Our Offensive Line is Offensive

[T_man_J]

I just watched the Auburn/Georgia game with a focus on offensive line play and I made a few comparison’s to our O line. I was impressed with the way Auburn’s O line was able to maintain blocking angles and perform blocking assignments down field on running plays. On one running play, Auburn’s Joe Cope (second string center) made a containment block on the line and then made a second block downfield to spring Kenny Irons into the end zone for a score. The sobering fact here is that Joe Cope is a walk-on player. I compared Auburn’s O line play to our O line play against Memphis; now I see the light.

Our O line is too fat to play! We outweighed the Memphis D line by 50 pounds (on average). Play after play I watched Foster dance in the back field waiting for our big boys to open up a running lane and it did not happen. In each game this season, I’ve watched offensive lineman get penalized for false starts, stand up too soon after snaps (allowing D-linemen to get pad leverage), and miss outside blocks on running plays (too slow to get to the point of attack). In fact, I think that we do not call that many outside trap plays because our linemen do not have the speed to perform their blocking assignments.

This is not an attack on our players. Our players are just doing what they are coached to do—or not coached to do.

 

[MississippiVol]

I too noticed how athletic Auburn' O-Line is. Very, very athletic group of guys. It just makes me sick to see the success other teams have like that, while it seems our guys don't even master the basic fundamentals.

 

[Jmxvol]

Our Oline is too fat and slow, Jimmy Ray must go.

 

[WA_Vol]

Originally posted by T_man_J@Nov 13, 2005 5:24 PM
I just watched the Auburn/Georgia game with a focus on offensive line play and I made a few comparison’s to our O line. I was impressed with the way Auburn’s O line was able to maintain blocking angles and perform blocking assignments down field on running plays. On one running play, Auburn’s Joe Cope (second string center) made a containment block on the line and then made a second block downfield to spring Kenny Irons into the end zone for a score. The sobering fact here is that Joe Cope is a walk-on player. I compared Auburn’s O line play to our O line play against Memphis; now I see the light.

Our O line is too fat to play! We outweighed the Memphis D line by 50 pounds (on average). Play after play I watched Foster dance in the back field waiting for our big boys to open up a running lane and it did not happen. In each game this season, I’ve watched offensive lineman get penalized for false starts, stand up too soon after snaps (allowing D-linemen to get pad leverage), and miss outside blocks on running plays (too slow to get to the point of attack). In fact, I think that we do not call that many outside trap plays because our linemen do not have the speed to perform their blocking assignments.

This is not an attack on our players. Our players are just doing what they are coached to do—or not coached to do.

[snapback]190636[/snapback]​

I agree with you 100%. Our conditioning coach needs to revamp his program. Our offense lineman should be around 290 not 330 IMO. Its obvious to everyone they are slow.

I noticed last year, how well conditioned Auburn's athletes are. I think they put an emphasis on overall conditioning and not just strength. Sure if you weigh 330 you can probably bench more then you did at 290 but are you a better athlete or football player? NO. UT needs to revamp the conditioning program and get these guys big and lean and not just big. I think Auburn conditioning program is partly whats elevated their program the last couple of years. Their athletes really developed.

There is a rumor out there that if Cutcliffe comes back Fulmer was going to take over coaching the offensive line. I think that would be a good move. I think its sad that we have a head coach who is an ex offensive lineman and ex offensive line coach and we have an offensive line that plays as poor as this. Hopefully Fulmer takes over this area personally.

 

[TJ_dap]

lets start recruting fast strong lineman instead of the hogmollys we have now...