Offensive Line

#1
OWB

OWB

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#1
I remember many posts before the Georgia game talking about how the Dawgs defense is going to the best the Vols have seen so far, how they had the best DE duo in the SEC, and the concern expressed about the Vols offensive line.

The pass protection was outstanding. Erik Ainge was only sacked once by the safety. He really wasn't even pressured that much and when he was, he made great plays.

Georgia's defensive ends, Johnson and Moses, were pretty much taken out of the equation thanks to Eric Young and a banged up Aaron Sears.

Not to mention the fact that in a hostile environment, the offensive line was only penalized with one false start and there was 1 fumbled snap between McNeil and Ainge.

And then add in the 128 NET yards rushing that Tennessee was able to muster on the ground with all the passing yards credited to the great pass protection.

So I'm curious to know what you all thought about it. Was it a fluke or is this line finally coming together? I realize there's still a lot of work to be done with the line but all in all, I was pleased with their performance on the road against that defensive line.

Thoughts?
 
#2
#2
The longer the season wears on the better this OL gets. UT will still need more production from the running game, but I prefer spreading the field in order to run the ball rather than setting the pass up with the run.

To take the OL praise a step further, I think that the OL's future is actually brighter than the DL. With the exception of Sears and Ligon this is a relatively young unit with great potential. I am now most concerned with Ut's depth at defensive tackle and end.
 
#3
#3
This team is learning and visibly improving week to week. EA has come night and day from last season. Meachem/Swain are night and day from last season. Defense has picked up where they left off and played well with exception of AF game.

This includes the O-line. They started out slow but also have from week to week got better. It shows from game to game. They have over the last weeks man handled below average, average, and above average defenses.

They all will keep improving. Like where we are sitting in relation to last year. Much nicer seat.
 
#4
#4
Lexvol said:
To take the OL praise a step further, I think that the OL's future is actually brighter than the DL.
Click to expand...

Yeah maybe. The OL is certainly coming along quicker than the DL this season, but the OL hasn't lost a player like Harrell.
 
#5
#5
OWB, did I not say that good DEs could not give our OL trouble? Our opponents had better have great DTs, or we will pick them apart with our offense.
 
#6
#6
therealUT said:
OWB, did I not say that good DEs could not give our OL trouble? Our opponents had better have great DTs, or we will pick them apart with our offense.
Click to expand...

Yep I remembered that, I just couldn't remember who said it.
 
#7
#7
Johnson who? Moses who??

#1 scoring defense in the nation- huh?!!!

We exposed the Dawgs this weekend for what they were, period.
 
#8
#8
Well I think the switch to McNeil has been huge. Iirc, McNeil was the #1 center out of hs, while Frogg was a walkon.
 
#9
#9
OWB said:
So I'm curious to know what you all thought about it. Was it a fluke or is this line finally coming together? I realize there's still a lot of work to be done with the line but all in all, I was pleased with their performance on the road against that defensive line.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...


I seem to remember someone suggesting that they call more draws to help the o-line out and get the RB's the ball in space more. :whistling:
 
#10
#10
The O Line pass blocking has been very good.

Run blocking is still a disappointment, especailly when you consider how well our passing attack is clicking. Defenses are not loading up against our run, for the most part, and we still are seeing very average output from the running game.
 
#11
#11
allvol123 said:
The O Line pass blocking has been very good.

Run blocking is still a disappointment, especailly when you consider how well our passing attack is clicking. Defenses are not loading up against our run, for the most part, and we still are seeing very average output from the running game.
Click to expand...

We had a decent running game against Georgia and the Dawgs were obviously worried about the run enough to bite on a lot of playaction passes.
 
#12
#12
OWB said:
We had a decent running game against Georgia and the Dawgs were obviously worried about the run enough to bite on a lot of playaction passes.
Click to expand...

It was decent, but not great, or what I would like to see. I think a team should really find running the ball much easier considering how we are threading defenses with our passing.
 
#13
#13
GAVol said:
I seem to remember someone suggesting that they call more draws to help the o-line out and get the RB's the ball in space more. :whistling:
Click to expand...

I'm telling you, the coaches read this board before practice. :)
 
#14
#14
TravisHenryCBlockedMe said:
Well I think the switch to McNeil has been huge. Iirc, McNeil was the #1 center out of hs, while Frogg was a walkon.
Click to expand...

Agree. That is the biggest improvement to the line. McNeil has tremendous upside as he gains experience. Not trying to knock Frogg, but McNeil is way more athletic.
 
#15
#15
OWB said:
I remember many posts before the Georgia game talking about how the Dawgs defense is going to the best the Vols have seen so far, how they had the best DE duo in the SEC, and the concern expressed about the Vols offensive line.

The pass protection was outstanding. Erik Ainge was only sacked once by the safety. He really wasn't even pressured that much and when he was, he made great plays.

Georgia's defensive ends, Johnson and Moses, were pretty much taken out of the equation thanks to Eric Young and a banged up Aaron Sears.

Not to mention the fact that in a hostile environment, the offensive line was only penalized with one false start and there was 1 fumbled snap between McNeil and Ainge.

And then add in the 128 NET yards rushing that Tennessee was able to muster on the ground with all the passing yards credited to the great pass protection.

