Good article on OL and what needs to done this season.....

[uconndogs]

I have posted before and still believe that however our OL and running game go so goes our 2013 season. The numbers from last season and comments on the new blocking schemes initiated that season are beyond alarming.

http://www.ctpost.com/uconn/article/Kevin-Duffy-UConn-s-returning-offensive-line-4723153.php

I have to let the disappointment of last season go and I will. So for the last time I will simply state that had we concentrated on establishing anywhere near a middle of the road running game to set up play action we would have won 7-8 games. Anything other than one of the nation's very worst offenses would have won a lot of games with one of the nations very best defenses. Somewhere along the line PP had to make that call. Instead, he turned the offense over to a gentleman who thought an interspersed wildcat formation and pounding a fly weight back under a new blocking scheme was the path to success....and he never made adjustments.

At the Towson State game I will be watching the OL like a hawk. It that group cannot control the line of scrimmage and set up our RBs be prepared for a football season that UCONN has not seen since entering this new era of football. Whitmer won't make it out of the first three games of the season....he'll be a physical casualty.

 

[Srqhusky]

Love the fact they are renewing traditions and hope they have a better understanding of the offensive line scheme this year. They played way too polite last year(coaches failt). It is almost as if we were politely showing the defense what we were doing before we snapped the ball. the Better play calling and not going against a stacked box will help as well. When they build their confidence i want to see them. Mean!! Push defenders around after the play is dead. Want to see Some attitude and leadership!!

 

[Palatine]

The offensive line looked worse than it played last year. Our star running back never made yards after contact. He didn't break tackles and he rarely made anyone miss. If he could execute these basic skills our running totals would have looked much better and the opinion of the line wold have been better.

The head coach didn't help either with his misuse of personnel. He never gave other RBs a chance. He wore our primary back down and rarely rested him even when the tank was empty. P's handling of the running game last year was bizarre.

I'm not saying the line play was great. I'm not saying it shouldn't improve. And yes, it is a two way street. The OL and RBs need to complement each other and pick each other up. I am saying there would be a lot less criticism of the line if the RB held up his end.

 

[rich1122]

Start by avoiding situations like this!!!!!!

"A lot of times," Bennett continued, "guys would get to the line and look around and be like `I don't know what the hell I'm doing.'"

 

[huskysupporter]

The offensive line looked worse than it played last year. Our star running back never made yards after contact. He didn't break tackles and he rarely made anyone miss. If he could execute these basic skills our running totals would have looked much better and the opinion of the line wold have been better.

The head coach didn't help either with his misuse of personnel. He never gave other RBs a chance. He wore our primary back down and rarely rested him even when the tank was empty. P's handling of the running game last year was bizarre.

I'm not saying the line play was great. I'm not saying it shouldn't improve. And yes, it is a two way street. The OL and RBs need to complement each other and pick each other up. I am saying there would be a lot less criticism of the line if the RB held up his end.

The line play was horrible. So was the Rb play.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[Marty Jackson]

The line play was horrible. So was the Rb play.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

Fortunately, last season is over...
New season starts in 3 weeks.

 

[uconndogs]

The offensive line looked worse than it played last year. Our star running back never made yards after contact. He didn't break tackles and he rarely made anyone miss. If he could execute these basic skills our running totals would have looked much better and the opinion of the line wold have been better.

The head coach didn't help either with his misuse of personnel. He never gave other RBs a chance. He wore our primary back down and rarely rested him even when the tank was empty. P's handling of the running game last year was bizarre.

I'm not saying the line play was great. I'm not saying it shouldn't improve. And yes, it is a two way street. The OL and RBs need to complement each other and pick each other up. I am saying there would be a lot less criticism of the line if the RB held up his end.

I agree with this, and I think that is where there is reasonable hope for this season. But, it is dependent on this coaching staff committing to a running game that keeps defenses honest and, imho, that will require a RB to compliment McCombs and an OL that is physical at the point of attach and can get on LBs at the next level.

