Offensive Line Improvement?
- Thread starter Mike-D
- Start date
Much of the offense is designed around quicker passes that spread the field from sideline to sideline. This helps mask o-line deficiencies.....and will help open things up for the RB's. I expect considerable improvement from the QB/WR/TE positions that the o-line will be better by default.....plus, I think the o-line will be better in general with more development/depth.
For example
-Neal Brown's TTU offense for 3 yrs had an avg pass attempt of about 7 yds
-WVU (assuming Dawson runs a similar offense) had an avg pass attempt slightly over 7 yds.
-Bama last yr was about 8.6 yds/attempt
-Auburn last yr at 8.99
-OSU last yr 9.06
For example
-Neal Brown's TTU offense for 3 yrs had an avg pass attempt of about 7 yds
-WVU (assuming Dawson runs a similar offense) had an avg pass attempt slightly over 7 yds.
-Bama last yr was about 8.6 yds/attempt
-Auburn last yr at 8.99
-OSU last yr 9.06
It's also important to note that as the quality of your QB increases, so does the avg yd/attempt. This shouldn't be a shocking statement, but it is worth noting.
For example
-While at TTU Brown's offense reaching the highest avg/attempt when he developed a seasoned QB.
-WVU got their highest avg/att with Dawson when a seasoned Geno Smith was at the helm in 2012
-Towles avg was 6.93 last yr. So, I would expect this to be well into the 7's this yr.
Another side note......and I hope this doesn't derail the thread, but it probably will. There is a notion that Dawson is North/South while Brown was East/West. Assuming that Dawson does run a WVU style offense, the data does not support this theory. Their offense is very similar which is why Dawson was chosen as a replacement in the first place.
For example
-While at TTU Brown's offense reaching the highest avg/attempt when he developed a seasoned QB.
-WVU got their highest avg/att with Dawson when a seasoned Geno Smith was at the helm in 2012
-Towles avg was 6.93 last yr. So, I would expect this to be well into the 7's this yr.
Another side note......and I hope this doesn't derail the thread, but it probably will. There is a notion that Dawson is North/South while Brown was East/West. Assuming that Dawson does run a WVU style offense, the data does not support this theory. Their offense is very similar which is why Dawson was chosen as a replacement in the first place.
The offense isn't similar as much as philosophy is. Both of them want to air the ball out, but they do it in different ways. The players themselves have said that many of the plays that Brown called seemed complicated, and redundant, whereas the plays Dawson has set up for them seem simple, and effective. If your players aren't on board with your offense, your going to receive poor results. Surprisingly, we received average results in that scenario, when we could have gotten much less due to how the players viewed Brown's playcalling. Stuff like that can be deflating for players.
Also, Dawson has been quoted saying that his ideas offense would be set up like Baylor's. The idea behind Baylor's offense is to spread receivers our further towards the sidelines (in an attempt to spread the defense out before the play, causing the defense more difficulties when it comes to masking itself). If the defense has difficulties masking itself, it makes itself easier for the QB to read obviously, and check the plays. Towles has said himself that this has been an emphasis in fall camp. Not becoming too check-happy, but having the ability to check plays in a hurry, and move with pace so you can take advantages of defenses and break off explosive plays.
Should also be good for Towles that Boom Williams (or Mikel Horton occasionally) will move out to the slot from time to time. That should open things up in space, and create mismatches (few linebackers, or even safeties will be able to keep up with Williams). Should also give him better scrambling ability when he has to.
There are little things that Dawson does to his offense (like many air raid coordinators do) that could be much more effective for UK than what Brown did.
Brown never had enough personnel to run his offense at UK.
Two things.
First: Dawson never had total control of the WVU offense so to draw conclusions from the WVU offense could be folly.
Second: Dawson himself has stated he likes to be physical in the run game and throw the ball over the top. This combination puts a lot of stress on the safetys.
As for the OP. Yes, the O-line will be improved - and deeper.
First: Dawson never had total control of the WVU offense so to draw conclusions from the WVU offense could be folly.
Second: Dawson himself has stated he likes to be physical in the run game and throw the ball over the top. This combination puts a lot of stress on the safetys.
As for the OP. Yes, the O-line will be improved - and deeper.
Read where towles said Dawson thinks hitting the rbs in the short game will open up the middle of the field. I'd expect that if towles goes through a couple reads that the rb will be the 3rd a lot. I don't see him standing back there even if he has loads of time.
I always love how people act like a certain coordinator is going to "air it out" as if it's just solely a choice of the coordinator and nothing else matters.
NEWS FLASH - the O-Coordinator will play to what the defense gives him. Shannon Dawson has already stated this a million times just like any other O-Coordinator does.
If the defense is stacking the box, we we will throw it more. If we complete some passes and have the defense on their heals, we will run it more. This is not rocket science.
