Vesuvius I had an offensive line you would have loved. The tight end went to Princeton, one tackle went to Dartmouth, the American International, The center went to Florida not to play football, the guards went Sewanne and MIT. So went they went to make me calls one guard would use a word like masticate. One guard had to spend a game blocking Vince Wilfork. I warned all week long if you stand up the entire stands will know it because you will be in the backfield with Vince and the ball carrier. He cut Vince the entire game. Vince did not want to play in the overtime session.
How fast can you improve an offensive line
- Thread starter MMcCormick
- Start date
Because everyone on here wants to blame the OL. I think we should have tried another QB three games ago. What do we have to lose? We were 2-10 last season and now we're 3-3. What would make us take a conservative approach? The most logical choice would be Dexter Williams. What harm could come from him getting a couple of series? After all, we had 29 yards in the second half against UM and countless three-and-outs. And sure, heavy pressure from the DL affects a QB, but when there is time, there have been too many overthrows and passes into double coverage and hardly any ability to avoid sacks. It is what is frustrating about being an IU fan, a reluctance to make obvious changes or at least attempt them.
And this is Dexter's bio from iuhoosiers.com
Quarterback for head coach Carsten Franklin at Mount de Sales Academy ... all-state selection ... two-time Region 7A Offensive Player of the Year ... three-time all-region honoree ... two-time team captain selected to play in the 2020 Blue-Grey All-American Bowl ... named the Macon Telegraph Middle Georgia Player of the Year ... totaled 2,508 yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior ... completed 99-of-158 (62.7 percent) for 1,524 yards with 15 TDs ... rushed 135 times for 984 yards (7.3 average) with 14 scores ... led Mount de Sales to wins in 19 of his last 20 regular-season games and the school’s first region championship in 23 years ... collected 5,088 total yards and 61 total touchdowns over his final two campaigns ... ranked the No. 21 dual-threat quarterback nationally by 247Sports
After all, Georgia is a pretty good football state.
There was a story I liked about Lombardi when center Jim Ringo came with his agent to discuss a new contract. After the introductions were made, Lombardi excused himself for a few minutes. When Lombardi came back he told Ringo he needed to go to Philadelphia because he had been traded to the Eagles.
I thought that was really ironic that the Packers had Jim Ringo as the center and Bart Starr as the QB for the Ringo/Starr combination for the Beatles connection.
Just curious, why do you think the football staff would not try something so apparently so obvious. It is probably because they are in practice everyday with both players. They probably see that Bazelak gives them the best chance to win. It is funny because Charlie Partridge the defensive line coach at Pitt had just posted a piece on Facebook. It basically said that coaches will always play the players that work the hardest, know their assignments and give them the best chance to win. I am not really sure why some of fans believe that our staff does not do that? I don't know if Williams can play and make a difference. However for some reason our staff does not believe he is ready and I trust them to make that decision.
You are right that coaches play who they think gives them the best chance of winning.
We have had some coaches that appeared to use questionable criteria to determine that though, like one coach seemingly putting too much weight on being an upperclassmen.
I think Allen's fault is in general he sticks with his decisions whether working or not. Trends towards not wanting players to play tentatively because of fear of benching rather then using the bench as a motivator
We'll remember when we stuck with Richard Lagow over Peyton Ramsey? That took a while for them to realize. I was at the Virginia game in 2017 when Ramsey emerged.
I don't think Allen is one of those guys that is afraid to play young kids. I think that is one of the reasons that he has been able to attract kids from SEC country. It is a chance to play early at a BIG school.
I don't know for sure but perhaps they did not want to put Ramsey in before he was ready. Once they deemed Penix was ready they did not hesitate to start Penix over Ramsey.
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Nit much technique time is allotted in practice once the season starts. Hopefully the old adage holds true that mental is to physical as 4 is to 1
We worked technique all the way up to the last Tuesday of the season. True the periods got shorter as the season progressed.
If you want to read more about Hornung's and McGee's antics check out Hornung's book, "Golden Boy".... some hilarious stuff in there... Also talks a lot about his HS recruitment out of Louisville and being at ND.....
Some here won't like reading about how he "almost" went to IU... mostly because they were offering the most money, cars and anything else to sway him... Not flattering to IU but true.
😁.... I agree.... if insults were "cowbell" it sure doesn't need more.
