What happened to the offensive line?

**docholihawk** · 11-12-2012, 01:10 PM

Just wondering what happened with the offensive line this year? Before the season I thought I read that the OL was going to be a strength this year. I know ISU lost two very good linemen to the pro's but I thought it was expected to be at least as good or better. Did players not step up or keep on developing, injuries? I've only seen about three games this year but it does seem like there has been a lot of pressure on the quarterbacks. Thanks for any insight you can provide.

**Wesley** · 11-12-2012, 01:11 PM

They are learning how to block.

**VeloClone** · 11-12-2012, 01:14 PM

While a lot of posters were saying that the OL would be better, there probably were just as many who were saying that the OL would be missing Osemele and Hicks dearly. I am not surprised that the OL is not better this year than last year.

**wartknight** · 11-12-2012, 01:16 PM

I don't think our tackles and Center are too bad physically, although I have seen some major mental gaffes. Our guards are not good though. I think Dika was supposed to play one of those spots and I believe Tuftee has been in and out with injuries which would really help there.

**ajk4st8** · 11-12-2012, 01:36 PM

They are ok vs the likes of Iowa, Western Illinois and Baylor. Playing against the better D's they struggle. Teams who can play good man coverage on our WR have no problem bringing the house nearly all the time it seems too, which makes things look bad.

**RayShimley** · 11-12-2012, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by VeloClone

While a lot of posters were saying that the OL would be better, there probably were just as many who were saying that the OL would be missing Osemele and Hicks dearly. I am not surprised that the OL is not better this year than last year.

I can give random message board posters some slack for thinking either way pre-season, but to be fair, our OL coach did come out and say this may be the best unit he's ever coached before the season started. That's either coach-speak to the EXTREME, or a terrible misjudgment.

**CRAZYGREG** · 11-12-2012, 01:45 PM

Steele Jantz holds the ball too long and scrambles out of the pocket too quickly.

**wartknight** · 11-12-2012, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by RayShimley

I can give random message board posters some slack for thinking either way pre-season, but to be fair. Our OL coach did come out and say this may be the best unit he's ever coached before the season started. That's either coach-speak to the EXTREME, or a terrible misjudgment.

I could be wrong but I don't think he actually said that. IIRC, he said this was his deepest unit he's coached. I think some posters took that the wrong way and thus the high expectations.

**clonetil01** · 11-12-2012, 01:46 PM

I thought they looked pretty good on run blocking against Texas, pretty disappointed in the play calling. The staff said they were going to put an emphasis on running this year, and when we finally get into a game that we are running well, they fall in love with incompletions, especially when we get down into the red zone where Jantz has historically struggled with turnovers. We were in the game at 20-7 and we'd run once for 4-5 yards and throw two incompletions, very frustrating and I'm assuming tiring on the Def.

**RayShimley** · 11-12-2012, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by wartknight

I could be wrong but I don't think he actually said that. IIRC, he said this was his deepest unit he's coached. I think some posters took that the wrong way and thus the high expectations.

A year after breaking in three players who had never played a snap of college football, the Cyclones return a line that is both deep and talented.
“This might be as good as a group I’ve had in 25 years of coaching o-line,” Bleil said at Iowa State’s media day on Thursday.

Offensive line ready to pound the rock | News | Football | Cyclone Fanatic

**wartknight** · 11-12-2012, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by RayShimley

Offensive line ready to pound the rock | News | Football | Cyclone Fanatic

I stand corrected

**Wesley** · 11-12-2012, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by RayShimley

Offensive line ready to pound the rock | News | Football | Cyclone Fanatic

We are pounding rocks alright, one rock at a time.

**RayShimley** · 11-12-2012, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by Wesley

We are pounding rocks alright, one rock at a time.

Yes the title of that article was unintentional comedy in hindsight.

**swarthmoreCY** · 11-12-2012, 02:34 PM

Think of the OLines that were marginalized in this "offense" the previous 3 seasons. Guys like KO, Hicks, Stephens (all made it to NFL camps to some degree), plus Haughton and Lamaak were very good Big 12 linemen.
If lines with guys like that can be made average by this offense, it is no wonder this current group is struggling to be good enough to overcome.
To make matters worse, Jantz's is not as good as JB or AA on his reads, and has happy feet in the passing game.