Point blank, no doubt about it, is our offensive line sucks ass. Almost every problem we have had comes back to the o-line. 1. field position-- o-line can't block, we can't run, can't open the passing game, three and out, defense playing with a short field. 2. quarterback problems-- while Randall may not be an all SEC candidate, he has put together a pretty good effort with, in most cases not time to throw, and no wholes opened for the backs to take pressure off of him. As for Jamarcus, well it is very hard to develope a freshman qb when he is forced to rush everything. The defense has played pretty good for the most part. Most defenses would have given up a sh*t loaad more points if they have been put in the situation these guys have, so we can't blame them. Don't get me wrong, there are other things this team needs some improvement in, all I'm saying is that if we had the exact same line as last year, LSU is 7-0 and ranked in Auburn's spot right now. I know all we lost were Peterman and Reed, but Whitworth is not playing like he did last year, Wilkerson has been pretty good, and the fifth guy from last year doesn't even play much. thoughts?
I have to professionally disagree with the Offensive Line being that bad and the problem. WE all know that we have a much more problem and that is at QB. Randall cannot throw down field and some of our receivers last night had to make some catches that weren't easy...making Randall's stats look a little better. Randall would have thrown the ball on target a few occasions the WR's may have been able to score instead of adjusting and getting tackled. The offensive line hasn't played great but I don't think they are playing bad. The reason it looks bad because we have no killer instinct on offense and with Randall in you will see VERY conservative play calling especially when mistakes are made....EXPECT them in the near future after Randall makes mistakes... He has NEVER been able to come back from a mistake and play well, but in this case of the Troy game did just enough again to win.....do that with Alabama or Ole Miss and we will get beat! We need a leader and the QB position is probably the most important, just have to feel how much we miss Matt Mauck.....HE was the leader!!!! If Saban isn't comfortable with Russell's work ethic and play, than give Matt Flynn the chance and groom him because Russell or Flynn is going to have to provide the QB play next year.....unless something drastically happens with Ryan Perrilleaux in which I see is having an effect on our QB's at this point.
Whenever <insert quarterback name here> is in the game, more often than not there are opposing defensive players quickly in the offensive backfield to hurry, pressure, and try to sack <insert quarterback name here>. As the season has progressed, it has become more and more obvious that whether you have <insert quarterback name here> or <insert quarterback name here> in the game, the defensive penetration is always there to pressure <insert quarterback name here>. Also, both <insert quarterback name here> and <insert quarterback name here> have shown a tendancy to panic and make mistakes. One particular guy though, <insert quarterback name here>, has shown that he can come back from those mistakes and be a clutch player. I agree with the thread starter, the offensive line play has been embarassing. TROY'S DEFENSIVE LINE dominated LSU's o-line!
QB and OL are about even in the blame for the offensive problems so far. Neither has been consistant and neither has helped the other. Not being able to throw the ball down field allows teams to stack the box and out number the line, but even when teams are not stacking the box the OL hasn't opened many holes or controlled the line of scrimmage consistantly and our QB's are getting plenty pressure from four man rushes.
I disagree. I don't care if you have Michael Vick playing QB, there is no way any QB would be able to do anything with the kind of mistakes our O-line is making. On most of the plays Randall has less than 2 seconds to get rid of the ball. I understand that Randall cannot throw the ball down field, but even if he could he wouldn't have enough time. Saban needs to stop focusing on the defense for a week and try focusing on the offense.
Again, please do not think that I am trying to put Randall above anything he truly is, but he has used his athletic abilty to get us out of some very tough situtions. I'd say 8 out of 10 of those runs he makes are not designed plays, but rather an improvization on Randall's part because the o-line is not blocking anyone right now. If you ask me he is making every effort in his power to be the leader that this team needs, but the line is playing horrible and making it very difficult for him to get the ball to our playmakers. a lot of those passes you say the receivers had to adjust to were probably off a little because Marcus is being forced to rush his throws. I am sure some are just because he missed, but rarely does he get a chance to just sit back, plant and throw. When he has had that opportunity he made it count. example, his TD throw to Doucet in the Florida game.
