A notable improvement on OL

The team is a disappointment and we need a new head coach, but I wanted to highlight the team's improvement in pass blocking. Coach Justice and the players (most of whom are back in 2022) have come a long way. Below is our ranking in sack percentage, which is the percentage of dropbacks that end in sacks. The actual percentage is in parenthesis. We hung around the 80s, bottomed out in Manny's first year with no experienced OL, and now are solid at 46th.

2017- 85th (6.86%)
2018- 78th (7.14%)
2019- 122nd (11.06%)
2020- 82nd (7.32%)
2021- 46th (5.78%)

For comparison, our old friend Stacey Searels is 124th.
We all know good OL play is about experience and age. Yes you can throw in a can't miss OL like an Evan Neal and be fine, but it is no surprise that in 2019 with 220lb Zion starting as a TF, I also think Jakai was starting as a TF half way through the year and Enos calling 9 step play action passes that our pass blocking was horrible. Following year we get Lash and while King avoided numerous sacks, he also ran into a bunch (not entirely his fault he was under fire a lot) then finally in 2021 we have the second most starts of ANY OL in CFB and we crack the top 50. Yes an improvement but it should have been expected/anticipated.
 
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We found our identity and we stuck with it. The guys got good at it because we feel confident throwing the ball. We're doing what we do. It helps to have a smart guy playing QB.
 
The amount of vertical routes we run with VanDyke means you HAVE to protect the passer and they’ve done a good job of it. I do think that TVD being more willing to throw the ball away plays a role in giving up fewer sacks. King was more likely to run himself into a sack trying to break a play with his legs rather than just throwing it away. It’s the give/take relationship with running QBs. They’ll get you big gains on the ground but they also tend to get sacked more because they won’t give up on a play as easy.
 
We got to get to less than 2 sacks per game. This could be the difference between winning and losing these close games

Alabama had 4 sacks
Mich St had 3 sacks
Pitt had 4 sacks
NC State had 4 sacks
UNC had 4 sacks
UVA had 4 sacks

There are 50 teams that average less than 2 sacks a game
https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/468

Improved but I can't remember the last time we were somewhat elite here
 
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The team is a disappointment and we need a new head coach, but I wanted to highlight the team's improvement in pass blocking. Coach Justice and the players (most of whom are back in 2022) have come a long way. Below is our ranking in sack percentage, which is the percentage of dropbacks that end in sacks. The actual percentage is in parenthesis. We hung around the 80s, bottomed out in Manny's first year with no experienced OL, and now are solid at 46th.

2017- 85th (6.86%)
2018- 78th (7.14%)
2019- 122nd (11.06%)
2020- 82nd (7.32%)
2021- 46th (5.78%)

For comparison, our old friend Stacey Searels is 124th.
id like to see how this is determined. TVD has been elusive in the pocket and no doubt helped this out. Not sure an RPO, which King ran heavily, is considered in pass protection.
 
We got to get to less than 2 sacks per game. This could be the difference between winning and losing these close games

Alabama had 4 sacks
Mich St had 3 sacks
Pitt had 4 sacks
NC State had 4 sacks
UNC had 4 sacks
UVA had 4 sacks

There are 50 teams that average less than 2 sacks a game
https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/468

Improved but I can't remember the last time we were somewhat elite anywhere
FIFY
 
There was a noticeable improvement in pass blocking. But TVD also manipulated the pocket better, avoided trouble better, and got rid of the ball faster than King. And it was the most experienced OL in CFB history. And Rhett adjusted his play calling to suit TVD.

So, while the pass blocking did improve some, the OL was also definitely helped significantly by other factors.

at least half the sacks a team gives up, is directly related to the QB and how quickly they get rid of the ball -- or dont. I really think going full Air Raid schemes helped the Oline (who still struggled to run block all that well)
 
The team is a disappointment and we need a new head coach, but I wanted to highlight the team's improvement in pass blocking. Coach Justice and the players (most of whom are back in 2022) have come a long way. Below is our ranking in sack percentage, which is the percentage of dropbacks that end in sacks. The actual percentage is in parenthesis. We hung around the 80s, bottomed out in Manny's first year with no experienced OL, and now are solid at 46th.

2017- 85th (6.86%)
2018- 78th (7.14%)
2019- 122nd (11.06%)
2020- 82nd (7.32%)
2021- 46th (5.78%)

For comparison, our old friend Stacey Searels is 124th.
Miami's offensive line is ranked #1 in the ACC in pass blocking.
 
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The team is a disappointment and we need a new head coach, but I wanted to highlight the team's improvement in pass blocking. Coach Justice and the players (most of whom are back in 2022) have come a long way. Below is our ranking in sack percentage, which is the percentage of dropbacks that end in sacks. The actual percentage is in parenthesis. We hung around the 80s, bottomed out in Manny's first year with no experienced OL, and now are solid at 46th.

2017- 85th (6.86%)
2018- 78th (7.14%)
2019- 122nd (11.06%)
2020- 82nd (7.32%)
2021- 46th (5.78%)

For comparison, our old friend Stacey Searels is 124th.
Now do run blocking
 
If only they knew how to run block, especially in short yardage situations.
Bingo.

That's why this stat is deceiving. We HAVE to throw an inordinate amount of the time because we get zero push in the run game. A well balanced offense doesn't have to desperately rely on such a stat, though I guess it could be worse for sure
 
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