Honest Question about the Oline...

[tennesseeduke]

I’m still worried about the o-line. Seems to be a recurring theme. I highly highly doubt smith will ever play again and we’ll most likely be starting two true freshman. That is if wright comes. I just hope it’s not more of the same. Although it can’t get any worse....at least I hope not.

I keep hearing this about Trey however the Dr. told him there is no difference with his condition of sitting on the couch or playing ball. It is what it is so if he wants to play, it doesn't make the clotting worse. The only issue is stamina and that's what he struggled with this year.

I think he comes back but that's JMHO.

 

[livefaith]

They’ve SUCKED for some time...

Gosh. This is like the past 10 years in review!

 

[VolNExile]

I keep hearing this about Trey however the Dr. told him there is no difference with his condition of sitting on the couch or playing ball. It is what it is so if he wants to play, it doesn't make the clotting worse. The only issue is stamina and that's what he struggled with this year.

I think he comes back but that's JMHO.

I promised myself I’d stay out of this, but generally speaking, it’s not so much clotting that makes football dangerous, it’s the anticoagulants (medicine) needed to control clotting. Unless the original cause of clotting is gone, it would be expected that the person would have to stay on the medication.

 

[KBVol]

How much improvement do we see in the Oline? I understand we are getting some new hog mollies but since they are only freshman, how big of a difference will it make even with Trey Smith coming back?

With Trey very likely “retiring” from football, I’d say very little if any next year. Freshmen OL very rarely make any positive impact, so I would expect any of our freshmen coming in to struggle mightily for the majority, if not for all the season. And we already know that our current guys off of last year’s OL just aren’t the SEC type level guys we need. 2019 is gonna be another major OL struggle imo. Hopefully we turn the corner and have a decent OL in 2020.

 

[Go aeiou]

But will likely be at bottom or near bottom of sec in 2019.

 

[savannahfan]

Our oline has been undersized. S&C will help but it takes two years to bulk up most high school players so they can play in this conference. So I think another year is needed.

Under jones zone blocking scheme the footwork was totally different. Most of our linemen haven’t developed the footwork needed. They are slow to react and get off balance. A second year of drills and skills will help, but I think some just don’t have the talent. Jones didn’t recruit it.

And I agree with other posters blown assignments was our biggest problem. Most of the time it seemed like they just didn’t understand their assignments. You have care enough to study and train yourself. You have to watch yourself play and find away to make yourself better. The coaches don’t get enough time with the players to spoon feed them. You have to put in the work. Competition will help.

If the blown assignments can be fixed we can improve. I don’t see the line any better than mid conference due to lack of talent. Year after next much better.

"foot work under Jones"!!!! Hel-! what foot work did he teach, or for that matter what did he teach!?!

 

[Devo182]

We finally have a well renowned OL coach that has made progress in y2 everywhere he's been. Expecting solid improvement from returners, contributing freshmen will be icing on the cake. Remember, last year's ol was FRESH and going through multiple years of s&c turnover. Finally have consistency with 2 great coaches.

 

[Devo182]

Strength wasn't the issue. At least every few plays defensive players were coming through completely untouched. It would be one thing if our o-linemen were stepping in to block and just got overpowered, but they often didn't even try at all. Go back and watch film and you will see it.

It was both. And it often takes both to be THAT bad. Just look how our OL never pushed guys forward. Our OL gave up one of the worst stuff rates in the country (s&p+). Same as the dl, never pushing OL and RBs backwards. Those were SENIORS. That is what happens with player led weight training lol. Thanks Butch

 

[Titan&Volfan4life]

1...All our QB's need to learn how to read the D, set the right protections and audible into the best play call.

2...O linemen must learn to communicate well to be sure they get a hat on a hat and get everyone blocked.

3...TE's must get better at blocking and learn how to chip block and release and go catch a ball.

Incoming freshmen O linemen normally take 2 years to become really good SEC linemen and some take longer before they're big, strong and learn everything to the point that the things come naturally to them.

Pruitt and staff have already made this a priority and this recruiting class proves that.

It's still going to take 2 or 3 more good recruiting classes to get both lines where we need them and to have a decent 2 deep rotation for depth so try to be patient with the players and the coaches.

That's really hard for me to say at my age but I still hold out hope that I'll see another Championship and some good WINS along the way.

VFL...GBO!!!