Offensive-Line Struggles

Ish

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The most OL recruits we took in one year under Paul Johnson was four.

Only took 2 in 2018 and took ZERO in 2019. This rebuild is gonna take forever.

We’ve basically duct taped some fat kids together for an OL and trotted them out there.
Everyone seems to acknowledge this, but come gameday the entire staff should be fired.
 

JelloYacketDeleted062020

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I thought the O-line was decent against Clemson and USF, but we really struggled with both pass blocking and run blocking against the Citadel on Saturday. It won't help that the injuries are piling up too. This is my biggest concern rn with the team. What do ya'll think?
We had 12 scholarship OL available at the start of the season, two of whom were transfers. My understanding is that a full roster would have 15 scholarship OL. So, we were starting at a pretty distinct disadvantage. Lee is out for the season, so we've got 11 now. We can't realistically expect, with a new offense and low numbers, to be very good on the OL. Having the 3rd string C playing significant downs is just plain hard.
 

wesleyd21

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I know it's crazy to say...but I mean...if you don't have a QB, and you don't have an OL...can you really be expected to beat anyone?
No.

To top it off our best OL transferred and our best DL passed away tragically.

I know it was Citadel but give this staff a freaking break already. It’s literally a nightmare scenario for any new coach who would’ve taken over here.
 

MarcoColemanFan

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No.

To top it off our best OL transferred and our best DL passed away tragically.

I know it was Citadel but give this staff a freaking break already. It’s literally a nightmare scenario for any new coach who would’ve taken over here.
I believe in Key.
 

Ish

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No.

To top it off our best OL transferred and our best DL passed away tragically.

I know it was Citadel but give this staff a freaking break already. It’s literally a nightmare scenario for any new coach who would’ve taken over here.
This is where I'm at. Unfortunately most of our talent is away from the ball-- DB, some speedy WRs, and some RBs, and a punter...people look at Juanyeh and Mason and Swilling and think "oh we've got some major players" but none of that matters if OL/DL is weak
 

daBuzz

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We had 12 scholarship OL available at the start of the season, two of whom were transfers. My understanding is that a full roster would have 15 scholarship OL. So, we were starting at a pretty distinct disadvantage. Lee is out for the season, so we've got 11 now. We can't realistically expect, with a new offense and low numbers, to be very good on the OL. Having the 3rd string C playing significant downs is just plain hard.
One (Brad Morgan) had to take a medical redshirt because of back surgery. His brother, Scott, was injured versus USF and didn't dress for Citadel, as did neither Charlie Clark or Mikey Minihan. The past 2 games, we've had at least one walk on OL play over 90% of the snaps at one position on the line.
Kenny Cooper was injured on the 16th play vs USF but did play center against Citadel, just gutting it out through the pain. As Coach Key said yesterday in his press conference, "Cooper is a warrior...I love that guy." and also mentioned that he doesn't use that warrior term very frequently. Connor Hansen is a scholarship guy but was out all but 2 practices of the spring and all fall until Monday. They're running him through a crash course to try to get him ready to play as quickly as possible.

https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/...ortage-offensive-line/cAkwZaoTxaOMkwvUKdJJ3K/
 

Flywheel

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I believe in Key.
So do I. Just remember you said that when we go 1-11. We need a few hefty classes on the OL in a row, and we need them to grow up, before we can judge Key's time here. Stay in this for the long haul, and we should be rewarded. By the time those kids are juniors, Key may be running the whole offense anyway.
 

BrentwoodJacket

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Lee will be back next year to play OL and/or DL. We need some grad transfer offensive lineman so that some of the incoming freshman can redshirt and develop for the future. The defensive line has the same issues but we will get Clayton next season. The walk ons have a golden opportunity to step in and contribute as Sean Bedford did.
 

User 10337

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Should a group of duct taped fat kids be expected to beat the Citadel?
YES

If you’re recruited to GT to play ball, you should be able to rely upon talent and disciplined hard work with a minimal gameplan to beat much lesser competition.
Not blocking anyone on a play constantly is simply unacceptable. I don’t care if you don’t know where to go. Pick someone and phuck his world up.
Allowing someone to cross your face into a gap and get thru to the QB is simply unacceptable and not any coaches fault.
 

Flywheel

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Lee will be back next year to play OL and/or DL. We need some grad transfer offensive lineman so that some of the incoming freshman can redshirt and develop for the future. The defensive line has the same issues but we will get Clayton next season. The walk ons have a golden opportunity to step in and contribute as Sean Bedford did.
Can Clayton play in the middle? Because we need in the middle.
 

gtownjacket

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There is still a chance Clayton's family can put enough legal pressure on the NCAA to get his transfer approved. The chance is shrinking every day, but its still out there.
 

Walton

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Can Clayton play in the middle? Because we need in the middle.
He probably could but that isn’t his position. He will shore up the strong side DE for the majority of downs and give us a lot more flexibility at the other 3 positions: players and stunts.
 

KC_Jackets

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YES

If you’re recruited to GT to play ball, you should be able to rely upon talent and disciplined hard work with a minimal gameplan to beat much lesser competition.
Not blocking anyone on a play constantly is simply unacceptable. I don’t care if you don’t know where to go. Pick someone and phuck his world up.
Allowing someone to cross your face into a gap and get thru to the QB is simply unacceptable and not any coaches fault.
This was maddening watching the replay. Guys going in slow motion looking around for a guy to block while turning a guy loose to blow up the play.

Watch a replay of Southers on the triple option play we tried to run in OT.
 

johncu

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Our OL is in pretty bad shape. I think if everyone had stayed and been healthy, we'd be fine, just severely lacking depth. But the combination of things that happened to decimate that position group has been pretty ridiculous.

Still should have been able to block the Citadel.
 

NotTomNotPhilButGCollins

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Does the fact that CPJ recruited 0 last year look to suspicious to you?
Not completely fair to CPJ

He had 2 commits ready to sign but when CGC took over he looked at their body types & skill sets and determined that it would be better to have those schollies available for better OL Recruits in subsequent classes

Technically CPJ would have had 2 OLs in this class which is still not enough
 

MarcoColemanFan

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Not completely fair to CPJ

He had 2 commits ready to sign but when CGC took over he looked at their body types & skill sets and determined that it would be better to have those schollies available for better OL Recruits in subsequent classes

Technically CPJ would have had 2 OLs in this class which is still not enough
Exactly.
 

Walton

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Not completely fair to CPJ

He had 2 commits ready to sign but when CGC took over he looked at their body types & skill sets and determined that it would be better to have those schollies available for better OL Recruits in subsequent classes

Technically CPJ would have had 2 OLs in this class which is still not enough
Yeah, one of those guys was pretty highly rated. Seems like he was built for the option though so it was sort of telling that the new staff didn't even think it was worth giving him a chance. The conclusion is we have other OL on the roster that this staff would have NEVER recruited. FWIW. Time will tell if that means they know what they are doing or not.
 
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