0-line Competitiveness

[Guru13]

I was looking at our O-line commits for this year and I gotta say I am pretty impress. The top two O-line that I am for sure will make an immediate impact after a year is Noel Ofori-Nyadu and Travis Jones. I know stars really do not mean much, but those two guys received pretty good offers from other schools. We are gonna have a solid depth at o-line and the running game will definitely be fun to watch. Seems like RE 2.0 is really pushing towards running the ball a lot more in the next couple of years and produce solid 1000 yard rushers.

 

[Exit 4]

We couldn’t win more than 3 games because our Oline could not control the line of scrimmage when it matters - short yardage and red zone.

Fixing the Oline is key to becoming a bowl eligible team.

 

[Palatine]

We couldn’t win more than 3 games because our Oline could not control the line of scrimmage when it matters - short yardage and red zone.

Fixing the Oline is key to becoming a bowl eligible team.

The O-line doesn't need to be fixed. It needs to mature. We has a 265 pound true freshman next to a 285 pound redshirt freshman on our right side. Good players but not big or stron enoungh --yet.

 

[Exit 4]

The O-line doesn't need to be fixed. It needs to mature. We has a 265 pound true freshman next to a 285 pound redshirt freshman on our right side. Good players but not big or stron enoungh --yet.

I disagree. The guard play was totally inadequate, same with center. Need three new guys there. So that's three out of five that need replacement. Van Demark showed flashes, but its not good enough. He needs to take another step or else the staff will have to consider someone else in 2019. Van Demark will get all of 2018 however to develop further, I don't expect anyone on the roster to really push him next season. Tunstall is a #1 backup for either Tackle position going into spring as I don't think Cespedes will ever see the field during a game.

We have seen this in basketball and in football - but people wish to ignore it; not all players get better with reps. I don't think its automatic that DeGeorge gets better. Expectations are high that Van Demark gets better, but if he doesn't they will have to consider the alternatives. This is an Oline that raised its play from F to C-. To win 6 or 7 games a season we need to play at a B+ level.

 

[Guru13]

I disagree. The guard play was totally inadequate, same with center. Need three new guys there. So that's three out of five that need replacement. Van Demark showed flashes, but its not good enough. He needs to take another step or else the staff will have to consider someone else in 2019. Van Demark will get all of 2018 however to develop further, I don't expect anyone on the roster to really push him next season. Tunstall is a #1 backup for either Tackle position going into spring as I don't think Cespedes will ever see the field during a game.

We have seen this in basketball and in football - but people wish to ignore it; not all players get better with reps. I don't think its automatic that DeGeorge gets better. Expectations are high that Van Demark gets better, but if he doesn't they will have to consider the alternatives. This is an Oline that raised its play from F to C-. To win 6 or 7 games a season we need to play at a B+ level.

I do agree with you that the line needs to get better and win in the trenches. I remember reading an article about how Edsall saying no ones spot is guaranteed and that he will need to bring in guys that are gonna be competitive to make guys on the team competitive. Seems like this year o-line did not have a swagger for competition, but next year it should be interesting because these incoming recruits are looking to push people out the starting lineup. Travis Jones and Noel Ofori-Nyadu are guys that are gonna make an impact in the trenches, we have seen their highlight film and Noel is at 285 which is pretty impressive so I wanna see him play guard or tackle. Travis Jones looks like he will play on the inside to or they might flip him to dline, who knows but in the coaching staff we trust.

 

[gioff23]

I do agree with you that the line needs to get better and win in the trenches. I remember reading an article about how Edsall saying no ones spot is guaranteed and that he will need to bring in guys that are gonna be competitive to make guys on the team competitive. Seems like this year o-line did not have a swagger for competition, but next year it should be interesting because these incoming recruits are looking to push people out the starting lineup. Travis Jones and Noel Ofori-Nyadu are guys that are gonna make an impact in the trenches, we have seen their highlight film and Noel is at 285 which is pretty impressive so I wanna see him play guard or tackle. Travis Jones looks like he will play on the inside to or they might flip him to dline, who knows but in the coaching staff we trust.

