Offensive line. Any options?

Concrete Helmet · Sep 17, 2019

It's no secret the offensive line has not been performing at a level we need them to make a balanced offense. Most of us expected some struggles early on due to 4 new starters. The question I have is when is it reasonable to see some other players get more reps? Or possibly do we even want to see any other players getting reps? :lol2:

I'm not saying that I want to see any of them benched for the rest of the year but if I were coaching this team and didn't see a little more cohesion, headiness and a whole helluva lot more fire/push coming off the ball in the running game by halftime against UT I may be tempted to explore some options. Any thoughts?

SeabeeGator · Sep 17, 2019

They are bad at run protection but acceptable in pass protection - Jean Delance being the loan exception. Dude is going to set a record for most sacks surrendered if he doesn’t figure it out soon.

chferg · Sep 17, 2019

Yeah...

Recruit better OL. I am not going to lay the blame entirely on Hev or this staff. They worked wonders last year but Mac and Co didn't recruit OL worth a damn.

maheo30 · Sep 17, 2019

Richard Gouraige played a bit at LT and was decent. I could see them moving Forsythe to RT amd starting Gouraige at LT.

Swamp Donkey · Sep 17, 2019

There is only so much you can do with 3 star kids. They were recognized as flawed and not great prospects for a reason.

That being said, you can:

Less big pulls, less big reaches, less combo blocks w reads by the lineman as to who climbs to second level, less sideways shyt that requires great agility

More straight on blocking (you hit the guy on your nose, your left, right whatever, meaning you know before the snap who you hit), less option plays when we leave a lineman unblocked, a fullback hback WHO CAN BLOCK (do we have one?) to clean up.

On the line Id say our strength is (relatively) size and strength over speed. This indicates more inside stuff and less sideways offense. Our backs are more straight ahead types too. We will see whether Mullins adapts or continues bullheadedly with philosophy over production.

One wonders why he wasn't aware of this already as in by spring practice. I keep expecting someone to adapt but we are sixteen games in and no adaptation yet.

BMF · Sep 17, 2019

maheo30 said:
Richard Gouraige played a bit at LT and was decent. I could see them moving Forsythe to RT amd starting Gouraige at LT.

I think this is the only option. Hev should continue to rotate Gouraige in w/ Delance until he's confident Gouraige can take over as the starter. We have Towson in two weeks, should be another chance to get some younger guys out there to see what they can do. I just don't think any of the true freshman are ready to play much. TJ Moore is the only other OL that could get meaningful snaps. Just a painful work in progress...

G8trwood · Sep 17, 2019

Donk hit it on the head!

Concrete Helmet · Sep 17, 2019

I know they're mostly young but including 3 weeks of camp and they are into the 4th week of the season that's 7 weeks of practice. If I'm coaching this group I would probably rotate a couple of other guys into some reps(not all) to see if a "light has come on" for any of them. It happens for younger guys from time to time especially Fr. who are still getting adjusted to classes, practice and living away from home.
Other guys(usually older)often hit their ceiling too....meaning they become backups of get less game reps than a still developing player.

AlexDaGator · Sep 17, 2019

Swonk ftw.

They're slow. Plodding. We can't expect them to pull all the way in front of a receiver and block a LB or DB in space (sideways pass plays). Frankly, they can't even do it in the run game.

We don't have the Pounceys in there. Those boys could pull and hit a block even from the C position.

So...we have to gameplan around our strengths. Unfortunately, that makes the offense a lot more predictable.

What this team needs is a fullback or H back that can move and block. Our TEs aren't cutting it.

Alex.

Concrete Helmet · Sep 17, 2019

Sometimes watching another player in your spot at practice or even a couple plays during the game will get your attention... :lol:

I mainly just want to know if anyone is pushing the top 5. Like I said some guys hit a ceiling and just never get any better, in fact that was the story with our off. line from about 2011-2017 with maybe the exception of Taylor...

NOLAGATOR · Sep 17, 2019

I think a lot is age...Also Donk is right...simplify the blocking.

And a FB make a lot of sense.

I too believe Trask could pull some of these guys out of the box if his passing is for real.

But even last year we played cupcakes early and lost to KY.

diehardg8r · Sep 17, 2019

North and south running game and jets if we want to go out. It's alot easier for them to block zones. Pierce is a better N/S runner IMO. As mentioned earlier TE's don't block worth a damn so putting the success of the play on their ability to execute the block is tom foolery.

Circle City Gator · Sep 17, 2019

Our linemen have a marvelous combination of inexperience and lack of talent. Expecting people who's sole asset is size to pull, or to set a block and then find a second-level defender, is a waste of time and a guarantee of failure. Add a pass-blocking fullback and just throw the damned ball.

neteng · Sep 17, 2019

Swamp Donkey said:
There is only so much you can do with 3 star kids. They were recognized as flawed and not great prospects for a reason.

Hmmm ... But our 4* RT is the biggest liability thus far compared to all those 3* to his left.

deuce · Sep 17, 2019

NOLAGATOR said:
I think a lot is age...Also Donk is right...simplify the blocking.

And a FB make a lot of sense.

I too believe Trask could pull some of these guys out of the box if his passing is for real.

But even last year we played cupcakes early and lost to KY.

I don't get the lack of respect for KY. They always play us tuff and their lines are bigger and better than ours.

Gator Fever · Sep 17, 2019

This O line has shown they can't run block since the spring game. Maybe Tenn's crappy D line will help with that.

ergator920103 · Sep 17, 2019

I personally do not think Hevesey can recruit at the level we need him to recruit at for us to have a great OL. Not sure what some of see with regards to the OL playing this season or least season. I consistently see the DL in the backfield once the ball is snapped. I propose we need a GREAT OL coach who can coach and recruit STUDS to play OL at UF.

NOLAGATOR · Sep 17, 2019

ergator920103 said:
I personally do not think Hevesey can recruit at the level we need him to recruit at for us to have a great OL. Not sure what some of see with regards to the OL playing this season or least season. I consistently see the DL in the backfield once the ball is snapped. I propose we need a GREAT OL coach who can coach and recruit STUDS to play OL at UF.

Why not add a recruiter that can get OL and let Hevesey do why he does...coach and develop OL. You saw what he did last year....a line that could not block air the year before.

Offensive line. Any options?

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