🏈 Offensive LIne Issue

[Justneedme81]

It's not the whole OL. It's Chris Owens. most of the pressures were by owens. IJS.

 

[bama alum]

It's not the whole OL. It's Chris Owens. most of the pressures were by owens. IJS.

I don't think so, not completely. I was about to rant during the game about Owens after another cluster play. I saw the replay; Owens wasn't the problem on the play at all (during the second half). He did his job on that play. Owens isn't the sole reason why Young...didn't look like Young today.

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

Emil Ekiyor was out early in the game. He's played fairly well at right guard all season. And it impacts Owens (and others all around). I'm hoping this isn't serious & that he can get in a good week of practice.

 

[tider79]

Didnt like that BY was being pressured by a UC front four, obviously UGA's front is vastly better. Bryce did not look like his usual self so hopefully both he and the Oline have that behind them and they return next monday with an SECCG game performance again!

 

[mando]

SECCG game performance again

That performance was the exception. OL performance was closer to the norm last night. BY has just been able to overcome it all year. The OL blocked their butts of run blocking.

 

[BamaFisher]

So a link somewhere to Ekiyor’s mother Twitter and she was thanking folks for prayers and said he’s fine. No clue that that means but it seemed positive.

 

[jlabit]

I thought the offensive line did OK last night. They did a great job of run blocking. The pass protection was not great, but Bryce seemed to be having an off night also, compared to his normal performance when pressured.

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

So a link somewhere to Ekiyor’s mother Twitter and she was thanking folks for prayers and said he’s fine. No clue that that means but it seemed positive.

That's even more good news. It certainly has the appearance that his injury wasn't that significant & that CNS had enough confidence in the backup & the game plan to pound the rock that there was no need to risk him getting hurt worse.

It was VERY APPARENT that the offensive game plan was to run as much as reasonably possible because of the the 3-3-5 formations Cincy would run & because we had much better OL. The Cincy D covered our WR's fairly well last night, that was their strength. But we were still able to move on them because of Bryce. This was OLD SCHOOL 'Bama ball & there was no reason to change what we were doing offensively until Cincy could score a touchdown IF that. We kept this as vanilla as possible to NOT give anything to Jawja for film study.

The Offensive game plan will be very different against Jawja & we now get to pull out all stops.

 

[kbama15]

I thought JC Latham did a good job!

 

[94 Grad]

I thought the offensive line did OK last night. They did a great job of run blocking. The pass protection was not great, but Bryce seemed to be having an off night also, compared to his normal performance when pressured.

A lot of that has to do with the talent and scheme uC ran. With two extremely good corners and running a 3-3-5, doesn’t typically lead to QBs going “off”.

uGA has a better front, but are very susceptible to getting beat over the top if the blitz is picked up. They were very “conscience” of this in our first matchup and I believe it put them in a different defense than they ran all year.

My guess is uGA returns to a more attacking D in the second matchup. Will be interesting to see how well our front holds up.

 

[Tidestalker]

Any official word on Ekiyor?!

 

[Bamaclam]

A lot of that was scheme on the defense. You heard it referenced after the game that Natty runs a 3-3 stack. This defense allows the defense to create better looks and multiples on coverage combos as well as blitzes and stunts. Also allows for a linebacker/extra corner hybrid that can bring pressure or drop into coverage. This defense is specifically designed to defense RPO's. That is why Saban said it was so important for us to run the ball effectively and why B-Rob knew what his role was going to be coming into the game. Ultimately all they could do was limit the explosive pass plays and keep Young from tearing them apart while we relied on the run game to murder ball them.

 

[TerryP]

Any official word on Ekiyor?!

His mom said he's okay last week.

 

[alabama mike]

The game will be won or lost by our OL and DL play IMO.

 

[mando]

The game will be won or lost by our OL and DL play IMO.

Completely agree. That is what happened in Round 1. Can Bama match it in Round 2 with a highly motivated Georgia team? Bama has to do like they did round 1 and get those big guys tongues hanging out. That will slow the pass rush down.

On the defensive side I was not satisfied with our performance overall. I say overall because I was pleased in how they shut the run down but we gave up to many plays and yardage especially in the passing game. Now if in order to win we have to have to have a duplicate performance (shut run down but give up passing yardage) so be it.

 

[BamaFan334]

Completely agree. That is what happened in Round 1. Can Bama match it in Round 2 with a highly motivated Georgia team? Bama has to do like they did round 1 and get those big guys tongues hanging out. That will slow the pass rush down.

On the defensive side I was not satisfied with our performance overall. I say overall because I was pleased in how they shut the run down but we gave up to many plays and yardage especially in the passing game. Now if in order to win we have to have to have a duplicate performance (shut run down but give up passing yardage) so be it.

