Playoff Observation (OL Strategy & Play -- no teasers)

[81usaf92]

Amazing the difference that one position can make. Alabama might have won it all with a different QB.

We might have won the SEC, but had we went against ND, Ohio State, or Oregon then we probably would’ve been an early exit with how they play defense. Milroe was the direct reason for 3 of our 4 losses but at the same time our offensive line wasn’t suddenly going to be a better unit with a different guy behind center.

 

[colbysullivan]

We belonged. Jalen maybe didn’t. But the team overall belonged.

Bama with Will Howard makes it to the semis at least

 

[81usaf92]

If you feel like the refs decided to get involved to let Texas beat ASU, would you say the refs decided to get involved last night to help Ohio state? Because I feel like the game last bight was by far more poorly officiated than the a Texas ASU game. (I can’t stand Texas by the way and laughing my butt off that Sark didn’t bring in Manning 1st and goal from the 1)

The refs all year have been for the burnt orange. Now the whole college football world has no clue what targeting is because they didn’t want ASU to have a chance for a walk off FG.

 

[colbysullivan]

We might have won the SEC, but had we went against ND, Ohio State, or Oregon then we probably would’ve been an early exit with how they play defense. Milroe was the direct reason for 3 of our 4 losses but at the same time our offensive line wasn’t suddenly going to be a better unit with a different guy behind center.

I still think Milroe is one of the reasons our OL looked so bad at times. He holds the ball too long and takes sacks. Psychologically that programs us to think the OL is bad. He also couldn’t adjust the protections correctly.

 

[81usaf92]

I still think Milroe is the reason our OL looked so bad at times. He holds the ball too long and takes sacks. Psychologically that programs us to think the OL is bad. He also couldn’t adjust the protections correctly.

in many cases I think there is a link between the two, but the fact that DeBoer is starting to take a hammer to Saban’s big body offensive line I think there was still alot of blame on them as well. I think a defensive line like ND and Ohio State would live in our backfield even if we had a different quarterback.

 

[Coach25]

The refs all year have been for the burnt orange. Now the whole college football world has no clue what targeting is because they didn’t want ASU to have a chance for a walk off FG.

I understand that, but the missed pass interference in the 2nd quarter where they tore the jersey would have given first down to Texas and not have to punt, then the hold on the drive which gave Ohio a first down on a 3rd down which the drive gave Ohio State the lead later in the 4th. Would have given Texas the ball back with a chance to drive down to win the game and not just to have to tie the game. Those by far are worse missed calls in my opinion because they are black and white rules with no gray areas with those. I hate how targeting is called because of the gray areas and how 1 officiating crew sees it isn’t the same as another.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

Bama with Will Howard makes it to the semis at least

What's funny is I've seen in Reddit game threads where many times tOSU fans were unhappy about his play or maybe not unhappy but dismissive.

Then I see him play and I'm like "Wanna Trade straight up?" Lol

 

[81usaf92]

I understand that, but the missed pass interference in the 2nd quarter where they tore the jersey would have given first down to Texas and not have to punt, then the hold on the drive which gave Ohio a first down on a 3rd down which the drive gave Ohio State the lead later in the 4th. Would have given Texas the ball back with a chance to drive down to win the game and not just to have to tie the game. Those by far are worse missed calls in my opinion because they are black and white rules with no gray areas with those. I hate how targeting is called because of the gray areas and how 1 officiating crew sees it isn’t the same as another.

I don’t think Texas has a gripe on officiating last night compared to Ohio State. Especially when every drive killing call went against Ohio State. Last night the biggest “what if” goes like this “what if Henderson doesn’t act like a kid on the 2nd drive”. I think the answer is “Texas doesn’t keep it within 28 points”. Ohio St was about to kill Texas early but one call changed the entire momentum of the game.

 

[denver]

I understand that, but the missed pass interference in the 2nd quarter where they tore the jersey would have given first down to Texas and not have to punt, then the hold on the drive which gave Ohio a first down on a 3rd down which the drive gave Ohio State the lead later in the 4th. Would have given Texas the ball back with a chance to drive down to win the game and not just to have to tie the game. Those by far are worse missed calls in my opinion because they are black and white rules with no gray areas with those. I hate how targeting is called because of the gray areas and how 1 officiating crew sees it isn’t the same as another.

And dont forget the Howard fumble on a sack at their 10 yd line that miraculously landed back into his stomach when he fell to the ground....vs bouncing into the hands of a lineman like the UT fumble for a TD at the end...a few bounces are all that there was between the teams...not a large disparity of talent or ability

 

[Coach25]

And dont forget the Howard fumble on a sack at their 10 yd line that miraculously landed back into his stomach when he fell to the ground....vs bouncing into the hands of a lineman like the UT fumble for a TD at the end...a few bounces are all that there was between the teams...not a large disparity of talent or ability

Yep and the sack fumble that bounces right to OSU defender and the 82 yard house call. Sometimes the ball just doesn’t bounce your way. I was just pointing out officiating because I have been very critical of officiating this year because there have been more obvious missed calls this year in football than years past. If these are supposedly the best refs that have graded out the best during the regular season then we are in trouble with years to come. Is this due to better camera angles, maybe but I think it has more to do with older refs are getting out of the game and the new officials are not as consistent as the older generation of officials.

