Question re OL

[Padreruf]

For those who are in the know...why are we having such problems in our OL? Is it talent? Is it technique? I am not piling on here...I believe our OL is trying as hard as they can. However, for a line that was supposed to rival 2012, this is not even close. Maybe it is what we live with -- I am behind them 1,000 per cent. However, would one of you coaches enlighten me as to what you see???

Thanks

 

[CrimsonForce]

For those who are in the know...why are we having such problems in our OL? Is it talent? Is it technique? I am not piling on here...I believe our OL is trying as hard as they can. However, for a line that was supposed to rival 2012, this is not even close. Maybe it is what we live with -- I am behind them 1,000 per cent. However, would one of you coaches enlighten me as to what you see???

Thanks

Some may look at this as an excuse but the truth of the matter is our best player (Cam) has not really been healthy since the Wisconsin game. A player of his caliber being healthy can make a big difference. I'm not saying it will solve all the OL issues but Cam should be as close to 100% as he is going to be this season for the LSU game and I think the OL play will be noticeably better. Other than that, we are breaking in 3 new starters so considering the injuries and the newer players I think the OL has held up pretty good. Truth be told, some of the OL "issues" could be mitigated by better play calling but that's another story..

 

[pbearbryant]

I 100% agree on the play calling. As good as Derrick Henry's numbers are I think they could be even better if the play calling was better. I love Coach Saban and think he is the Best and it isn't even close. Kiffin on the other hand I am not sold on.

 

[crimsonaudio]

It's year three and I'm not convinced Cristobal is the answer...

 

[Bama2003]

I 100% agree on the play calling. As good as Derrick Henry's numbers are I think they could be even better if the play calling was better. I love Coach Saban and think he is the Best and it isn't even close. Kiffin on the other hand I am not sold on.

I don't know about every body else but I seriously believe that Saban needs to let Kiffen go at the end of the season because he is killing our offense!!!!!!!

 

[fralo4tide]

I am most definitely "not in the know" but haven't things not been the same since Joe Pendry retired?

 

[crimsonaudio]

I am most definitely "not in the know" but haven't things not been the same since Joe Pendry retired?

Jeff Stoutland was good, too. We've regressed since he left after 2012.

 

[RammerJammer14]

I just miss Coach Pendry


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[CB4]

I am most definitely "not in the know" but haven't things not been the same since Joe Pendry retired?

Things haven't been the same, o-line wise, since Stoutland left for Philadelphia.

 

[westide]

Hopefully, the extra time off will help Cam and the OL. I would like to see us run more out of the I formation.

 

[Go Bama]

I don't know their names, but I was very impressed with Tennessee's defensive ends and their #21. Some of Bama's OL problems were who they were facing. The Vols are not chumps anymore. Unfortunately.

 

[russtang]

Every lineman will get beat sometimes but the biggest problem to me has been the miscommunication and missed reads/missed assignments.
Every game there have been many plays with defensive players being totally unblocked and lots of those were the best defensive rushers getting through untouched.
It has happened at all positions of the Oline.

Penalties have hurt too.

 

[deliveryman35]

It's year three and I'm not convinced Cristobal is the answer...

I agree and have never been sold on MC as a position coach(though I agree he seems to be a great recruiter.) The emphasis since he got here from when Stoutland was in the position seems at times to have gone from overpowering and imposing your will to finesse and being nimble on your feet. Plus there is a direct correlation between his arrival and the steep increase in motion penalties. When SToutland and Pendry were in charge, we were one of the least penalized teams in all of football.

 

[superbamashane]

Play calling and injuries have nothing to do with the large amount of false starts. Seems like we've had more this year than previous years combined. Alabama is currently the most penalized team in the SEC and a large portion is coming from the line. I'm not sure if it's because of a talent drop off, or coaching. Between penalities and just flat out getting beat at the line, this is one of our worst ol's in recent memory.

