Here is what I don't get about our Oline. You are 6'2" (or so) and weigh 300+ pounds and 20 years old. Can't we find 4 guys that meet these specifications who are just downright mean? I know we all talk about developing players, but we only need 5 big boys that aren't afraid to hit somebody! Are they getting outsmarted? Can't move quickly off the snap? Love taps and not really smacking somebody around?
I get there are fundamentals at the college level (vs the high school level) that need to be taught. But, if I was about to get into a fight at my age - and never having boxed a day in my life - nobody needs to tell me what needs to be done to save my butt! I find it hard to believe that out of 12 games, every team had 4 or 5 D-linemen that where just THAT much more physical than our Oline.
I am starting to think the running backs are just as much of the issue as the Oline. And when you combine the two together, you get what we all saw this past season. Barkley and Sanders both hit the holes fast, lowered their shoulders and made things happen....and both are playing at the next level. There is absolutely no running back on this team from this past season and heading into the next season that is NFL caliber as far as I am concerned. A lot of his here are looking at the QB position and Oline for 2022, but I think we need to pick up a good running back (or two) from the transfer portal and mix it up a little in next season.
There is lot of time between today and kickoff in September. Most of these kids have been playing football since 1st grade, so it is not like they are now learning how to do brain surgery or heart transplants in 8 months. Personally, I think they need to burn right through that depth chart until they find enough players who want to work hard and be on that field! Send the rest home and make room for more to come in! When I look back over the past season, I think there were quite a few players just going through the motions and not really giving it there all on offense.
GO STATE!
Hitting the hole or more precisely, NOT hitting the hole, sure didn't help. Unless the line made a hole big enough for me to amble through, the RBs were hesitant to put their heads down and drive. If there's a crack in the line where the play was drawn, go for it! I'd rather get a yard or two...or just back to the LOS vs dancing around trying to pick a place to run and get tackled for a 2 yard loss.
Well, if Noah Cain is good at LSU we certainly will know then it wasn't the backs.
Big guys don't tend to be mean...they don't have to be. Now little guys like safeties.....
Yes, we shall see. Personally, I think Cane will do well there. I don't know that he will be a star, but I would expect he has some 100+ yard games.
Well, if Noah Cain is good at LSU we certainly will know then it wasn't the backs.
Or coaching of the backs.
I don't agree. From what I've seen, they are mean, when it counts, on the field. Away from the game, they're mostly easy going gentlemen!
Good friend of mine in HS was a gentle giant but on the line, nobody wanted to go front and center except for like mindness. His whole demeanor changed in pads.
Here is what I don't get about our Oline. You are 6'2" (or so) and weigh 300+ pounds and 20 years old. Can't we find 4 guys that meet these specifications who are just downright mean? I know we all talk about developing players, but we only need 5 big boys that aren't afraid to hit somebody! Are they getting outsmarted? Can't move quickly off the snap? Love taps and not really smacking somebody around?
I get there are fundamentals at the college level (vs the high school level) that need to be taught. But, if I was about to get into a fight at my age - and never having boxed a day in my life - nobody needs to tell me what needs to be done to save my butt! I find it hard to believe that out of 12 games, every team had 4 or 5 D-linemen that where just THAT much more physical than our Oline.
I am starting to think the running backs are just as much of the issue as the Oline. And when you combine the two together, you get what we all saw this past season. Barkley and Sanders both hit the holes fast, lowered their shoulders and made things happen....and both are playing at the next level. There is absolutely no running back on this team from this past season and heading into the next season that is NFL caliber as far as I am concerned. A lot of his here are looking at the QB position and Oline for 2022, but I think we need to pick up a good running back (or two) from the transfer portal and mix it up a little in next season.
There is lot of time between today and kickoff in September. Most of these kids have been playing football since 1st grade, so it is not like they are now learning how to do brain surgery or heart transplants in 8 months. Personally, I think they need to burn right through that depth chart until they find enough players who want to work hard and be on that field! Send the rest home and make room for more to come in! When I look back over the past season, I think there were quite a few players just going through the motions and not really giving it there all on offense.
GO STATE!
I think I know what you mean but "mean" doesn't properly reflect it. In my mind, mean might suggest rage and thus being out of control, prone to mistakes. The position requires a keen sense of awareness and technique so I will take athletic cerebral guys like Steve Wisniewski, AQ Shipley, Glen Ressler, Marco Rivera and so on.