Everybody that's any good as a coach works technique up to the last week but as I said not much time is allotted to break old habits
Improvement starts now. Doing nothing means reinforcing and accepting poor play. This is a new beginning. If the players think about it, they are partially responsible for the coach being fired. Does that add motivation or kill what enthusiasm they have? It would make me feel awful and I would try a little harder. I don't know what this group of 18-22 year olds think.
It is a chance to weed out those committed to play and those along for a free ride. A new coach has no loyalty to any player. Possibly a little competition will improve the performance. A coaching change can't hurt. Without a change, I didn't expect to win another game. We still may not win, but we have a head start on getting this turned around.
schedules are not set in stone. They can be adjusted
So I took some of thoughts I formed on this board and expanded / edited them into an article. No need to start a new thread 🙂.
Daddyhoosier nice article. I was where you were at with Hiller until the Nebraska game. Having been a coach and an offensive coach for the majority of my career I know what it is like to be the recipient of undue criticism when the offense is not performing. Although some of the time it was not a problem with the o line. So I feel for Hiller. In past seasons he and the oline were being blamed for things that were not always their fault. However this season I have seen many issues that continue to occur. First in the Nebraska game I saw too many times where the o line played with no effort. Second and this has actually been a long time problem where guys miss blocks entirely and don't even touch a rusher. Guys continually give up the inside on pass rush. Guys continue to give up too much ground in the middle of protection and end up in the lap of the quarterback. I also have stated on here before about splits . They can help in both run and pass game as you mentioned. You also mention comb blocks, we definitely do not do a very good job of executing them I have seen numerous times where both guys have left the down lineman and gone the second level and left the down guy unblocked. Too many times I have seen guys miss their blocks and either just stop or turn and chase their guy. Anyway I have said many of these before, but I agree with everything youpointed out in your article. Well done.
Depends to some extent who the OL coach is next season although hard to believe anyone could be worse than Hiller, but Allen is the person who will hire the next OL coach. Carey said he was asked to take over for the rest of the season and agreed to do so. There is no guarantee he will be the OL coach next year. Either he or Allen may decide he's not the guy. While I think Carey will do a good job, I think we have to wait and see what transpires after this season concludes to determine whether the OL will be in good hands next season.
I agree we need to see who may be available. Carey does have a pretty good track record and may be a very good choice but we do need to see if there is an even better alternative. Allen definitely needs to get this right and there needs to HUGE improvement next year or there may not be a next year after that.
Cannot overstate all you brought up. A new coach has immediate leverage over the players.
Well done, I enjoyed that...Thanks!
The administration, in my time there, and it really limits the way your team plays. I only had one coach I could turn half the team over to and the rest of the time; I called offense and defense the year we won the 4A State Championship. My coaches wondered how I could do it with no defensive or play calls written down; there was a reason I could do that though.
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I was thinking of Lynch in regards to the sticking with upperclassman.
I remember the third string center getting bull rushed right into Baze with seemingly so little resistance. I'm not sure I've ever seen someone get that badly out-muscled before. I also remember a couple guys mentioning splits on here. The effort thing though, that's disconcerting. I wonder what that stems from? Frustration? Lack of respect for leadership? Being hopelessly out-matched?
I'm so glad you and V and some others are on here because you are helping me learn. I really want to bridge the gap between coaches and where I am. Heck at some point I may throw my hat in as a VA here locally. Anyway thanks for the positive words, it means a lot coming from someone who knows what they are talking about.
Bottom line for any offensive lineman in the country, If you cant "set" you can't protect. If you can't protect, you can't play!
You are not giving yourself enough credit. Your posts are interesting and informative. I am sure everyone agrees with me on that.
There is a technique for being bull rushed. LOl. Grab the sides of the guys shoulder pads place your knee in his crotch and pull him down on top of you. You will probably get called for holding. But you will keep from getting quarterback killed and you may slow te guy down for awhile.
After film study you know who are the bull rushers. To neutralize you must take them on as quickly (don't give ground on your set) crowd the LOS so they can't get a run at you
Euro, you are right and there were so many little tricks coach Hiller didn't seem to teach and our OL suffered as a result. I hope coach Carey can pull of a miracle and get IU OL more aware of defenders and what they want to do. Coach Allen needs to make a great hire for next season even if it turns out to be coach Carey.
Nothing like the ol’ kneenut maneuver.
“If you can’t set, you can’t protect”.
A cousin phrase of “If glove don’t fit, you can’t convict” 🤔
Think it was "if the glove don't fit, you must acquit" - Johnnie "Weasel" Cochran
