Will the OL be enough

#1
Other_Guy

Other_Guy

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#1
That's the real question. Bama has never won with an amazing QB and never needed one but there's so much more involved that I don't know if the OL, as good as they might be, will have enough help from the backs and receivers to keep this year from being difficult to watch. Not trying to be all negavol cuz I'm not really expecting too much from Butch & Co. Just wondering what you think will be deciding factor in a promising season. Coaching decisions? Secondary?
 
#3
#3
GAVol said:
The offense being able to stay on the field.
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You mean to keep the defense off the field? I know the defense was one of the worst in school history last season, but if they get any coaching at all it should be a much-improved unit. The talent is much better than last year's stats show, in my opinion.
 
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#5
#5
If I had to pick one group that I would want as the strength of my team, it would be the o-line. Apart from that, we really need the defense to step up in a big way.
 
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#6
#6
If the O-Line can be as good if not better than last year then i think we are going to be fine on offense. The D on the other hand will hands down show improvement over last years. All they needed was alittle coaching. We want win them all, but the games we were in the lead heading into the fourth quarter and lost wont happen this year.
 
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#7
#7
The biggest part will be to find a threat at WR. IMO

Helps:
Running- Our O-line will hold it's own but not if they blitz every play and rattle a QB with no experience and TFL on the RB not worrying about our WR's? Someone has to step up at WR and I think they will. (North & Croom)

Keeping the D off the field- Not cause they are going to be that bad again this year(they will be much better IMO) but even with our Strength and conditioning they can't play for 24/7 obviously and play at their potential.
 
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#8
#8
I think the O-Line will be fine. What others say here about the need for the QB to play decent and a need for WRs to step up is true. However, after looking at a Cincinnati video in another thread, something hit me. We know Butch & Co. have had the RBs hold the ball near the chin. Being no expert, I hadn't thought much about it. But on the video I saw how much harder it is to strip the ball when held this way as opposed to letting it sling in a natural running motion. The QB was chinning it, the WRs were chinning it, didn't see much RB activity. Well, anyway, I figure if the RBs hold onto the ball, the OLine plus our decent RBs will be big in our season. The QB will have less pressure.

I think the line has something to prove twice over. One, that they are as good as advertised. They're seniors and this is their last chance to up their pro stock. Those boys are coming to play. The RBs darn well better take advantage of the Oline's 'tude.

If what we're hearing about the conditioning program, I think the defense will be ready, willing, and able to make up for our thinness in certain areas. They will up overachieving.
 
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#9
#9
It may be trite ... well it IS trite ... but football is a team sport. No team ever won because of an offensive line, a defensive line, a running back, a quarterback, wide receivers, defensive secondary, kicker, or even coach. Some may have lost because of a failure at one or more of those, but you will not win with only success at one. Some part or parts will be better than others but without at least moderate success at all of them, there will be more losses than acceptable.
 
#10
#10
Freak said:
You mean to keep the defense off the field? I know the defense was one of the worst in school history last season, but if they get any coaching at all it should be a much-improved unit. The talent is much better than last year's stats show, in my opinion.
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Yes, the D should be improved but they can't be on the field for 30+ minutes per game.

UT has to win the TOP battle and a great OL will help that.
 
#11
#11
i believe the offensive line will be just fine,it will be according to what goes on behind them,that will tell how well this year will turn out,some well thought out pass plays will be a tremendous help,they will need to keep the opposing defenses from stacking the box on them,which will help the run game
 
#13
#13
Freak said:
You mean to keep the defense off the field? I know the defense was one of the worst in school history last season, but if they get any coaching at all it should be a much-improved unit. The talent is much better than last year's stats show, in my opinion.
Click to expand...

In year 1 of a new offense, I'm really worried about being able to throw it well enough to move the ball.
 
#15
#15
Freak said:
You mean to keep the defense off the field? I know the defense was one of the worst in school history last season, but if they get any coaching at all it should be a much-improved unit. The talent is much better than last year's stats show, in my opinion.
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:good!:
 
#17
#17
Can you also look at the OL and think they will make things easier on the other less experienced groups. If so, then the OL can't win it for us but they will make it easier to win.
 
#18
#18
fade route said:
It's an overall lack of experience at the skill positions and quality depth that will hurt us this year imo.
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Fade, I agree on both accounts. But I wonder what you mean by "hurt us this year." Are you talking about us losing a couple of close games due to these?

Personally, I think we're going to be pretty good on D and the front 7 is why. We've got really good talent in the starters with the LB corps and the DL (they gave the OL all they could handle in the Spring practices and in the O/W game.

I think our starters will be able to match up well with almost everybody on our schedule. Where we're hurting is depth and, again, inexperience at skill positions.
 
#19
#19
If our def can get back to Wilcox level of top 35 or better we win 8 games.IMO some Key 3rd down stops n we were killed by long busted plays on def. Cut those out n have an off that avgs 24-27 pts per game n no reason not to be a decent team that wins 8 N go to a decent bowl.
 
#20
#20
Early in the season if we get the passing game kinks worked out we will hopefully have a solid year. No one position is ever enough to carry you, (See wide receiver 2012) But if one could it would be the o-line.

Go Big Uglies!!!
 
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#21
#21
Freak said:
You mean to keep the defense off the field? I know the defense was one of the worst in school history last season, but if they get any coaching at all it should be a much-improved unit. The talent is much better than last year's stats show, in my opinion.
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Last years defense just never bought into the new scheme. Don't think the defensive coaches did either.
Going back to the 4-3, the defense should be much improved.
If atleast 2 we step up and our running game gets going, we should be in a lot of games.
Coaching decisions will be key.
Doubt CBJ will have 12 men in the field at one time!
Depth is the key...
 
#22
#22
The o-line is the glue that keeps this team together, which until a QB steps up and takes charge, is the way it should be.
Great leadership in that bunch!
They will protect the QB, who ever it may be, and they should be able to open up the running game.
TE should be solid,
Weak spot is inexperience at QB and WR.
Not that we don't have talent just no playing time.
Defense HAS to be improved! No where to go but up with them.
Think coaching alone will win us 1-2 games we wouldn't have won last 3 years with previous staff.
Rise to the Top!!!
 
#23
#23
CroKev said:
Fade, I agree on both accounts. But I wonder what you mean by "hurt us this year." Are you talking about us losing a couple of close games due to these?

Personally, I think we're going to be pretty good on D and the front 7 is why. We've got really good talent in the starters with the LB corps and the DL (they gave the OL all they could handle in the Spring practices and in the O/W game.

I think our starters will be able to match up well with almost everybody on our schedule. Where we're hurting is depth and, again, inexperience at skill positions.
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I think we will have a hard time sustaining drives and putting points on the board in the first half of the year with a new QB, new WRs, average RBs and a new offensive system. I do think this will get better as the season progresses, but I think offensively it will be ugly football until maybe the UGA game or later.

Defensively, I think our front 7 starters can hold their own in the league, but they do have their liabilities, namely AJ in pass coverage situations. Our safeties are ok, but our corners are down right putrid, at least they were last year. Some of that could be coaching, and some could be that the talent level is just not that good. Depth wise, we are hurting, and teams like Oregon will expose that depth in the second half of games running a fast paced offense. All of this is JMO of course.
 
#24
#24
Not sure they can carry the team, unless they are ball control. TN simply needs and elite running back to help them out this year, but they do not have it. The defense is better than others think with the front seven the problem is the secondary is slow still. Unless those Juco's and Randolph make a big difference. Wagner leaving should help, good instincts, but so slow.
 
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