O-Line without Stephens

**cyhiphopp** · 11-02-2009, 12:52 PM

For those of you that watched the game; How did the O-Line look without Reggie in there? Just wondering because it might be a preview of next season if no JuCo's come in and start. Also, if Reggie isn't 100% by Saturday I want to know how good they are if the have to go without him again.

**dinger** · 11-02-2009, 12:56 PM

it was tough to tell sitting 78 yards behind the endzone. couldnt tell if holes were opening and we just werent hitting them or if they just werent opening. but i guess i didnt notice the line as more of a weak spot than any of the other weak spots saturday. we just couldnt get anything going anywhere. i can say reggie being in wouldve changed that.

**dinger** · 11-02-2009, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by dinger

it was tough to tell sitting 78 yards behind the endzone. couldnt tell if holes were opening and we just werent hitting them or if they just werent opening. but i guess i didnt notice the line as more of a weak spot than any of the other weak spots saturday. we just couldnt get anything going anywhere. i can say reggie being in wouldve changed that.

this pretty much answers it from Coach Rhoads' press conference today...

Until Reggie went out, you had the same guys in your offensive line all of the time. How important has that been?
PR: That’s extremely important. Those guys playing together and the feel for certain blocks that you don’t necessarily see when two guys work together to begin a double-team and the other moves to the next level to block a linebacker or pass protection when you pass off of a stunt or a blitzing linebacker. When you’re doing that together as a unit of five all of the time, there is great harmony involved. When you switch it up like we have had to the last couple weeks, where a tackle becomes a guard, a new guy is in the lineup, somebody else is making the calls and with the last two crowds where they had to do the snap count as well, that can create some difference. We talked about this morning as a staff, how significant was it to the naked eye…probably not very much. But when key plays as far as execution, it did affect us on Saturday in College Station.

**CrossCyed** · 11-02-2009, 05:19 PM

They didn't do as well, but they did really well for only having one guy in the spot where he started the season (KO).

**BryceC** · 11-02-2009, 05:34 PM

Honestly if Alvarez can slide back over to center and have Hicks start at his guard spot, we'll have an even larger and more experience line next year. Offensive line is one position I am not worried about in the least.

**CrossCyed** · 11-02-2009, 05:36 PM

Bliel has done some of the best work this year.

**ketelmeister** · 11-02-2009, 06:45 PM

I thought they did a decent job opening holes, and the pass blocking wasn't bad. We had drives, just couldn't finish them off.

**d4nim4l** · 11-02-2009, 07:59 PM

Pass blocking did not change much but run blocking had some issues. Holes were open but not nearly as long, and as Rhoads mentioned, getting to the second level was a huge issue. I think had we done that we might have snuck out a few scores and kept the ball away from A&M.