Why the constant bashing of the OL?

[Other_Guy]

I'm not talking about Tiny's false starts (or his individual play). When Worley actually played well against Georgia and SCjr, that opened the playbook and running game, and the offensive line looked like they were supposed to.

Then Worley plays hurt, Dobbs comes in and makes freshman mistakes, they play 2 REALLY good teams who know they can stack the box and stop the run, and the OL gets bashed again for sucking.

That's like saying no pressure on the QB from the DL + not stopping the run = blame should be on the secondary for every completed pass. It makes no sense.

The OL is the only thing keeping this team from being the worst team in the conference. Despite no Bray and passing game, they still have been respectable running the ball, and when the passing game actually works and everythings clicking they look good (shocker). If you wanna bash anyone, let's talk about an overrated defensive line and the most overrated starter ever Mr. J Smith.

 

[ZoSo0789]

The offensive line is just fine, and 110+ teams in FBS would happily trade us. But putting in a true freshman QB has its downsides, even on the OL play. The chemistry is not there quite yet,and we saw that last night.

I'm not sure if we do this every game or not, but the snap count 'strategy' where the LG physically notifies the C to snap the ball in exactly 1 sec was an awful approach against t D-line like Mizzou's. Mizzou's D-line has incredible motor and explosion off the snap, and if they can perfectly anticipate the snap count each down..... recipe for disaster. Especially when they disguised their rushers so well and Dobbs wont read it correctly each down to modify the protection. Just growing pains. Move on.

 

[volroadwarrior]

For whatever reason, we could not run the ball. However, we are about where we thought we would be at this point in the season. With the coaching turnover, new offense, freshman QB, new receivers and TEs, with no depth, we were destined to be blown out by some and maybe steal a win that we shouldn't.

 

[jkleno]

I'm not talking about Tiny's false starts (or his individual play). When Worley actually played well against Georgia and SCjr, that opened the playbook and running game, and the offensive line looked like they were supposed to.

Then Worley plays hurt, Dobbs comes in and makes freshman mistakes, they play 2 REALLY good teams who know they can stack the box and stop the run, and the OL gets bashed again for sucking.

That's like saying no pressure on the QB from the DL + not stopping the run = blame should be on the secondary for every completed pass. It makes no sense.

The OL is the only thing keeping this team from being the worst team in the conference. Despite no Bray and passing game, they still have been respectable running the ball, and when the passing game actually works and everythings clicking they look good (shocker). If you wanna bash anyone, let's talk about an overrated defensive line and the most overrated starter ever Mr. J Smith.

Those are some good points. I think the O-line gets critiqued so heavily because they have 3 year+ starters all on the line. Highly rated out of HS as well. So many posts how Missouri only has 2 and 3 stars on defense, yet they burry us. Under performers.
I think North's heroics are a big part of why we aren't cellar dwellers.
Anyway, let's get 2 more wins.

 

[Tux]

Looking back at the stats and recalling plays from the game….our offensive line outside of some illegal procedure calls on Bullard and Richardson, did not play as bad of a game as some would think they did.

We had the ball in great field position most of the game but the offense could not make the plays to move. Dobbs overthrew a receiver on a quick screen that would have been an easy first down. He overthrew North on a play down the sideline, Dobbs threw an interception down the sideline that he should have just thrown away, Dobbs under threw a wide open receiver that was intercepted, Josh Smith dropped a pass.

The coaching staff channeled their inner Jim Chaney last night and forgot about the running game. It is difficult to run the ball effectively when you can not pass it effectively.

We should be talking about and point the finger of blame at the play calling and the front seven of our defense.

 

[roster]

Because they suck.

 

[TucsonVol]

I'm not talking about Tiny's false starts (or his individual play). When Worley actually played well against Georgia and SCjr, that opened the playbook and running game, and the offensive line looked like they were supposed to.

