Offensive line question

[Seinfeld]

Can someone who knows much more about offensive line schemes/gameplans explain this to me? Throughout the last couple years, there has been a lot of talk about how a QB like Tyler Russell would never be able to survive in our offense and with our line. Our offense relied on quick plays, misdirection, etc so as not to expose the weaknesses in our line as well as a lack of depth. Much was said about the fact that there would be no way that a drop back QB like TR would ever have the time to throw a decent ball so there was no point in putting him in to get killed. Some even wondered if he'd ever get a true shot at playing QB for us.

So then you take the game from Saturday and after watching the complete ineptitude of our running game and entire offense in the first half, if you had asked me what TR was going to do in the second half, I probably would have said not much. A couple TDs and a couple picks at best. As you all saw, however, the offense and running game went through a complete metamorphosis in the second half. Our line started blocking, our backs found holes, and Russell had a lot of time to find open receivers.

So my obvious question from all of this is... how does that happen? Yeah, I get that we were only playing UAB and I'm not expecting this for the rest of the season, but it still seems to just defy logic to go from complete piss poor play and confusion in one half to running all over the field in the next. It also defies what a lot of us(myself included) have been saying about Russell and his ability to play well with our pitiful line. So again, how does this happen?

 

[57stratdawg]

When Mullen, or any other coach, says things like "We've just got to start executing" or "we've got to start making plays", they mean it.

Our OL isn't nearly as bad as people have made them out to be - especially in pass protection. They aren't great, but they aren't terrible either. Relf had time against UGA, LT, and UAB, but didn't make plays. Russell did. The UAB safeties had NO respect for Relf's passing ability. Every LB and S was flying to the line of scrimmage to stop the run with Relf at QB. When we brought in Russell they had to stay back and it opened up running lanes.

I made a thread that asked "what's wrong with the offense" after the UGA game and 70% of people said it was the OL. I voted QB execution. You can look at the difference between the 1st and 2nd half of the UAB game to see the difference.

 

[Coach34]

1. Carmon moving back to LT and getting Clausell the 17 out of there. That made a huge difference for the OL to become a little more functional. Clausell was completely whiffing on people, not sealing down inside like he should when blocking down, or like he did one time- just plain fell on top of one of our RB's after messing up. One person messing up on the OL can kill an entire play- and Clausell killed more than his share in the 1st half.<div>Carmon does a pretty good job when he blocks down inside to double team or seal a LB- he comes off the ball hard. That also helped create a little better running lanes for the RB's when their time came.</div><div>
</div><div>2. UAB didnt bring the house like an SEC team will. SC is going to blitz more and bring better athletes when they do- and picking these guys up will be monumental for us in keeping him upright and giving him time to make them pay for doing so. We will also need to use some different pass protections to make sure we can account for everyone</div><div>
</div><div>3. One thing I've talked about in relation to Tyler taking over at QB is that we will have to change the offense a little. More work on pass-blocking and blitz pick-ups than run-blocking. Ralph did some things in the run game Tyler cant do- just like Tyler can do things in the passing game Ralph cant do. No need to work as much on the option, and we can spend that time working Tyler's strengths</div><div>
</div><div>We have to add the quick slant to the offense with Tyler to give him a quick release vs pressure- we havent had that with Ralph because of his long armed slower delivery. Not to mention his reading skillz. And it takes timing and alot of throws in practice to get the timing down on that.</div>

 

[maroonmania]

for the LT position next year. Based on what I've seen there is no way I can feel good with Clausell currently being the only option to start at that position for next year.

 

[patdog]

And I don't even want to think about how bad next year's OL might be. A lot of young players are really going to need to step up.

 

[JohnnyAppleseed]

I've noticedover the past few weeks Mullen saying that none of our offensive linemen have been grading out at 80% or "champion" level. For some reason last year it seemed like Addison Lawrence graded out as a "champion" just about every game last season. I dont know why his named sticks out in my head but I guess im wondering if grading outas a "champion"has something to do with the other linemen playing like ****? I was always thought that was a soley individual achievement.</p>

 

[Todd4State]

Some people may say- well, guys like Sherrod struggled as freshmen....not like Clausell has though. I just don't think he has what it takes to play in the SEC- and maybe even D-I.

I imainge that he is a "good kid" and he probably practices hard, and he may very well even look good in practice, but when the lights come on, he can't do it.

We HAVE to find a JUCO OT that can play. There's no other way around it. And maybe even two.

 

[Goat Grindin]

and unless you're seeing something I'm not, I don't see any JUCO linemen on the board.

 

[PBRME]

It's not the bulldozed that concerns me. At least there's a chance he can fall in front of them and trip them up. It's the indecisiveness I'm seeing. There are several plays where he can't decide whether to block the man in front of him or the blitz from the outside so both get by him untouched.

 

[Goat Grindin]

LT: B. Clausell<div>LG: G. Jackson</div><div>C: D. Day</div><div>RG: T. Smith</div><div>RT: A. Muniz</div><div>
</div><div>Holy hell. We need Robinson, Hardy and some of these !*##%$$ to step up. Hardy's been here 5 years. I notice those 2 former 4 stars have now cracked the 2 deep for the Carolina game. Maybe they are coming around. That's why we're hurting so damn bad right there. Sherrod was the prize lineman of his class like Robinson, but Robinson has yet to contribute. </div><div>
</div><div>And where is Sam Watts? Eric Lawson? The JUCO from California? What the hell is wrong with them? </div><div>
</div><div>It's unfortunate we're stuck in this situation, because we're going to have a veteran group just about everywhere else next year. Those freshmen (Maiden/Malone/Redmond) need to grow up in the hurry. </div><div>
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[Goat Grindin]

that wouldn't bother me as much because I feel like you can teach that (some, like Clausell, may take longer than others).<div>
</div><div>But getting straight worked by UAB defensive linemen? Eh, that makes me think he's not SEC potential. And I mean flatbacked.</div>

 

[Dawgfann1977]

The biggest thing is we are not running an offense based on our talent. We need to run some variation of the spread that Houston runs based on our skill set. We don't have a dominate OL, and Mullen and co should have realized that after big June went down. With the Houston or Auburn offense the OL doesn't have to block for long periods of time, its all about getting the ball out of the QB's hand quickly and putting the WR or RB in spaceor creating mismatches. We just are not physical enough up front to be a run first team.