2009 tOSU Offensive Line Discussion (official thread)

[BUCKYLE]

I just punched myself in the face. It helped

 

[akronbuck]

I wonder as the season goes on if any of the freshman will step up as Nick Mangold and Rob Sims did in 2002

 

[Joe56]

I could be way off base on this...

Remember all the discussion about "blocking sleds"? Well, we saw footage from summer that had the OL working on "sleds", but they weren't the type I remember seeing at other programs.

The clip showed a "fire out, get your block, stand your man up" device (I wish I could find it), rather than a "fire out, get your block, drive your feet, drive your man" type of old school scenario.

While irrelevant, there were several times yesterday that I thought we should have imposed our will against Navy's front (4th and 1, etc.), but our guys just seemed to hit and stop moving their feet.

You watch other programs, especially ones who excel at OL play (for instance, U), and those guys seem to be driving their assignment into the endzone- constant foot motion.

Just wondering if anyone else thinks that our problem may still be failure to maintain blocks past the point of attack. If so, the "sleds" we saw earlier may actually be a hindrance to success.

This is it in a nutshell, greenies on the way. Once the o line engages, the object is to find fix and finish and move to the second level.We've rarely seen that.

I teach my kids to keep punching, fulfill the assignment and start looking for targets. What I think our philosophy is at TOSU is fulfill,create space or a pocket and hold the block. The philosophy is radically different from when we had an Orlando on board.

Granted, the AFCA conferences are big on the "o-line with quick feet and great movement" theory.That's great in theory, but I'll take the 350 pound kid who obliterates everything in front of him, everytime over the smaller but "athletic" lineman. Impose your will. Keep it football and punch someone (not Oregon style) in the mouth.Until we do that,we'll have some significant issues.

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

I'd sure like to have exhawg's take on this one

 

[cbrian815]

I'd sure like to have exhawg's take on this one

Interesting I was watching highlights of Orlando Pace.....WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! talk about engaging and driving somebody backwards. I would love to hear others opinions on our oline and the lack of nasty, drive your 40lb lighter man into the ground attitude. Go Bucks

 

[lightyears2012]

yeah.. far too often our guys engage and then end up on the ground as the man they're trying to block gets in on the play..

 

[Buckeneye]

We do have tons of raw talent, and if I remember correctly our last decent Oline was 2007. They took nearly 3 of our first games to start to be effective. While I'm hoping that this unit will pan out to at least be that good, we don't have that much time to wait. USC is 5 days away and we need to establish something reselmbing a run game. (outside of the option)

 

[Tlangs]

I'm no offensive line guru, but to me it looked like the most solid play on Saturday came from the LT position. Miller handled his guy. Shugarts did as well when he was in there.

Seemed to me the problem was missed assignments by the backs /tight ends and Brewster getting shoved back a couple yards on some run plays.

 

[Jaxbuck]

We do have tons of raw talent, and if I remember correctly our last decent Oline was 2007. They took nearly 3 of our first games to start to be effective. While I'm hoping that this unit will pan out to at least be that good, we don't have that much time to wait. USC is 5 days away and we need to establish something reselmbing a run game. (outside of the option)

I would say the last decent OL was 2005. I would also like to examine the "enough talent" assumption we all have.

I don't keep up with them after they leave OSU well enough so folks correct me where I'm wrong but the OL recruited and drafted under Bollman/Tress off the top of my head:

Mangold-star level talent
Rob Simms- drafted low iirc? Journeyman NFL type
TJ Downing-Drafted? Still playing? Journeyman at best
kirk Barton-Drafted? Still Playing? Journeyman at best
Boone-UDFA/ journeyman

Maybe I'm forgetting someone or maybe I'm underestimating someone but for an 8 year run that's a pretty underwhelming amount of NFL players produced as compared to what OSU produces overall.

 

[Bleed S & G]

The philosophy is radically different from when we had an Orlando on board.

With an Orlando - now serving 1,389 - well, nevermind. 'Nuff said.

 

[ysubuck]

I would say the last decent OL was 2005. I would also like to examine the "enough talent" assumption we all have.

I don't keep up with them after they leave OSU well enough so folks correct me where I'm wrong but the OL recruited and drafted under Bollman/Tress off the top of my head:

Mangold-star level talent
Rob Simms- drafted low iirc? Journeyman NFL type
TJ Downing-Drafted? Still playing? Journeyman at best
kirk Barton-Drafted? Still Playing? Journeyman at best
Boone-UDFA/ journeyman

Maybe I'm forgetting someone or maybe I'm underestimating someone but for an 8 year run that's a pretty underwhelming amount of NFL players produced as compared to what OSU produces overall.

Mangold is a pro bowler with the Jets

Sims is starting (or is projected to start) for the Seahawks. Pace is in the twilight of his career with the Bears.

Nobody else starting for NFL teams at this point.

 

[osugrad21]

OL is taking plenty of hits after the game. Some are deserved...but the backs also missed plenty of reads or were slow to read their keys in the zone scheme.

Not at all saying the OL played great...but not as bad as is being made out.

Navy started out in an odd front 2 shell. Unless tOSU spreads them out, that gives them 7 on 6 in the the box. Once tOSU did spread them out somewhat, Navy started working the zone blitz scheme to get something going.

Odd man front, 2 shell...that's why the TE became a weapon. Navy was hellbent on stopping the run and making TP win it with his arm.

This man up and drive stuff is not as simple as some are assuming.

 

[Romanowski]

This piece of equipment is definitely quite a bit nicer than the stuff I had in high school, but the concept is still the same. We called them "Staylows." Ours were made out of steel piping about 4' off the ground. It helped us explode out while keeping our shoulders and head low. If you didn't, you'd bonk your helmet on the pipe and it didn't feel good and you did up/downs because you didn't get in a good position. I went back to my high school and the Staylows were still there; the same stuff I used 14 years ago as a freshman. Does OSU have anything like this on the practice field?

 

[Best Buckeye]

Maybe if Romanowski's dad could go over to the practice and lay down a layer of "fog" about 3 1/2 feet off the ground it would help..just sayin

 

[OregonBuckeye]

OL is taking plenty of hits after the game. Some are deserved...but the backs also missed plenty of reads or were slow to read their keys in the zone scheme.

Not at all saying the OL played great...but not as bad as is being made out.

Navy started out in an odd front 2 shell. Unless tOSU spreads them out, that gives them 7 on 6 in the the box. Once tOSU did spread them out somewhat, Navy started working the zone blitz scheme to get something going.

Odd man front, 2 shell...that's why the TE became a weapon. Navy was hellbent on stopping the run and making TP win it with his arm.

This man up and drive stuff is not as simple as some are assuming.

Thanks for the input. Glad you saw pretty much the same.

Does OSU have anything like this on the practice field?

Yeah, Ohio State has one of those. I've only seen pics of the defensive players using them. Not saying the OL doesn't. Just never seen them.