2018 O-Line

[CoachThomas]

Pendry was great. When they moved Mike Johnson to guard I knew what they going to do. RTDB.

 

[TUSCALOOSAHONOR]

What happened to that offensive line that came out strong in the 3rd quarter against Auby?

Exactly

 

[CoachJeff]

Or defense in general, if we stay healthy. That is one thing we cannot control, but with injuries came a lot of experience in games for back ups, D should be stout next yr. Offense has all the weapons in my opinion. Better line play and getting a cohesive game plan to use the weapons we have is all that needs real fixing.

The secondary will be decimated. Almost no returning experience.

 

[drwho]

At this point, I'd like to see Barrett Jones as OL coach.

 

[dvldog]

At this point, I'd like to see Barrett Jones as OL coach.

We can always use more character on the team

 

[Moro Creek]

A coach upgrade would be good. I would like to see them move Williams to center. This would open the tackles up to Leatherwood and Wills/Lashley. Let the others fight over the guard positions.

 

[AlexanderFan]

We need a mean streak. A big one.


And maybe a big paycheck for a coach.

 

[Tideflyer]

A coach upgrade would be good. I would like to see them move Williams to center. This would open the tackles up to Leatherwood and Wills/Lashley. Let the others fight over the guard positions.

May well be within the realm of possibility. Wills will definitely play somewhere next year.

 

[gtgilbert]

Or defense in general, if we stay healthy. That is one thing we cannot control, but with injuries came a lot of experience in games for back ups, D should be stout next yr. Offense has all the weapons in my opinion. Better line play and getting a cohesive game plan to use the weapons we have is all that needs real fixing.

we'll likely be minus ridley, Harris and Bo. Yes we have some great freshmen to step up to fill the gap, but it's really going to be the same as this year, which if we don't do something different schematically or developmentally for Jalen, will underwhelm against our better opponents.

 

[gtgilbert]

A coach upgrade would be good. I would like to see them move Williams to center. This would open the tackles up to Leatherwood and Wills/Lashley. Let the others fight over the guard positions.

IMHO, we've got to upgrade Cotton. The OL got way better in 2016 when he was replaced, and this year I dont think he improved much. We either need him to get way, way better, or find another guy. Williams will likely stay outside, but Wills would make a nasty interior guy.

 

[bamaslammer]

I don't know about coaching or if changes are needed but if we start the same people at Guards and Tackles I feel like the competition at the position has failed. None of the lineman have been dominant. Williams is probably the best. Pierschbacher is probably going to start somewhere. I'm expecting a blood bath at Center to see who wins out there. The rest are in the air in my opinion. I will say that I don't feel the Auburn loss was not he OL. Hurts had time to throw, he just wouldn't pull the trigger.

 

[B1GTide]

Hurts had time to throw, he just wouldn't pull the trigger.

An observation from my 20 year old son earlier this season - Hurts has never stood in the pocket and taken a hit to deliver a pass. What does that mean? That if he faces any pressure at all, he runs. Why is that important? Because every route is run to produce passing windows between the receiver and a QB standing in the pocket. So, as soon as Jalen starts to scramble, the play is shot. He might be able to run to advance the ball, or a receiver might be able to adjust a route to make himself open for a scrambling Hurts, but the original play is a complete bust as drawn up. The blocking doesn't work, the routes don't work - complete bust.

So, while many believe that Jalen's legs are an advantage in these situations, they are not when he faces a team that is capable of taking away his runs. He is then forced to pass on the run to receivers on only one side of the field who are having to find a way to get open since their initial route is worthless.

This is why Jalen is an asset against inferior opponents, and he looks so bad against stronger opponents. He has to learn to stand in the pocket and deliver, even if it means that he gets hit in the mouth.

 

[theballguy]

An observation from my 20 year old son earlier this season - Hurts has never stood in the pocket and taken a hit to deliver a pass. What does that mean? That if he faces any pressure at all, he runs. Why is that important? Because every route is run to produce passing windows between the receiver and a QB standing in the pocket. So, as soon as Jalen starts to scramble, the play is shot. He might be able to run to advance the ball, or a receiver might be able to adjust a route to make himself open for a scrambling Hurts, but the original play is a complete bust as drawn up. The blocking doesn't work, the routes don't work - complete bust.

So, while many believe that Jalen's legs are an advantage in these situations, they are not when he faces a team that is capable of taking away his runs. He is then forced to pass on the run to receivers on only one side of the field who are having to find a way to get open since their initial route is worthless.

This is why Jalen is an asset against inferior opponents, and he looks so bad against stronger opponents. He has to learn to stand in the pocket and deliver, even if it means that he gets hit in the mouth.

I don't disagree that it can look like that. I am thinking though that OC and QB coach may have advised him to take off -- not that he's not tough, because I believe he is -- to keep things simple. They may think that his legs can be more of an asset in that type of situation. Good call though, because I think we will see more of him hanging in the pocket next season. Plus, I am certain there will be a little more competition from Tua starting in the spring and initiated by CNS himself.

