| FTBL Winning it all in '19: The offensive line and running backs seem a little off. What should we expect?

[bamaledge]

@TerryP @BamaFan334 and all the rest of y’all,
Do you, honestly, see us “getting in”? The running game seems a little off to me. Is it The oline, is it the running backs? I don’t know but something seems a little slow or off. Can the oline gel before we play lsu?

 

[TerryP]

The running game seems a little off to me.

It is.

Is it The oline, is it the running backs?

A bit of both in my opinion. I'm still seeing what I believe are missing calls on blocking assignments and the running backs not seeing the seams (which turn into holes as the game progresses.)

Before Duke I was of the opinion we're looking at week four for the offensive line being shuffled, week five when we see it solidified. I"m still of that opinion.

On a different note, do you see why I was saying the loss of Kendrick James was bigger than the majority took it to be?

 

[jdpas29]

O-line may need to start hanging out and drinking whiskey together more often. I think RBs are ok. Maybe a bit more work on picking up blocks. * didn’t watch game yet *

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

#73 isn't ready as of today but he might get there during the season. Both #74 and #70 have been given way more credit than either deserve as being great players. The TE's are as average as you can get. #22 is all hype and #24 is above average but in no way he is great and the guys behind these two need to really step up if possible. Other than that the offense is fine. Just hope #13 plays the entire year.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Certainly disappointed in running game.
Cant believe there isn't more production
But offense is so explosive with Tua and these receivers
But really need more out of Oline and RBs

 

[Entity]

Maybe Deonte Brown helps when he comes back. It sucks because a lot of chatter about how deep our O line was had me excited. And we deep. We have a lot of guys. Problem is none of them would have started 4-5 years ago.

 

[TerryP]

@JoseyWalesTheOutlaw,
Agreed on Neal.
Agreed on Leatherwood, with a caveat, and do not agree with Wills.
The beauty of the English language gives us, "saying Najee is all hype is hyperbole." Definitely at this stage.
You have to divide responsibilities with the TE's. So, that comment fits to the inline tight end, it doesn't otherwise. The loss of Kendrick James hurts.
As with Najee, I'm seeing BR having sight problems. Sometimes it's the seams: they are not seeing the holes. Both playing tough, ya know?
Jones is undervalued. He's played well. He's been excited when he's in...but he's played well.

Here's the thing.

All three of these are intertwined. It's week two. It's inconsistent, but it's not bad.

It's been my contention for awhile now we'd see Neal with Dickerson at center while waitin' on cornbread.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

@JoseyWalesTheOutlaw,
Agreed on Neal.
Agreed on Leatherwood, with a caveat, and do not agree with Wills.
The beauty of the English language gives us, "saying Najee is all hype is hyperbole." Definitely at this stage.
You have to divide responsibilities with the TE's. So, that comment fits to the inline tight end, it doesn't otherwise. The loss of Kendrick James hurts.
As with Najee, I'm seeing BR having sight problems. Sometimes it's the seams: they are not seeing the holes. Both playing tough, ya know?
Jones is undervalued. He's played well. He's been excited when he's in...but he's played well.

Here's the thing.

All three of these are intertwined. It's week two. It's inconsistent, but it's not bad.

It's been my contention for awhile now we'd see Neal with Dickerson at center while waitin' on cornbread.

It appears every team we play is coming the outside late blitz made famous by Dave Aranda a couple of years back. With 4 WR there just isn't enough guys to block all of them and #13 has to make the blitz guy miss.

I read Nick put Alfano in timeout for this game. It doesn't bode well for this guy.

 

[#80]

The OL has a long way to go.

 

[bamafan9201]

So, the answer is a bit of both, but honestly it's mostly the TE and OL that are just having growing pains at the moment. Najee and Brian are a little impatient with their holes and forcing yardage.

I think it best to remember neither RB has had a lot of 1st team snaps in their career, this is new for us. Generally when we transition to a new running back they've had a good 30% or 40% of carries from the previous year so they knew protections and how to be patient and had experience. Because of Damien Harris and Josh Jacobs departing the same year, Najee hadn't had a lot of experience leading up to this year.

Now onto the O-line issues, as TerryP said, basically they're still meshing things together and sliding people around I don't think they will truly be settled in for another 2-3 weeks as long as everyone stays healthy. They had multiple spots where they blocked incorrectly in Passpro and a few spots where they zigged when they should have zagged. All in all, I expect in about 2 more weeks we will start to see a lot bigger holes and more quickness off the ball from the O-line once they know their assignments better.

TEs - Well, they are mediocre as far as catching, but blocking was supposed to be their strong suit. From what I've seen so far, they're by far one of the bigger issues at the moment. A couple of plays they blocked the defender into the tackle or tried to block the wrong hole. They seem a little lost more on blocking than catching these first two games which is the opposite of what I had heard coming out of camp. One of the two needs to step it up because Sark is using them as lead blockers on a lot of plays and they are making things difficult at the moment.

 

[rick4bama]

Good points all around.

 

[Tidestalker]

More is less.... And we are about to get 1 more in 2 weeks.

