Interesting point from Doug Mathews re: OLine

#1
LibertyVolance

LibertyVolance

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#1
We all recognize that the talent (skill) level of the Oline isn't where it needs to be, but an attitude (nasty in a good way) doesn't require talent. Ga's Oline was downfield blocking and ours very noticeably was not. He pointed out that every good Oline on past Vol teams, esp the really good ones, always blocked downfield and headhunted. They would look for someone to lay a hat on. If there wasn't someone in front of them, they would look for someone to hit, esp LBs and lighter weight DBs to knock out of a play.

He cited the 4 or 5 yd pass to Jennings near the sideline when he struggled and squirmed to fight free. We didn't have a single OLineman helping him out with a block. Instead the defenders were descending on him from all sides. In his words, an OLine that doesn't have particularly good ability can still develop a nasty attitude and keep hunting for someone to block until the whistle blows to end a play. I recall our best Olines (Galbreath, McKenzie, McRae, and names I've forgotten) were always seen blocking downfield and finding somebody to lay a hat on. And we've had some very good ones. Just not lately.
 
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#4
#4
ruger1234 said:
I wasn’t able to watch the game but did listen to coach Mathews today. I was a little shocked that he said there was almost no downfield blocking. That needs to be addressed ASAP! Even some of Butch’s teams were actually pretty good at knocking guys down in the second level.
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Zone blocking these guys are trying to learn pro style blocking it's harder but it will get us tough smart lineman in recruiting because they will be NFL ready . If they can pro style block they can do it all.
 
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#5
#5
ruger1234 said:
I wasn’t able to watch the game but did listen to coach Mathews today. I was a little shocked that he said there was almost no downfield blocking. That needs to be addressed ASAP! Even some of Butch’s teams were actually pretty good at knocking guys down in the second level.
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It was a pretty good postgame analysis from a guy that some posters equate to being too homerish. He also addressed the lack of misdirection plays to slow the defense down. We ran a reverse yesterday but most plays go right in the direction that the defense expects. The lack of long pass attempts that would keep them from squeezing the field on us. We threw 2, one out of bounds and one the TD to Palmer. Said our WRs are basically not too fast, Palmer being a bit faster than the others. So when we don't throw the long ball more often, defenses are going to keep playing us tight making it difficult for Jennings and Callaway to have room and the throw has to be almost perfect in the narrow space. Also hampers the run game in allowing a good defense like Ga to play their safeties and corners up.
 
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#9
#9
LibertyVolance said:
We all recognize that the talent (skill) level of the Oline isn't where it needs to be, but an attitude (nasty in a good way) doesn't require talent. Ga's Oline was downfield blocking and ours very noticeably was not. He pointed out that every good Oline on past Vol teams, esp the really good ones, always blocked downfield and headhunted. They would look for someone to lay a hat on. If there wasn't someone in front of them, they would look for someone to hit, esp LBs and lighter weight DBs to knock out of a play.

He cited the 4 or 5 yd pass to Jennings near the sideline when he struggled and squirmed to fight free. We didn't have a single OLineman helping him out with a block. Instead the defenders were descending on him from all sides. In his words, an OLine that doesn't have particularly good ability can still develop a nasty attitude and keep hunting for someone to block until the whistle blows to end a play. I recall our best Olines (Galbreath, McKenzie, McRae, and names I've forgotten) were always seen blocking downfield and finding somebody to lay a hat on. And we've had some very good ones. Just not lately.
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Right back to the Jimmy's and the Joe's and I agree it doesn't take talent to have desire and give effort
 
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#12
#12
Zues1 said:
That's who I thought, suprisred to hear those stats
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Not me, I've BEEN harping about the ball is not getting into our playmakers hands enough. We have 3 guys on offense who need to get at least 65% of the touches and it's Chandler, Callaway, and Jennings. Our TEs need one touch per half, they are weakest unit on the field IMO.
 
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#14
#14
In fairness, there were only 35 touches but yeah. We need to get the ball to Callaway chandler and Jennings more
 
#16
#16
rocytop2624 said:
Zone blocking these guys are trying to learn pro style blocking it's harder but it will get us tough smart lineman in recruiting because they will be NFL ready . If they can pro style block they can do it all.
Click to expand...
Zone blocking on a team trying to reestablish a power run game again? Tits on a bull, my friend. Tell me you don't remember Reggie Cobb, Johnny Jones, Chuck Webb, James Stewart, Travis Stephens, and Travis Henry being led downfield by a horse team of Olinemen leaving defenders strung out along the trail. They would eclipse the final 40 on their own speed maybe, but that team of horses called the Oline started them on their way for the first 20 or so and trailed them into the endzone. Zone blocking on a power run game? Tits on a bull.
 