Then Worley plays hurt, Dobbs comes in and makes freshman mistakes, they play 2 REALLY good teams who know they can stack the box and stop the run, and the OL gets bashed again for sucking.

That's like saying no pressure on the QB from the DL + not stopping the run = blame should be on the secondary for every completed pass. It makes no sense.

The OL is the only thing keeping this team from being the worst team in the conference. Despite no Bray and passing game, they still have been respectable running the ball, and when the passing game actually works and everythings clicking they look good (shocker). If you wanna bash anyone, let's talk about an overrated defensive line and the most overrated starter ever Mr. J Smith.

I think if you review the film, the offensive line did not open sufficient holes for our offense to be productive.

 

[grobin4300]

The O-Line is talented but SOFT......(no other way to explain it), just watch a whole game and you will rarely see them plowing other d-lines into the ground, they are always standing up at the end of plays and always going backwards.................

 

[strongtower]

Every time Dobbs said hike he ran for his life

 

[sjt18]

I was there. The thought that struck me on the way home was, "I will actually be glad when those guys are gone"... and that morphed into curiosity about why Jones was willing to bench a QB last year but unwilling to bench someone like Bullard this year.

I watched a much less physically gifted OL from MU succeed while UT's OL failed for one major reason. MU's OL got on their block then didn't let go. They played with a nasty streak that UT's starters have not shown.

The one guy I have seen show that streak is Crowder. Some of the others may have it... but I have seen him do it.

That crystalized for me in one play. Neal was being tackled with James and two other OL's standing there watching within 3 yds. I assume they were supposed to be blocking someone. Maybe they were supposed to be blocking the guy who was making the tackle... but they were blocking no one.


I don't like to question the coaches at all. But I don't understand how no one else has gotten a real shot at playing time with these guys playing no better than they are.

 

[Other_Guy]

I think if you review the film, the offensive line did not open sufficient holes for our offense to be productive.

If you would review the film, you would also see how my points played into effect. Mizzu has a very good DL who pinned their ears back and was determined to stop the run. Had Bray been playing, what type of out outcome could you have expected? In addition, how would that have affected the outlook on the OL play?

Besides, 1 game shouldn't deserve a bashing comment from so many posters.

 

[TGVol]

O-line if fine and few of them will do very well in NFL.
The problem is our OC and his play calling which does not emphasize the strengths of the o-line (which was recruited/built for pro style offense instead of spread).

 

[Other_Guy]

I was there. The thought that struck me on the way home was, "I will actually be glad when those guys are gone"... and that morphed into curiosity about why Jones was willing to bench a QB last year but unwilling to bench someone like Bullard this year.

I watched a much less physically gifted OL from MU succeed while UT's OL failed for one major reason. MU's OL got on their block then didn't let go. They played with a nasty streak that UT's starters have not shown.

The one guy I have seen show that streak is Crowder. Some of the others may have it... but I have seen him do it.

That crystalized for me in one play. Neal was being tackled with James and two other OL's standing there watching within 3 yds. I assume they were supposed to be blocking someone. Maybe they were supposed to be blocking the guy who was making the tackle... but they were blocking no one.


I don't like to question the coaches at all. But I don't understand how no one else has gotten a real shot at playing time with these guys playing no better than they are.

It's sad that you can't wait for 5 of the very very few good players they have gone. If you honestly think they have better backups you're crazy (once again the backups are fan favorites).

Why do we say that some of Worley/Dobbs problem is partiall WRs fault dropping passes and running wrong routes, yet we always place 100% blame on the OL? Didn't they look good against SCjr? Wonder why?

Also Mizzu's OL looked good because UT's DL is horrible.

