2008 tOSU Offensive Line discussion (official thread)

[akronbuck]

I said this in another thread, but it goes here too: I am extremely disappointed in the number of walk-ons on the Offensive Line in the two deep in the last few years. I don't want to take anything away from them, I admire their guts and determination, but they're being in the two-deep says we whiffed on some of our recruits. OSU has got to continue getting the best recruits in there AND developing them. Games are won in the trenches (especially Tresselball), and they just aren't getting it done.

bingo. I was like a walk-on taking a schollies spot a few years ago and it still goes on. The recruiting answers it for me , line COACHING STYLE and those joke rankings. I still think those 3 freshmen will be fine and I know 2 are done for the season but, I still can't believe they couldn't beat out the starters if they're so talented , Thats why I gave up on rankings years ago.

 

[jwinslow]

I still can't believe they couldn't beat out the starters if they're so talented , Thats why I gave up on rankings years ago.

Adams has been nicked up most of his time here, and Shugarts was pushing for the RT job when he went down with injury. There are many criticisms to be made regarding the OL, but the talent of those frosh is not one of them, imo.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

Adams has been nicked up most of his time here, and Shugarts was pushing for the RT job when he went down with injury. There are many criticisms to be made regarding the OL, but the talent of those frosh is not one of them, imo.

granted most said the same thing about the upper classmen a few years ago...

 

[GoodLifeSean]

granted most said the same thing about the upper classmen a few years ago...

I agree that the upper classmen were highly recruited as well, however, the major thing that I see is attitude. Asking freshman to come in and dominate the line is tough due to stregnth, but they play mean and that's how a lineman needs to play. I know I've said this a lot of times on this board, but when it comes down to equal stregnth, the person who plays with controlled anger and urgency will come out the victor. There's too much thinking and that hurts. No one can question ability, but motivation and urgency can be questioned.

 

[muffler dragon]

Just to ask: with the freshman class of linemen that we have, did they come here because of Bollman? Is Bollman a key to recruiting upper level linemen? I realize this is irrelevant to what is done with the talent once it's here, but I wanted to ask nonetheless.

 

[jwinslow]

Just to ask: with the freshman class of linemen that we have, did they come here because of Bollman?

All 3 5-star frosh credit Bollman, but Brewster did in particular. He was targeted very early in his career and won over with his approach in recruiting.

Is Bollman a key to recruiting upper level linemen?

That's a tough question to answer. He was not very effective in the years preceding 2008, and definitely underachieved in 07.

His best year of recruiting OL, 08, he had very early playing time to sell. Brewster is starting, and Shugarts might have been if healthy. All 3 could be starting in year two. However, he also deserves credit for securing strong '09 talent to complement the '08 class. Mewhort, Linsey are excellent recruits, albeit in-state. OSU lean Marcus Hall also comes from OSU's most favorable high school. He did not bring in Chris Watt as hoped.

I think other OL coaches could have brought in the 09 class, and possibly improved upon some pre-08 OL classes. But at the same time, would any have landed the '08 haul?

 

[akronbuck]

All 3 5-star frosh credit Bollman, but Brewster did in particular.

Brewster's brother is getting his master's at OSU. That was a main reason but, Bollman does come along as a great recruiter and helped with Brewster. I've never heard anything negative about Bollman with recruits

 

[Buckrock]

Brewster's brother is getting his master's at OSU. That was a main reason but, Bollman does come along as a great recruiter and helped with Brewster. I've never heard anything negative about Bollman with recruits

I agree. He recruits OL's pretty well. They respect his knowledge and coaching. The problem is we do not load up on OL's like some other schools (Michigan in past years). The reason is OL's cannot move to another position if the fail at OL. DL's can. Look for more Garret Goebel Adam Bellemy's in the future. While recruited as DL's they are athletic and versatile enough for OL.

 

[Flocka]

Brewster's brother is getting his master's at OSU. That was a main reason but, Bollman does come along as a great recruiter and helped with Brewster. I've never heard anything negative about Bollman with recruits

Undergrad, and he transferred knowing his brother was going there.

 

[Bleed S & G]

Jim Bollman does not use blocking sleds.

We had an old lineman off of the '68 Nat. Championship team at the tailgate a few weeks ago.. he went to a practice and was very vocal and very unhappy about the way the o-line was coached.

Not to go back into the remedial zone blocking thread - but I think theres a problem with the scheme.. whatever happened to firing out low and knocking someones dick off?

 

[matt_thatsme]

We had an old lineman off of the '68 Nat. Championship team at the tailgate a few weeks ago.. he went to a practice and was very vocal and very unhappy about the way the o-line was coached.

Not to go back into the remedial zone blocking thread - but I think theres a problem with the scheme.. whatever happened to firing out low and knocking someones dick off?[/quote]


Who knows, but I haven't seen much of it this year. It is taking all that is within me to stay positive abou this O-line. I don't think it is lack of talent holding them back, so that leaves scheme or desire. I definitely hope it is not the latter, but does anybody have any guesses?

 

[DontHateOState]

I still can't believe they couldn't beat out the starters if they're so talented , Thats why I gave up on rankings years ago.

Really? If find it quite easy to believe that they couldn't beat out the starters when they were doing rehab while the team was practicing.

It is an indictment of the rest of the linemen that these players were all in the 2 deep even after rehabbing through some injuries.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

I agree that the upper classmen were highly recruited as well, however, the major thing that I see is attitude. Asking freshman to come in and dominate the line is tough due to stregnth, but they play mean and that's how a lineman needs to play. I know I've said this a lot of times on this board, but when it comes down to equal stregnth, the person who plays with controlled anger and urgency will come out the victor. There's too much thinking and that hurts. No one can question ability, but motivation and urgency can be questioned.

go back to 05 and 04, the same things were said about these guys who start now, then...

 

[brutus2002]

Someone with beter knowledge of OL schemes please explain what body type zone blocking requires? Are we recruiting the right body types for this scheme? My understanding is that OL 305 Lbs or less are best suited for this scheme due to amount of footwork required. I have been told that leaner and faster OL are prefered over larger OL. If this is the case then why do we have OL over 325lbs? I think the freshmen we had come in this year will be fine but can someone elaborate...thanks in advance

 

[DaytonBuck]

Someone with beter knowledge of OL schemes please explain what body type zone blocking requires? Are we recruiting the right body types for this scheme? My understanding is that OL 305 Lbs or less are best suited for this scheme due to amount of footwork required. I have been told that leaner and faster OL are prefered over larger OL. If this is the case then why do we have OL over 325lbs? I think the freshmen we had come in this year will be fine but can someone elaborate...thanks in advance

Zone blocking from my understanding uses lighter offensive lineman that more athletic. They tend to be smaller but I think the biggest concern is how well the linemen move. They're used more in pulling and trapping. Offensive lineman in the scheme move around more than a typical scheme. There's usually a lot of double teams with the interior lineman where one will chip off and take a LB out after the initialize double team.