I think folks forget about Hubbard and Holmes. 10 months ago, folks thought the latter and maybe both would push for PT In 17. I was thrilled to see them keep RS on, and am hopeful they have developed to point of pushing for PT in 18. I like the depth we are building up front

 

[huskymedic]

I think folks forget about Hubbard and Holmes.

This ^^

 

[Exit 4]

This ^^

For next year, I'd like to see Peart/Homles/maybe T. Jones at Center or Hubbard?!/Nyadu/Van Demark as starters and Tunstall/Leone/?? at C/DeGeorge/Niedrowski or Maloney as backups. Deeper reserves: Rooney and [Hardy - has recent offer]. I'm not counting on Cespedes, Campbell or Crozier returning from injury.

 

[Palatine]

I disagree. The guard play was totally inadequate, same with center. Need three new guys there. So that's three out of five that need replacement. Van Demark showed flashes, but its not good enough. He needs to take another step or else the staff will have to consider someone else in 2019. Van Demark will get all of 2018 however to develop further, I don't expect anyone on the roster to really push him next season. Tunstall is a #1 backup for either Tackle position going into spring as I don't think Cespedes will ever see the field during a game.

We have seen this in basketball and in football - but people wish to ignore it; not all players get better with reps. I don't think its automatic that DeGeorge gets better. Expectations are high that Van Demark gets better, but if he doesn't they will have to consider the alternatives. This is an Oline that raised its play from F to C-. To win 6 or 7 games a season we need to play at a B+ level.

Peart, DeGeorge and Van Demark will be on the line for rest of their UConn careers. These guys are already good. It is very reasonable to expect them to be even better when they are bigger and stronger.

We do need a center (or back up) specially given the injury history of Crozier. However, I don't see OG as a problem. There look to be a number of viable OGs already on the roster.

Offensive line is the least of our worries.

 

[Exit 4]

Offensive line is the least of our worries.

<--Huh? hardly. The Oline was our second biggest problem in 2017 after DBs. Next year it will be our third biggest problem after DL and DBs. Its such a non problem we have five commits and still making offers for a sixth.

 

[huskysupporter]

Peart, DeGeorge and Van Demark will be on the line for rest of their UConn careers. These guys are already good. It is very reasonable to expect them to be even better when they are bigger and stronger.

We do need a center (or back up) specially given the injury history of Crozier. However, I don't see OG as a problem. There look to be a number of viable OGs already on the roster.

Offensive line is the least of our worries.

Leone impressed me quite a bit. Best run blocker on the team by a huge margin and his issues with pass pro can be corrected.

For the first time in years I am excited about O Line potential. Van Denmark held his own despite being ridiculously undersized as a true freshman. Another year in weight room is going to do wonders for him.

I think competition will be intense. We finally have some quality depth.

 

[Husky68]

<--Huh? hardly. The Oline was our second biggest problem in 2017 after DBs. Next year it will be our third biggest problem after DL and DBs. Its such a non problem we have five commits and still making offers for a sixth.

Guess I'm in the minority here, saw lack of front 7 putting pressure on QB, lack of setting the edge and inability to cover out of back field or TE as biggest problem. Other team's QB's had too many career games against UConn. Stats do lie, but UConn's pass defense stats did not, if anything a couple of teams shut it down after getting way ahead (not everyone is Memphis) and some figured it out too late (Temple) how bad the pass defense was. Most put it on DB's, yes enough unpraise to go around on defense, but I saw some awfully comfortable opposing QB's.

 

[businesslawyer]

<--Huh? hardly. The Oline was our second biggest problem in 2017 after DBs. Next year it will be our third biggest problem after DL and DBs. Its such a non problem we have five commits and still making offers for a sixth.

I find this frankly unbelievable. Everything on defense was worse than everything on offense last year. Does our O-Line still need do be a lot better? Damn right. But it took such huge steps forward, and did it in a year when both OTs graduated and we got much younger, that I have trouble believing that this is one of the (relatively) key areas of concern.

Everyone's entitled to their opinion, but the only position group where I am less worried coming into next year is WR. OL is far less of a worry than DB, LB, DL, QB, and RB. And specialists.

