Is it time to talk about the O-Line?
- Thread starter NCHawker
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Captain Insane-O
Well-Known Member
They are a new group and it takes some time to gel, especially in the zone scheme. I am not seeing a lack of talent, strength or mobility in the group. What is happening more than anything and what we saw against ISU and Michigan, is the DE's are crashing down on both sides and the defensive tackles are immediately penetrating gaps. The defensive ends are not responsible for outside contain then because the OLB's are doing that. So what this does is creates a mess between the tackles, our tackles getting moved into the guards, guards collapsing on the center, people falling down, big mess. The tackles are doing their job to wash the DE's down but its all compressed. We didn't see this last year because we had a dangerous mobile QB who would just keep the ball and bounce it. But now we don't have that mobile QB so we have to do some other things. Here are some things that counter that: pull the center (remember, he is new), tight ends need to take care of the play side backers, the WR's can crack block the OLB, outside pitches and sweeps, and we can get Hank on the boot with some RPO with a RB to put the corner in conflict with some levels action behind them. We are seeing pieces of this here and there but there are just too many missed blocks, running backs choosing the wrong gaps and overall mistakes.
I wouldn't be negative about this group or our running game as I think we have a lot going in our favor. They will improve immensely as the season progresses, our bye-week is coming up and there is no defensive line left on our schedule that is more talented than Michigan's, and we survived that. Recipe here is do your best against OSU then take care of a one-dimensional Washington team, then get into the by and come out a new, refreshed team and hopefully a healthy DJ. Everyone at the beginning of the season would have taken 5-1 into the bye week.
BuiltLikeWilt
Well-Known Member
Well, something else that might be happening also is, the running back (Moulton )getting a Little anxious and running into the pile a tad too quickly and not letting that cut back lane open up. I noticed in both the competitive games this seemed to be happening. This line isn't lasts years but by the end of the season they'll be damn close.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
I just think more than anything it really shows the talent gap that is now between the P4 and non-P4 teams. The mighty $$$$ has really shifted it.
HuckFinn
Well-Known Member
Yawn.
There is only so much five guys can do. When they are asked to block seven or eight, it doesn't always look pretty. Have they missed some blocks? Yes. Is there room for improvement? Yes. But they aren't failing miserably like the line we had a few years ago. Like others have said, they will get better and be a solid line by the second half of the year. And, as I've heard on a couple of podcasts, Michigan might be the best defensive line we will face all year.
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
I actually think it is a fair question, but maybe not the exact right question. First the good. I thought Iowa's pass protection was pretty damn good against Michigan. You have a QB that tends to hold onto the ball a bit too long, has happy feet at times, and doesn't like to scramble, and he had a lot of clean pockets on Saturday. Michigan was blitzing some, but mostly it was 4 on 6 and the OL held up and gave Hank time.
Now, both our games against real opponents we have seen almost no running game. However, maybe the variable that needs fixing isn't the OL, but the starting RB and playcalling? I have been saying since camp that Moulton is pretty good, but not great. We have seen how explosive Jackson can be, and he runs with patience for a younger guy.
On play calling, until Lester figures out that he has to throw Ds out of their run blitzing and stacked boxes, we will continue to be outnumbered in run blocking. That's my take.
Now, both our games against real opponents we have seen almost no running game. However, maybe the variable that needs fixing isn't the OL, but the starting RB and playcalling? I have been saying since camp that Moulton is pretty good, but not great. We have seen how explosive Jackson can be, and he runs with patience for a younger guy.
On play calling, until Lester figures out that he has to throw Ds out of their run blitzing and stacked boxes, we will continue to be outnumbered in run blocking. That's my take.
SwirlinLingerie
Well-Known Member
I was thinking about the pass protection too...and the thought that crossed my mind is how much more competent of a QB would Spencer Petras have looked with a clean pocket and a beat or two longer to throw the ball? (And perhaps having Diaz and Vander Zee, too).
Captain Insane-O
Well-Known Member
Something else I didn't mention was, does it actually hurt us to have such a deep TE room. Look at other teams when they line up in 12 personnel against us, its not like they are productive. When teams are productive in running the ball on us is when they spread us out. This at times, when we are in 12, looks a lot like the dark BF days when we did not have a mobile QB and teams pinned their ears back and penetrated all the gabs with reckless abandon. One thing I did say about the Michigan game where I thought I was right was that we would run a lot of 12 but our money would be made in 11.
Captain Insane-O
Well-Known Member
I actually really liked Petras and he could have definitely used more weapons. The big issue with him was that if you watch all the big games, when good teams play good teams, it always always comes down to a QB having to make a play with his legs. Either to buy time and roll out of the pocket or to take off and run. Hank did a lot of that on the last drive against Michigan so that was good to see. Gronowski could do it and I wish we had been able to see the best of him. But Petras? No way. We were always capped by that.
Fryowa
Administrator
This^^^
People tend to focus strictly on the run game when talking OL. In my opinion, pass pro is the more important of the two and these guys are flat out performing so far.
In fairness to Lester, Michigan's DBs are top tier. Outside of OSU they are probably the best Iowa will see all year. I don't see this as too much of a problem after week 5.
Having the pocket workable for Hank will soften up other teams' run D.
#1DieHardHawk
Well-Known Member
The line will gradually get better and more cohesive.
The only moderate concern is, other than Lauck, we are seeing lack of displacement at the point of attack. Winters, especially, doesn't appear to have a lot of power or pop, and struggles to win those physical battles. He's no Linderbaum, but in fairness very few are.
The only moderate concern is, other than Lauck, we are seeing lack of displacement at the point of attack. Winters, especially, doesn't appear to have a lot of power or pop, and struggles to win those physical battles. He's no Linderbaum, but in fairness very few are.
Fryowa
Administrator
I think we’re biased.
This O-line is very serviceable at the B1G level but the last few years we’ve been spoiled with a
#1DieHardHawk
Well-Known Member
No doubt. We've been spoiled by some great linemen and TEs, which impacts our expectations.
Nevertheless, we should always expect at least the basics. Consistently not winning those physical matchups can derail an offense in a hurry.
Case in point: any Packers game this season.... SMH.
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
Fry, I am not following you. We had three dudes on the OL drafted last year, and frankly all five of them would have been drafted if Pieper and Lauck jumped. The last few years we have had a ton of dudes drafted from the OL. Did you mean a different word than "dearth" cause that means "a lack of"?
SwirlinLingerie
Well-Known Member
Iowa State didn't exactly shut down Iowa's running game either. The Hawks averaged 3.2 yards a carry. Almost all the running back carries went to Moulton, who averaged 3.8 yards a carry. Hawks just never broke any longer runs that day.
Fryowa
Administrator
Correct. My hands were tyoing faster than my brain. Was thinking of something else. Corrected and left visibly edited.
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
Happens to me weekly.
And, we have been spoiled. Your are spot on there. That said, we have some NFL lineman on this line as well. I go back to my earlier thought on RB. If these guys are blocking for a Kaleb Johnson, they spring him a couple times.
trj
Well-Known Member
There is an O-line problem, in general across the sport. Only so many humans out there that can be O-lineman. Conservative estimate: 22 of 32 NFL teams have O-line issues. So when the fan base complains….I shrug my shoulders…Iowa has 1st world problems compared to 90% of the sport.
As others have noted, it is play calling, and talent at running back that dictates everything.
As others have noted, it is play calling, and talent at running back that dictates everything.
