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Real question hoping for logical answer: Searles

filmcane

filmcane

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Yes, yes, we all want him gone! Having said that, does anyone have any intel on why he seems to suck so much as an OL coach...?

Is he too soft on his players? Is Richt's terrible scheme 100% or at least mostly to blame? Plenty of teams with 3, 2 and 1 star OL recruits, still get decent to very good production out of their OL, so I don't want to hear that it's mostly recruiting.

So, why is the OL and Searles so bad? Theories? Facts? Thoughts?
 
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Just watch the technique of our players on the line. None of them seem to have learned a thing since he's been here. I don't know enough to know whether the guy is teaching bad technique, no technique, or great technique but is not teaching it in a way that the guys can understand. All I do know is, when you watch them play, their technique is awful and our guys don't improve, at best. I would argue Donaldson has actually regressed since he's been here.

It also can't help that the defense knows pretty much what we're going to run before we snap the ball...
 
Looked good at end of 2016 when we were forced to change blocking scheme. IIRC we switched up at half of the ND game that year.

Looked good when we were forced to go spread this season.

Looked good second half vs UNC this season.

Good question OP bc there are plenty of instances where we looked good, but many more where we didn’t.
 
"It also can't help that the defense knows pretty much what we're going to run before we snap the ball..."

So does my wife but she doesn't know anything about line offense
 
I actually agree with some that think it’s scheme related. I dont jnow enough about x&o regarding o-line technique, but our guys have had their hands tied a bit with Richt’s pseudo rpo BS. I know one thing for sure, you cant run block on your heels.
 
I know nothing about O Line play from a coaching standpoint, but as a casual observer and fan, I see the following:

1. Some of our O Linemen just aren't strong enough yet. S&C is not translating to the field.
2. Our O linemen seem to have poor technique more often than not. Routinely get themselves off balance and don't move their feet under them to maintain a good center of gravity. This in turn nullifies any strength advantage. It's like wrestling, the strongest guy doesn't always win bc it's the guy with better technique that uses an opponents strength against him...hence, the off balance issue.
3. The mental aspect of a zone blocking scheme in that each guy needs to know who they are picking up and how their assignment can change from pre-snap to when the ball is snapped, and how the defense reacts based on their alignment and what play they have called on defense. We have issues with stunts against athletic D Lines.
 
I also think there has been WAY too much mixing and matching. See this with the dolphins over the years too, always thinking they can “groom” a guard to be a tackle or vice versa. Pick a **** position and let the kid learn and focus, period.

Every sunday you will hear at least one announcer highlight the importance of an o line developing chemistry. The last two years at UM have been the exact opposite. They need to put these kids in one spot and let them learn it plain and simple.
 
Coaching O-line is not easy. At all. There are 5 positions on the line and each position requires something different. Some players simply cannot play multiple positions. It sounds like bs but some are incapable of playing on one side or the other (a RT moving to LT for example). So asking a kid who has only played LT since he was 10 years to come in and play RG or C is not an easy transition. And if ANY 1 of those 5 players plays like ****, the entire line can look awful.

Said it before but he's the only coach who has to identify 5 potential starters, recruit those players, coach those players and hope they turn into what is projected.

Now.. with all that being said, @g8rh8rMD nailed it. Their technique is noticeably bad and it doesn't help that opposing defenses likely know whats coming.
 
filmcane said:
Yes, yes, we all want him gone! Having said that, does anyone have any intel on why he seems to suck so much as an OL coach...?

Is he too soft on his players? Is Richt's terrible scheme 100% or at least mostly to blame? Plenty of teams with 3, 2 and 1 star OL recruits, still get decent to very good production out of their OL, so I don't want to hear that it's mostly recruiting.

So, why is the OL and Searles so bad? Theories? Facts? Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I will take a stab at it for you! Just off logic alone, Jeff Simpson came in and not knowing the guys in his position group he have them performing at the highest level in college football. We all thought it would be a drop off after our 2 main plugs in Norton and McIntosh graduated. It may not be 100% him alone because the whole defense really improved from last year which helps the DL. But his guys played well enough to make national notoriety!

Searles guys played all year as underachievers. They played worst than last year meaning they digressed! Again the scheme of the offense can have an negative affect on bad coaching. And when other position on offense not doing their job the OL will look even worse. So my point is Searles deserve 50% of how his guys on the OL performed and 50% could go to OCs scheme which didnt help his cause as well as other position output (WRs & RBs) at times didnt live up to the UM standards!

Yes Searles sucks as well as everyone running that offense!!
 
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MIA42178 said:
Looked good at end of 2016 when we were forced to change blocking scheme. IIRC we switched up at half of the ND game that year.

Looked good when we were forced to go spread this season.

Looked good second half vs UNC this season.

Good question OP bc there are plenty of instances where we looked good, but many more where we didn’t.
Click to expand...
Those instances are also the few times Morks O looked reasonably effective.

Weird.
 
SCarolina Ibis said:
Coaching O-line is not easy. At all. There are 5 positions on the line and each position requires something different. Some players simply cannot play multiple positions. It sounds like bs but some are incapable of playing on one side or the other (a RT moving to LT for example). So asking a kid who has only played LT since he was 10 years to come in and play RG or C is not an easy transition. And if ANY 1 of those 5 players plays like ****, the entire line can look awful.

Said it before but he's the only coach who has to identify 5 potential starters, recruit those players, coach those players and hope they turn into what is projected.

Now.. with all that being said, @g8rh8rMD nailed it. Their technique is noticeably bad and it doesn't help that opposing defenses likely know whats coming.
Click to expand...

Although true, there are a plethora of coaches that manage to do the job, and do it really effectively.
 
Richts scheme is to the offense as Doritos scheme was to the defense. You add in an average o-line coach and young undeveloped talent and you have a recipe for disaster
 
I believe almost everyone that follows the CANES knew Donaldson would not succeed at the tackle position except Searels. Even Richt himself was skeptical about him going to tackle but yet Searels made the move and it was total failure. That and his constant chage of players in and out and back a few forth is enough to warrant a change at OL coach.
 
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