Question for those that played football at large HS or college level.

[cofcgamecock9]

I am life long fan of college football. I understand a lot of the game well. I played up until JV and then focused on other sports. But I certainly don't know how the dynamics of the on field coaches goes at high level football since that is all closed off.

So here is my question. Our offensive line was not and has not been good. Simple as that. Yes, I know there are TEs and RBs also responsible for blocking blah blah blah. But the OL has still been the weakest unit on the team under Beamer.

Teasley was the coach during the worst part of SC's offensive line struggles. The line wasn't great under Adkins but it really struggled under Teasley. So that unit (OL) was his unit so to speak. But Beamer also brought back Shawn Elliott to be the TE Coach and the "run game coordinator." This is where it gets a little confusing to me. I think Elliott is a good coach. Could I be wrong? Certainly. But from what I have heard. SC had a pretty good offensive line when he coached O line under Spurrier. It certainly wasn't as bad as Teasley's offensive line. But even if you don't agree with the idea that Shawn Elliott was a good coach let's just play along for this argument and assume that he would be the best offensive line coach in the SEC if he was coaching it.

Because he was NOT the offensive line coach and, instead as the TE coach and "run game coordinator" would he be far enough away from the offensive line on daily practices and teaching that it could dramatically impact the performance of the OL? In my mind, because he is the "run game coordinator" it seems like he would be heavily involved in coaching the OL. But that is why I am asking the question. I don't know.

It does seem after Teasley was fired, the OL did improve a little even if it was nothing more than being able to snap the ball without getting a penalty.

 

[3USC1801]

What exactly are you asking? If it’s, “Why isn’t Elliot the OL coach,” then I think the answer is obvious: Briles wanted his long-time OL coach who is familiar with the offense.

 

[cofcgamecock9]

What exactly are you asking? If it’s, “Why isn’t Elliot the OL coach,” then I think the answer is obvious: Briles wanted his long-time OL coach who is familiar with the offense.

No, that isn't what I was asking. Sorry for the confusion. I am asking if Shawn Elliott should have made more of a difference on the offensive line over the past two seasons if he is/was a good offensive line coach or is that not necessarily the case because of the way practices are run, etc.

 

[3USC1801]

No, that isn't what I was asking. Sorry for the confusion. I am asking if Shawn Elliott should have made more of a difference on the offensive line over the past two seasons if he is/was a good offensive line coach or is that not necessarily the case because of the way practices are run, etc.

That is a perplexing question.

I, too, wondered what Elliot’s role was at it related to the OL. I figured Beamer was allowing Teasley to be in control of the OL (naturally).

After firing Teasley and Shula, Beamer seemed to leave the OL coaching decision open until Briles was selected. Maybe at one point Elliot was an option.

But it’s all conjecture as to what would have happened if a different OC was hired. Maybe Elliot would have been given an opportunity. We will probably never know. Frankly, I’m not sure Elliot would have been a good choice. I’d have preferred a new start anyway. But that’s just my opinion.

 

[HI Cock1]

I would imagine that there are some pretty big egos on college coaching staffs. Better to stay in your lane than piss off a colleague. I'm sure Elliott didn't like what he saw, but he couldn't really change it in real time... I'm also convinced it was a problem with the entire offense - not having any real identity - that contributed greatly to the problems on the OL.

 

[gamecox4982]

The fact that most were told to hit the road says all you need to know.
What ticked me off the most was the fact everyone knew they couldn’t protect but yet we continue to run the same offense instead of designing quick routes and ball on time.

 

[Bubba Fett]

I was O-line on a State Champ HS team, way back when. The game is different now, but the fundamentals have not changed. I still remember my OL coaching. Size and strength are important, but if you don't have the discipline, the techniques, the understanding of assignment, the ability to process going from one level to another, etc... your size and strength are for naught.

A successful block could come down to something as simple as body angle, lean, your first step, etc, etc... none of which comes naturally, you've got to be taught.

There is a line of thought that the two most important coaches are the strength and conditioning guy and the OL guy. You gotta have a lot other things going right too, but that idea isn't wrong.

I don't think you can have two OL coaches. You need one big dog for that, and he needs to know what the hell he's doing.

 

[gamecox4982]

If the new guy doesn’t work out maybe Beamer needs to hire a Sumo Wrestler to teach leverage

 

[I4CtheFuture]

The fact that most were told to hit the road says all you need to know.
What ticked me off the most was the fact everyone knew they couldn’t protect but yet we continue to run the same offense instead of designing quick routes and ball on time.

That sounds too much like a real time adjustment....

We can't have that. Knock it off....

 

[Tngamecock]

Started at guard for a powerhouse HS in SC. 4A at the time (pre 5A or Big 16 days). We had some of the best coaches a high school could ever have at that time. Our head coach interviewed for the head job at Clemson. Our other coaches, many went to coach at college level. We were ranked number one all year long and lost in the upper state championship. Weighed 180 soaking wet. Played against d lineman that went on to major schools. I never false started and dare say never got beat (or not often).

