Zach Yenser
- Thread starter RunninRichie
- Start date
I think he wasn't close to 100% last night and even so ran much tougher than the other guys. He's so much better at setting up moves and blocks and is hard to tackle for his size. Has good vision and sees cutbacks nicely.
I think the best illustration is the toss be ran. We already had success with it and this time their D clearly was ready. Rather than just barrel ahead and go down at first contact, he set up the slight cutback where he got 6 yards or so that neither wright nor smoke would've got.
Imo he still isn't a feature sec back but he's the best of the rest. I'm guessing we'll have to hit the portal for that position too.
At times I see flax playing too high and with too much forward lean. Somehow though he does a decent job much of the time. He cleans up technique, he could be a really good player.
I think our OT talent is as poor as it's been since stoops early years.
Though I saw numerous times last night where our backs went down on initial contact or barely any contact, something CRod runs through.
Four games in with a new system and new starters at every spot. Tough crowd!
Okay, now try to explain the piss poor run blocking. This is a terrible take.
Watch it magically miraculously be great when an actual SEC running back gets the ball on Saturday
I think a lot of what has been written is just panic mode. We have been spoiled with good lines for a while. Opposing Teams recognize the make up of this years OLine, so they're testing them. We haven't had to deal with this in a while, all new starters at every position. The fanbase is handling it just as poorly as they think the OLine is playing. The OLine is communication and trust as the foundation, that will only come from playing together. Might not even happen this year, if not, so be it, it will be a strength again next year. The Secondary was a mess last year and we still won games, this year, they are playing much better.
Agree however, I don't understand why we've seen practically nothing of the backups. Going into SEC play it's unlikely we will see them unless injuries occur. Hell, they could've given them at least ONE series somewhere along the way.
Apparently the claim's been made that Goodwin played 31 snaps vs NIU...uhhh, anybody have that on film?
It all boils down to this for Yenser.
With CRod back....you can't lay it at feet of Smoke/Wright can't run thru tackles or see the hole as CRod has been as consistent running for 5+ yards a carry for 3 years now and hitting it up for 100 yards a game.
If he can't get that unit to produce with CRod and Levis throwing to a bevy of WR that demand extra attention...they should have all the help they need to be a productive Oline. We should be a top 5 offense in SEC. Let's see if that holds.
With CRod back....you can't lay it at feet of Smoke/Wright can't run thru tackles or see the hole as CRod has been as consistent running for 5+ yards a carry for 3 years now and hitting it up for 100 yards a game.
If he can't get that unit to produce with CRod and Levis throwing to a bevy of WR that demand extra attention...they should have all the help they need to be a productive Oline. We should be a top 5 offense in SEC. Let's see if that holds.
My guess is they are trying to build that trust with this group. I did not see Goodwin but could have missed that. My biggest surprise has been the jailbreaks, the backs and TEs have been pretty good on that previously, struggling with it this year. Just a guess but it sure seems like the change in OC has the whole offense's heads spinning right now, not a total shock, if that's part of what is going on. We saw that last year too with Coen and his new system.
I've mentioned earlier that the C makes blocking calls for the OL at the LOS. Guess this is an area where Cox needs improvement. Certainly would think he'd be spending much time with Drake Jackson.
I agree. We are almost 1/3 of the way through the season. This offense has a chance to be special if the OL can gel. I don’t know if its talent or coaching or both. No one seems to have to answer to fix its as of yet. I have never seen a RB “fix” an oline problem. I am concerned we will see only marginal improvement.
One more point I would add, it isn’t coaching. These guys have Yenser, Drake Jackson, and Eddie Gran at their disposal. That’s a wealth of knowledge working with these guys.
Well it didn't take this long for the past 6 years under Stoops when we losing guys like Big George, Bunchy Stallings, Toth, Stenberg, Drake Jackson, Landon Young, etc....and our opponents face the same filling Oline gaps just as we do.
Feels like quite a drop off in Oline overnight to my eyes.
The important piece missing in your comparison, at least in my eyes, we haven't replaced everyone at the same time in the last six years. That's a pretty big deal. You can cover for one or two guys until they get up to speed, much more difficult with all. Even play calling has it's limitations in this scenario.
Fair point....but we lost 3 guys from last year. We choose to move Cox to Center and Horsey to Tackle...so if that is part of the cohesion issues....Yenser made those moves.
Those were experienced guys. Outside of Horsey and to a certain degree Cox, not so much this time around.
I think it can certainly play a pretty big factor and a reason for that is that it doesn't really take a whole lot to change a run game entirely. Just one or two yards per carry is a massive difference. If Smoke only gets 2 yards on first down then we're pretty well behind the sticks. If CRod gets 4 then we're in 2nd and medium and the playbook is much more wide open. Even the difference in 3 and 4 can be pretty big.
Also, big plays can have a huge effect. If CRod plays and rips off one or two big runs then the numbers are very different, and you also then have the passing game which is going to be even more effective as the safeties start to worry about those big runs more. I bet if CRod took just Wright's carries (he went 9 for 14) in that game then the running game looks entirely different and CRod probably picks up at least one 15+ yard gain.
I agree that CRod isn't a magical cure, but he can certainly help to alleviate some of the problems and make them seem less pronounced.
There is something with Q not being starter material. He's had two chances to take control of that job. He still plays but must lack something from a physical standpoint. Horsey has to be a best foot forward situation. If they could have left him at Guard, I'm sure they would have,
I love when someone gives their opinion and then doubles down with "Fact." That's usually a tell of how far-fetched their opinion is.