 

[Exit 4]

I find this frankly unbelievable. Everything on defense was worse than everything on offense last year. Does our O-Line still need do be a lot better? Damn right. But it took such huge steps forward, and did it in a year when both OTs graduated and we got much younger, that I have trouble believing that this is one of the (relatively) key areas of concern.

Everyone's entitled to their opinion, but the only position group where I am less worried coming into next year is WR. OL is far less of a worry than DB, LB, DL, QB, and RB. And specialists.

But as we have witness for over 5 years now, if your OL can't play at a B+ level, there is no discussion about WR, RB, TE and QB play. All those other units suffer. We are not out of the woods yet with OL play. 3rd and short and red zone is still a problem and it has everything to do with not being about to win the trenches.

Regarding the D - I'm optimistic we don't take a step backwards with the LBs. Diggs is replaceable. Junior Joseph was great against the run, but had no ability to rush QBs. DB play is a concern- major concern. DL is a concern - major concern.

 

[Palatine]

Guess I'm in the minority here, saw lack of front 7 putting pressure on QB, lack of setting the edge and inability to cover out of back field or TE as biggest problem. Other team's QB's had too many career games against UConn. Stats do lie, but UConn's pass defense stats did not, if anything a couple of teams shut it down after getting way ahead (not everyone is Memphis) and some figured it out too late (Temple) how bad the pass defense was. Most put it on DB's, yes enough unpraise to go around on defense, but I saw some awfully comfortable opposing QB's.

There were so many problems on defense it is impossible to tell who was worse.

I thought our most talented defensive group was the defensive line. Fatukasi, Carrezola and Ormsby are all talented college football players. But they played in a passive scheme that wasted their talents. Three man rushes rarely provide pressure regardless of team. Was it the lack of pass rush that hurt the DBs? Was it the ten yard cushion that made it impossible to get a pass rush? These are unknowable.

 

[businesslawyer]

But as we have witness for over 5 years now, if your OL can't play at a B+ level, there is no discussion about WR, RB, TE and QB play. All those other units suffer. We are not out of the woods yet with OL play. 3rd and short and red zone is still a problem and it has everything to do with not being about to win the trenches.

Agree with everything you just said. It doesn't change the fact that the OL is literally just about the least of our worries compared to almost everything else.

 

[hardcorehusky]

Randy and staff had to re-recruit the whole line and its depth chart. That is why we are seeing so many OL recruits. He will want at least 8 starter ready linemen at all times. He didn't have that this year.

Van Demark will be much better his sophomore year, even better as a junior and outstanding as a senior. Same for DeGeorge and Leone. I think the redshirts will be better in the middle than what we had and it is up to Peart to get nasty and take the next step.

 

[gioff23]

I have always assumed you recruited 4-5 OL every year, period. I amnot sure we are seeing so many OL recruits as much as I think we are recruiting that unit as we always should.

 

[Chief00]

Quite frankly, looking forward given the personnel, the D-Line concerns me more than the O-Line. A decent chance that Jones moves over to D-L. In a couple of years he would really shut down the inside run game.

 

[weyuo]

There were so many problems on defense it is impossible to tell who was worse.

I thought our most talented defensive group was the defensive line. Fatukasi, Carrezola and Ormsby are all talented college football players. But they played in a passive scheme that wasted their talents. Three man rushes rarely provide pressure regardless of team. Was it the lack of pass rush that hurt the DBs? Was it the ten yard cushion that made it impossible to get a pass rush? These are unknowable.

Agree on the three man rush comment. They should have kept the offense guessing as to where the 4th and/or 5th rusher was going to come from. Whether it be a linebacker, safety or corner there should have been at least 4 rushing. It was pretty obvious early in the season that the DB's were going to struggle to cover so why not give them some help with more pressure on the QB. I thought that was what the 3-3-5 was all about in the first place. Blitzes coming from anywhere and everywhere.

 

[uconndogs]

I thought the Oline played very respectably this season. The QB play was much better and that helped them a lot. That unit will continue to improve under Edsall and staff. I expect the unit to get better and more physical.

What we have coming back on defense scares me to death. We have desperate needs at DE and LB and the term slow doesn't even begin to describe what we had in those slots this past season.