 

[denver]

Yep and the sack fumble that bounces right to OSU defender and the 82 yard house call. Sometimes the ball just doesn’t bounce your way. I was just pointing out officiating because I have been very critical of officiating this year because there have been more obvious missed calls this year in football than years past. If these are supposedly the best refs that have graded out the best during the regular season then we are in trouble with years to come. Is this due to better camera angles, maybe but I think it has more to do with older refs are getting out of the game and the new officials are not as consistent as the older generation of officials.

Agreed..they say refs dont decide games but there is ample film to refute that statement!

 

[BamaMoon]

I still think Milroe is one of the reasons our OL looked so bad at times. He holds the ball too long and takes sacks. Psychologically that programs us to think the OL is bad. He also couldn’t adjust the protections correctly.

in many cases I think there is a link between the two, but the fact that DeBoer is starting to take a hammer to Saban’s big body offensive line I think there was still alot of blame on them as well. I think a defensive line like ND and Ohio State would live in our backfield even if we had a different quarterback.

After seeing the debacle of our offense, the failed running plays that saw our RBs getting TFL, opposing DL's running loose in our backfield and WIDE OPEN WRs that JM never could find (and hearing Cole Cublic) discuss how the OL/QB seemed to not be on the same page many plays, I think the whole season comes down to a situation where there was mass confusion on offense more than we'll ever understand.

Combine that with what seems almost like a hostage situation now with some factions on the team practically controlling who plays and who gets passes thrown to them and it may be a modern miracle we won 9 games.

And how one of those wins was against Georgia and how we played for about 1.5 quarters against them is still one of the great mysteries of the universe!

 

[gtgilbert]

I wonder how much of this is due to the RPO?

I've heard people who understand OL play talk about leverage and if you don't know if you are supposed to pass block or run block it would seem the whole OL would be playing off balance.

Makes me miss a good ole play action pass OR QB under center to RB handoff!

I personally hate the RPO for exactly that reason. The OL never really gets to just fire off the line and hammer the D so it's really hard to wear them down over the course of the game

 

[gtgilbert]

We might have won the SEC, but had we went against ND, Ohio State, or Oregon then we probably would’ve been an early exit with how they play defense. Milroe was the direct reason for 3 of our 4 losses but at the same time our offensive line wasn’t suddenly going to be a better unit with a different guy behind center.

in many cases I think there is a link between the two, but the fact that DeBoer is starting to take a hammer to Saban’s big body offensive line I think there was still alot of blame on them as well. I think a defensive line like ND and Ohio State would live in our backfield even if we had a different quarterback.

QB play to the level that we should expect to get can take a lot of pressure off the OL.

UM in 23 felt perfectly comfortable rushing 7 guys and only having 4 in coverage because they knew NILroe was not going to hit the inside quick/hot route. It's such an outlier of absolutely awful QB play that it's hard to estimate exactly how much his inability impacted the OL.

I mean he was literally calling protections and alignments for the OL wrong all year.

Then add to that he was giving away run v pass with this foot alignment taking the snap so the DL knows to either rush hard or not.

teams also knew how to force the zone reads to stay in his hand forced outside with both LB and S contain over the top because their was no PO in our RPO, he was just gonna run.

 

[JohnD]

Now I want ND to win with all the 3 stars who love playing college football and not a bought team. Also they are in state team for me.

I dont like they are getting all money to themselves not being in conference but I can live with it

6 of Notre Dame's starters this year were transfers. Those players did not come for free.

 

[JohnD]

Boise State, SMU, and Arizona State never had a chance to make it to the finals. You could make a case if Texas and tOSU had been on different sides of the brackets, tOSU would likely be playing Texas rather than Notre Dame. I am glad the season is nearly over so we can look forward to spring football.

Exactly. The bracket was rigged up to push an agenda. AZ State and Boise did not belong, UG was missing their QB and had other issues, and Oregon happened to be playing the eventual champion. Plus, the Notre Dame side of the bracket was weak.

 

[denver]

6 of Notre Dame's starters this year were transfers. Those players did not come for free.

Leonard was $1M per reports

 

[BamaFan6462]

Is Riley Leonard from Alabama? Did CNS not recruit him?

When Leonard was in high school, he was also being looked at for college basketball. That may have kept him off of Bama’s radar.

 

[BamaFan6462]

I personally hate the RPO for exactly that reason. The OL never really gets a to just fire off the line and hammer the D so it's really hard to wear them down over the course of the game

Yes, the RPO has definitely affected run blocking.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

I wish Milroe would have actually scrambled far more than he did.

He proved that he was incapable of doing that...😎