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Off Week Discussion/OL/Running Game/Play Calling

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I just struggle to think out of all the offensive linemen we have, that we still have a "talent problem" at that position. This has been an issue since 2021 (COVID) but it doesn't seem to be getting any better. If I'm DeBoer, I'm calling Sam Pittman yesterday and asking him "how much?". Our Oline performances are not sustainable for long term success and I'm certain DeBoer already knows this. I just hope this offseason is spent on bringing in OL and defensive tackles. Those two positions have killed us this year.
 
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bamamc1 said:
One thing is for sure: We just went through one heck of a stretch of beating ranked teams. I think everyone here was expecting the S. Carolina game to be just what it was. The difference, last year we would have folded like a cheap umbrella.
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Yes, we definitely went through the ringer for five weeks and amazingly came out undefeated. That's a huge accomplishment. I know the guys need the rest and we need the two weeks to heal up, and get things on the OL and running game figured out before the last stretch of the regular season.
 
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mlh said:
I think we have some guys on the team this year who saw all the BS and locker room issues last year and vowed that things would be different this year when they were "in charge." We seem to have a lot of team unity and support and leadership - all things I didn't see last year. As a result, we're able to bounce back from bad plays and not get frustrated and not panic in the face of adversity and just play the next play. I never expected to see it and I'm so happy that's where we are.

I think there are definite issues with the OL and I think it's as much coaching as it is talent. Grubb does a great job of maximizing the talents of TS and our WRs in the passing game, but he doesn't seem to know what to do in the running game. He tries to force runs up the middle but when we attack the corners we seem to have success. Why not just go with it? Stretch the defense, spread them out, and give out RBs lanes to hit on cutbacks or try to get around the corner.

I think sometimes Grubb gets a little too cute. OTOH, the two-point conversion play was awesome. Shift the QB and RB to the left. Snap it directly to the RB. Hand the ball off to the QB rolling out to the right who fakes a reverse handoff to the WR. Then an easy pass to the TE for the score. This play totally confused their defense. Great call.

This team is gaining confidence and building trust and forming a tight unit. I think they will be hard to beat down the stretch. After the 4-game gauntlet, it was not surprising that we would come out flat and struggle this week. But we found a way to win. The defense stepped up and kept us in it. Then the offense woke up and put together a couple of great drives at the end of the game to secure the W. Outstanding!

RTR!
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Good points. I mean, we have "first-world problems" that most teams don't have the privilege to worry about at this point in the season. Every team other than A$M would probably change spots with us right now (and I'm still not convinced A$M has been tested like us).

I think OCRG just needs to stick to what we can do. The inside RPO runs get blown up at the mesh point too often and the ones that don't might can 1-3 yards. I don't remember 1 inside run when we've had an explosive play when the score was close (there have been a few late in games when we had a lead). So I hope we spend alot of the off week maximizing the pass game we do the best, which includes figuring out how to clean up some of the screen plays, which work like an extension of the run game. We've been super close to breaking a few of those for TDs but it seems our timing is "off" just a little on a lot of these.

But, my biggest gripe is to quit wasting plays on inside runs. We haven't had one "house call" on those plays and they usually put us behind the chains. Just do what we do best and we can hopefully win out to the post season!
 
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BamaMoon said:
Good points. I mean, we have "first-world problems" that most teams don't have the privilege to worry about at this point in the season. Every team other than A$M would probably change spots with us right now (and I'm still not convinced A$M has been tested like us).
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Definitely right about that, here's what our SEC opponents have averaged in W/L:
Alabama: 5.6-2.2
A&M: 3.6-4.2

They've yet to play a 6-2 team or better but they play two to close out the year both on the road.
 
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colbysullivan said:
Before the season, I thought we would be 7-1 at this point in the season. The OU game still really scares me, but we need to get past LSU first. It seems like they are a spiraling program, and we own them, so I think we handle them. Not much room for error moving forward though.
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I would like to see us come out of the break on fire and beat the crap out of them and make a statement.
 
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colbysullivan said:
Before the season, I thought we would be 7-1 at this point in the season. The OU game still really scares me, but we need to get past LSU first. It seems like they are a spiraling program, and we own them, so I think we handle them. Not much room for error moving forward though.
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I'm afraid that outside of cupcakes like ULM and Eastern Illinois, blowing out "weak" SEC teams is going to be a rare event. Also, it seems this team stays just enough ahead of teams during games to win the game. I'd love to see us go out and dominate an SEC team from start to finish. But I don't think this team or staff is built that way.
 
