OL Discussion & Thoughts

We’ve discussed the running game issues in detail as it relates to the backs, but I was hoping to hear from people as to what they think is or isn’t happening with our blocking up front.

I can understand how we struggled up front against various SEC fronts, but I have major concerns with what I saw yesterday particularly early against what was barely a collegiate level defensive front.

We were failing to seal edges, often had guys in the backfield and while we leaned on them and ended up with 270 I just have major concerns that the same issues were occurring against such poor competition.

Tackle: we were still seeing edge pressure and Ty looked like he was going to keep his strip sack streak going on a few snaps. With Proctor gone it looks like it’ll be Carroll and Lloyd but I sure would like to see a portal option brought in if Formby doesn’t lose significant weight to compete outside.

Guard: we yet again were failing to establish the LOS downfield and at times gave up gaps to faster IDL guys.

Watching us ask road grading IOL guys to block in space has been painful all year to watch and we really need to make major body-type changes to our existing guys or look for portal options with quicker feet moving forward if we’re committed to this blocking scheme.

Center: Brailsford was out and it was a patchwork situation but it’s worth noting that Ionata didn’t get the start and we immediately shifted VanDeMark over. To me that’s very telling for what may need to happen in the portal going into next season.

Coaching
Finally going into the end of the year do we have reason to believe that with more athletic guards that Kapilovic can get it done from a coaching standpoint?

While he was stuck using guys who didn’t fit his scheme I never felt like we really used what we had within their capabilities and have to wonder if we’d let them be who they are if we couldn’t have improved our outcomes significantly.

I also have major questions about how the offensive coaching staff looked at the current personnel and felt like they were going to be successful with what they were going to be asked to do rather than bringing in people proactively who were a better fit.