I think with a taller corner in Jackson, it's going to be increasingly difficult for Bennett to get the ball to a streaking receiver or any over the shoulder stuff. Pickens is their biggest receiver at 6'4, while the rest are around the 6'1 range. Surtain's length is what makes him lethal, and Jackson's the same way. I think Kool-Aid and Jackson will step up. If Branch can replicate the Cincinnati game, we should see an entirely different defense, in a better way. Bowers is obviously their biggest threat, so if we can keep him from taking one to the house, he's gonna get his yards regardless. But if we can keep him from scoring a long one, I really really like our chances. I have a strong opinion that Anderson, Turner, Mathis, To'oto'o, and Harris are going to hold down the line of scrimmage. If Harris can keep playing with his hair on fire and like he was shot out of a cannon, we're gonna be tough to beat. If Dale, Mathis. Eboigebe, and Young get pushed around, it could be trouble for us.

On a side note, it wouldn't be a surprise at all if Arik Gilbert dressed or was on the sideline. Has anyone heard anything on him? He is on their roster, I haven't heard a peep from him since early pre-season, but you never know what Kirby could do to get an edge mentally.

 

[mando]

I think with a taller corner in Jackson, it's going to be increasingly difficult for Bennett to get the ball to a streaking receiver or any over the shoulder stuff. Pickens is their biggest receiver at 6'4, while the rest are around the 6'1 range. Surtain's length is what makes him lethal, and Jackson's the same way. I think Kool-Aid and Jackson will step up. If Branch can replicate the Cincinnati game, we should see an entirely different defense, in a better way. Bowers is obviously their biggest threat, so if we can keep him from taking one to the house, he's gonna get his yards regardless. But if we can keep him from scoring a long one, I really really like our chances. I have a strong opinion that Anderson, Turner, Mathis, To'oto'o, and Harris are going to hold down the line of scrimmage. If Harris can keep playing with his hair on fire and like he was shot out of a cannon, we're gonna be tough to beat. If Dale, Mathis. Eboigebe, and Young get pushed around, it could be trouble for us.

On a side note, it wouldn't be a surprise at all if Arik Gilbert dressed or was on the sideline. Has anyone heard anything on him? He is on their roster, I haven't heard a peep from him since early pre-season, but you never know what Kirby could do to get an edge mentally.

You are making me nervous BamaFan334. You are way more optimistic than round 1. Need you back to picking Georgia...

 

[BamaFan334]

You are making me nervous BamaFan334. You are way more optimistic than round 1. Need you back to picking Georgia...

Ha ha, I still have my reservations, but Brian Robinson is doing it for me. He is so quiet and all business right now. His words after the Cotton Bowl, while a hair more straight forward than we're used to hearing, speak volumes for a guy that is normally as quiet as he is. Add in the fact he's had a great season and even better last few games and I like where we are. I also think the Cotton Bowl allowed us to look very boring and vanilla where we can come out in the Natty and go a few different directions. They now have to plan for it all, which may leave a few untouched stones.

 

[mando]

Ha ha, I still have my reservations, but Brian Robinson is doing it for me. He is so quiet and all business right now. His words after the Cotton Bowl, while a hair more straight forward than we're used to hearing, speak volumes for a guy that is normally as quiet as he is. Add in the fact he's had a great season and even better last few games and I like where we are. I also think the Cotton Bowl allowed us to look very boring and vanilla where we can come out in the Natty and go a few different directions. They now have to plan for it all, which may leave a few untouched stones.

Your killing me BamaFan334. This is a team that will be w/o Metchie, Jobe and maybe an offensive lineman or two. As good as Bama played in Round 1, I think they will need to play better in the NC game. I am waaaay more concerned about this game than the first one. As we know the Bama culture recenters after a loss. Is that the same with a Smart coached team? Has he developed the culture needed to challenge their competitiveness after a difficult loss in the face of a winner take all game?

I will hang my hat on the fact that we have CNS on our sideline and I would never bet against him but this will be a very difficult game.

 

[BamaFan334]

Your killing me BamaFan334. This is a team that will be w/o Metchie, Jobe and maybe an offensive lineman or two. As good as Bama played in Round 1, I think they will need to play better in the NC game. I am waaaay more concerned about this game than the first one. As we know the Bama culture recenters after a loss. Is that the same with a Smart coached team? Has he developed the culture needed to challenge their competitiveness after a difficult loss in the face of a winner take all game?

I will hang my hat on the fact that we have CNS on our sideline and I would never bet against him but this will be a very difficult game.

Don't let my optimism after the last two games sway you to think I'm not concerned. We definitely have to play a good ball game. All my comments are doing are expressing my thoughts that we are an overall better team coming in than the one that went into the SEC Championship. Georgia is the same team.

Everyone is focused on Metchie, but Slade Bolden and Jacorey Brooks stepped up and looked good. Losing Metchie does stink, but we have the talent to replace him.

Our line is banged up, but all team's this late in the year have dings and bruises. I like where we are now more than any other part of the season, but obviously concerned about the ability of our opponent.