OL as a unit

OL as a unit
by Wass (2024-04-24 12:40:15)

In reply to: Some positives on the OL posted by SEE

An OL has to work as a unit to he any good. IMO, this is why a team needs to develop players from the start, rather than get a transfer. Look at a team like CU, where Sanders seems to think you can take 5 new starters every year and make them into a world class unit (you know, because he is such a evaluator and moulder of talent). He isn't the only one completely revamping the OL, though, to be fair, some coaches don't have a choice! Even if the transfer is experienced, he will still have to learn the offense. Even then, he may not gel with the other players because they haven't practiced together. Right now (as of 4-24), there are no real big time OTs in the portal that would constitute an upgrade. So ND will need to go with what is on the roster. I think the OL and RB is more geared to a running game at the moment. The transfer QB is too injury prone to be running much and the WR room, while better than last year, isn't all that great and it's also injury prone (minor injuries at the moment). I'm not impressed with Mitchell (I've stated that too much already); his best play was burning a walk on. Collins isn't on campus yet, but I hold out hope that he is the best transfer WR. ND has a very deep running back stable, and the linemen are more cut out for a running game (at least right now), so I would like to think they would run more. I guess we'll see in a few months.

Nothing but shotgun snaps in the BG game

Leads me to believe that Denbrock does not agree with you.

Between that and the “prairie dog“ offense, where the entire team peaks over at the sideline before each snap, watching the game triggered a certain amount of PTSD in me on Saturday. My thousand yard stare came back for a few days.

I sure liked the way CJ Carr played, though. And I think we are absolutely loaded on the defense.

I'm sure Denbrock...

...doesn't agree with me. But from what I've seen, the RB stable is far better than the WR stable. ND certainly doesn't have the material that OSU had at WR. It is clear ND wants a high powered passing game, but they are probably a year away (or more) from that. I just feel their personal is better suited towards a running game right now.

they probably think that they can scheme guys open

and if the qb makes the proper pre snap read and then post snap adjustments and reads, it will all be fine.

The RBs are certainly better than the WRs

The question I have is- what will the 2024 OL do better? Run block or pass block? I ask because I don't know. Given the system, I don't think it matters. They'll focus far more on teaching pass blocking even if it's obvious they'd be a better run blocking unit with proper practice time.

That is my point

The OL is better suited to run blocking (at least from what little I saw) and the running backs played very well, yet they are going to be pass blocking despite a pretty mediocre WR stable (which will improve when injuries heal, Collins gets to ND, and Faison is playing). Even with the additions, the RBs are better overall than the WRs. Roujd peg, meet square hole.

I'm curious how many of his runs ended out of bounds or

in slides. The faster the player, the easier to escape contact into open space that gives you time to do both--especially on a scramble. I would guess Daniels did not have to absorb as much contact as the average scrambling qb, though I certainly didn't watch them closely. I would just note that when comparing his two years versus the expected experience someone like Leonard, who I understand to be athletic but without the top-end speed that Daniels has.