 

[orangeluvr]

No matter how you slice it OL play has been disappointing thus far. :question:

 

[615vols]

The oline is just really overhyped. They CAN be really good, but they mostly underachieve. And I'm not basing my opinion solely on the past two games.
Its just one play, I know, but for instance in the wku game we had a third and one, ran the ball and couldn't get it.
With who we have, no reason we shouldn't be picking those up, but in several plays that game and even USA game I watched our linemen get pushed around. Then you factor in tinys guaranteed at least 2 false starts per game, or stone snapping the ball 8 ft high all night last night and it's just frustrating.
Lots of talent and time played together, but overall just an average to good sec line.

 

[Tux]

Has anyone ever given thought that it could be the scheme? This same group was outstanding in a pro set scheme a year ago.

 

[utvols74]

I was there. The thought that struck me on the way home was, "I will actually be glad when those guys are gone"... and that morphed into curiosity about why Jones was willing to bench a QB last year but unwilling to bench someone like Bullard this year.

I watched a much less physically gifted OL from MU succeed while UT's OL failed for one major reason. MU's OL got on their block then didn't let go. They played with a nasty streak that UT's starters have not shown.

The one guy I have seen show that streak is Crowder. Some of the others may have it... but I have seen him do it.

That crystalized for me in one play. Neal was being tackled with James and two other OL's standing there watching within 3 yds. I assume they were supposed to be blocking someone. Maybe they were supposed to be blocking the guy who was making the tackle... but they were blocking no one.


I don't like to question the coaches at all. But I don't understand how no one else has gotten a real shot at playing time with these guys playing no better than they are.

I truly don't think they think they have to play "nasty" b/c they've been told they're so great for so long and that they'll be "playing on Sunday" that they are just waiting for their phone call on draft day.

 

[OrangeInKy]

Every time Dobbs said hike he ran for his life

to be fair, that wasn't exactly a horrible pass rushing team they played

 

[OrangeInKy]

Has anyone ever given thought that it could be the scheme? This same group was outstanding in a pro set scheme a year ago.

I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but I thought they should have kept Pittman at least for this season.

 

[Fijivol72]

they have combined for over 200 starts and their play is inexcusable. Bullard has spent more time on his backside getting pancaked than blocking. I would definitely sit his butt where it belongs on the bench.

 

[Tux]

If everyone is going to bash this OL, imagine how everyone is going to bash the guys next year who could not beat out this year's group of offensive linemen.

 

[TGVol]

I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but I thought they should have kept Pittman at least for this season.

Should have kept both Chaney and Pittman - why would you not keep coaches that helped recruit and build one of the best offenses in the country last year and one of the best in school history? If bearcat assistants were really that exceptional perhaps I could see why CBJ would want his own guys but by now it's very clear they are average at best (and that is to put it politely).

 

[Tux]

Should have kept both Chaney and Pittman - why would you not keep coaches that helped recruit and build one of the best offenses in the country last year and one of the best in school history? If bearcat assistants were really that exceptional perhaps I could see why CBJ would want his own guys but by now it's very clear they are average at best (and that is to put it politely).

That was not going to happen. Butch is sold on his read option version of the spread. Chaney and Pittman are both pro set coaches.

 

[Vol737]

Watching the replay right now. From what I see the O line got handled all night and allowed too much pressure on Dobbs. The D line got handled even worse and the DE's got sucked inside waaaay too much instead of sealing the ends. WR's for UM blew by our db's all night and our WR's drop too many balls. I guess it is just overall lack of talent and speed. Sure hope that help gets here soon.

 

[TrueVol87]

Just my 2 cents from being at/ watching all the games till the end... I have seen a lot of zone blocking during run plays which means it's doesn't allow the o line to truly fire off the ball. They just turn and let the defense run up then push them that direction allowing the running back to find the holes. Some holes have been there but they close up quick against a defense that runs a lot of stunts or have really good linebackers. IMO this a dumb way to run block because it doesn't give the back a clear hole to run into and they can't get full speed hitting the hole because they are looking for it first. I would love to see more pulling guards, center an tackles leading to way for our backs and puttin some DBS an lbs on there a$$es. But I guess I'm just a fan of old school offense! Go VOLS!!!