Yeah, they weren't great, but they looked better than last year and did a decent job. Even Lashlee said that two of the sacks were King's fault, not the OLD'Eriq King at the top of his drop, with a clean pocket.
View attachment 130294
The OL is not getting enough credit for the job they did pass blocking. This is just a few plays from the 1st half.
Completely agree and not at all to diminish anything, but that really didn't take a whole lot to improve on last year! But seriously, I think they looked tons better and I fully expect them to improve every week under Justice's leadership!They are not perfect but sure as **** a lot better than last year
Exactly. They are still at best a mediocre P5 line....but last year they were one of the worst lines in all of FBS, so it is a definite improvement, with more room for improvement moving forward.Completely agree and not at all to diminish anything, but that really didn't take a whole lot to improve on last year! But seriously, I think they looked tons better and I fully expect them to improve every week under Justice's leadership!
Absolutely, but scheme comes into play for all teams' O-lines. We had one of the worst OL in the nation, but that was due to a combination of talent/experience PLUS a scheme that magnified all of the shortcomings. Many other teams with less talent and experience had better OL performances because they didn't hang their OL out to dry with a scheme that requires perfect, top-notch OL play.OL is greatly enhanced by our dynamic playcalling. The defense is hesitating more than we are blocking better. Probably lol.
Night and day to last year.They are not perfect but sure as **** a lot better than last year
I hate this argument. How many sacks do you think Tua evaded at bama? Was the line he played behind lacking talent?the line is better, but king saved us from atleast two more sacks ... the line has improved but it's critical we get a mobile qb until we can get our oline recruiting together
The QB on the end of his drop is about 1.8 seconds, 2nd read (hitch off drop) is 2.2, 3rd read is 2.6 seconds. After that it's running or "release".D'Eriq King at the top of his drop, with a clean pocket.
View attachment 130294
The OL is not getting enough credit for the job they did pass blocking. This is just a few plays from the 1st half.
That's why pressure up the middle from DTs is critical this year. While no one will get there, not as often as usual if teams go this route against us, pressure right in your face is far more disruptive than from the edge. It forces quick decisions, and sometimes bad ones. It could also force a QB to run into the DE as their first instinct is to get away from the immediate pressure in their face.The had a couple mishaps on some inside twists and late A-gap blitzes but it was more an issue of the blocker not picking up the correct man than the blocker getting beat. I'm 99% positive this is why they moved Clark into the starting lineup. Tackle play in pass protection was very good. We know what we have in Williams but Campbell didn't get beat and he didn't commit any stupid penalties. King's agility got him out of at least two sacks but he also ran himself right into a sack on a play where protection was solid. It's the kind of thing you live with when you have such a dynamic running threat.
The scheme makes a big difference. Getting the ball out fast helps tremendously. I saw a stat where UAB's starting quarterback held the ball an average of 2.3 seconds before throwing it. The best pass rushers in the world can't get to a quarterback in 2.3 seconds. Teams are going to use that strategy against us so we're going to have to put a higher premium on cutting off the short passing game, even if it means less pressure and fewer sacks.
Quick note: notice how well conditioned our line was? They were moving at a lightning quick pace but rarely had to sub linemen. Feely did a **** of a job with conditioning.
Some people that the OL is as bad as last year and had no improvements. They are idiots.D'Eriq King at the top of his drop, with a clean pocket.
View attachment 130294
The OL is not getting enough credit for the job they did pass blocking. This is just a few plays from the 1st half.