Saban recruits on OL

I hate to beat a dead horse, but if I am correct, the last 2 years of Saban's LSU time, he recruited 3 OL that actually ended up on the team. Didn't we lose a couple stud OL recruits after he committed to Miami?

How can we be affective running the football if we can't have studs run blocking? Everyone want to blame this or that for the FL lose, but if we can't run block against "good defenses", don't expect JR to throw us into a win. If teams know we can't run, the'll load up the db's and make you beat us in the air.

Say what you want, but without the needed OL studs to run block, don't expect SECW or SEC rings anytime soon.

What you guys think?

:helmet: :geauxtige

 

I think the OL is a big reason we can't run the ball well. I also think its because Justin Vincent isn't running like he used to. However, I think things will get better next year because we have two very talented RBs and the OL will be more experienced.

 

Excellent point.

I think everyone knew the weak link this year would be the offensive line, and although they have been remarkable on pass-blocking, run-blocking which is much more difficult, has not been their strong suit. If you look closely at the line in any of the games, many times they seem to be blown off the ball and that simply won't work. Combine that with running backs that seem to be very tenative about their knees = no running game. Miles also seems to be a bit slow in making changes. I have not often seen him make changes within the framework of a game. Although he does seem to respond to fan pressure after it turns out his ideas may not be working. Take a look at how he kept preaching the run, but wound up going to the air vs Tulane/MSU.

You may also take note that we have recruited a below average # of offensive linemen the last two years. Hopefully that will be addressed this year although it certainly isn't as "sexy" as skill players, without these guys, no team can do anything. I think we have enough talent to finish the season well, but the reality is that it takes a couple of years to build an offensive lineman. Look at Herman Johnson for example. He is just now getting significant playing time and I doubt the only issue was his weight.

Since Miles is an offensive line specialist, I have every hope that this will turn around quickly, and that could mean an extraordinary year.....next year. We certainly have the schedule for it, and the talent, but you absolutely have to make your own luck in the SEC. Look at the Florida or Auburn game for example. What other conference is honestly as dangerous as ours??

The missing link here IS the offensive line. That simply cannot be fixed overnight, so we may as well accept that this year will have its ugly moments with opponents that can handle one dimensional attacks.

Didn't everyone see this coming????

:geauxtige

I

 

We don't have a stud running back right now either, which makes our ability to run that much worse & is causing serious problems for our offense against good defenses.

With a great back, he could have some success with this line. With only decent backs, we need much better run blocking to see success. Miles has recruited some very talented backs, and hopefully he can bring in some top notch Olinemen as well so that we won't have this problem in the future.

 

That's really weird too considering Miles is an OL guy. You'd think this would be his specialty - like defense was to Saban.

 

Good research Red. I was too lazy to look all those guys up! Sadly it looks even worse then I remembered when it gets put on one page. I hope Miles can start recruiting these meatbags on a more regular basis so we don't have these huge gaps in the line. I could do with a few less backs and more meat up front. Since I played 1/2 back in high school ( back before electricity! ), I know I could not accomplish anything w/out a big push up front. I'll bet the tiger backfield is experiencing the same thing right about now....

 

i always thought recruiting was least important for OL because coaching played such a big role. relatively few freshmen get much pt (if too many do, youve got problems). you would hope that clm's OLs will improve once he has coached the players for 4-5 yrs.

 

Yes coaching is very important on the line, but what happens if you have no-one to coach.

Since you can average about 22 players a year in recruiting, you should at least consider signing 1 player in each position. Now, I know at positions like QB that reasoning doesn't hold, due to special talent. At skill positions, a player can have an impact immediately. But any year you don't sign at least 5 offensive linemen and 4 defensive linemen, you are shorting your team. Remember, for this year, you are recruiting for the 2010 and 2011 lines--I worry when I see us having to rely on sophomores as starters at OL. Based on this reasoning, Big Herman is right on schedule. Ben Wilkersons don't come around that often.

Both Saban and Miles have years listed by Red that do not meet my minimum requirement. That concerns me. (OBTW, Red, Miles got here in 2005--that's the year he should share with Saban--otherwise, it's a good listing.) There's a reason the Hogs always have a good running game--they always have the beef (or is it pork) up front.

GEAUX TIGERS