We didn’t do the zone blocking schemes in those days so I can’t speak to that. I can list things our coaches never wavered on and helped me succed:

- run plays you fire off the ball and stick your helmet across the other mans mid section between him and the ball carrier
- sometimes you just have to whip the man in front of you and you can’t finesse everyone
- blocking is a WANT TO position
- low man usually wins so keep your base and leverage….keep your feet pumping
- if you start losing your block you bettter crab crawl or monkey walk at the defender’s legs and crotch to hold him off….get damn dirty. (Our O line uniforms look like the walk on kickers at the end of aa game
- line up in the same stance every time otherwise you’re letting the defender know it’s a run play versus a pass
- look straight ahead every time u line up (see above)
- we cross blocked, pulled, ran traps, baited defenders, x blocked to get angles
- pass blocking….we fired off the ball first to stymie the rusher…..then started chopping our feet to pass block (it worked to perfection)

I never had to play against someone as athletically gifted as Dylan Stewart or Clowney but at the time played against some monsters of the day. (6’5” - 255 and 6’9” - 300). Not blocking wasn’t an option and we did it well. And I too wonder why elliot’s fire doesn’t translate.

To this day, I am thankful for those coaches and the lessons they taught about Football and about life.

and lastly, thank you for posting this to make me walk down Memory Lane…..lol (I probably got better over the years)

 

[Cackmandu]

I was O-line on a State Champ HS team, way back when. The game is different now, but the fundamentals have not changed. I still remember my OL coaching. Size and strength are important, but if you don't have the discipline, the techniques, the understanding of assignment, the ability to process going from one level to another, etc... your size and strength are for naught.

A successful block could come down to something as simple as body angle, lean, your first step, etc, etc... none of which comes naturally, you've got to be taught.

There is a line of thought that the two most important coaches are the strength and conditioning guy and the OL guy. You gotta have a lot other things going right too, but that idea isn't wrong.

I don't think you can have two OL coaches. You need one big dog for that, and he needs to know what the hell he's doing.

Damn good posts there BF and Tngamecock!

 

[Tngamecock]

Damn good posts there BF and Tngamecock!

The more I think about the difference today, I think it was simply, we respected and feared our coaches so we did what we had to do. I think nowadays, players end up running the team and coaches are afraid to hurt their feelings and alienate them. I think that’s why Saban was successful because he was old school. With transfer portal and NIL, the players will just leave if you yell at them or demand excellence.

Just my two cents worth.

 

[kidrobinski]

The more I think about the difference today, I think it was simply, we respected and feared our coaches so we did what we had to do. I think nowadays, players end up running the team and coaches are afraid to hurt their feelings and alienate them. I think that’s why Saban was successful because he was old school. With transfer portal and NIL, the players will just leave if you yell at them or demand excellence.

Just my two cents worth.

Kind of like much of family life today.

 

[Tngamecock]

Bingo

 

[Bubba Fett]

Started at guard for a powerhouse HS in SC. 4A at the time (pre 5A or Big 16 days). We had some of the best coaches a high school could ever have at that time. Our head coach interviewed for the head job at Clemson. Our other coaches, many went to coach at college level. We were ranked number one all year long and lost in the upper state championship. Weighed 180 soaking wet. Played against d lineman that went on to major schools. I never false started and dare say never got beat (or not often).

We didn’t do the zone blocking schemes in those days so I can’t speak to that. I can list things our coaches never wavered on and helped me succed:

- run plays you fire off the ball and stick your helmet across the other mans mid section between him and the ball carrier
- sometimes you just have to whip the man in front of you and you can’t finesse everyone
- blocking is a WANT TO position
- low man usually wins so keep your base and leverage….keep your feet pumping
- if you start losing your block you bettter crab crawl or monkey walk at the defender’s legs and crotch to hold him off….get damn dirty. (Our O line uniforms look like the walk on kickers at the end of aa game
- line up in the same stance every time otherwise you’re letting the defender know it’s a run play versus a pass
- look straight ahead every time u line up (see above)
- we cross blocked, pulled, ran traps, baited defenders, x blocked to get angles
- pass blocking….we fired off the ball first to stymie the rusher…..then started chopping our feet to pass block (it worked to perfection)

I never had to play against someone as athletically gifted as Dylan Stewart or Clowney but at the time played against some monsters of the day. (6’5” - 255 and 6’9” - 300). Not blocking wasn’t an option and we did it well. And I too wonder why elliot’s fire doesn’t translate.

To this day, I am thankful for those coaches and the lessons they taught about Football and about life.

and lastly, thank you for posting this to make me walk down Memory Lane…..lol (I probably got better over the years)

Yep, we have similar history and memories. The crab block was a favorite. Why don't we see that anymore? I checked to make sure it's legal. It is, but I never see it any more?

 

[Jonesz2]

What exactly are you asking? If it’s, “Why isn’t Elliot the OL coach,” then I think the answer is obvious: Briles wanted his long-time OL coach who is familiar with the offense.

Plus Elliott has had enough time here to show what he is capable of

 

[Tngamecock]

Yep, we have similar history and memories. The crab block was a favorite. Why don't we see that anymore? I checked to make sure it's legal. It is, but I never see it any more?

Someone told our lineman getting dirty was illegal