Stoops and Dawson have stated a million times they want a BALANCED 50/50 run/pass offense.
There will be no "airing it out" or "air raid" like some people are dreaming of....We aren't good enough to impose our will on anyone. You will see an even mix of pass/run. I suspect a lot of short passes because our O-Line is so PUTRID like it was last season that it can't pass-block worth a darn.
I see small improvement on our O-Line. Our O-Line needs 2-3 more years to make great improvement because our talent is so young they're mostly red-shirt Freshmen or Freshmen right now.
I don't look forward to watching Swindle try to pass-block again as a starter.
NEWS FLASH - the O-Coordinator will play to what the defense gives him. Shannon Dawson has already stated this a million times just like any other O-Coordinator does.
If the defense is stacking the box, we we will throw it more. If we complete some passes and have the defense on their heals, we will run it more. This is not rocket science.
Stoops and Dawson have stated a million times they want a BALANCED 50/50 run/pass offense.
There will be no "airing it out" or "air raid" like some people are dreaming of....We aren't good enough to impose our will on anyone. You will see an even mix of pass/run. I suspect a lot of short passes because our O-Line is so PUTRID like it was last season that it can't pass-block worth a darn.
I see small improvement on our O-Line. Our O-Line needs 2-3 more years to make great improvement because our talent is so young they're mostly red-shirt Freshmen or Freshmen right now.
I don't look forward to watching Swindle try to pass-block again as a starter.
Our o-line and defense as a whole have to improve significantly this year..I'll be interested to see what our o-line can do because the whole offense depends on them
I did read some bad news a couple days ago that our o-line was having trouble with false starts (yet again) in fall camp..at some point I just don't see how you can't fix something as simple as that..I know the coaches try to downplay it, but when it keeps happening something has to be done
I did read some bad news a couple days ago that our o-line was having trouble with false starts (yet again) in fall camp..at some point I just don't see how you can't fix something as simple as that..I know the coaches try to downplay it, but when it keeps happening something has to be done
The bruises the OL took last season will make it stronger this year. Yes, stars and talent do definitely matter, but the offensive line is a bit different. So much of how good an offensive line is is about the chemistry built up between players. Continuity is sp important, and UK has that with so much returning experience that had played significant time together. It will show. Between that and a offense that helps take pressure off an overmatched, i believe the OL will be a very pleasant surprise this season. I bet after the florida win, fans will ve saying its the most improved unit.
They won't be the best, especially in the SEC, but theyre going to be pretty good. The youth and the work some guys got in last year will really show. And GAA in there wont hurt.
They won't be the best, especially in the SEC, but theyre going to be pretty good. The youth and the work some guys got in last year will really show. And GAA in there wont hurt.
I think OL is the 2nd biggest question coming into this season behind production from OLB spots on defensive side of ball.
- Toth is a mainstay and maybe our most sure fire pro prospect on the team. Solid as a rock, knows his assignments and should only get better in his final 2 years.
- Can we protect on the edges...Swindle was average at best to me can he take the next step to become an above average OT in tough league to play in with all the speed rushers he'll face? Then Meadow's migraines give me pause along with the thought of playing a true Fr alot of snaps in GAA. There is a high likelihood UK has a bad year on the edges of OL.
- Guards...we've got a ton of them but do we have a standout in the bunch. Ramsey Meyers, Mosier who will play OT, Haynes, can West stay healthy, etc... this group needs to take some steps forward or do we have the equivalent of Tiller/Quinn...which are hard working kids but not quite talented enough to play in SEC and we can't find the young kids good enough to knock them off just yet.
- Toth is a mainstay and maybe our most sure fire pro prospect on the team. Solid as a rock, knows his assignments and should only get better in his final 2 years.
- Can we protect on the edges...Swindle was average at best to me can he take the next step to become an above average OT in tough league to play in with all the speed rushers he'll face? Then Meadow's migraines give me pause along with the thought of playing a true Fr alot of snaps in GAA. There is a high likelihood UK has a bad year on the edges of OL.
- Guards...we've got a ton of them but do we have a standout in the bunch. Ramsey Meyers, Mosier who will play OT, Haynes, can West stay healthy, etc... this group needs to take some steps forward or do we have the equivalent of Tiller/Quinn...which are hard working kids but not quite talented enough to play in SEC and we can't find the young kids good enough to knock them off just yet.
Hope West can pull it all together this year. So up and down. But i remember him just mauling fools in the south Carolina game last year out of the wildcat. His blocking was a huuuge part of that win.
West is a decent OG when he is not playing hurt. The problem is he has been prone to injury. IMO UK will have a decent OL if it doesn't have a lot of injuries but I do not see quality depth especially at the OT positions. This is why that Meadows Migraines is such a problem.
The truth is I am not sure UK has any pure OTs on the team because IMO Swindle and George A-A are more suited to play guard.