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statgrad96 said:
My only wish is that when you have 2nd and inches, let's not throw deep on 2 of the next 3 plays.... just get the first down...
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2nd and short is the perfect time to throw deep. Granted, if you give up a sack you're making it difficult for yourself....but you should be able to pick up 3rd and inches....unless your OL is getting blown up repeatedly
 
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Cruloc said:
2nd and short is the perfect time to throw deep. Granted, if you give up a sack you're making it difficult for yourself....but you should be able to pick up 3rd and inches....unless your OL is getting blown up repeatedly
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In general, you're right, but in the context of a specific game, that may not be the best option. Ty was missing on deep throws from the get-go and should have been picked at least twice. With the flow of that game and as hard as it was for us to keep moving the chains, when it's 2nd & 1, the most important thing is to get the one yard and reset the downs. Not try to fire a bomb down the field in a game where your quarterback has shown he's having an off day on those type of passes.
 
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We had a running back in Justice Haynes. I don't understand how he did not have success at Bama. He has 857 yards in 7 games for Michigan and is playing like who I thought we recruited. He is a likely early 3rd round NFL pick at this point.
 
Let's look at our OL recruiting:

Coming in next year:
IOL - Samuelu Utu - 4 star out of California
IOL - Chris Booker - 4 star out of Georgia
OT - Jared Doughty - 3 star out of Georgia
OT - Bear Fretwell - 3 star out of Georgia

From the 2025 class:
IOL - Michael Carroll - 5 star out of Pennsylvania (playing OT)
OT - Jackson Lloyd - 4 star out of California
IOL - Micah DeBose - 4 star out of Mobile, AL
IOL - Mal Waldrep - 3 star out of Phenix City, AL
IOL - Kam Dewberry - 3 star out of Texas
OT - Arkel Anugwom - 3 star transfer from Ball State
OT - Jayden Hobson - 3 star transfer from South Alabama

From the 2024 class:
IOL - Casey Poe - 4 star out of Texas
IOL - William Sanders - 4 star out of Brookwood, AL
IOL - Joseph Ionata - 3 star out of Florida
IOL - Parker Brailsford - 4 star transfer from Washington (best OL right now)
OT - Naquil Betrand - 3 star transfer from Texas A&M
IOL - Geno VanDeMark - 3 star transfer from Michigan State

From the 2023 class:
OT - Kadyn Proctor - 5 star out of Iowa
OT - Wilkin Formby - 4 star out of Tuscaloosa, AL
OT - Olaus Alinen - 4 star out of Connecticut
IOL - Miles McVay - 4 star out of Illinois (transferred to North Carolina)
IOL - Roq Montgomery - 3 star out of Anniston, AL



IOL - Jaeden Roberts - 4 star out of Texas (came in the 2021 class)

JessN's depth chart for the SCarolina game:
LT - Proctor / Lloyd / Anugwom
LG - Dewberry / Sanders / DeBose
C - Brailsford / Ionata / Waldrep
RG - Roberts / VanDeMark / Alinen
RT - Carroll / Formby / Poe


Didn't include the 2022 class because that one had Booker and Pritchett and Steen. Booker is in the NFL, Pritchett is at Nebraska, and Steen is in the NFL.
 
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colbysullivan said:
Before the season, I thought we would be 7-1 at this point in the season. The OU game still really scares me, but we need to get past LSU first. It seems like they are a spiraling program, and we own them, so I think we handle them. Not much room for error moving forward though.
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I’ll be very interested in the tennessee vs Oklahoma game this weekend.
 
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BamaMoon said:
Really glad we have OU at BDS@NSF.

Key with LSU is get an early lead and they'll quit like they did in the second half of the A&M game.

AU game is the one I'm worried about the most. At Jordan Voo Poo and they will see it as a "season saver" to beat us. And their defense is pretty legit!
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I can see the Auburn game going similarly to the USC game for sure.
 
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jjv0004 said:
We had a running back in Justice Haynes. I don't understand how he did not have success at Bama. He has 857 yards in 7 games for Michigan and is playing like who I thought we recruited. He is a likely early 3rd round NFL pick at this point.
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Maybe we ran him off like we did Sayin for whatever reason.
 
statgrad96 said:
My only wish is that when you have 2nd and inches, let's not throw deep on 2 of the next 3 plays.... just get the first down...
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Let’s not forget that on 3rd and 1 Hill got torpedoed in the backfield for a loss. I think the main thing is we’ve got to be less predictable in the run game. Currently we seem to try 2 runs up the middle, then pass. About ~70% of the time according to my biased and frustrated memory lol.
 
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