re: Some good points about Bob, article on RBR.

Offense personnel wise we have 3 primary issues. The 3rd is an issue only because of the 1st.

1) OL up the middle and LT. G/C/G - Tx used the Auburn slant that gave us so much trouble several years ago. The slant was toward the predictable play side and pass downs toward the TE. Center turns his shoulders and gets pushed into the guard. That takes them both out and with his shoulders turned, he cannot slide back to take the twist or LB blitz coming off the tail of the slanting DL. That puts the run blitz making contact behind the LoS or gumming up the run lanes so a jump cut does not work well. On a pass, the LB or S blitz up the middle is in Youngs face too quickly for him to finish his reads or step into his throw.
The LT was the best Vandy had but that should not be good enough to be the best option Bama has. Speed rush is a problem and speed to power is even more of an issue. The pocket needs to move to the right with a RB or HB sealing behind him. Then the issue becomes the DC will adjust with right side wide blitz to kill a rolled pocket. So, slide step zone blocking up the middle must be brought back and the center will need better torso flex - torso flex cannot be coached but slide steps can.

2) WR route skills to get separation. Speed with good hands can be used instead of high end route skills but we need the speed out wide AND in the slot. Out wide, a young fast guy is going to have trouble clearing press man. Your route system MUST adjust to cover your flaws. That is 100% a coaching issue.

3) A hammer RB for short yardage. If the middle of the OL cannot create running room you need a bruiser back to make 1 yard anyway. We do not have one of those RB's so you have to scheme around the issue. The only option is a big badass lead blocker to blast a hole for the smaller RB. That is a coaching issue.

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YStar

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Every single one of those WRs at least had a competent OC which could make plays specifically for them to shine.

Even Julio had some drawn up (long catch and rub against Florida).

They were used and grew and developed with usage.


The guy we currently have doesn't know how to scheme for these players. Heck last season he just didn't use most of our depth, even in games we had won.

Heck the guy we currently have knows we have struggles with protection and still runs slow developing routes as plays. He completely abandoned the quick pass and slant game as well.

Defend him all you want but those who know... know. A good coach develops plans to protect weakness then exploit the opponents weakness.

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He may get the weapon he wants in either Earl or Harrell

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I don't get this reasoning. We have talent and plenty speed at WR.

What we're lacking is someone who knows how to consistently scheme them open or run plays which uses them to their strengths.

If it were Sark with these players he would be running all kinds of screens, short pops and letting these kids show their athleticism.

He wouldn't knowing run 5 and 7 drop passes (from shotgun!), slow developing plays which put unnecessary pressure on our line and QB.

We should be leading the country in slants and short throws.

Then when teams come up to stop them we hit one of our speedster (Kobe, Isiah, Leary, etc) over the top.


Then again that would be an actual gameplan which BOB seems incapable of after he finishes his scripted plays.

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We do not have one of those RB's so you have to scheme around the issue. The only option is a big badass lead blocker to blast a hole for the smaller RB.

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Oustz should be that guy. But we didn't see any play calls that would have got him involved.

I appreciate the very insightful analysis. The OL situation, as far as how we got here (a very poor line with little talent), is discouraging. We missed out on years of our OL evaluations. I do feel we have the wrong center starting, I will say that, as well as I do think we have finally gotten a good OL coach, which we sorely missed last year.

My question is this: how much improvement can our line make before SEC play begins, or do we have to find a way to scheme around it somehow (God help us if that is the case with the OC we have)?

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My question is this: how much improvement can our line make before SEC play begins, or do we have to find a way to scheme around it somehow (God help us if that is the case with the OC we have)?

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Line improvement? Change the center. Run heavy to the right - outside zone / toss sweep with HB lead looking for a cut back.

Scheme around it? Passing - quick hitters that let the WR's run after the catch. Selected strikes over the top.

In high school play, when you do not have an OL to give you time, you roll the QB out and put run pressure on the edge if the pass not there. Our OL issues are much like those many high schools have, not enough capability on the line to be able to call your shot and still do it when everyone knows what is coming.

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The OL situation, as far as how we got here (a very poor line with little talent), is discouraging.

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The norm for the past 10 to 12 years is to sign one guy every other year that is ready to play as a true freshman. The rest of the line is made up of guys that were ready to play their 2nd or 3rd year in the system. Those 2nd or 3rd year players are development players (coaching them up and beefing them up). The coaching them up and beefing them up part is what has been missing. We signed 6 or 8 guys who should have fit that bill but not gotten there. That is 1 to 3 guys who should have been developed each of the past 3 cycles... but were not. Two bad OL coaching hires in a row.

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BY is not big enough to risk that with the bad interior line play. BY would get crushed

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Here is a thought. Does Saban trust his #2 QB enough to put in a short yardage package with the #2 QB in a wildcat type set? Big, strong, great speed, and I would bet could go over the top behind 91. Also open a jump pass option to the TE if the D crowds the line too much.

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I guess BoB just forgot how to scheme them open because last season Jameson and Metchie were open all day every day

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Jamo was a first round pick and Metchie might have been if not for his knee injury. You don't have to scheme open guys who can consistently get themselves open. We don't scheme anyone open in the sense that we rarely do much misdirection, pre-snap motion, bunch formations, play action, etc. that can force the defense out of position and create space for receivers who struggle to get that separation on their own.