🏈 🔎- Looking ahead to Oklahoma (Monday interviews with the coaching staff.)

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

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On another note. Unless something has changed since yesterday I understand both tackle positions have question marks right now. It's my understanding Bama wasn't Mateer to get jumpy. If they are shuffling personnel there this weekend? That's ideal.

Mateer hasn't been the same since his injury... and there are rumors, not sure how accurate, that he will have to have an additional surgery after the season is over. Regardless, his accuracy is down and he's not throwing it as deep as often. Additionally, he's been taking more sacks... 4 games before the injury, he was sacked just 4 times. The 4 games since, 12 times. Granted, the defensive competition ramped up post injury. But, Bama's defense is as good as any of them. Will the extra week off help things? Maybe. But I'll add, his home/road splits are pretty night and day. That's not all that unusual of course, but for true elite QB's, it isn't that stark of a difference.

 

[Rolltide24]

They aren’t missing their top 3 WRs for this year’s matchup!

 

[TerryP]

Mateer hasn't been the same since his injury...

Is he the same player today as he was last season?

His hand injury and surgery didn't help leading into the Texas game and that's being mild. As I've thinking about this I keep coming back to one of your threads in the pre-season: "How many wins will Oklahoma have?"

I'm looking at that six game stretch with only two home games: TX through Mizzou. Hell, add LSU at home and it's still three home games out of the last seven (neutral on one, but still.)

First off, at Temple. What a weird game. Anyway... after the first 5 games, we should have a good feel for this squad... I expect them to be better than last year with Mateer at QB. But they really, really need to start out 5-0, because those final 7 games lined up like that are brutal.

This is where we are today. We've seen two losses since the beginning of this stretch.

But, let's go back to that one more time as well as my question here about the difference in last season and this season.

Their question is Mateer. Do they try to run the offense he did at Washington State? OR, does Venables choose to play defense and run the ball. (That's A&M this season.)

All we really know is Mateer had good numbers at WSU even though his play was—no exaggeration here—ugly. He does have the luxury of having his offensive coordinator from WSU at OU this season.

Are we seeing the same QB from last season at WSU? The numbers and play seem to say so. He's just got a better defense.

 

[TerryP]

They aren’t missing their top 3 WRs for this year’s matchup!

As of this morning it looks like a true frosh starting on the left and a TR/SR at RT (who has been banged up.) His backup is the #2 RG, another TF.

 

[bamanc50]

IMO. At some point this season our lack of being able to run the ball, because of the poor play of the offensive line, is going to cost us a game. If not, Oklahoma or Auburn definitely in the playoffs. It’s puzzling to me that the offensive line has not improved since game 1.

 

[TerryP]

It’s puzzling to me that the offensive line has not improved since game 1.

It is the least puzzling thing about this team.

This is one of the wildest seasons from a fans point of view seeing people see things so differently.

If we knew and talked about not having running backs before the season started how is it such a stigma in fans' eyes today?

 

[UAgrad93]

It is the least puzzling thing about this team.

This is one of the wildest seasons from a fans point of view seeing people see things so differently.

If we knew and talked about not having running backs before the season started how is it such a stigma in fans' eyes today?

Truth!

We said each RB brought something different to the table, but none brought a “total package” like a Ingram or a Yeldon. Henry even struggled in the beginning with pass protection. Holes have been there, but they haven’t been huge gaping holes like we saw with the ‘12 OL. The problem has been backs that fail to press the hole and use their eyes to hit the small crease and explode out the other side.

There have been times when we’ve been beaten at the LOS with a missed block or too many defenders to get a hat on, but a lot has to fall at the feet of the RB.

 

[TerryP]

There have been times when we’ve been beaten at the LOS with a missed block or too many defenders to get a hat on, but a lot has to fall at the feet of the RB.

It's a two way street as well.

As good as Parker has been his physical stature isn't a match for what they need at center. A guy with more length, to start, as one example. They got some bulldozers on the line with bad feet for pass pro. And, some good pass pro guys who can't run block in this system. Transition.

There used to be a time where I could say Bama fans were some of the best football minds I've seen. Yeah. There's a standard that's gone.

 

[footballer]

It only takes 1 lineman to not make their block for the DL to blow up any given play. Lots of plays, more than one misses their assignment.

Watch the LOS on most running plays. You will notice our OL not getting Any push and usually no hole to run through. Often times, there will be penetration by the DL and making the tackle just after the RB gets the hand off. Any RB has to make Quick decisions. Is there a hole where the runner is supposed to run? Usually not. My opinion is, run where the defense aint. Run to daylight. If there is no hole where it is supposed to be, then dammit, run where they aint. In my opinion, we have not had a great OL since Jeff Stoutland. My opinion is that the team can work around poor line play. But you have to call and execute plays as to keep the defense Off Balance You Cannot be predictable. You Can't be a one trick pony. You HAVE to be able to gain yards Running as well as passing. Any RB worth his salt and recruited to play major college ball should be able hit any hole along the LOS, run to daylight, catch the ball and be able to pick up blitzes. If they can't handle their duties, why are they here? Blockers not blocking? Running backs not picking up yards? Receivers dropping ball after ball? I realize every blocker can and will miss a block, that every RB can and will lose yards or not gain any and that every receiver will not catch Every pass. NO player is mistake free,
and NO ONE is perfect. But that is the point of practice , to strive to be as good as you can be. If any player can't do a well enough job at any position, either they Do Not have a good teacher Or the player is not capable of learning his job.