I am not being critical of McCombs. He has talent and a huge heart. But, he is easily arm tackled.....very, very easily arm tackled, and does not have break away speed. For the life of me I cannot understand why Max or Martin were not given more carries last season. It is absolutely critical that some one or group of Max, Martin, Williams, Meriner and maybe even Clax step up this season as good runners. Ideally, one of them is a back that you ride late in games with a physical OL that has defenses throw in the towel.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Lyle's skillset is that of a 15-20 touch back. Pounding him like they did is just one of the great mysteries of 2012 UConn football.

We will know in about a month where the OL is and whether the staff is serious about getting other RB's some carries. All of this talk is meaningless to me. I'm ready to play some football.

 

[jackl]

Start by avoiding situations like this!!!!!!

"A lot of times," Bennett continued, "guys would get to the line and look around and be like `I don't know what the hell I'm doing.'"

Hard to believe that this situation could go on week after week. It should have been straightened out in the summer. The fans saw it. Lets hope that the new scheme is ironed out by Towson time or the end of a bad era will start to close on Uconn Football.

 

[CL82]

A lot of times," Bennett continued, "guys would get to the line and look around and be like `I don't know what the hell I'm doing.'" ....
Last season, because of the new coaching schemes (which even meant new stances for the linemen), because of turnover on a game-to-game basis, tackles were sometimes unfamiliar with guards, a situation far more problematic than it sounds.

Okay so this is year three of the mad scientist. It is proof of concept for his zone blocking schemes. I really think this year will be better, but if not I look forward to the big uglies going back to big big uglies. It would be nice to dominate the line of scrimmage again.

 

[Srqhusky]

Teams will learn to fear Grizzly Adams and the Techno Viking

 

[UConnDan97]

Some people wonder about how I could be so damned optimistic about this upcoming season. Could it be prescription medication? Possibly. But the real reason is the OLine.

Even modest improvements in the OLine this year will result in large improvements in the running game, which improves time of possession (defense off the field) and lowers turnovers. It will also lower the sack ("drive-killers") and hurried pass totals, which also lowers turnovers. Lowering the turnovers and the amount of time the defense is on the field will lead to a MUCH better win-loss ratio. And I'm expecting even more than just modest OLine improvement, so can you imagine?

 

[Chief00]

Improvement? Coach D is a constant impediment to any progress.

 

[sportsart]

Some people wonder about how I could be so damned optimistic about this upcoming season. Could it be prescription medication? Possibly. But the real reason is the OLine.

Even modest improvements in the OLine this year will result in large improvements in the running game, which improves time of possession (defense off the field) and lowers turnovers. It will also lower the sack ("drive-killers") and hurried pass totals, which also lowers turnovers. Lowering the turnovers and the amount of time the defense is on the field will lead to a MUCH better win-loss ratio. And I'm expecting even more than just modest OLine improvement, so can you imagine?

I agree. If this isn't the year, with 4 seniors on the OL, I hate to see what next year's OL will be like.

Fair or unfair this season rides on the OL.

 

[ruskin]

here's the deal. Last year there were two camps on the offensive line and the offense's failures. One was the system/playcalling was so poor no line could have succeeded (the one I'm in), it was peculiar that a program that generally had 1-2 all conference linemen a year would all of sudden nosedive in quality and it was no coincidence Foley's move to TEs conincided with the dip in form of the line The other, a minority on this board and majority of media, said the players simply weren't good enough and more or less blamed Edsall (the "cupboard bare" and "not good enough to compete with Rutgers and Syracuse" argument. This year should help settle that discussion.

 

[SubbaBub]

here's the deal. Last year there were two camps on the offensive line and the offense's failures. One was the system/playcalling was so poor no line could have succeeded (the one I'm in), it was peculiar that a program that generally had 1-2 all conference linemen a year would all of sudden nosedive in quality and it was no coincidence Foley's move to TEs conincided with the dip in form of the line The other, a minority on this board and majority of media, said the players simply weren't good enough and more or less blamed Edsall (the "cupboard bare" and "not good enough to compete with Rutgers and Syracuse" argument. This year should help settle that discussion.

I think it was both. By not good enough I mean they were too small. Whether that was by coaching design or on the players, we'll never know.

You'll note this years weights are up 10-15 lbs per man.

Universally, the play calling was awful, but 5 linemen should be able to move the pile better than they did regardless of the play called.