Our previous olines made holes mack trucks could drive through most of the time. There generally is only small gaps for our runners this year. They are not getting enough push . But I hope you're right.
I'm happy to link all the post-game interview videos of our OC Coach Scan saying 2 of the 5 sacks were all on Will, not O line. I mean, unless you want to discount his analysis as far-fetched opinion.
If that's what you said to begin with - Coach Scang put two sacks on Levis - I might've been more open to your opinion. What you said is that YOU SEE "a QB unwilling to get the incomplete pass stat of throwing it away under pressure..." And then you added your opinion "He wants the O line to get the negative stat if a sack than him get the negative stat of an incomplete pass."
It has to me as well. However, when watching the game review/breakdown by former Cat Van Hiles, there have been numerous plays where the TEs have just flat-out missed blocking ANYONE leading to TFLs.
I'm not saying there aren't some issues with the OL, but watching those breakdowns did make me think the OL isn't as bad as I thought they were.
I think they still have potential to be a decent OL...they won't be dominant this season like they have been at times in the past, but they don't have to be. They just need to be solid...many of the issues have been missed assignments/communication issues, so just fixing those should improve their level of play significantly. Had there not been so many missed assignment/communication issues, I think most of us would probably grade the OL as average to maybe slightly below average as opposed to the much poorer level we've seen thus far.
Logical point. I think we all see that this unit is the key to something very special (11-1 type year, Atlanta, etc.). I am spoiled the last 7-8 years of being able run the ball when we wanted and having cohesive and at times dominant OL play. Maybe we all have overshot our expectations a bit on this unit based on previous OL play and recruiting rankings of guys here now. Not ready to write them off yet but I'm concerned about it.
I'm not ready to write the goals off yet. I really think the staff has used the three OOC games to work on things with the OLine. I think the play calling and protections will start looking a little different starting next week. Really need to figure out the run game too, CRod will help, I think he has a little better vision out of the backs we have.
Running 12 personnel puts way more pressure on the line and TE’s to block. It allows the defense to crowd the line of scrimmage without having to worry about covering every receiver in a lot of space and allows the defense to bring pressure from multiple sources. Opposing defenses have used this to their advantage in every game. lol
I didn’t say anything that’s not the truth, we don’t have the line we’ve gotten used to the past 4-5 years, we have talent but 3/4 of our linemen are Freshman and Sophomores, CRod will make defenses respect the running game more and should help. I was definitely around for the 77 season!
I agree and also think we should widen by spreading our guys out instead of getting tighter. Cox/Levis have more than demonstrated they have a hard time identifying potential blitzers even when they're obvious to see. That results in a numbers problem.
If we spread people out, it will be easier to ID potential issues and slide protection. I suspect we will get to that conclusion pretty soon.
I have had those same thoughts. Seems like everyone always demands the team must play like it is November. But it isn't November. Every year, there is a learning process. Last year, we were pretty bad until after the Mississippi State game. Then Levis got comfortable and we took off. This year, there is a new OC and a bunch of young starters. The young players will keep getting better. This is not Eddie Gran's offense. Scan is not a grind it out OC. He wants balance. We have been making big plays. But we are not consistent. The pass blocking has not been good enough, and some of that is on the tight ends. I noticed Stoops said that he is committed to playing Goodwin this year and using him more when he is ready, whenever that may be. Stoops ruled out a rs. So we have Goodwin, Burton, and Cox climbing the learning curve. A month from now, it is probably a different offense.
Last game they ran a play that SF runs all of the time with Kittle. He looks like an extra blocker, he chips, then leaks out three yards for an easy throw. Bated totally forgot the chip part and Levis had immediate pressure. The game thread, everyone poo pooed the OLine. It wasn’t their fault even remotely.
NIU several times dropped the LB back in to the flat, I’m sure to give Levis something else to think about. It worked, he struggled most of the night seeing where the pressure was going to come from.
Only 2 starters from last year returned and neither one of them is playing the same position as last year. Horsey is not a OT he is a very good guard. Cox was a G last year and now is playing center and making all the line calls. Cox will be fine. Our issue is that we don't have OT that are quite ready. They have talent but are inexperienced,
I learned my lesson on judging assistants too quickly. I personally got on here several years ago and advocated for the firing of Clink and Schlarman a year into their tenure. Obviously that aged like spoiled milk.
Stoops has also proven he won’t hesitate to move on from a guy if they aren’t getting the job done. (Hell, he fired/pushed out two of his best friends in Eliot and Gran.)
If Stoops thinks Yenser is the man for the job, that’s enough for me.
Stoops has also proven he won’t hesitate to move on from a guy if they aren’t getting the job done. (Hell, he fired/pushed out two of his best friends in Eliot and Gran.)
If Stoops thinks Yenser is the man for the job, that’s enough for me.
One thing that does give me pause is the continued miscommunication in the run game. We ran the ball better but could've been much better still.
Imo there is too much focus on getting to the next level. Guys are leaving combo blocks much too soon and sometimes they both leave.
I get what they want to do but I think with this inexperienced group we need to focus on sticking the combos longer. That would get crod to the next level where he will generate another 3 yards after contact. Then as we grow let's work up to the next level a little more.
Imo there is too much focus on getting to the next level. Guys are leaving combo blocks much too soon and sometimes they both leave.
I get what they want to do but I think with this inexperienced group we need to focus on sticking the combos longer. That would get crod to the next level where he will generate another 3 yards after contact. Then as we grow let's work up to the next level a little more.
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