Is the problem the O-line or the QBs? Or both. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? We have not proven beyond any doubt that we can throw the ball with consistency. Therefore, the defenses are putting 8 or more in the box giving the O-line more people than they can possibly block which takes away the run and puts pressure on the QBs to complete passes. The key, to me, is the passing game. We need to be able to pass the ball to set up the run. We have the same exact problem that Auburn had the past two years. They had two great running backs, but couldn't run against a good defensive team who could take away the run by overloading against the run because they didn't have to respect the pass. This year Campbell is having a terrific year throwing the ball, defenses have to respect that and as a result their running backs are having a great year too and they are undefeated and headed for the SECCG. It is obvious in this day of limited scholarships that we are seeing more and more teams like Troy popping up who can play with anybody and can be competetive against a one deminsional team (like us).
It's pretty much more the offensive side of the ball rather than defense. Althought the defense has missed a bunch of tackles this year the offense has not put points on the board like they should. As for the passing and blocking its like if we are not going to throw the ball deep then all you end up going against is a crowded defense with a lot of deep linebackers at best. Then making it hard to put a hat on everybody and the snowballing starts. But hey, in a few years when you look back and see that this years team went 9-2 it will be a good thing.
Ok here we go. all this "stacking the box" parrot crap someone posted it 5 weeks ago and bingo it's a new catch phrase. let's look at this. 1. You're offensive line has to block for runs or passes. 2. 8 or 9 men on the line...... stacking the box..... new catch phrase, folks ........ then you pass. lets do the math. 9 men on the line leaves 2 pass defenders almost sounds like a blitz. but on a running play? :shock: They aren't blitzing they are just crowding the line. so Jimbo runs it anyway. this last game he went to the pass early. SOME posters on here said we HAVE to develop a pass if we are going to get them to respect the run. True. Good teams hold Rb's in to pick up a blitz. What do you do agaisnt 9 men on the line? you do what Randall did in the 1st qtr. you throw short bubble screens and if they give you the outside your throw some quick outside high percentage passes to get the ball to your talented ( hopefully ) WR's to run. SO it sort of worked, we had some passing sucess this game. Ok so what DIDNT work. why the interceptions? One was throw the reciver's hands, this is on tape. One was "telegraphed" to the defense by randall. Was it his fault? maybe. could have been a great defensive play. No excuse you say? Ok if Corey Webster does that to Greene in the UGA game, what say you then? No excuse, that's right, Randall has to "see" the defender's routes too, no easy job when you consider the OFFENSIVE LINE is NOT giving him time to go to the second read very often. Ok now back up and re-read that. When the Primary reciever is open both randall and Russel have gotten the ball to the reciever for the most part. ( not always ) hey both these QB's aren't great, Randall is doing his best and right now Ja marcus isn't any better. ( yet ) the potential to be better doesnt win crap and his work ethic may indeed make him worse. Apparently Saban thinks so. some one said in a post, what came first the chicken or the egg in refernce to the Qb situation and the O line. Well the O line comes first, it's football basics. When you have TWo in pass coverage, you hold Rb's and TE's in to block, now you " pick up" the 9 players and check off from run to pass. Boom you hit a wide open skylar or Bowe for 6. What if the O line doesn't give the QB that much time. Well then you make a few high percentage passes screens etc AND that is what we are DOING, but if you need your QB to roll out alot to give him more time instead of stand in the pocket and pass then you Do have problems and interceptions due to the fact that BOTH QB's are hurried, paniced, underpressure to get rid of the ball. What kills me is when they" stack the box " and jim bo runs a running play ANYWAY! now that sucks. when they stack the box on a run, you dont run up the middle and you DO use your TE's as blockers. last year we had a PULLING center. Ben Wilkerson would pull and be out front to block for JV. If you insist on running off tackle when they stack the box, you better have a GREAT O line and a lead back ( FB ) to open up a giant hole, like last year. So back to the math... let them stack the box, we have 9 men we can block if everyone puts a hat on someone. right? Right! IF they DO that! if not well you see the results, a lackluster running game. Better blocking would solve many issues with this team. Executing is what I think I've heard Saban say.
