Teams
Forum List
Toggle sidebar

OL Play

CrossCyed

CrossCyed

Well-Known Member
Mar 30, 2006
10,875
2,342
113
Though the offensive line wasn't at its sharpest during the bowl game, I think we need to give a lot of love to Bleil and the big guys up front. They aren't exactly the best fit for the system, but KO-Alvarez-Reggie-Lamaak-Haughton proved to be much improved this year. They cut the sacks way down, and helped A-Robs become one of the best RB in the conference.

I was unsure of the Bleil hire at first, but he's sure one of the guys that earned his money this year.
 
Early in the season, I thought they were phenomenal, but the shine came off a little down the stretch. Still, a great season out of them, and I think we'll see improvement down the road.
 
I agree Alvarez will be Center, and Hicks will be back at the other Guard, unless achademics continue to be an issue....
 
CrossCyed said:
Though the offensive line wasn't at its sharpest during the bowl game, I think we need to give a lot of love to Bleil and the big guys up front. They aren't exactly the best fit for the system, but KO-Alvarez-Reggie-Lamaak-Haughton proved to be much improved this year. They cut the sacks way down, and helped A-Robs become one of the best RB in the conference.

I was unsure of the Bleil hire at first, but he's sure one of the guys that earned his money this year.
Click to expand...

Really, how do you figure? If this is based on size come on, Texas Tech has the biggest OL in NCAA, do they fit the system???
 
Did Hicks play in the insight bowl? I saw he was in uniform but was too drunk to notice him in the game or not.
 
jburke said:
Really, how do you figure? If this is based on size come on, Texas Tech has the biggest OL in NCAA, do they fit the system???
Click to expand...

I believe the staff has said as much, that they are a little bigger than they'd usually want.
 
I suspect that they were complaining about too much body fat and not the sheer size of the linemen.
 
Some of our line's apparent lack of sharpness wasn't their fault.

Minnesota blitzed a lot. Both run blitzes and blitzes off the edge on obvious pass plays. We countered the run blitzes in the 2nd half with a lot of misdirections and counters that resulted in some pretty big yards. And a hell of a hit by Catlett on Minnesota's MLB on a pull.

But the lack of blocking on some pass blitzes squarely falls on Arnaud for not checking to a new play, changing a route or shifting his protection. Numerous times Minnesota showed blitz right after we signaled in a play and Arnaud did not check to something else. It was apparent to I think everyone watching the game at our table and had to be to the people watching closely in the stadium. A few calls before the play and our line would have been called stellar after the game.
 
d4nim4l said:
Some of our line's apparent lack of sharpness wasn't their fault.

Minnesota blitzed a lot. Both run blitzes and blitzes off the edge on obvious pass plays. We countered the run blitzes in the 2nd half with a lot of misdirections and counters that resulted in some pretty big yards. And a hell of a hit by Catlett on Minnesota's MLB on a pull.

But the lack of blocking on some pass blitzes squarely falls on Arnaud for not checking to a new play, changing a route or shifting his protection. Numerous times Minnesota showed blitz right after we signaled in a play and Arnaud did not check to something else. It was apparent to I think everyone watching the game at our table and had to be to the people watching closely in the stadium. A few calls before the play and our line would have been called stellar after the game.
Click to expand...

There was an increase in pressure in the OSU, CU, and Mizzou games as well. Not terribly, but there definitely was an increase.

I don't want to sound like I'm bagging on the line play (Which I thought was really good most of the season), but it really did seem to slip a little at the end.
 
Al_4_State said:
There was an increase in pressure in the OSU, CU, and Mizzou games as well. Not terribly, but there definitely was an increase.

I don't want to sound like I'm bagging on the line play (Which I thought was really good most of the season), but it really did seem to slip a little at the end.
Click to expand...

No doubt that it did but I think some of it was lack of checks by either the staff or Arnaud. Something that will be addressed in the off season I bet.
 
Al_4_State said:
There was an increase in pressure in the OSU, CU, and Mizzou games as well. Not terribly, but there definitely was an increase.

I don't want to sound like I'm bagging on the line play (Which I thought was really good most of the season), but it really did seem to slip a little at the end.
Click to expand...

