Started By
Message
Danny West on the OLine
Posted on 9/27/16 at 9:58 am
Posted on 9/27/16 at 9:58 am
nothing we don't know, but pretty bad.
quote:
I love the optimism, but there's not enough written about the offensive line. Trust me, I hate to keep harping on it but it's a real problem.
Don't mistake this as me blaming Colton Jackson or Brian Wallace or Hjalte Froholdt individually. The kids are doing the best they can and I have no doubts they're trying the hardest they can.
My problem is with the situation as a whole. Arkansas' and Bret Bielema's offensive lines have always gotten a ridiculous amount of publicity -- more than any other O-line in the nation for several years, and with good reason. They've always been good.
I guess my question is, how did they even get to this point? How did Arkansas reach the point of starting a defensive tackle at left guard with zero competition for the job? How are they still having to rotate bodies five weeks into the season, still looking for the best lineup? How did they get to the point of signing two JUCO guys in a class and neither of them are capable of cracking the lineup in Year 1?
I know those are tough questions and will make some mad, but it is what it is right now. They're not in very good shape on the O-line and it's strange.
I do think Wallace, Froholdt and Jackson will be very good players in time. I've always thought so and that hasn't changed.
But for now? They've got serious issues when they get 11 chances to punch it in for a touchdown against Texas A&M and can't get anything at all. Those are real problems if you ask me.
6
Posted on 9/27/16 at 10:02 am to Hog Leg
Yeah I don't know if Pittman was the big reason for the drop-off or if the blame lies solely on Bielema. I don't think Bielema planned on Kirkland leaving a year early for the NFL but him not having a contingency plan for things like that is concerning to say the least.
Posted on 9/27/16 at 10:07 am to Hog Leg
At what point in time do we question the Anderson hire? Does he bear any responsibility for this mess? I wasn't stoked about it to begin with personally but I was willing to give Bielema the benefit of the doubt given his history with the unit. I'm to seeing the positive return on investment yet though.
I'm not an OL guy though so I'll defer to those who've played the position before and can make that judgement call.
I'm not an OL guy though so I'll defer to those who've played the position before and can make that judgement call.
This post was edited on 9/27/16 at 10:10 am
Posted on 9/27/16 at 10:12 am to TheCheshireHog
If anyone pas $$$ to read that, ... WOW, I mean, sure.. Water is wet. 
Posted on 9/27/16 at 10:15 am to Razorback Reverend
Was emailed to me. I don't pay hard earned dollas for booger-eatin/parents basement "Hog insiders" websites.
Posted on 9/27/16 at 10:18 am to TheCheshireHog
I don't know enough about Oline play other than middle school/Jr high play to be to critical of Anderson. He's working with what he has right now and hopefully he can pull a few amazing recruits, right now I'd put more of the blame on Coach B(Pittman) for the lack of bodies on the unit.
Posted on 9/27/16 at 10:21 am to Hog Leg
I really think y'all should wait a few more games before hitting the panic button. Our D is stout, your oline may be just fine the rest of the year.
Posted on 9/27/16 at 10:24 am to Old Sarge
Our Oline hasn't been impressive all season, it's not just yalls Dline.
Posted on 9/27/16 at 10:32 am to TheCheshireHog
Besides QB, OL is the toughest unit to get "good." Typically, you need guys with 2+ years starting experience and/or natural freak athletes like Shawn Andrews to have a formidable line. 99% of teams with 3 new starting offensive linemen are going to have issues, at least in the first half of the season when facing teams with DL's as good as A&M's.
I never believed Froholdt would be a day 1 starter in his first year, but I have faith in the coach's judgment in starting him. He may be less polished and behind in the technicals but makes up for it in athleticism and potential. Starting him this year could pay exponential dividends down the road.
I also think our OL has a tougher job than most college OL's. Most OL's these days benefit from read-option misdirection where QB or RB can find room to run regardless of whether the OL does a great job blocking if the spread out defense makes the wrong read. Most team's passing games are dink and dunk which only requires 2 seconds of time in the pocket, compared to our passing game which requires the QB to make more reads and look downfield a little more.
I never believed Froholdt would be a day 1 starter in his first year, but I have faith in the coach's judgment in starting him. He may be less polished and behind in the technicals but makes up for it in athleticism and potential. Starting him this year could pay exponential dividends down the road.
I also think our OL has a tougher job than most college OL's. Most OL's these days benefit from read-option misdirection where QB or RB can find room to run regardless of whether the OL does a great job blocking if the spread out defense makes the wrong read. Most team's passing games are dink and dunk which only requires 2 seconds of time in the pocket, compared to our passing game which requires the QB to make more reads and look downfield a little more.
Posted on 9/27/16 at 10:36 am to TheCheshireHog
quote:
At what point in time do we question the Anderson hire? Does he bear any responsibility for this mess? I wasn't stoked about it to begin with personally but I was willing to give Bielema the benefit of the doubt given his history with the unit. I'm to seeing the positive return on investment yet though.