 

[CTHUSKY74]

There were numerous factors at play for why we didn't run the ball effectively last year. Some have been mentioned. Poor OL play, not knowing what to do (who to block in the zone system), talent of linemen, talent/size and strength/use of 1 primary back.
I agree with some of these and also feel that the lack of an effective fullback, and lack of backup OL size/strength/ readiness to play were factors. I feel that almost all of these factors have been addressed.

1. The OL starters are one year more experienced and some have increased weight.
2. The reserves are in place and are of a size strength and knowledge of playbook to potentially support the starters. Possibly one freshman could play without red-shirting if needed but hopefully not.
3. I think GDL will actually be an asset running the Oline since he knows a lot about that and will be able to focus exclusively on that.
4. Two fullbacks are working out to claim the position and hopefully will provide better blocking at that position (hopefully some semblance of what Sherman gave us) but in addition, hopefully someone who could get some carries and catch some passes on occasion.
5. Additional tailbacks are ready to play and offer a change of pace and different strengths than Lyle McC. I have to believe that if we run numerous bigger backs at the defense, it has to take a toll at some point. Look what Syracuse did to us last year in the second half, just punishing us with the run game. I think we can do that if we commit to the run and utilize the talent we have.
6. Lack of adjustments?? Here's where we should see whether Weist is all he is considered to be. Will his quick paced offense cause the defense to adjust, or will we continually be unable to adjust to what the defense throws at us. I think that the scheme that was used last year resulted in many plays where we could have completed passes or broken off decent runs, but we didn't execute those plays correctly. Then when we failed the coaching staff had no response other than to follow the plan they set out. Hopefully TJW will be able to adjust on the fly when needed, but more importantly will pressure the defense with a balanced attack. I feel he has better resources to do that than GDL had except in the TE position.
7. If we can run the ball, pass less and in less risky scenarios, finish more series with a scoring chance and hand over the ball to the opponent less thru three and outs or interceptions we should dramatically increase our chances to get a win. These are big ifs but I feel the changes we have made on the staff and the players we have added/developed will allow us to do this.

 

[bmayuc]

Lyle's skillset is that of a 15-20 touch back. Pounding him like they did is just one of the great mysteries of 2012 UConn football.

We will know in about a month where the OL is and whether the staff is serious about getting other RB's some carries. All of this talk is meaningless to me. I'm ready to play some football.

Maybe I'm taking crazy pills, but a 5'7", 170lb RB should not be touching the ball more than 10 times/game. Add to that the fact that he has very limited speed and cannot break arm tackles. I think McCombs is an OK change of pace/3rd down/space player. He was miscast the past two years as a workhorse, plain and simple. Throw him in the larry taylor role and watch him excel.

We reallllly need Williams/Marriner/Delorenzo to provide some power/toughness this year.

 

[uconndogs]

Maybe I'm taking crazy pills, but a 5'7", 170lb RB should not be touching the ball more than 10 times/game. Add to that the fact that he has very limited speed and cannot break arm tackles. I think McCombs is an OK change of pace/3rd down/space player. He was miscast the past two years as a workhorse, plain and simple. Throw him in the larry taylor role and watch him excel.

We reallllly need Williams/Marriner/Delorenzo to provide some power/toughness this year.

I think I have taken the same pills............

 

[BlueMAB]

A lot of criticism on McCombs here. His top end speed is average, he doesn't break enough tackles. But he's on the Doak Walker watch, he has put up big numbers, with a poor line and an OC that was so stubborn the fans could predict the play call (and if we know what's coming, so does the defense). We must have short memories, I don't remember hearing these complaints after his freshman year.

I don't think he should be getting more than 20 touches a game, but he's a bright spot on the offense, and if he was running behind a better line, we'd see better numbers. Maybe he's not good enough to make a bad line good, but talents like Barry Sanders don't come around that often.

