Offensive Line and Running Backs - Week 1

I will reply with this. The running game was called very, very vanilla for a Mullen offense. O-line does need to continue to work, but I think Scarlett and Davis will be fine.

 

Yeah, but I would have liked to have seen some vanilla holes for the backs to run through.

 

I am going to keep harping on this until I see improvement. The OL did not have a good night tonight. Our QB's were under pressure immediately after they caught the snap and they had to shuffle in the "pocket" and/or run... CSU is a team our OL should have completely dominated in the passing and running game - and they did not...

 

I agree. I think they didnt want to run between the tackles and possibly get someone hurt. I also saw Scarlett take the sideline a couple of times and he never passed up the opportunity to punish someone in the past.

Think they just wanted to work on certain things and power running wasnt it.

 

Davis would have had a long TD run if he made a cut just a bit quicker. I think he is 90% rather than 100% right now.

Perine's big run was due to that team selling out to one side of the line not him making some great moves.

Pierce does appear to be hard to bring down.

 

The O-line is still the weak link in this team, IMO, and it may be just lack of quality talent. They definitely need to emphasize that area in the next 2 recruiting cycles and get back to bringing in 2-3 4 or 5 star o-linemen in every class. They should dominate an FCS team like we played last night. It appears the game plan was to throw a lot to get Franks confidence and get our wideouts involved. But we should have been able to run at will against this team and yet most of the yardage gained was done by the backs on their own, breaking tackles and making good cuts. Must improve substantially if we are to beat the big boys on our schedule.

 

The OL was always going to be the weak link on this team and will be marginal at best.

And we were never going to beat the big boys on our schedule w the "talent" Butters assembled.

 

I wasn't expecting an All American unit by any means but what has me a little worried is the fall off from the 1's to the 2's because we all know no one makes it through the season unscathed...Usually October is when this rears it's ugly head.

 

As I have suggested elsewhere the RB yards per carry stats were:

Scarlett: 4
Davis: 6.33
Perine: 14
Pierce: 9.38

The issue to me seems maybe to be Scarlett not the OL. He seems to lack vision, can't make anyone miss and does not defeat many tackle attempts.

 

Scarlett only carried 6 times after missing a year. He’s the type that needs the rock and gets better as a game goes on. Nothing to worry about. The real issue is we are 5 or 6 deep with quality backs. It’s going to be hard to get them all touches consistently. I like this position group a lot.

 

The problem is those stats dont account for how many were in the box, how tired the defense was, etc.

We will see after a few games but I wasnt impressed w Scarlett last night either. And the bigger backs arent the type of back that has ever worked well in a Mullinz offense.

 

1. Well if you want to defense Scarlett you can argue that Davis did not gain much his first two carries and maybe after that the D was worn down? I do not really believe it, but it is an argument.

2. If a team like Charleston puts an extra guy or two in the box, you just block them get a crease and your RB should get a big run if he has vision and can make one guy miss. I did not see that with Scarlett, but others showed flashes of that.

 

Do you think your harping has any affect?

 

Probably why the staff has him starting.

 

Scarlett should just be happy he's playing at all.

 

Heggie's return will be an immediate improvement for the OL. Only question is who does he replace?

 

He might be more of an NFL type back that college coaches sometimes fall in love with regardless of production. He does tend to get positive yards on each play, but does not break a big play much.

 

Some people here would bish about winning a million dollars because of the taxes. Try being happy for once, it's pretty awesome.

 

If I won a million dollars I'd watch Shawshank Redemption and fast-forward to the scene on the the roof when the head guard is complaining about inheriting $50K. Then I'd take note of what Andy told him to do.