 

[B1GTide]

IMHO, we've got to upgrade Cotton. The OL got way better in 2016 when he was replaced, and this year I dont think he improved much. We either need him to get way, way better, or find another guy. Williams will likely stay outside, but Wills would make a nasty interior guy.

FWIW, your OTs performed poorly against Auburn while your OGs and C played very well. Here are the PFF scores for the top ten players in this game on offense and defense for Alabama:

https://247sports.com/college/alaba...amas-offense-defense-against-Auburn-111149112

Here are the bottom 10:

https://247sports.com/college/alaba...s-10-Worst-Performers-In-Iron-Bowl--111253580

 

[bamacpa]

By my count, we have 18 OL on scholarship right now, including Brannon. 2 seniors, 2 RS juniors and we have 3 OL committed. It seems by sheer numbers that we could find 5 to control the LOS. As for playcalling, if pass blocking isn't a strength of the ones on the field, then something different is called for - different players, different plays, fewer passes.

 

[gtgilbert]

FWIW, your OTs performed poorly against Auburn while your OGs and C played very well. Here are the PFF scores for the top ten players in this game on offense and defense for Alabama:

https://247sports.com/college/alaba...amas-offense-defense-against-Auburn-111149112

Here are the bottom 10:

https://247sports.com/college/alaba...s-10-Worst-Performers-In-Iron-Bowl--111253580

interesting information. so according to them, Cam Sims had a WAY better game than Calvin Ridley. maybe so, but I don't think anyone would try to equate that to Sims being a better player than Ridley.

so much of the OL ratings depends on the assignments and schemes, which honestly none of us, not even PFF, know. For this game especially it doesn't surprise me to see the interior rated well relative to the edges. We didn't test the interior much running the ball, so it's easier to have a 'successful' block to get in the way from OG and OC when the ball is going outside. In pass Pro they brought hard pressure from the outside and didn't push very hard up the middle to force jalen to step up to throw or take off running). by keeping the interior pressure soft it makes it look like the OC and OG are doing great, but the reality is the DL is just waiting there to take jalen down when he tried to run.

 

[drwho]

We need a mean streak. A big one.
And maybe a big paycheck for a coach.

You may be on to something here . . .

 

[B1GTide]

interesting information. so according to them, Cam Sims had a WAY better game than Calvin Ridley. maybe so, but I don't think anyone would try to equate that to Sims being a better player than Ridley.

so much of the OL ratings depends on the assignments and schemes, which honestly none of us, not even PFF, know. For this game especially it doesn't surprise me to see the interior rated well relative to the edges. We didn't test the interior much running the ball, so it's easier to have a 'successful' block to get in the way from OG and OC when the ball is going outside. In pass Pro they brought hard pressure from the outside and didn't push very hard up the middle to force jalen to step up to throw or take off running). by keeping the interior pressure soft it makes it look like the OC and OG are doing great, but the reality is the DL is just waiting there to take jalen down when he tried to run.

Historically, your OTs have graded out very well. In this game, with Auburn's dominant edge rushers, they failed so got poor grades. All of Auburn's pressure came off the edges. So, yes, they deserve their poor grades. And note that JC got a poor grade for his 13 snaps before his injury, so this is not unfairly weighted to give the interior linemen better grades.
As for Sims vs Ridley - Ridley was targeted about 10 times in the game. He had 3 catches and one HUGE drop. Sims was targeted twice and had one huge catch. Sims earned a better rating in this game.

 

[Padreruf]

If we make a change at OL coach -- what about Bielema? He wouldn't need a large salary -- just XXXL coaching gear.

 

[gtgilbert]

Historically, your OTs have graded out very well. In this game, with Auburn's dominant edge rushers, they failed so got poor grades. All of Auburn's pressure came off the edges. So, yes, they deserve their poor grades. And note that JC got a poor grade for his 13 snaps before his injury, so this is not unfairly weighted to give the interior linemen better grades.
As for Sims vs Ridley - Ridley was targeted about 10 times in the game. He had 3 catches and one HUGE drop. Sims was targeted twice and had one huge catch. Sims earned a better rating in this game.

Guess I didn't state my point that clearly. I don't think PFF is unfairly weighted, just that the scheme AU was playing was designed in a way that put almost no pressure on the interior so it can make it look like an OG or OC 'won' that battle when the reality is the interior DL did exactly what they were coached to do. They were only a yard or so upfield because that's where they were supposed to be, not because our OL stonewalled them there. I also get that Ridley and Sims earned the grades they got for the game. A single game grade does not mean a player is better or not overall though.

I think a lot of the OL issues stem from the fact that almost all the OL we recruit play OT in HS even though some might be projected as interior guys. Every single one of our starting 5 played OT in HS. Moving inside isn't trivial although we have been spoiled with some guys who were able to do it well. Steps as shorter; things happen much faster; you're playing against different type of players; you have to be more multiple in how you handle combo blocks and aware of more things coming from more places. Some guys can do it and some can't and it's hard to predict who will adapt well and who won't.