So I'm curious to know what you all thought about it. Was it a fluke or is this line finally coming together? I realize there's still a lot of work to be done with the line but all in all, I was pleased with their performance on the road against that defensive line.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
couple of things...
1. after 6 games of playing together, it's clear that they are playing better as a unit, and it shows.
2. Our running game against UGA is exactly what we needed...
We got several plays where we gashed them up the middle for 1st downs, and that was a big reminder to the defense that you better account for that too...which as you said earlier, really helped the play action.

This offensive line doesn't have to be a pound 'em in the ground line...they just need to get it done when needed...like on Saturday night...so we have a running game. our running game doesn't have to be special. it just has to exist.

and against that D Line...i'm impressed. i said it another thread, but that was the best offensive line performace we've had in a while.
 
#16
#16
For all intents and purposes, we are a Run and Shoot team right now.
 
#17
#17
Florida stacked the line with 8 players to stuff the run and dared us to pass. We spent way too much time trying to run against that scheme instead of making them pay for it with short quick passes. I think we did a better job of not falling into that trap with UGA. It is hard to run when a team loads the line. The way to open up the run is to make teams pay for stacking the line with the short passing game. We have the QB and receivers to do that.

By the way, this is my first post. I have been visiting for some time now (just reading).
 
#19
#19
jakez4ut said:
i hate to agree with this...but run and shoot sounds so sissy...let's not speak of it again...
Click to expand...

Yeah, Run and Shoot, Chuck and Duck etc . . . does conjure up images of not being able to run the ball, but that's not necessarily true. That's what Florida basically ran for years under Spurrier, they just called it Fun n' Gun.

Let's just call it the Smokey Mountain Express or something cool like that. :)
 
#20
#20
GAVol said:
Yeah, it does conjure up images of not being able to run the ball, but that's not necessarily true. That's what Florida basically ran for years under Spurrier, they just called it Fun n' Gun.

Let's just call it the Smokey Mountain Express or something cool like that. :)
Click to expand...
:lolabove: good stuff...and you're right about the Spurrier offense comparrison...the rushing yards almost seem hidden with all the slinging around...but i'm telling you, one thing that impressed me were two of Foster's runs in the 2nd half up the gut for like 8-12 yards each, both for 1st downs....you only have to do that like 4 times a game at the right times, and the defense has to account for it...reminds me a lot of Florida in the 90's...good comparison.
 
#22
#22
SATexasVol said:
Florida stacked the line with 8 players to stuff the run and dared us to pass. We spent way too much time trying to run against that scheme instead of making them pay for it with short quick passes. I think we did a better job of not falling into that trap with UGA. It is hard to run when a team loads the line. The way to open up the run is to make teams pay for stacking the line with the short passing game. We have the QB and receivers to do that.

By the way, this is my first post. I have been visiting for some time now (just reading).
Click to expand...

Welcome to the board . . . I agree with you completely. One thing I was glad to see Saturday night was that when we got the lead, we didn't revert back to playing "Johnny Ball" to try and run out the clock. We just put the pedal down and blew them out.
 
#23
#23
allvol123 said:
I agree with that. but that bothers me. Run and shoot teams are a threat to get their faces smashed in eventually. Hope not.
Click to expand...

I agree, but like I said earlier, Steve Spurrier has made a career out of running a similar style offense. He just throws it down the field a little more.
 
#24
#24
SATexasVol said:
Florida stacked the line with 8 players to stuff the run and dared us to pass. We spent way too much time trying to run against that scheme instead of making them pay for it with short quick passes. I think we did a better job of not falling into that trap with UGA. It is hard to run when a team loads the line. The way to open up the run is to make teams pay for stacking the line with the short passing game. We have the QB and receivers to do that.

By the way, this is my first post. I have been visiting for some time now (just reading).
Click to expand...

YES!!!!!! That is exactly what I've been saying. Florida's scheme was a little better than GA's, but some of that is because we played right into their hands by lining up in the I-formation and manning up on them with extra defenders.

Our scheme against GA, especially with the TEs, was totally different. We didn't allow them to come downhill on us like FL did because we spread them out a little more and didn't try to bang our heads against the wall.

Maybe our line played better. Fine. But I think we put them in better positions to succeed than we did against FL. We made GA play us "fair", if that makes sense.
 
#25
#25
OWB said:
I remember many posts before the Georgia game talking about how the Dawgs defense is going to the best the Vols have seen so far, how they had the best DE duo in the SEC, and the concern expressed about the Vols offensive line.

The pass protection was outstanding. Erik Ainge was only sacked once by the safety. He really wasn't even pressured that much and when he was, he made great plays.

Georgia's defensive ends, Johnson and Moses, were pretty much taken out of the equation thanks to Eric Young and a banged up Aaron Sears.

Not to mention the fact that in a hostile environment, the offensive line was only penalized with one false start and there was 1 fumbled snap between McNeil and Ainge.

And then add in the 128 NET yards rushing that Tennessee was able to muster on the ground with all the passing yards credited to the great pass protection.

So I'm curious to know what you all thought about it. Was it a fluke or is this line finally coming together? I realize there's still a lot of work to be done with the line but all in all, I was pleased with their performance on the road against that defensive line.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Without the O/L stepped up play, we would have never won the game IMO.The D/L stepped it up as well.:rock:
 
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