2011: Led Connecticut in rushing as a redshirt freshman with 1,151 yards ... Was 29th in the country in rushing at 95.92 yards per game and was second in the BIG EAST ... Was named Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America ... Was a Second Team All-BIG EAST selection ... Was named the team's Offensive Player of the Year ... Was the second-leading freshman rusher in the country and just 0.46 yards per game behind the leader ... his rushing total was the ninth-highest in school single-season history and his carries were fourth ... Posted the 14th season in school history of 1,000 or more rushing yards ... Was just the second UConn freshman (true or redshirt) to hit the 1,000 yard mark ... Had 141 rushing yards vs. Fordham (Sept. 3) in his collegiate debut - that mark is the second-best first game among the top 10 rushers in Husky history ... Had a career high 152 yards of rushing in win vs. Syracuse (Nov. 5) ... rushed for 100 yards or more in six games ... Besides Fordham and Syracuse, also had 118 vs. Vanderbilt (Sept. 10), 136 vs. Western Michigan (Oct. 1), 130 vs. USF (Oct. 15) and 124 vs. Pittsburgh (Oct. 26).

 

[Palatine]

A lot of criticism on McCombs here. His top end speed is average, he doesn't break enough tackles. But he's on the Doak Walker watch, he has put up big numbers, with a poor line and an OC that was so stubborn the fans could predict the play call (and if we know what's coming, so does the defense). We must have short memories, I don't remember hearing these complaints after his freshman year.

I don't think he should be getting more than 20 touches a game, but he's a bright spot on the offense, and if he was running behind a better line, we'd see better numbers. Maybe he's not good enough to make a bad line good, but talents like Barry Sanders don't come around that often.

2011: Led Connecticut in rushing as a redshirt freshman with 1,151 yards ... Was 29th in the country in rushing at 95.92 yards per game and was second in the BIG EAST ... Was named Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America ... Was a Second Team All-BIG EAST selection ... Was named the team's Offensive Player of the Year ... Was the second-leading freshman rusher in the country and just 0.46 yards per game behind the leader ... his rushing total was the ninth-highest in school single-season history and his carries were fourth ... Posted the 14th season in school history of 1,000 or more rushing yards ... Was just the second UConn freshman (true or redshirt) to hit the 1,000 yard mark ... Had 141 rushing yards vs. Fordham (Sept. 3) in his collegiate debut - that mark is the second-best first game among the top 10 rushers in Husky history ... Had a career high 152 yards of rushing in win vs. Syracuse (Nov. 5) ... rushed for 100 yards or more in six games ... Besides Fordham and Syracuse, also had 118 vs. Vanderbilt (Sept. 10), 136 vs. Western Michigan (Oct. 1), 130 vs. USF (Oct. 15) and 124 vs. Pittsburgh (Oct. 26).

None of those stats change the fact he goes down to the first tackler well over 90% of the time. Elite backs make the first guy miss. McCombs doesn't. I said during his freshman year that he couldn't break tackles and rarely made people miss. I stand by that now.

This is not a criticism of LM as a person. It is an assessment of his play on the football field.

 

[BlueMAB]

None of those stats change the fact he goes down to the first tackler well over 90% of the time. Elite backs make the first guy miss. McCombs doesn't. I said during his freshman year that he couldn't break tackles and rarely made people miss. I stand by that now.

This is not a criticism of LM as a person. It is an assessment of his play on the football field.

More evidence that we've been spoiled the last 6-7 years.

They are called "elite" backs for a reason. We're complaining that we don't currently have an "elite" back? Other than 3-4 players on the defense we don't have an "elite" anything.

Like it or not, his stats as a freshman (second in the big east) show he has the potential to be one of the better running backs in the conference. If he had the same o-line as our prior "elite" backs there would be a lot less criticism of him. (EDIT: I'm not saying he's as good as DB, JT, or even Andre) It's not as important to make the first guy miss when you're already 6 yards downfield before the first guy gets to you. When you can't get out of the backfield before having to make the first guy miss, people notice a lot more.

McCombs is not the problem with the offense. He's not elite, and he's not good enough to be options a, b, and c. But he's not the reason the running game has been poor.

 

[huskypantz]

We reallllly need Williams/Marriner/Delorenzo to provide some power/toughness this year.

I hear Williams is a take-charge kind of guy.

 

[Jimdish255]

Start by avoiding situations like this!!!!!!

"A lot of times," Bennett continued, "guys would get to the line and look around and be like `I don't know what the hell I'm doing.'"

That is a HUGE problem! It doesn't matter how physically prepared or skilled you are. Indecision should be the scourge of the defense, not the o-line.