That is not correct. See box score of USCe , or Auburn . This is a necessary approach to slow the pass rush. If the offensive line is bad on a neutral pass rush , they will be beyond horrible if the defense is all out pass rushing. They balance the play calling very well with inside rushes , outside rushes, outside passes. The problem that the protection gives in terms of routes is pretty simple. Multi direction routes, come back , deep level routes, stop and goes , inside outs, outside ins , all take to long to develop compared to our blocking. Defenses are sitting on the few routes we can throw. So JG can hit the third and long regularly. Its because the safeties are playing high on third and long and the middle of the box is open. It is not open on 1st or 2nd, as a safety is creeping in.
You have to have protection on 1st down to pass. You have to have protection to develop complex routes that will allow separation, we are sadly only able to run one cut routes due to protection. You have to run to the edges as well as up the middle to offset a pass rush. If you don't , then it is only a matter of time before you cant pass.
If we pass on 1st down , all we have is the 50/50 ball and the outside passes . The 50/50 is low percentage and high risk. The outside is high percentage but low reward. The interior run has sustained numerous drives and did especially well against USCe and Auburn . Going pass happy especially on 1st down will be guaranteed incompletions, INTs, and , JG leaving on a stretcher
