OL play in spring game?

CyCloned · 04-21-2008, 08:53 PM

does anyone have any input on how the OL looked in the spring game? Any real surprises? Is there a guy or two that wowed anyone?

besserheimerphat · 04-22-2008, 07:23 AM

The o-line didn't look as good as I thought they did at the Coaches Clinic scrimmage (April 5th). Based on the practice reports, it sounds like the defense/D-line had been stepping it up over the past week. As someone posted in an earlier thread, 15 practices against a limited playbook probably means that the defense was catching on to what the offence was doing.

flander1649 · 04-22-2008, 07:36 AM

I didn't get to go to the game but looking at the high light tape from the game it seem that the DL was able to make some good plays and get in the backfield. The OL looked like a unit that haven't been playing together very long. They didn't know for sure what the guy next to them was going to do. I think that results from MacFarland trying so many different line-ups this spring to see who the best 5 lineman are. I see them deciding on a group early in the fall and giving them time to gel.

isuno1fan · 04-22-2008, 07:51 AM

D-Line won the battle in the Spring game. O-Line looked lost for the most part.

bfross · 04-22-2008, 01:48 PM

Interesting quote from Chizik: “We could have blocked better in the offensive line, we still aren’t as athletic as we hope to be in the future. This program is still a work in progress.”

Hopefully that bodes well for the future, but at the same time, doesn't condemn our present.

bhoodjer · 04-22-2008, 11:43 PM

I think the o-line will show tons of improvement and we will be pleasantly surprised with this unit next fall. Spring ball is just brutal to get through. One of my better friends who I lived with all through college played on the o-line and his favorite day of the entire year was the last day of spring practices. They just have to beat the crap out of each other for two weeks with no game on the horizon. He loved two-a-days compared to spring practice. The o-line looks a lot more athletic than last year and I think they will be very physical.

CrossCyed · 04-23-2008, 12:55 PM

Can someone tell me what the 2nd team OL was? I believe the first was

Hulbert, KO, Knapp, Lamaak, Dedrick

ajk4st8 · 04-23-2008, 01:03 PM

It is going to be a few years yet until we have a bunch of Big 12 caliber players. I hope people realize this.

ISUFan22 · 04-23-2008, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by besserheimerphat

The o-line didn't look as good as I thought they did at the Coaches Clinic scrimmage (April 5th). Based on the practice reports, it sounds like the defense/D-line had been stepping it up over the past week. As someone posted in an earlier thread, 15 practices against a limited playbook probably means that the defense was catching on to what the offence was doing.

I agree the line looked better that first weekend in April compared to the spring game.

I think that Bolt snuck into McFarland's office the night before the spring game, stole his playbook and held a double-secret midnight meeting with the defense to brief them on what the offense had planned.

It would've worked if not for Bates tossing TD passes and the running backs doing fairly well.

After the spring game, Bolt could be heard from space yelling "We would've pulled it off if it had not been for them damn kids. Foiled again!".

d4cy · 04-23-2008, 01:35 PM

Anybody else surprised by all the stretch plays, and then play-action stretch bootlegs? I think between stretch plays and the play action off them, they comprised over half the spring game plays. That kind of offense requires a lot of athletic linemen, so if that's the case, i'm sure we don't have the athletic o-line we need. I think they only used a handfull of plays and just did them over and over again for the most part. Very vanilla and easy for the defense to read. Also, i think they did a few zone read plays, but without the QB being a threat to run, it doesn't do much good. I think they're hoarding a bit of a re-vamped offense and didn't show anything off in the spring game. Just my opinion of course.

Aclone · 04-24-2008, 11:39 AM

I think that at least a couple of the players were nicked up and didn't play much, including Stephens and Baysinger. They spent a lot of time with former center Brandon Johnson at right tackle. Hopefully Haughton will be an athletic addition in the fall.