Luckily USCe isn't very good at Tua is special. But like I said in the other thread, we'd better hope this gets squared away before #13 gets dinged up because of it. If you can't run block it impacts the pass blocking... I feel like that's where we're at right now. First things first...

 

[94 Grad]

I don’t know what the deal is, but #73 and #70 are just on two different pages on blocking scheme. Re-watching the game, I can’t count the number of times #73 steps inside to block while #70 steps outside... leaving an open lane for the DE to rush through. What’s confusing is that several times #70 had NO ONE to block and still steps outside and watches the DE slide off #73 to get pressure on QB.

Who’s at fault?

 

[94 Grad]

Also... many times 4 guys on the line step left only to have one guy step right... the communication must not be happening... there are WAY to many plays that the blocking scheme is off...

A good example is the “targeting” play that wasn’t targeting on the second drive. All the linemen step left off the snap except the RT that steps right.

What gives... just young line? I’ve not seen this kinda of mistakes before... normally it’s the same guy just not getting it done... right now it appears to be a different guy every other play. Fixable?

I will say this too... at times they look great. The 2nd TD pass is a good example of what they could be... in sync and well blocked. Resulted in a clean pocket and plenty of time for Tua to read and deliver the TD pass. They did have a TE and RB stay in to block and not run route however.

 

['65 Cobra]

So, the answer is a bit of both, but honestly it's mostly the TE and OL that are just having growing pains at the moment. Najee and Brian are a little impatient with their holes and forcing yardage.

I think it best to remember neither RB has had a lot of 1st team snaps in their career, this is new for us. Generally when we transition to a new running back they've had a good 30% or 40% of carries from the previous year so they knew protections and how to be patient and had experience. Because of Damien Harris and Josh Jacobs departing the same year, Najee hadn't had a lot of experience leading up to this year.

Now onto the O-line issues, as TerryP said, basically they're still meshing things together and sliding people around I don't think they will truly be settled in for another 2-3 weeks as long as everyone stays healthy. They had multiple spots where they blocked incorrectly in Passpro and a few spots where they zigged when they should have zagged. All in all, I expect in about 2 more weeks we will start to see a lot bigger holes and more quickness off the ball from the O-line once they know their assignments better.

TEs - Well, they are mediocre as far as catching, but blocking was supposed to be their strong suit. From what I've seen so far, they're by far one of the bigger issues at the moment. A couple of plays they blocked the defender into the tackle or tried to block the wrong hole. They seem a little lost more on blocking than catching these first two games which is the opposite of what I had heard coming out of camp. One of the two needs to step it up because Sark is using them as lead blockers on a lot of plays and they are making things difficult at the moment.

OK, so let's be clear here... Last year, Damian went 150 attempts for 876 yards, Najee went 117 for 783, and Jash was 120 for 640. Najee has plenty of experience. But he still seems off a bit - too much dancing and not feeling where the gaps are. The O-Line is looking terrible so far. I know there is a lot of inexperience in there and they are still gelling, but too many time they are just plain whiffing on blocks.

Like Terry said, it's going to take a good 4 games before the line settles in.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Well, whether is maturity, IQ, or just "gelling", one thing is certain. Our ability to get a push up front in short yardage is just not there this year as in years past. I know it's early in the season, but I don't recall us ever (even in games 1-3) needing to throw the ball this much on 3rd-and-short. (3 yards to go or less).

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

Well, whether is maturity, IQ, or just "gelling", one thing is certain. Our ability to get a push up front in short yardage is just not there this year as in years past. I know it's early in the season, but I don't recall us ever (even in games 1-3) needing to throw the ball this much on 3rd-and-short. (3 yards to go or less).

Nick hasn't blown a gasket yet so maybe Bama is sandbagging. USCe might not be a great team but I expect them to come right at Bama and challenge this OL. Is it possible went actually went backward with the OL coach hire? I still find it hard to believe Nick would have allowed GT to hire away a OL that he wanted to keep but I guess that is possible.

 

[mando]

Seems to me two things will help fix this - 1) coaches fix the technique, communications and missed assignment issues (which they will do) and 2) Young guys get more playing time so they get experience against the different things the defenses are throwing at them.

#2 will take time. How much hopefully not much. #1 will be addressed during practice and film study every week.

I wish Saban would not have praised these guys so much during the preseason. Since this was so out of character for him I was like these guys must be really special. I guess it is more likely that this indicates is where Coach thinks they can get to based on their talent once they iron out the issues and get the players settled. My hope anyway.

 

[OldPlayer]

They've only played two games. Everybody chillax.

 

[bamafan9201]

OK, so let's be clear here... Last year, Damian went 150 attempts for 876 yards, Najee went 117 for 783, and Jash was 120 for 640. Najee has plenty of experience. But he still seems off a bit - too much dancing and not feeling where the gaps are. The O-Line is looking terrible so far. I know there is a lot of inexperience in there and they are still gelling, but too many time they are just plain whiffing on blocks.

Like Terry said, it's going to take a good 4 games before the line settles in.

Those are 2nd team snaps for the most part, but sure.