OK, I'm resurrecting an old subject....OL

[ihatefulmer]

What happened with the O-line vs. USC?

I find it hard to believe that MTSU D line is better than USC. What happen today? Have we underestimated our O-line? I thought they would get better as the year went on but they look like a different bunch today. Are these young guys starting to click? Is USC that bad ? 1 good game after 2 bad games. How can they look so bad the 1st 2 weeks and play so good today? Which is the real line? Todays performance? The last 2 weeks? Some where in between?

I hope the worst is behind us and we can build on todays game.

Keep up the Hard Work fellows!!!!!


This is not a crow eating thread toward anyone. It's just hard for me to understand how much can change in a week.

 

[bayoutider]

Just in case....................

Crow and Mushroom Stew

3 crows
1 Tbsp lard/shortening
1 pint stock or gravy
2 Tbsp cream
1/2 cup mushrooms
salt and pepper
cayenne pepper

Clean and cut crows into small portions and let them cook a short time in the lard/shortening in a saucepan, being careful not to brown them.
Next, add to the contents of the pan, the stock or gravy, and salt, pepper and cayenne to taste.
Simmer 1 hour, or until tender, add mushrooms, simmer 10 minutes more and then stir in cream.
Arrange the mushrooms around the crows on a hot platter.

 

[babyray]

I believe coach connelly challenged them to get physical and they responded. I also believe SC had a weak d-line. We did exactly what you should do to a weak line. Very good game all aound today.

 

[BAMARICH]

Some of it seems to be...

Consistency got a lot better today. Although the refs didn't call a tight game, they sustained their blocks well overall and improved as a unit. Physically, I'm of the opinion that USM had a better front line than USC... however, our OL is due a hearty "congratulations."

 

[It is what it is]

Nope....

They must have changed their blocking technique. There is no way they could have done all that with a flat footed technique. :wink:

 

[markenk]

i think it's a mixture of both our O-line improving week after week and KD running with more aggressiveness. our O-line is still too young - for example i remember Cardwell missing his assignment completely which resulted in a 4 yard loss on an inside run. But they are improving and i think our running game will be OK as long as they continue to build confidence. also a lot of credit has to go to KD. he was a lot more aggressive in choosing the hole, hit and bounce outside. He also dodged defenders at the LOS and made nice net yards out of nothing. Remember that spin move he put on that USC LB? that was a classic!

 

[CrimsonTusk]

Just in case....................

Crow and Mushroom Stew

3 crows
1 Tbsp lard/shortening
1 pint stock or gravy
2 Tbsp cream
1/2 cup mushrooms
salt and pepper
cayenne pepper

Clean and cut crows into small portions and let them cook a short time in the lard/shortening in a saucepan, being careful not to brown them.
Next, add to the contents of the pan, the stock or gravy, and salt, pepper and cayenne to taste.
Simmer 1 hour, or until tender, add mushrooms, simmer 10 minutes more and then stir in cream.
Arrange the mushrooms around the crows on a hot platter.

Me thinks this post needs to go to the Grillin/Chillin forum......

 

[wisten]

It's a recipe for eating crow, and many need to prepare their "crow" properly after today. LOL

Roll Tide!

 

[GoBama#1]

My guess is that most improvement occurs between the first and second games of the season. But maybe since the line is young the most improve will occur between games 2 and 3. More real game experience has caused the line to gel.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Well...

I thought we'd know a little more after this game. We do know more, but not as much as I'd thought we'd know. One question hanging in the air is how good UGA is. We may not get a really good test until UF. I know I like the changes in technique and a couple of games practicing has got to help. It'd be real easy at this point to get stars in the eyes...

 

[7Tech]

I thought we'd know a little more after this game. We do know more, but not as much as I'd thought we'd know. One question hanging in the air is how good UGA is. We may not get a really good test until UF. I know I like the changes in technique and a couple of games practicing has got to help. It'd be real easy at this point to get stars in the eyes...

That is very very very true. great BAMA win today. we ran the ball, played defense and won the turnover battle. Great win but we have a long road ahead of us.

 

[ihatefulmer]

I thought we'd know a little more after this game. We do know more, but not as much as I'd thought we'd know. One question hanging in the air is how good UGA is. We may not get a really good test until UF. I know I like the changes in technique and a couple of games practicing has got to help. It'd be real easy at this point to get stars in the eyes...

It'd be real easy at this point to get stars in the eyes...

[/QUOTE]


If your talking about the fans.... then yes it is. For the line......... just have to go back a week or 6 quarters and see they still have work to do. Baby steps!

 

[rgw]

It is a combination of a lot of things:
1) USC's horrible run defense
2) Alabama's line beginning to gel
3) Darby and others taking the punch to the USC defense
4) The O-line getting physical

I don't care what team in the SEC you are playing, you are doing something right if you are running for 340+ yards.

 

[JessN]

Not to make MTSU out as the next Steel Curtain, but MTSU DT Jeff Littlejohn is much more likely to play at the next level than anyone Alabama saw today or last week. The other DT, the Staton kid, would probably start at USM and USC, too.

I think Alabama's success today came more as a result of the OL having some time to work the kinks out, plus they responded to a direct challenge from the coaches to make things happen in the ground game. The coaches obviously devised the game plan around success in the running game and if the OL had failed that task, UA would have had to get outside its plan.

What still bothers me is that when our run blocking fails, we should be getting no gain or a couple of yards. But we're still allowing too much penetration into the backfield, particularly in the gap between the center and the right guard, which leads to lost yardage. It's a combination of talent, inexperience and, I still believe, a technique that does not lend itself well to a power rushing game against *top level* defensive lines. We'll see if Alabama has this kind of success against Tennessee, LSU and Auburn. We won't see a DL as bad as USC's was until we play Utah State.

 

[ihatefulmer]

Not to make MTSU out as the next Steel Curtain, but MTSU DT Jeff Littlejohn is much more likely to play at the next level than anyone Alabama saw today or last week. The other DT, the Staton kid, would probably start at USM and USC, too.

I think Alabama's success today came more as a result of the OL having some time to work the kinks out, plus they responded to a direct challenge from the coaches to make things happen in the ground game. The coaches obviously devised the game plan around success in the running game and if the OL had failed that task, UA would have had to get outside its plan.

What still bothers me is that when our run blocking fails, we should be getting no gain or a couple of yards. But we're still allowing too much penetration into the backfield, particularly in the gap between the center and the right guard, which leads to lost yardage. It's a combination of talent, inexperience and, I still believe, a technique that does not lend itself well to a power rushing game against *top level* defensive lines. We'll see if Alabama has this kind of success against Tennessee, LSU and Auburn. We won't see a DL as bad as USC's was until we play Utah State.

Jess I was really hoping you would respond to this thread. I was hoping that todays performance was us improving but was afraid that usc was that bad.

 

[JessN]

I think it definitely improved. I am not upset at our line at all.

I just don't think our line has been tested by a truly solid defense yet. MTSU, USM and USC all have respectable defenses. They all have strong parts, but they all have weaknesses, too.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Right now...

UT is schooling UF. The outcome of this game is very important to us, IMO, and I don't really mean just who wins...

 

[TexasBama]

UT is schooling UF. The outcome of this game is very important to us, IMO, and I don't really mean just who wins...

I would rather see Meyer lose his innocence in Tuscaloosa than tonite

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I agree...

I'druther UF were undefeated...

 

[bamar]

i did not see any reason to fear tenn or fla after watching their contest tonight. they too have problems with their offensive lines, and their defenses make similar mistakes. i really do believe we can play with both of them.