I think the OL has made incredible strides from last year. The pass blocking is above serviceable. With such a young line i would not be surprised if the techniques that were stressed this offseason were pass protection focused. perhaps at the expense of being well rounded. perhaps we will see more rush based teaching this offseason. perhaps it's even a question of physical maturity and strength.

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Honda E Series History

Edited March 4, 201114 yr by jon33dn

Props for your boldness, Jon33.

is this a joke?

Well, Charlie did say this team was going to pound the football this year. I can't help but think that Charlie would not say that if he knew the offensive line was focusing primarily on pass blocking. That's like going to the clubs and telling all the girls you meet that you're thinking about proposing to your girlfriend who's at home watching your kid.

errr... interesting analogy, especially for a Notre Dame board. Anyway, would you prefer Charlie to say, well, we focused on pass blocking most of the year, so there is no chance we will be able to run someone over?

 

What I don't understand is what does it take for people to admit we are strongly improving? The line has improved remarkably from last year, yet it still isn't anywhere near enough for people. Hell, a lot of people are upset because our true frosh guard was getting beaten up by a good 5th year dt. Did you actually expect him to win that battle often?

 

There have been many obvious passing downs where the tackles are left on an island against decent to good pass rushers and they give the qb time. What more do you want from a young line? People keep pointing to Texas Tech, but those guys are mostly 5th year seniors who never have to run block. Our guys are definitely on pace to be at least that good by their 5th year. (Also, they were blatantly holding on most plays against Texas.)

 

I agree with jon33dn. Latina is doing just fine.

 

from what I saw, it was Eric Olsen (check avatar) getting beat by that 317lb. behemoth DT...one play, the DT actually pushed Olsen into tackling his own teammate (Aldridge).

 

pass protection is fine, but when you can't block 3 pass rushers when it counts, something is wrong. Also, when you struggle to get a 3rd a 2 or 3, or heck, even a 3rd/4th and 1, something is definitely wrong, especially with all the "blue-chippers" we have on the O-Line.

Excuses, excuses, and more excuses. So sick of the excuses. We're frigging 95th in the country in rushing and have sucked that bad consistently since Latina and Mendoza have been here. Honestly, the stats and evidence are clear but I don't really care if Charlie does or doesn't keep Latina and Mendoza on anymore, it's his grave....

Well said Franco. What kills me the most is our inability to convert a 3rd or 4th and 1. I'm sorry but against the teams we have played this year, getting one yard on the ground when we need it should be the norm not the rare exception.

 

On a completely OT note, I formally nominate KamaraPolice the best member name on the DD. I picture DK in that weird Radiohead video.

The behemoth was the other dt, the one listed at 350. Rija is merely huge and good.

 

The blocking 3 is completely misleading. The ends were lined up as wide as possible and just pinned their ears back. There is no difference between that setup or 4 down to the tackle. It's 1 v 1 with the de knowing he doesn't have to worry about the run. All the tackle can do is push him outside further. Combine that with a young qb and our refusal to run, it puts the tackles in a very tough position.

 

It's not a refusal, it's an inability and that's all anyone is saying. You can't pass if the teams give absolutely no respect to the run.

errr... interesting analogy, especially for a Notre Dame board. Anyway, would you prefer Charlie to say, well, we focused on pass blocking most of the year, so there is no chance we will be able to run someone over?

 

What I don't understand is what does it take for people to admit we are strongly improving? The line has improved remarkably from last year, yet it still isn't anywhere near enough for people. Hell, a lot of people are upset because our true frosh guard was getting beaten up by a good 5th year dt. Did you actually expect him to win that battle often?

 

There have been many obvious passing downs where the tackles are left on an island against decent to good pass rushers and they give the qb time. What more do you want from a young line? People keep pointing to Texas Tech, but those guys are mostly 5th year seniors who never have to run block. Our guys are definitely on pace to be at least that good by their 5th year. (Also, they were blatantly holding on most plays against Texas.)

 

I agree with jon33dn. Latina is doing just fine.

 

Sorry cj, but the line is not "strongly improving".

If the line were strongly improving, they would be at least making some strides in the run game.

They aren't even close to that.

They improved their pass blocking towards the end of last year, so I expected to see improvement in the run game this year. So did Charlie.

Pass blocking is much easier than run blocking. To say that this line is improving would have to imply that the running game is getting better, and it just isn't.

 

T Rob did get blown up a few times, but guards also have the help of a center if they need it.

When Wenger has to help Trevor, then Olsen starts getting beat up by the other tackle.

This was in pass protection too mind you.

Olsen matches up well size-wise against either of BC's tackles, but it didn't show on the field.

This is a strength and technique issue, not just youth.

 

If we have to wait to have 3 or 4 5th year O linemen (which we never will at Notre Dame) to see progress, then we are in deep trouble.

I am not willing to wait another year AGAIN to see us become a decent running team, and I can almost guarantee that Charlie isn't either.

You're right about that, CJ. If memory serves me correct, many of our successful runs that game came out of a shotgun formation in sort of an inside handoff to Allen.

 

My problem is that we can't seem to convert those 3rd and 1s when we NEED them. Hence, the loss.

We were actually converting well against Pitt on 3rd & short. I remember numerous times we just plowed through their stacked line.

