🏈 Iron Bowl Highlights Offensive Line's Failures

[bamatommy]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/528674-ironbowl-highlights-offensive-lines-failure

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

I think the dude nailed it from the offensive line perspective. I don't think this season was a failure though.

This article mentions Arie Kouandjio; does anybody know how this cat has been doing on the practice squad and do we know how it is going w/ recruiting his brother?

 

['65 Cobra]

This is an excellent article. We did not dominate the LOS on either side of the ball this year, whereas in 2009 we had TOTAL domination of theLOS on BOTH sides of the ball. We bullied opposing teams and pushed people around. On defense, I understand it a little more with the losses of Cody, Deadrick, and McClain - though Marcel was supposed to be unstoppable this year and he just wasn't.

But it's on the O-Line as the article talks about that confuses me the most. This year we returned 3 starters from an O-Line that was TOTALLY dominant all year in 2009; Carpenter, Vlachos, and Jones. We lost Johnson and Davis. BUT for the 2009 season, we LOST 3 starters from the year before (Andre Smith, Antoine Caldwell, and Marlon Davis) and TWO of them were superstars with the accolades to match and were high NFL draftees (Smith and Caldwell)!!! What gives?!? Comparing 2009 versus 2010 we see that coming into 2009 we had lost more starters and they were more decorated than we did in 2010, yet in 2009 we totally dominate and in 2010 we get pushed around.

I think, as the article implies, that core strength and conditioning might be a part of the difference. I don't think Pendry is suddenly a bad coach or that we suddenly have no talent. I am hoping it is more to do with complacency and strength/conditioning.

Either way, I really hope someone from the coaching staff sees this article!

 

[4th-and-1]

basically we lost 5 lineman in 08 and 09.. that means that in 08 our line was all seniors and juniors.. then we had two seniors and a junior in 09.. this squad is just young.. most of the time it's not about getting overpowered, it's more about making correct reads.. if you make one step in the wrong direction your toast.. things on the LOS will be better next year..