 

[IBUY]

A dear BAMA fan friend of mine says the problem is not Cristobal. He lays it firmly on Lane Kiffin's playcalling and not staying with the gameplan. I agree Kiffin's playcalling is questionable...but the lousy footwork, technique, and whiffed blocks aren't on Kiffin. I just hope Saban gets this fixed before it causes an Alabama loss and gets Jacob Coker injured.

 

[derek4tide]

Cam is hurt. You can tell he is by the way he is getting beat each week on the end rush. The O-line has 3 new starters this year and are starting to gell, but the pass rush is still killing us. As for Kiffin, he signed a 2 year contract and we are in year 2. His wife and kids are in LA, so I exect him to depart after this season.

 

[Skeeterpop]

The issue is a mixture of things. Injuries, lost focus and teams loading the box are a few. Our inexperience on the OL is a large part as well. Run blocking is more about physical strength and want too. Therefore, we can usually run the ball at will. Pass blocking is all about technique, form and mental focus. This is where we are having problems. Your LT is going to face the best pass rushers the other team has so that person needs to be health or they could be a weakness. Quickness has been CR weakness from day one. Add playing hurt and it only compounds his weakness. Leads to more missed blocks, sacks and hold penalties.

I personally think CMC is not a top fundamentals and technique teacher. He has always benefited from pushing his players to
overpower the opponent. This does not work usually in pass blocking a quicker faster lineman. Plus he just does not seem to develop players into better pass blockers over time. We need a pure skills coach and teacher for our OL imo.

Those of you who think CLK is this issue are way off. This guy may be one of the best teachers/OC we have had in 25 yrs. He made Blake Simms into a freaking weapon last year. i love Blake but he was no Manning or Vick but the kid was developed from a 3 to an 8 at the QB position in one year. CLK did that. I dont always agree with our play calling but a good OC keeps the other team guessing and they cant fall into the trap of being predictable or vanilla. You have to push your team and your players to be dynamic if you want to win today in big time football.
I look for OL coaching change in 2016 and unfortunately beleive CLK will take a HC job next year if the right one comes open. But surprisingly, I think he stays another year as our OC before he jumps at just any HC job.

Here is an added tid bit of information you might find interesting. CNS thinks the world of CLK's coaching ability and respects him as much as any other coach on the team outside of Smart. Saban will keep CLK as long as he can. They may seem to clash from time to time on gameday but they are closer than you might believe.

 

[bamaslammer]

Cam is hurt. You can tell he is by the way he is getting beat each week on the end rush. The O-line has 3 new starters this year and are starting to gell, but the pass rush is still killing us. As for Kiffin, he signed a 2 year contract and we are in year 2. His wife and kids are in LA, so I exect him to depart after this season.

If by "gell" you mean soft then yes they are gelling.

 

[uaintn]

I also believe that CR is playing through some pretty serious physical issues. What worries me is that apparently even with those limitations he is considered better than his replacement. I do not recall him missing a down in the last three games.

Just blocking straight ahead we do pretty well. If the defense runs any sort of stunt, we are in trouble. Speedy edge rushers give our Tackles fits. Coker occasionally does not help himself by failing to step up in the pocket as opposed to rolling away from the pressure, though I can't blame him for not trusting that the pocket will hold up.

There is much work to do here and I worry that our o-line could cost us a game soon, if not our starting QB. Sometimes we get beat by sheer numbers on run plays, but sometimes our RB is hit in the backfield by a player that was unblocked while we double teamed a different D lineman.

I honestly don't know if CMC is part of the problem or not. But there's no denying there is an issue; at a minimum a consistency issue. I doubt Coach Pendry wants back in at his age, but I sure do miss him.

 

[stlimprov]

I can't shake this feeling that adjustments aren't getting recognized and called (well). It would be one thing if guys were getting beaten, but I've seen way too many cases in which a defender is simply not picked up at all. That is to say that I'm not sure the problem is physical or blocking technique, per se.