The Offensive Line Thread

[tonybologna]

What holes? Our holes are tighter than a camel's ass in a sandstorm. Our line will improve, but they are young as hell.

I agree with ya! There are no holes. The yards gained are strictly from RB ability & effort. There are no holes to hit! I'd like to see what Hurd could do in the open field. That may not ever happen with this OL. hmy:

 

[Brave Volunteer]

It'll definitely get better as soon as Butch gets his own players filtered in. It'll be another year or two before he has the personnel to run the style of play he wants.

Right now I'd just be happy if I could figure out exactly what style that is. Our identity is confusing to me. It's like CBJ wants us to be a power offense but he want's to do it from a finesse formation. He goes out and recruits 5* Jalen Hurd which, based on the 2 games I've seen him play in, looks to be a pure I formation, downfield type of runner. Yet he wants to use him in this offense that seems to try to get our backs more to the edge. He recruits Dobbs and Ferguson, two pocket passers, to run the read option. It just all seems so ass backwards to me.

 

[eternal]

We forget the past. It's coaching there is no change from the "awesome" line from last year. Wonder if fulmer would be a online coach

 

[FLSTF-VOL]

We won today which is freakin awesome! However this is a forum where we are supposed to be able to converse about things good and maybe things that are not so good. Its great that fans get so defensive about things that are said that may not be so flattering about our vols. But the fact is that our offensive line is just not very good at this point. I don't think there is anyone here that could dispel that notion with any seriousness or conviction. In my opinion based on what I have seen on the field the past two weeks, unless we improve drastically, very quickly, we will not fair so well in our next three games. I know its a fact that we are very young up front and we should improve week by week.

Does anyone see this offensive line improving enough this week, or even the next three weeks, to give us a chance to win? Realistically now, not what your heart is telling you but what the ole brain says.

 

[vol-un-tear]

The line was better this week than last week so yes. I love Jackson and Robertson's attitude! Mean and Nasty!!

 

[jonnon111]

I agree the oline looks terrible. However has anyone considered that USU had a great front seven and we got up big and didn't throw deep. In the Asu game we really ran a lot allowing them to stack up. Maybe when we open the play book the line won't be so exposed and defense s will not rush everyone every play.

 

[utvols74]

Right now I'd just be happy if I could figure out exactly what style that is. Our identity is confusing to me. It's like CBJ wants us to be a power offense but he want's to do it from a finesse formation. He goes out and recruits 5* Jalen Hurd which, based on the 2 games I've seen him play in, looks to be a pure I formation, downfield type of runner. Yet he wants to use him in this offense that seems to try to get our backs more to the edge. He recruits Dobbs and Ferguson, two pocket passers, to run the read option. It just all seems so ass backwards to me.

You sir, have read my mind; I have wondered the same. So, if you're a read option type team (or want to be) - why not put a speedier back in the game - D Young, Pig, etc. etc. its not like you don't have options (pun) to choose from (especially if your line is opening "cracks" instead of "holes" or God forbid an actual "running lane" (remember those VN?). I trust that Butch knows what he's doing, but sometimes logic = logic and I guess I'm missing it somewhere.

 

[deaconkane]

I agree the oline looks terrible. However hanyone considered that USU had a great front seven and we got up big and didn't throw deep. In the Asu game we really ran a lot allowing them to stack up. Maybe when we open the play book the line won't be so exposed and defense s will not rush everyone every play.

I just hope to see some slants and quick outs without the option fake handoff, a straight handoff or twenty with a fb and 2 te's, and our receivers getting the ball in space. Use the clock so our depleted d-line and defense don't get wore down by their mostly senior 323 lb offensive line. I love the direction of our defense. That is exciting, what will happen. And if A states front 7 is considered great we are in even deeper trouble than I thought...

 

[NOTembarassedanyMO]

Oline is about 3 things blocking scheme, technique and footwork.... Having good offensive linemen out of highschool is not very common as far as footwork is concerned. they may get low and get leverage and know who to block which is al they need at that level but the footwork is where they can and have to be solid to handle the speed we see on defense here in the SEC....

I would say next week will still be too soon to see any real changes to the line's performance... I just hopt the gameplan is set with the premise of 3 seconds and throw.... And I wouldn't want Worley waiting until the last syllable of Mississippi clicked in his head.....

BY mid season we will know how good the oline coaches are... IF they know what they are doing we may get to go bowling....... Even if we don't sneak one out in the next 4 we will be the underdog in......

 

[Eddie Vol Halen]

I said it last year and I'm still saying it now. I DO NOT LIKE our offensive identity. This zone read system that we are running looks slow as hell and I just don't feel like we have the right personnel to run it the way CBJ and staff envision it. Give me an I-formation with a fullback and a tailback, run it down opponent's throats and execute play action.

Right now I'd just be happy if I could figure out exactly what style that is. Our identity is confusing to me. It's like CBJ wants us to be a power offense but he want's to do it from a finesse formation. He goes out and recruits 5* Jalen Hurd which, based on the 2 games I've seen him play in, looks to be a pure I formation, downfield type of runner. Yet he wants to use him in this offense that seems to try to get our backs more to the edge. He recruits Dobbs and Ferguson, two pocket passers, to run the read option. It just all seems so ass backwards to me.

I couldn't agree more. We've got 4* and 5* downhill runners and we hand it off five yards deep from standing every single time.

I think Butch is going to have to either make a choice on Bajakian or he is going to have to assert some authority on the offense and find this team an identity. I've been saying that since Chaney though. People looked at Chaney's gaudy numbers with a squad any flag football cochise could draw up plays in the dirt with and score. We could never get those hard yards or sustain drives when it was critical to do so.

Fact is, we haven't had an offensive identity for a very long time. I hope they truly have saved some wrinkles for OK, but I think what we see is what we get with the Bajakian offense.

 

[Biopsyman]

Was about 3 week ago when a lot of posters said this years line would be better than last years because they had been in the system for several years...4 of the 5 from last year are now NFL players.. 2 starters.. Our OL is average and that is being kind

 

[deaconkane]

I couldn't agree more. We've got 4* and 5* downhill runners and we hand it off five yards deep from standing every single time.

I think Butch is going to have to either make a choice on Bajakian or he is going to have to assert some authority on the offense and find this team an identity. I've been saying that since Chaney though. People looked at Chaney's gaudy numbers with a squad any flag football cochise could draw up plays in the dirt with and score. We could never get those hard yards or sustain drives when it was critical to do so.


Fact is, we haven't had an offensive identity for a very long time. I hope they truly have saved some wrinkles for OK, but I think what we see is what we get with the Bajakian offense.[/QUOTE

I agree. Side to side has never worked in the sec. Florida straight ahead runs. Auburn between the tackles, not one spread has worked that go sideline to sideline. I am still getting torched for saying th is but we can't hold blocks for 2.5 to 3 seconds on every run play.