Questions surround UConn's offensive line.

[huskymedic]

In Mike Foley We Trust..

Nice quick review from Jim Fuller:

Once again plenty of questions surround UConn's offensive line
http://runwayramblings.blogspot.com/2014/01/once-again-plenty-of-questions-surround.html

Tweet from John Silver earlier today:
JohnFSilver3:50pm via Web
UConn O-line in 2014? Hmm. My early guess, RT Gifford, RG Samra, C Mateas, LG Schafenacker/Rugg LT Levy....educated guess.

 

[uconnbill]

Levy looks more the part of right tackle with his size and length. I wonder if Gifford doesn't switch sides and Rugg and Levy fight it out for the right tackle spot.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

I have a lot of faith in Foley but oh man does that scare the crap out of me. I can't remember a line that had as little experience as this one will next year.

 

[Jimdish255]

One big eligible transfer would be nice.

 

[metsfan2323]

Casey mitigates the fears....

123 ball is out.

Unless of course the new staff experiments with another QB, then all bets are off.

 

[Srqhusky]

This lineup has played some minutes this year so all is bot lost

 

[huskymedic]

Casey mitigates the fears....

123 ball is out.

Unless of course the new staff experiments with another QB, then all bets are off.

Swear to god you must be Jack (or Mrs. Cochran)!

 

[huskymedic]

John Silver's view on O-Line:

http://snyuconn.com/uconn/football/thoughts-on-the-offensive-line/

 

[Carl Spackler]

The line will be better this year than in the past two, for one simple reason. Foley is going to have them hitting the sleds, early, often, and always. They are big enough, and they will look for contact and hit hard. That's what Foley does.

 

[sportsart]

Casey mitigates the fears....

123 ball is out.

Unless of course the new staff experiments with another QB, then all bets are off.

I'd put money on the run game getting a major portion of spring and summer practice. I'm guessing it's easier to teach the "punch 'em in 'n mouth" type blocking than pass protection.

The better the run game the better chance the QB can use the play action to get an extra tick of protection. Whoever the QB is I hope they plan on using the CC style of counting to, not 3 but 2.5 and release.

 

[Chin Diesel]

The line will be better this year than in the past two, for one simple reason. Foley is going to have them hitting the sleds, early, often, and always. They are big enough, and they will look for contact and hit hard. That's what Foley does.

And that's going to follow over in to the games. See the man, hit the man and drive the man backwards.

 

[BNich]

Let's see what Foley can do with P's "prototypes"!

 

[huskysupporter]

Am I missing something? I would not call Foley's scheme smash mouth. It is, however, my favorite blocking scheme. Lots of inside pulling lineman, and down blocking.

 

[Palatine]

Am I missing something? I would not call Foley's scheme smash mouth. It is, however, my favorite blocking scheme. Lots of inside pulling lineman, and down blocking.

It is a power running game.

 

[huskysupporter]

It is a power running game.

What would you call the scheme? Its not big on big blocking.

Not a big deal, just think that people sometimes think Foley's schemes are one on one blocking, when I see a scheme predicated on angles. He is one of the premier coaches in football.

 

[Excalibur]

The line will be better this year than in the past two, for one simple reason. Foley is going to have them hitting the sleds, early, often, and always. They are big enough, and they will look for contact and hit hard. That's what Foley does.

Let's be honest, however. While generally competent, even Foley's best lines did not excel in pass protection. And this unit is really inexperienced.

 

[BNich]

Let's be honest, however. While generally competent, even Foley's best lines did not excel in pass protection. And this unit is really inexperienced.

I have always felt the same. The power game had seemed to never be a problem until the past couple seasons (we know not his fault). But as you said pass protection never seemed to be a real strength.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Let's be honest, however. While generally competent, even Foley's best lines did not excel in pass protection. And this unit is really inexperienced.

Very true, so lets hope one thing - that coach Foley, is motivated, and humble enough to realize he can do better than he's done before, and is able to tap into knowledge and experience of the OC who was able to coach a MAC player well enough at the tackle position to become a #1 pick in the NFL draft, and is able to incorporate that into what he knows how to teach already.

....and let's also realize that when we were able to control the LOS in the run game in the past, and we actually had at least one competent QB/receiver combo in the past, for which we we are to game plan with play action passing - we won conference titles, and went to bowl games and won them. We've got a very good chance, of having that kind of combination again, and maybe, a few passing threats to build around.

and lastly, remember that we're in January still. Everything is great in the offseason.

 

[Husky25]

It's semantics, but I don't think saying 4 starters graduated is accurate if both Friend and Cruz did not end the season as starting O-linemen. Foley correctly indicates that Gifford has a lot of experience given he started 1/3 of the season. Who took over for Gus Cruz in the rotation?

I also don't like how both Silver and Fuller compared this team to the last few. Foley wasn't OL coach and these players only had 8 games of doing what they do naturally (i.e. not a zone blocking scheme). My hope is that they take to man-over blocking as easily as the team did from October 2013 going forward.