 

Anecdotal evidence doesn't cut it anymore cj. Just look at the stats:

 

 

2008: 95th in rushing offense

2007: 115th in rushing offense

2006: 72nd in rushing offense

2005: 55th in rushing offense

 

Fact is our guys have gotten more sucky each year under Latina and Mendoza. I'm sick of getting smashed in on the o line every week.

The behemoth was the other dt, the one listed at 350. Rija is merely huge and good.

 

The blocking 3 is completely misleading. The ends were lined up as wide as possible and just pinned their ears back. There is no difference between that setup or 4 down to the tackle. It's 1 v 1 with the de knowing he doesn't have to worry about the run. All the tackle can do is push him outside further. Combine that with a young qb and our refusal to run, it puts the tackles in a very tough position.

 

I didn't see UNC's O-Line getting pushed back into their own RB when they were laying the wood to BC

Regarding the 3 and 4 man rushes.

i think that is the exact reason the offense has suddenly started looking inept. the book is out on this year's ND team.

To defend ND, drop 7 or 8 into coverage and rush the passer with speed moves off the edge. Jimmy will have trouble stepping up and screw his tackles. On top of this if the recivers are covered and they will be through no fault of their own with 7 or 8 guys back in coverage jimmy refuses to consistantly take the dump down or run. he is impatient, as many young qb's are. he also must be pressing to make plays which doesnt help.

additionally if jimmy gets and inside rush and actually sees the rusher, he will turn to his right and try to spin, giving his back to the play, nothing good can come of this.

 

dont worry about the run they will not stick with it or will commit a penalty and have to throw to get the yardage back.

 

this is a young team with issues in execution.

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CARLSSON (CAR COMPANY)

Edited March 4, 201114 yr by jon33dn

I'm not a coach or anything, but does anyone think that problems could be with the blocking schemes and not so much the blockers themselves. It seems like we get stuffed on the run when we have the QB under center with the lone HB sitting what seems to be 100 yards behind the line of scrimmage. I don't have any stats to prove it, but it seems like we have run at least somewhat better out of the shotgun or when there is a lead blocker involved such as in the I formation. I'm not really trying to defend Latina, I'm just trying to offer what may be one of the many reasons that they seem to run the ball like a bunch of flat footed 8th grade girls.

that is exactly right, we are better running out of the gun inside, b/c teams go into the coverage mode and that's wehre the weakness of a cover first defence is, right up the middle.

this is why you get that quinn up the middle qb dive we used to run, he would check for the MLB and if he vacated, bang up the middle for 5-10. i dont know if jimmy is too slow for this or what.

whatever happened to the get up to the line on a 3-1 or 4-1 and snapping before the DL sets? that used to go for 3-5 yards, not the needed 1.

i think this has alot to do with experience.

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Electric cigarettes

Edited March 4, 201114 yr by jon33dn

The line made some pretty good strides as far as pass blocking goes, but they are also very inconsistant with this as well. they held up pretty well against an experience d line of michigan, but then laid an egg when it came to the pitt game getting beat againt a 3 man rush. bc dline is pretty crazy huge -in their defense (somewhat). they still cant open holes in the running game in that respect i dont think they have improved ..95th is still terrible

Ok stats then. 116->95 in rushing yards (+50 yds/gm). 110->21 in passing yards(+93). 117->69(+8 ) in scoring. How is that not showing a good amount of improvement?

 

You are kidding showing those stats. Aren't you?

 

we went from FIU level in Rushing yards to what Valparaiso

we went from FIU in passing yards to an okay level, but far from the numbers the top teams are doing

and scoring, are you kidding me. 69 with the beginning schedule we had.

 

I have two words for that: PA Thetic

The rushing game is still abysmal, there's just no two ways about it. They are somewhat better than last year, but let's face it, there was nowhere to go but up. While I am disappointed with the lines run blocking, I am pleased with their strides in pass blocking. Even more so, I am just happy that they seem to be playing more as a unit this year as opposed to last year when they seemed to be 5 individuals. It's hard to defend my position, but I feel like the synergistic effect of playing together will only help them in the future. Maybe a new line coach with a new philosophy will be the answer, that I don't know. But I do know that we went from giving up a record number of sacks, to a good team nationally in sacks given up. They may not have overcome all of the physical hurdles yet, but I feel that they are on their way to overcoming some mental ones. I'm not totally happy with their production, but I know I like the players.

the rushing games ailments are multifactorial. first of all, yes the o-line continues to be abysmal on the rush which is latina's concern; however, play selection falls under the direction of haywood. in my opinion his running scheme is just as bad as latinas body of work. what is the deal with handing the ball off five yards deep to a single setback?? sorry, the holes created by the o-line have long since closed. there are no formations that even promote a chance at picking up reasonable yardage. opposing coaches laugh at our schemes. it's like shooting fish in a barrel. haywood needs to be relieved of his duties. he has been given ample opportunity and has failed miserably. nice guy, shitty play caller. latina is a whole nuther story. anyone who continues to promote cut-blocking (pussification) needs to be replaced, period......................l

in my opinion his running scheme is just as bad as latinas body of work. what is the deal with handing the ball off five yards deep to a single setback?? l

 

It's actually worse than that--it's more like 7-8 yards deep every time we're in the single back formation.

thank you, sometimes i feel like i'm the only person yelling at the TV.............