I wasn't that thrilled about the Anderson hire at the time mainly because he was an assistant OL coach and it's a difficult transition from the NFL to college in terms of the nuances of coaching (ex. you can be more technical and complex at the professional level whereas you're still teaching the position in college). I would've preferred to have hired a collegiate OL coach, but it is what it is.
However, like someone said in another thread, he's starting a basketball game with 4 fouls when it comes to the talent level he's working with. The fact that we're starting a grad transfer and a converted DT at the guard spots and newcomers at RT isn't his fault. Bert has shown himself willing to cut ties quickly with assistants who aren't cutting it (Markuson), so I have faith in Anderson as long as he does.
Bert should shoulder some blame for the management of the roster situation when it comes to our OL, but it's not really for want of highly ranked recruits. I doubt he anticipated that guys like Wallace and Merrick wouldn't be ready by now.
This post was edited on 9/27/16 at 10:38 am
Posted on 9/27/16 at 1:03 pm to Feral
Jackson, Froholdt and Wallace are going to be fine. They are probably about where they should be at this stage of their careers. The problem is that we shouldn't have to be depending on them to start right now. That comes down to recruiting.
ETA: I really thought Gibson was going to emerge this season and Rameriez was going to able to help. Guess not.
ETA: I really thought Gibson was going to emerge this season and Rameriez was going to able to help. Guess not.
This post was edited on 9/27/16 at 1:29 pm
Posted on 9/27/16 at 4:39 pm to WonderWartHawg
Saw on PFF where Allen has been pressured on 40% of his passes which is the 2nd highest rate in the country.
Feel bad for #1's QB.
Feel bad for #1's QB.
Posted on 9/27/16 at 5:34 pm to gohogs141
Raulerson's been quoted as saying Anderson's schemes and what he asks of the OL is much more complicated than what they did at Texas.
I think that's where most of the problem lays. Asking young and inexperienced OL to think too much, giving them too much algebra before and at the snap. It's hard enough to get what you're supposed to be doing right when you're playing your first few games much less to be able to assess and calculate what the guy on both of your sides is doing, did he do his thing right or make a mistake and make the correct play on what the defense is doing in the 180 degrees in front of you.
Simple is best for young players and I don't believe they did a good job of doing that. The constant shuffle isn't allowing players to focus in on doing great at one position and the reps are different and disruptive.
but hey I don't know jack shite I can just analyze the results.
I think that's where most of the problem lays. Asking young and inexperienced OL to think too much, giving them too much algebra before and at the snap. It's hard enough to get what you're supposed to be doing right when you're playing your first few games much less to be able to assess and calculate what the guy on both of your sides is doing, did he do his thing right or make a mistake and make the correct play on what the defense is doing in the 180 degrees in front of you.
Simple is best for young players and I don't believe they did a good job of doing that. The constant shuffle isn't allowing players to focus in on doing great at one position and the reps are different and disruptive.
but hey I don't know jack shite I can just analyze the results.
Posted on 9/27/16 at 5:59 pm to CtotheVrzrbck
I'm mainly just disappointed in Coach because this is where he hangs his hat program wise. How many times has he talked about building our program inside out. I really don't want to hear any excuses about OLINE play in year 4.
I still believe we can improve as the season goes, but I was very disappointed this past weekend mainly by how we lost.
I still believe we can improve as the season goes, but I was very disappointed this past weekend mainly by how we lost.
Posted on 9/27/16 at 7:20 pm to Hog Leg
Froholdt's problems from what I've seen can be fixed through experience. He's a road grader in run blocking but hasn't put pass pro together yet. Jackson and wallace's problem is more concerning to me. In pass pro both of them have trouble getting back to their spot. It's footwork as much as not being able to drop back fast enough and being ready to punch. If we don't put someone over there to chip for them then they don't have a prayer against the speed rushers they will face in this conference. Always having someone to help them handcuffs us to an extent in what we can run. That being said I think Wallace looked better to me than Jackson so it will be interesting to see how that goes.
Posted on 9/27/16 at 7:30 pm to Hog Leg
I'm still depressed over the A&M game. I'm starting to hate those sheep molesters. Why can't we beat them?
Posted on 9/27/16 at 8:44 pm to Old Sarge
quote:
really think y'all should wait a few more games before hitting the panic button. Our D is stout, your oline may be just fine the rest of the year.
Your D line is good; we expect in year 4 of Bert ball for our OL to be equally good.
Posted on 9/27/16 at 9:22 pm to DocHog
Almost half of Allens hurries for the entire season so far occurred Saturday, so all I'm saying is that judging your oline for a performance against a pair of pass rushers when one is a top 10 draft pick and the other most likely a first round draft pick is maybe just a tad bit premature.
Posted on 9/28/16 at 12:58 am to Old Sarge
They got worked by La Tech and have been mediocre at run blocking.
Posted on 9/28/16 at 1:08 am to Hog Leg
new oline coach with a bunch of new players on the line
it's not rocket science as to why the oline is struggling
it's not rocket science as to why the oline is struggling
Page 1 of 2
Latest Arkansas News
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News