderline dirty play.
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I'll celebrate the day we get accused of dirty play.. usually just means you're playing hard rather than people laying down like on Dool's teams.
 
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#55
#55
kbutler said:
Ohio Vol, I am not trying to set you up with this question. But I am no expert on OL play, but I did see the improvements with Pittman. How do you think Pittman stacks up to Mahoney?
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Honestly, the line this year looked like a function of an experienced line doing what they'd be expected to do, rather than a group that had suddenly broken through. Time will tell though.
 
#56
#56
Vol$4Life said:
Stopped reading after first sentence 12 years struggled in all aspects in offensive line? weve had some great o lines over this time and dating back to eric ainge weve given up almost the fewest sacks in the country 2 record setting years in there wtf r u talking about
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Well, that's almost a sentence.

We've seen passable lines. We saw the year of the three-step drop, which had people around the country gushing about allowing four sacks the entire year while all of us were wondering what the hype was about. But we haven't seen a tough, physical, excellent line since 2001.
 
#57
#57
Lynx27 said:
Zone blocking was created for linemen who could not block, they just all have to step together and move in the same direction. Anyone can zone block! Zone blocking is at its best when the second level of defenders can't get a good read on their gaps, forcing them to make bad decisions. Our running game improved when 2 things happened, first Bray completed a higher percentage of his passes to outside receivers, making defenses take people out of the box and second Lane carried the ball more than Neal!
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To be perfectly honest, Denver-style zone blocking (step and keep moving) isn't the most difficult thing in the world to defend. Any good defensive line coach will tell his guys that "No matter what, don't let him reach you". The step zone is all about reach blocking, and a disciplined D-line that can keep contain can absolutely suffocate this type of running game.

However, I disagree that the system is designed for guys who can't block. It's designed for guys who can't overwhelm defenders with sheer strength, and instead can use their athleticism and quickness to annoy the hell out of the defense. It's the difference between Apollo Creed boxing compared to Clubber Lang.
 
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#58
#58
Ohio Vol said:
To be perfectly honest, Denver-style zone blocking (step and keep moving) isn't the most difficult thing in the world to defend. Any good defensive line coach will tell his guys that "No matter what, don't let him reach you". The step zone is all about reach blocking, and a disciplined D-line that can keep contain can absolutely suffocate this type of running game.

However, I disagree that the system is designed for guys who can't block. It's designed for guys who can't overwhelm defenders with sheer strength, and instead can use their athleticism and quickness to annoy the hell out of the defense. It's the difference between Apollo Creed boxing compared to Clubber Lang.
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That is a fair assessment. I used to say the zone is this generation's wing T... Instead of gap, down, backer it is reach, reach, reach. I was trying to say anyone can zone block, it is not a difficult concept to pick up, it is very effective!
 
#59
#59
Lynx27 said:
That is a fair assessment. I used to say the zone is this generation's wing T... Instead of gap, down, backer it is reach, reach, reach. I was trying to say anyone can zone block, it is not a difficult concept to pick up, it is very effective!
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It's just a basic guard read on who the center and which guard will double who? Then scraping off the block to reach the second level. Were going for a true no huddle quick O.
 
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#60
#60
Ohio Vol said:
For the last 12 years, UT has struggled year in and year out with every aspect of the offensive line. My own comments about the long-deposed Jimmy Ray Stephens and Greg Adkins are still all over the boards, and I believe I voiced my opposition to James Cregg and Harry Hiestand before their charges ever took the field in a game.

Living in Ohio, I see plenty of the MAC and from the rest of the teams in the region (and a couple years out of coaching also allows more free time). So I've seen a good deal of Central Michigan and Cincinnati with Don Mahoney coaching the offensive lines of each. And I have really liked what I've seen.

Reasons:
- Downfield blocking. For years we've seen potential big plays get stopped five yards downfield because the line isn't getting to the second level. CMU and Cincy both were able to consistently spring big plays by getting the line past the first level.

- Movement. The line has generally moved well enough to provide running backs with average athleticism (but good vision) the chance to make plays.

- Tenacity. I'm a proponent of "if you block the wrong guy, at least block him out of the play". If you must be wrong, be wrong at top speed and in an ill mood. CMU and Cincy were both known for this.

This stands in sharp contrast to what we've seen basically every year since 1999 or 2000. Gone will be the days of a three-step drop by necessity, or of the ol' grab-and-twist, or of whacking a DL and then standing around confused about what to do.
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Cregg was very good. Look at what he did with the Sullins brothers. I don't remember ever hearing about Cincinatti being known for great blocking. We stopped them on fourth and less than a yard more than once when we played them.
 
#61
#61
Vol4life25 said:
Pittman is overrated, dont get me wrong he is a good coach......but

Most of that O line has been together since freshmen year.

Bray never held on too the ball, he eather got it out of his hand fast, or if he didnt like the read he would throw it away. So he never was sacked.
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+1
I keep reading how Tennessee was the least sacked team in the SEC and I always think back to that. Bray hardly ever extended a play and would just chuck it out of bounds or at the receivers feet at the first sign of pressure. Although I think our OL was definitely improved, the lack of sacks stat was more on Bray. They also had trouble running the ball against the good teams when it mattered.
 
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