[NU Sports] Lack of explosiveness

Mon Nov 2 14:58:03 CST 2009

One problem that offensive linemen have to face in college (or as they move to the pros) is that
the defenders they face are faster and quicker than anything they've seen before.

That is one reason why you rarely see even RS Sophs playing one of the 4 up front positions, and
centers are sometimes exempt from the rule, but still you like to see at least 2 years on the
team before you throw them into the fray.

Our O-line are all RS-Sophs or younger. 

FWIW - they will be fine next year, and the year after that, but right now they are learning
hard lessons and our backs are paying for it.

rsl

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate & Unix Guru.

Computer Applications & Support Associates

-------------------- Also ----------------------

Commissioner Delaware American Legion Baseball

Retired Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician [R]

Northwestern University - Speech 1974 - 

Chi Phi: Pi 1974, KD 1968

Publisher Emeritus: Purple Reign (Fox Sports)

==========  Go Cats -  Beat 'em All  ===========

So...

     How's that "hope" and "Change"

     Working for ya?

Don't re-elect nobody, not even yo mama!

================================================

From: cherron604 at aol.com [mailto:cherron604 at aol.com] 
Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 3:51 PM
To: rstetson at capps-assoc.com; tbng at comcast.net; nwu-sports at tssi.com
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Lack of explosiveness

Roy raises the question we have discussed somewhat in here - is an O-Line made, or is it born ?

Are we bringing in the right kind of guys that we can turn into O-Linemen that will work within
our schemes ?

Do they have to be Parade All-Americans, or 5-star recruits, or can we consistantly find guys
who can get bigger, get stronger, and learn the kind of line play that we need ?

Are our guys' current problems being too small ?  Not strong enough ?  Poor technique ?  Schemes
that can't work ?

Can we assume that they were good blockers in high school, that they opened good holes ?  What
did we see then that isn't working any more ?

Chuck Herron   Tech '85

-----Original Message-----
From: Roy Lamberton <rstetson at capps-assoc.com>
To: cherron604 at aol.com; tbng at comcast.net; nwu-sports at tssi.com
Sent: Mon, Nov 2, 2009 1:59 pm
Subject: RE: [NU Sports] Lack of explosiveness

Gary Barnett's Line Coach, Tom Bratten used to preach that "It all starts on the 
Offensive
Line."

I stole that line, and anyone who has played for me knows the answer when I 
yell, "It all
starts..."

Very few running backs can shine when they are first hit in the backfield. You 
can't find the
hole because there is a linebacker in the way, or on the edge, or anywhere. 
Other teams
apparently know that you rush your 4 and send 2 LBs, one keys the QB, the other 
the RB, it is
easy to shut down the run when the two deep backs are covered.

Concannon looks good when they blow a seam for him, so does Simmons, compare 
them to State
Penn's big guy - he had open lanes in the 4th quarter and used them. 

But our offensive strategy is to chip away passing and the zone rushing play 
between guard and
tackle has disappeared because there is almost always a LB standing inside the 
line scrimmage
waiting for the RB. 

With that, I can't tell you any more on how to beat all this except that the old 
zone blocking
play had the tackle kick the outside guy one way, and the rest of the line take 
the front 4 or 5
the other. Walker's backs would scamper thru the seam created and even Tyrell 
enjoyed a lot more
success when that seam was opened.

So once again... It all Starts!

rsl 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate & Unix Guru.
Computer Applications & Support Associates
-------------------- Also ----------------------
Commissioner Delaware American Legion Baseball
Retired Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician [R]
Northwestern University - Speech 1974 - 
Chi Phi: Pi 1974, KD 1968
Publisher Emeritus: Purple Reign (Fox Sports)
==========  Go Cats -  Beat 'em All  ===========
So...
     How's that "hope" and "Change"
     Working for ya?

Don't re-elect nobody, not even yo mama!
================================================

-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com
<mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com?> ] On Behalf 
Of
cherron604 at aol.com
Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 9:31 AM
To: tbng at comcast.net; nwu-sports at tssi.com
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Lack of explosiveness

Too many are throwing out the mantra 'No RB's, lousy offensive line', and 
declaring the
discussion closed.

If we have no RB's, why ?  What did we recruit ?  Did it not pan out ?  Why ?  
Who recruited
them ?  What did they see at that time ?  Where has the breakdown been ?  How 
can we make sure
this doesn't happen going forward ?  RW used to have RB's in the pipeline - what 
is the current
regime doing wrong ?

Again, if the O-Line stinks, why ?  I know you can't teach speed, explosiveness, 
moves, the
other RB stuff, but you can teach O-Line play.  Where have we fallen short ?  
Are the training
facilities sub-standard ?  Or are the coaches not teaching O-Line play ?  Not 
enough weights ?

If coaches are to blame, then name names.  If they cant recruit, then point that 
out.  If they
cant teach the position, then point that out.  If they cant pull it all together 
on gameday,
then that should be pointed out.

Either somebody is not recruiting properly, or somebody is not teaching 
properly, or somebody
can't handle the job on game day.  In any event, somebody should be answering 
questions about
why they failed at their (well compensated) job.

Just repeating 'No RB, Lousy O-Line' endlessly implies that it was something 
evil spirits did to
us, and we just have to fight on.  In reality it was problems with the
coaches/recruiting/training, and those have to be fixed, or else the Fitz regime 
could be
branded a 'No RB, Lousy O-Line' regime.

Chuck Herron   Tech '85

-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis W. Brandt <tbng at comcast.net>
To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
Sent: Sun, Nov 1, 2009 9:42 pm
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Lack of explosiveness

> I feel this is a design flaw in Coach McCall's offense. The big run plays > 
played a huge role
in the success of this offense and I think they need to > come back any way 
McCall can make that
happen 

Nonsense. It's the absence of a good running back and a dominating offensive 
line. I will agree
that we should limit the outside runs because we lack the speed to turn the 
corner.  
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