Consolidated O-Line discussion - where has the 24-25 team been, and what do we think the goal is for 26?

[gtgilbert]

Agree.

Someone posted in another thread I think where we had the lowest YPC running the ball this year since the Ears Whitworth era.

I think we rotated about 8 or more OL this year (which is a strategy I also don’t like).

What is more likely…. That we absolutely whiffed on that many highly rated OL all at the exact same time or that we whiffed on 1 OL Coach?

agree 100%. the rotation in-game was baffling and IMHO counterproductive. We played Dewberry, GVDM, Sanders, Formby and a little bit of Roberts across the OG spots and often played them all in a single game. Doing that really inhibits the ability to develop any type of cohesion and rhythm against the opponent.

 

[Cruloc]

agree 100%. the rotation in-game was baffling and IMHO counterproductive. We played Dewberry, GVDM, Sanders, Formby and a little bit of Roberts across the OG spots and often played them all in a single game. Doing that really inhibits the ability to develop any type of cohesion and rhythm against the opponent.

The question for me on that would be......is that done by the OL coach and signed off on by the head coach.....or is that just part of the overall offensive philosophy?

 

[gtgilbert]

The question for me on that would be......is that done by the OL coach and signed off on by the head coach.....or is that just part of the overall offensive philosophy?

that's a great question. Honestly I have NEVER seen a rotation like this, EVER so no clue how this came about last season.

 

[Tideflyer]

that's a great question. Honestly I have NEVER seen a rotation like this, EVER so no clue how this came about last season.

Kind of leaves one with a sinking feeling in the pit of one’s stomach, “ Maybe they really can’t decide on the best combo, even with the season almost over. “ If that were truly to be the case, that’s a situation too terrible to contemplate, IMHO.

 

[TideMan09]

Our OLine problems is a definite coaching problem & not a talent issue..

If Coach Deboer doesn't address the coaching issues, no matter how good the talent is you bring in, you're football problems won't go away, they will only grow worse, especially our OLine & team strength problems..

We did get pushed around even in some of our wins..

 

[Tidewater]

A lot of us had some reservations about Kapilovic when he was hired, that seems to been warranted. He had a couple of good years at North Carolina, but he has seemed pretty bad everywhere else. Michigan St fans were talking a lot of crap when he was hired, and they seem to be right about him.

He’s been a great recruiter, but I’m hoping we move on from him. View attachment 55042

What? He zoomed up to 53rd in the nation in 2021. Dizzing heights.

 

[JDCrimson]

I can understand running only 35% of the time if your objective is to push the ball down the field between the 20s via the pass and then revert back to PA in the redzone. But it's a necessity to be effective running the ball in the redzone.

 

[editder]

Our OLine problems is a definite coaching problem & not a talent issue..

If Coach Deboer doesn't address the coaching issues, no matter how good the talent is you bring in, you're football problems won't go away, they will only grow worse, especially our OLine & team strength problems..

We did get pushed around even in some of our wins..

I believe this is true.

I also don’t buy the argument that we just don’t have the type of players needed to run DeBoer’s offense. They may have limitations in certain areas, but they should at least be good in the roles they were recruited for.

If you want a dump truck to have street speed and handling like a Ferrari, you’re out of luck. But you can’t beat it for hauling boulders. Our OL has the singular distinction of being bad at everything — hauling boulders like a Ferrari with the speed and cornering of a dump truck.

 

[arthurdawg]

I believe this is true.

I also don’t buy the argument that we just don’t have the type of players needed to run DeBoer’s offense. They may have limitations in certain areas, but they should at least be good in the roles they were recruited for.

If you want a dump truck to have street speed and handling like a Ferrari, you’re out of luck. But you can’t beat it for hauling boulders. Our OL has the singular distinction of being bad at everything — hauling boulders like a Ferrari with the speed and cornering of a dump truck.

Yes... The clay was too good to be this bad, although I think it isn't just the OL and coaching, I don't think our RBs were a special group at all. Didn't block well, completely missed a gazillion holes and ran into their own OL and ran straight into the D or just hesitated and got hit in the backfield.

But worrisome with that line of thought... If your OL clearly aren't up to some of the pulling, you have to modify your offense to avoid those plays. You can't keep running the same things that aren't working over and over(Grubb anyone?).

I know you can't junk your system, but you have to adapt to the circumstances.