We are a good offensive line (and some non-drops by wide receivers) from being a really, really good team. The moment of concern was the Florida game. Yes, we destroyed them. Ray ran for a lot of yards. We all felt good because it felt like we dominated both lines of scrimmage. Then the PFF scores came out the next day and the offensive line didn't score well. I first looked at it as an aberration in their scoring system -- we must have been good on the OL to rush for that many yards. Instead, PFF said Ray had a career game despite the OL. When you look back at that game, our team's offense cooked early with great play calling and schemes set up by Coen but then, as the game went along, not much.
The next week, our OL ruins the first two drives with silly penalties. We were, again, marching down the field based upon really creative play calls from Coen. After that...crickets on offense as our OL couldn't provide consistent protection or push in the run game. Then last week -- same thing. We start strong based upon great scheme but, after the first couple of drives, Mizzou blows up the OL. Leary has little time to pass and no consistent running lanes. Our team couldn't do anything on offense because of it.
Those who want to call out Coen -- his play calling is why we beat Florida and gave us hope at the beginning of the last two games. To those who want to blast Stoops -- we are trying to impose our will, play physical football, but it is hard to do without an effective and consistent offensive line.
We are improved on the OL over last year but we aren't where we got used to for about 6 years. We don't have a Big Blue Wall that controls the game. That makes it hard on the coaches and the team.
Saying this, I have all of the confidence that the players on the OL and their coaches are working their hardest to live up to expectations. We have more "stars" recruited than ever before on the OL. The reality is that they just aren't as good as we hoped, and they certainly, hoped they would be. I will continue to cheer them on and hope for improvement. The PFF scores, while not perfect, are a good reflection of what non-biased observers think of our OL and they don't think they are at a Top 25 team level. And they appear to be correct.
The next week, our OL ruins the first two drives with silly penalties. We were, again, marching down the field based upon really creative play calls from Coen. After that...crickets on offense as our OL couldn't provide consistent protection or push in the run game. Then last week -- same thing. We start strong based upon great scheme but, after the first couple of drives, Mizzou blows up the OL. Leary has little time to pass and no consistent running lanes. Our team couldn't do anything on offense because of it.
Those who want to call out Coen -- his play calling is why we beat Florida and gave us hope at the beginning of the last two games. To those who want to blast Stoops -- we are trying to impose our will, play physical football, but it is hard to do without an effective and consistent offensive line.
We are improved on the OL over last year but we aren't where we got used to for about 6 years. We don't have a Big Blue Wall that controls the game. That makes it hard on the coaches and the team.
Saying this, I have all of the confidence that the players on the OL and their coaches are working their hardest to live up to expectations. We have more "stars" recruited than ever before on the OL. The reality is that they just aren't as good as we hoped, and they certainly, hoped they would be. I will continue to cheer them on and hope for improvement. The PFF scores, while not perfect, are a good reflection of what non-biased observers think of our OL and they don't think they are at a Top 25 team level. And they appear to be correct.