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

Let's be honest, however. While generally competent, even Foley's best lines did not excel in pass protection. And this unit is really inexperienced.

Agreed. I know there is a big man crush on Foley with this board....but I also remember below average pass blocking. He deserves credit for the running game, but I hope they have more success protecting the QB. If not...we are back to the RE conservative offense days.

 

[Carl Spackler]

It's semantics, but I don't think saying 4 starters graduated is accurate if both Friend and Cruz did not end the season as starting O-linemen. Foley correctly indicates that Gifford has a lot of experience given he started 1/3 of the season. Who took over for Gus Cruz in the rotation?

I also don't like how both Silver and Fuller compared this team to the last few. Foley wasn't OL coach and these players only had 8 games of doing what they do naturally (i.e. not a zone blocking scheme). My hope is that they take to man-over blocking as easily as the team did from October 2013 going forward.

You don't just switch up an entire offensive scheme in mid-season. Nobody knows exactly what the blocking schemes will be unless you've got the playbooks and are in the practices, but it's highly likely that the blocking we saw up front in the second half of 2013, was built off the same inside and outside zone blocking systems that had been installed 2 years ago. Whatever Foley did, as far as terminology, communication and identifying your blocks - worked, because the players weren't playing slow and confused anymore, and were actually making contact.

There is nothing inherently wrong at all with zone blocking schemes, and I actually prefer them because there is a lot more you can do with an offense if you can do it. The problem we had in the past is that we had a really crappy teacher in place. What system we use up front, I don't really care. What I'm concerned about is that they know their system, they can match up with any defensive front, communicate properly pre-snap and then make contact and be in position to make the blocks. That's the coaching part. They need to know that, and be able to communicate before they can actually make the blocks and win the line of scrimmage. Remains to be seen for all of us, what kind of foot speed these young linemen have, and what kinds of things we'll be able to do, or be limited in doing based on how fast they are......but they are certainly not undersized for our level of competition we will see next year.

 

[gioff23]

Remember that one of the issues w/pass protex under dandy randy was an absolute dearth of receivers who could create space. it's hard to go 1-2-3 pass when you're WRs are still engaged at the LOS w/a DB. What benefitted CC were quicker releases - his throws and the WR getting to space. We have wideouts now who can create space, and that will help the OL from having to block for prolonged periods

 

[Husky25]

You don't just switch up an entire offensive scheme in mid-season. Nobody knows exactly what the blocking schemes will be unless you've got the playbooks and are in the practices, but it's highly likely that the blocking we saw up front in the second half of 2013, was built off the same inside and outside zone blocking systems that had been installed 2 years ago. Whatever Foley did, as far as terminology, communication and identifying your blocks - worked, because the players weren't playing slow and confused anymore, and were actually making contact.

There is nothing inherently wrong at all with zone blocking schemes, and I actually prefer them because there is a lot more you can do with an offense if you can do it. The problem we had in the past is that we had a really crappy teacher in place. What system we use up front, I don't really care. What I'm concerned about is that they know their system, they can match up with any defensive front, communicate properly pre-snap and then make contact and be in position to make the blocks. That's the coaching part. They need to know that, and be able to communicate before they can actually make the blocks and win the line of scrimmage. Remains to be seen for all of us, what kind of foot speed these young linemen have, and what kinds of things we'll be able to do, or be limited in doing based on how fast they are.but they are certainly not undersized for our level of competition we will see next year.

...But Pasqualoni and George DeLeone decided to go with a zone blocking scheme, which is more of a finesse style. It wasn't working.
Foley likes his guys to be more physical: Line up and hit the guy in front of you and keep hitting him.
"The biggest thing I tried to do [is] let the guys know we were going to be physical and we were going to get after people in the run game," Foley said.

Also in this article:
"He comes in and he goes, 'We're going to make this simpler,'" senior left tackle Jimmy Bennett said. 'We're going to make it so you're not going up to the line confused. ... You're going be able to be physical and be aggressive and understand the game plan a lot more. You're going to be able to hit them in the mouth.' He came in like, 'We've been playing a little soft and I'm going to try to get you guys to be more physical and we're going to hit the sled every day this week.'
"We hit the sled every day. When DeLeone took over, we did not touch the sled. It was just his coaching style..."

 

[UConnDan97]

I think the OLine is going to shock some folks around here. Some of these kids have seen the field already, and if reports of Schafenacker are true, he might be the best of the bunch. They have the size and strength, and I trust that Foley will maximize their performance. Couple that with very good playmakers, and I think some will be pleasantly surprised with the results...

 

[FAIRTIDES]

Agreed. I know there is a big man crush on Foley with this board....but I also remember below average pass blocking. He deserves credit for the running game, but I hope they have more success protecting the QB. If not...we are back to the RE conservative offense days.

Pass protection might improve with a better play-calling mix. Even under RE, (post Dan O.) the offense was run heavy. The pass seemed to be the option saved for third and long meaning the O Line was, many times, outnumbered. The run game was good enough to keep complaints down. "Balance" the staff is talking about will, hopefully, keep defenses honest.