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#17
#17
Jennings looks slow to me this year. He looks like he lost a step or is not explosive. Not sure why it seems that way to me, but it does. Still like him because he works hard and gives it his all.
 
#18
#18
LibertyVolance said:
It was a pretty good postgame analysis from a guy that some posters equate to being too homerish. He also addressed the lack of misdirection plays to slow the defense down. We ran a reverse yesterday but most plays go right in the direction that the defense expects. The lack of long pass attempts that would keep them from squeezing the field on us. We threw 2, one out of bounds and one the TD to Palmer. Said our WRs are basically not too fast, Palmer being a bit faster than the others. So when we don't throw the long ball more often, defenses are going to keep playing us tight making it difficult for Jennings and Callaway to have room and the throw has to be almost perfect in the narrow space. Also hampers the run game in allowing a good defense like Ga to play their safeties and corners up.
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right here
 
#20
#20
LibertyVolance said:
Zone blocking on a team trying to reestablish a power run game again? Tits on a bull, my friend. Tell me you don't remember Reggie Cobb, Johnny Jones, Chuck Webb, James Stewart, Travis Stephens, and Travis Henry being led downfield by a horse team of Olinemen leaving defenders strung out along the trail. They would eclipse the final 40 on their own speed maybe, but that team of horses called the Oline started them on their way for the first 20 or so and trailed them into the endzone. Zone blocking on a power run game? Tits on a bull.
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No need to go that far back. In 2015 vs Georgia Hurd caught a screen pass and was escorted by the big nastys for a big gain.
 
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#24
#24
Coach Doug Mathews really did not have anything good to say about the blocking of the offensive line. The radio guys of Tim Priest constantly mentioned that the Georgia offensive line was knocking the Vols defensive line backwards. Pure and simple, Georgia has Sam Pittman as their offensive line coach, probably the best in American. Pittman had been brought to UT by Coach Dooley and was very happy at UT. Butch Jones cut him loose...dumb move to cut loose the best offensive line coach in America. Mathews was not impressed with the play calling of the offensive coordinator either.

LibertyVolance said:
We all recognize that the talent (skill) level of the Oline isn't where it needs to be, but an attitude (nasty in a good way) doesn't require talent. Ga's Oline was downfield blocking and ours very noticeably was not. He pointed out that every good Oline on past Vol teams, esp the really good ones, always blocked downfield and headhunted. They would look for someone to lay a hat on. If there wasn't someone in front of them, they would look for someone to hit, esp LBs and lighter weight DBs to knock out of a play.

He cited the 4 or 5 yd pass to Jennings near the sideline when he struggled and squirmed to fight free. We didn't have a single OLineman helping him out with a block. Instead the defenders were descending on him from all sides. In his words, an OLine that doesn't have particularly good ability can still develop a nasty attitude and keep hunting for someone to block until the whistle blows to end a play. I recall our best Olines (Galbreath, McKenzie, McRae, and names I've forgotten) were always seen blocking downfield and finding somebody to lay a hat on. And we've had some very good ones. Just not lately.
Click to expand...
 
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#25
#25
TBrown said:
Yeah - Chandlers 9 touches did lead by a wide margin but that number has to go north.
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Got to have it. Doug said Chandler was the one back with the quickness to outrun defenders. Also the better blocker of the backs. Alluded to Banks having ability, but said the obvious. If you can't hang onto the ball, you don't need to be out there yet. Banks thinks he's still in high school. Hasn't learned that defenders at the major college level are going to do every thing they can to strip it away from you, esp if you are the type that fights to break loose like Banks tends to do. Upcoming games with Auburn and Bama are 2 of the best at stripping it while tackling you. We have 2 weeks to get ready for Au. We can make a game of it if we clean some things up and don't shoot ourselves in the foot with penalties and turnovers. They struggled with So Miss and the Malzahn boo birds are back out again. Tough place to win on the plains, but I'd like to see us make a go of it. Chandler has to get 15-20 touches per game according to Doug. We all like Jordan for his toughness, but Chandler has the breakaway ability needed more than him or London it seems apparent. And the better blocker so it's been said.
 
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