Looking through the stats, we did slip a little at the end of the season.

Through the first 8 games, we gained significantly more rushing yards than the opponents typically allowed (around 70 ypg), and gave up a lot fewer sacks than they typically got (never any more than 1).

In the last five games we were right about at the average rushing yrds/game and sacks/game for our opponents.

So it seems like we went from an excellent rushing game and pass protection to average rushing game and pass protection.
 
Really liked the holes our group opened up. I think coming off the ball, our line is very strong and can compete against anyone. I think the item they need improvement on most is sustaining those blocks and getting blocks at the 2nd level.

Here's a shot from the bowl game (courtesy of Dan Pfeffer) and a huge hole that ARob had. He saw these kinds of holes often this season, many times they closed up quickly. If our line can keep the holes open for a second or two longer, offensively we should be ok next year.

17234_1293033535872_1531310203_781456_616629_n.jpg
 
ahaselhu said:
Looking through the stats, we did slip a little at the end of the season.

Through the first 8 games, we gained significantly more rushing yards than the opponents typically allowed (around 70 ypg), and gave up a lot fewer sacks than they typically got (never any more than 1).

In the last five games we were right about at the average rushing yrds/game and sacks/game for our opponents.

So it seems like we went from an excellent rushing game and pass protection to average rushing game and pass protection.
Click to expand...

I think that's just another thing he will acquire by next season. The playbook will be much larger and he will have the confidence to find the correct play. Minnesota gameplan was obviously to stop ARob and make Arnaud throw it quickly. The plan on Arnaud worked well, not so well on ARob.
 
O and how about ARob being 100%. That was nice to see. Hopefully next year he is healthier and can put up some huge numbers. I cannot wait.
 
I posted on CR regarding the O-Line for next year. Next year the likely starting five (Lamaak, Haughton, Alvarez, Burris, and Osemele) will have a combined 85 starts. Typically, this stat is a good indicator as to how well a team will be.

Texas, example, had an O-line with a combined 91 starts coming into this year, while Oklahoma, had a combined 29 starts. Obviously it showed as Oklahoma was very down, and Texas for very good.

I'm not comparing Texas to ISU here, rather, Texas to OU. The O-Line experience is crucial to success.
 
CyRyder said:
I posted on CR regarding the O-Line for next year. Next year the likely starting five (Lamaak, Haughton, Alvarez, Burris, and Osemele) will have a combined 85 starts. Typically, this stat is a good indicator as to how well a team will be.

Texas, example, had an O-line with a combined 91 starts coming into this year, while Oklahoma, had a combined 29 starts. Obviously it showed as Oklahoma was very down, and Texas for very good.

I'm not comparing Texas to ISU here, rather, Texas to OU. The O-Line experience is crucial to success.
Click to expand...

It's a 100% accurate point. There are exceptions to these rules all the time, but generally the stats show offensive line experience and wins are tied together. This was discussed here a month or so ago.

Hopefully it rings true for us.
 
Amongst the group of Hicks, Baysinger, Spears, Caspers, Smith, Bangston, Lichtenburg, and Tuftee...the depth is potentially solid as well. Should have no problem RS'ing all of the frosh...and perhaps even Caspers if he hasn't already used his RS.
 
ahaselhu said:
Looking through the stats, we did slip a little at the end of the season.

Through the first 8 games, we gained significantly more rushing yards than the opponents typically allowed (around 70 ypg), and gave up a lot fewer sacks than they typically got (never any more than 1).

In the last five games we were right about at the average rushing yrds/game and sacks/game for our opponents.

So it seems like we went from an excellent rushing game and pass protection to average rushing game and pass protection.
Click to expand...

Everybody blitzed on us a lot. As the season wore on and it became more apparent that man-press coverage was fine against our receivers for most of the game, there was no incentive to hold LB's back in coverage. That allowed them to play more aggressively on the run (decreasing our rushing average) while rush the passer when necessary (increasing our sacks). I don't think our personnel have any issues matching up with most any d-line in the country. But five guys can't block 6-7 defenders.

Bottom line is our offense will only be as productive as our passing game next year.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Help Support Us

Become a patron
Top Bottom