Which is it? Inept coaching? Players incapable of learning their job? Or predictable play calling? Or maybe the hand clap snap signal ihas gotten too predictable for today's DL athletes who seem very much quicker on the snap than our OL?

 

[UAgrad93]

If they can't handle their duties, why are they here?

Most all of HS RBs don’t come a sophisticated offense that asks them to pick up blitzes/block. They are handed the ball and told to simply run! They are normally faster than everyone else and could run to daylight when a 3 yard wide hole wasn’t there to go through. It’s totally different in college. Now you have LBs that run as fast as you, so you just can’t simply “run to daylight”. That’s why you have to press the intended hole and get North/South and not try to bounce everything outside. When an interior run bounces outside, it allows more pursuit and the extra defender/sideline comes into play as well.
Back to your comment. They are there because they have the potential. Some may take more time than others. Some things you can teach/coach up, while others, they have to gain through reps and experience.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

IMO. At some point this season our lack of being able to run the ball, because of the poor play of the offensive line, is going to cost us a game. If not, Oklahoma or Auburn definitely in the playoffs. It’s puzzling to me that the offensive line has not improved since game 1.

Most all of us have shared our own opinions on why the run game has struggled... some of the reasons have overlapped, some have differed (for example, I don't place all of the blame on the OL). The one thing we know for sure though is that it has been a season long struggle. It's the one thing holding this offense back from reaching it's full potential, which would be 2020 type levels of scary for opposing defenses. There have been some things though that have worked better than runs between the tackles. My hope is that we see an effort by Grubb to maybe attack on the ground in some of those other ways more often. But still, the physical toughness at some point to be able to get a yard on 3rd and 1 or 4th and 1, needs to be there. And you can't flip a switch and make that happen all of a sudden in the 4th quarter on a Saturday. So it's still going to need to remain part of this team's identity, even if it's their weakest part of it.

 

[footballer]

JMO, Running back is one of the very few positions that is mostly natural ability. Probably the only two things taught to them are the plays and to block a rusher, blitzer, keep them off your QB. Actually running the ball, finding holes, running to daylight, speed, quickness and balance is or should be natural ability to most any major college RB.

 

[musso]

There used to be a time where I could say Bama fans were some of the best football minds I've seen. Yeah. There's a standard that's gone.

Monetary inflation ruins living standards … including varieties of other standards.

 

[musso]

There have been some things though that have worked better than runs between the tackles. My hope is that we see an effort by Grubb to maybe attack on the ground in some of those other ways more often.

Could it be that Grubb has deliberately delayed relying on “some things/other ways” for as long as he can until the stakes get higher??

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Could it be that Grubb has deliberately delayed relying on “some things/other ways” for as long as he can until the stakes get higher??

To some degree at least, yes, I think so. We've seen the Proctor Package mostly put on the back burner (other than the decoy play last week), though that isn't the answer to the run game issues. Additionally though, I'd keep an eye out for more wildcat with Bernard taking the snaps. Those are just 2 examples, but there's always some stuff installed that's just sitting under the play calling heat lamp waiting for the right the time, place, and situation to be served.

 

[TerryP]

I'd keep an eye out for more wildcat with Bernard taking the snaps

Made me laugh.

That's been well kept under the blanket.

 

[UAgrad93]

JMO, Running back is one of the very few positions that is mostly natural ability. Probably the only two things taught to them are the plays and to block a rusher, blitzer, keep them off your QB. Actually running the ball, finding holes, running to daylight, speed, quickness and balance is or should be natural ability to most any major college RB.

You would be amazed! Most RBs in HS have no clue as to what it means to press the hole. They see green grass outside and immediately bolt out there in HS and outrun everyone. That don’t happen in college. In college, it’s a 0-2 yard gain.

 

[BamaFan615]

We’re speaking as if RB’s are supposed to come in as True Frosh and have the experience of a 5th year senior.

That’s just not reality, and never has been.

RB’s, just like any other position develop and get better over time with practice and experience. Otherwise they’d all go pro straight out of HS.

As far as this Okie game goes, I’m probably stating the obvious, but turnovers will be key - as in our offense’s ability to move the ball without turning it over. I’d love to see some deep shots to RW, if our OL can provide enough time.

 

[BamaFan615]

Glad this game’s at home!

 

[Justneedme81]