The Thin Blue Wall

[Deeeefense]

We all witnessed the collapse of what has been Stoops trade mark since he arrived. The question now remains what if anything can they do to fortify what is now the Thin Blue Wall, as well as improve the blocking of the TEs and Backs in order to allow BV to execute some throws. I think that should be the mission this week. Winning is outside the zone for even the most optimistic but I do think they can make a much better showing and get on track for the remainder of the season if they can get the pass pro situation figured out. Is that possible or do we just not have the dogs?

 

[mebeblue2]

His trademark has been physicality in the trenches on both sides of the ball
our O-lINE is anything but physical

 

[EliteBlue]

His trademark has been physicality in the trenches on both sides of the ball
our O-lINE is anything but physical

Yep. Need to accept that we can’t consistently recruit an NFL caliber OLine with size and quick feet, so we need to recruit to a system that maximizes talent and helps compensate. Block straight ahead and downhill, pulling guards etc. get back to being physical and smashmouth in the trenches. Throw just enough to keep teams off balance. A lot of read option and speed option…a little triple option mixed in. Tons of misdirection. Quick hitter passes when throwing and then the occasional PA deep ball post, corner, dig, slants, speed outs etc to limit protection needs and take advantage of aggressive D fronts and linebackers.

We are never going to “out pro” the top of college football teams that have 3-4 deep of future pros. Get back to being the gritty, hard nosed, downhill football team that had other teams like Bama openly saying “you know when you played Ky bc they were beat up and needed extra recovery the weak after” etc.

It doesn’t have to be pure triple option…you can still have a slot of flare in a spread speed option/read option run heavy offense that’s capable of going compressed 12 personnel and lunging it between the guards and tackles. Its easy to recruit a couple 3 star skill positions that turn into studs. RBs are a dime a dozen and easy to find. Calvin Johnson played at GT in the triple option for god sake. Recruit big bodied WR and TEs that buy in to blocking on the outside. No…you won’t have a roster of 4-5star wide receivers but they aren’t needed and hardly produce to their NFL potential level unless they are on a top 10 program with great OLinea and Weapons all around them

 

[NoDef]

You can't run the offensive system that Stoops wants to with the talent we can get. Either change system or become one deminsional trying to run offense similar to Bama and Georgia. Tennessee offense would be better here.

 

[RocknRollCats]

Big Blue Ole’.

 

[screwduke1]

What wall?

 

[TucsonCat]

We ahould never talk of a Big Blue Wall.
The years Darrian Kinnard was here is the new trademark.

 

[YardCat]

What wall?

The one in Lexington that has more holes than the one in Mexico. Come on thru, enjoy your time in our backfield.

 

[bluecoon1]

Can’t see it getting fixed D, couldn’t even do much when we went heavy. Our backs also looked terrible and got blown up when they stayed in for protection. Hope there’s an answer but I don’t expect to see one.

 

[Creed Bratton]

Our big blue wall has become a little picket fence with a lot of holes

 

[KyCatFan]

It's crazy to see how hard it is for them to pass block. Remember when we took a run blocking offensive line that ran the option and turned them into the greatest passing offense the NCAA had ever seen in just the off-season? We're not running the Air Raid now though. Are our offensive sets just to complex compared to the days of drawing plays in the dirt?

So how hard is it to just be adequate at pass blocking? Is it the players fault? Are the coaches doing a terrible job teaching them? It's been multiple years now of poor pass blocking. You can't tell me these guys on the line aren't as talented or more talented than the likes of Comstock, Watts, Webster, Liening, and Schlarman (he sure could coach). Our recruiting is light years better than those Bill Curry days and what he left us.

Something needs to change quickly or this season will go down in flames faster than the Hindenburg.

 

[Big10Cat]

It’s more like a little blue speed bump……

 

[bbncal02]

It's crazy to see how hard it is for them to pass block. Remember when we took a run blocking offensive line that ran the option and turned them into the greatest passing offense the NCAA had ever seen in just the off-season? We're not running the Air Raid now though. Are our offensive sets just to complex compared to the days of drawing plays in the dirt?

So how hard is it to just be adequate at pass blocking? Is it the players fault? Are the coaches doing a terrible job teaching them? It's been multiple years now of poor pass blocking. You can't tell me these guys on the line aren't as talented or more talented than the likes of Comstock, Watts, Webster, Liening, and Schlarman (he sure could coach). Our recruiting is light years better than those Bill Curry days and what he left us.

Something needs to change quickly or this season will go down in flames faster than the Hindenburg.

It's coaching. Look at the man in charge and look at his performance when he had all FIVE STARS at Bama.

 

[Soupbean]

We all witnessed the collapse of what has been Stoops trade mark since he arrived. The question now remains what if anything can they do to fortify what is now the Thin Blue Wall, as well as improve the blocking of the TEs and Backs in order to allow BV to execute some throws. I think that should be the mission this week. Winning is outside the zone for even the most optimistic but I do think they can make a much better showing and get on track for the remainder of the season if they can get the pass pro situation figured out. Is that possible or do we just not have the dogs?

As much as I hate the gimmicky hurry up the first thing that helps ease a pass rush is high tempo. You just can give time for the D to dig in. Tempo creates just a hint of doubt and hesitation on that side of the ball to slow them down a notch. So number one is that.

Number two is quick hitting straight ahead run plays. You can snap it to the shotgun and hand it to a RB standin still, there will be two guys already in the backfield to destroy that. You have to get under center more and run A and B gap down hill hand offs to make the rush ends a non factor.

Three is using more misdirection. Using motion and boots and play fakes to get the defense taking the first step sideways will help some but has to be real play fakes no going through the motion and ran with energy and sizzle. Walk through those and you're dead.

Four. Identity the one on ones and get the ball out to them to make plays open or not. The back shoulder throw is still the biggest weapon in the passing game and we have athletes to expose that who can make plays on the ball and put pressue on the defense to defend without fouling. We have to use more one read throws to Key, Brown and Macklin where we throw to a spot and let them make plays on the ball. The pressure is on the DBack no matter how talented they are to stop it.