Sturm - Decoding Linehan - OL Let-Down

[Idgit]

Funny, because last week I was saying how poorly the OL had been doing in run blocking and had several posters come at me with the typical Randle sucks crap or other teams players get paid too stuff. As a group they've massively underwhelmed and I'm not sure I can point to the reason why. They've been getting beat up. I can understand Philadelphia causing problems, but not the Giants and Falcons. If they don't get it fixed I'm not sure it will matter when Dez and Romo get back.

All that said, I still think they can and will turn it around.

Oh, I think they will eventually, too. They just haven't done it yet. We talked in the offseason about the RB problem and I remember saying that the issues are never what you think they are going to be going into an NFL season. It's funny that the run blocking is a bigger problem than the RBs themselves so far. I know there are posters who'd debate that till they're blue and silver in the face, but it's true.

 

[AzorAhai]

Oh, I think they will eventually, too. They just haven't done it yet. We talked in the offseason about the RB problem and I remember saying that the issues are never what you think they are going to be going into an NFL season. It's funny that the run blocking is a bigger problem than the RBs themselves so far. I know there are posters who'd debate that till they're blue and silver in the face, but it's true.

Those posters are most likely not the type to objectively look at the RBs at this point. They've dug their heels in on it. I have zero vested interest into any particular RB and could care less which one is able to get the job done, as long as one does. If they weren't getting it done, I would have no problem saying that as well. Right now, we haven't been able to evaluate them fairly due to poor blocking. Very poor at times.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Randle could cut back behind Fred if Free's man didn't get him. Free was blocking a 6-3, 242 pound LB and couldn't get any movement on him.

Reach blocks don't always work depending on how the defender reacts off the snap. Fred stayed with him enough for either the cutback or for Randle to go outside of Free.

The play was an inside stretch play meant to follow Martin's lead. MArtin goes to help Free seal the DE outside before taking out the OLB but Free hooked him easily. When the playside DT squeezed the hole Randle bounced outside and away from Free's leverage. He ran into the DE arms iow.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

You do see Fred get walked across the formation right? It's a tough block to make granted but that failure is what blew up the poa.

 

[Corso]

You do see Fred get walked across the formation right? It's a tough block to make granted but that failure is what blew up the poa.

Yup.
You got time to do some Fuzzy Observations this week?

 

[nalam]

Parnell would have made this play.

This was a critical moment. Actually this possession which was after the first Atl possession after halftime which resulted in a punt and we got ball at about 47 yard of Atl field. If we had got a score here , even a FG would have gone a long way in breaking their confidence. Instead , Witten did his customary False start , Free last his man and Randle was taken down in backfield , then another hold happened, with Weeden running around and this possession was doomed with another weeden check down to Dunbar, this gave a lot of confidence to Atl D that they can stop us, and demoted our offense , we never got going after this.

 

[punchnjudy]

Funny, because last week I was saying how poorly the OL had been doing in run blocking and had several posters come at me with the typical Randle sucks crap or other teams players get paid too stuff. As a group they've massively underwhelmed and I'm not sure I can point to the reason why. They've been getting beat up. I can understand Philadelphia causing problems, but not the Giants and Falcons. If they don't get it fixed I'm not sure it will matter when Dez and Romo get back.

All that said, I still think they can and will turn it around.

They hadn't played together much prior to Romo going down. I think that was part of it. With Weeden in there, run blocking is going to be a whole lot tougher. It's not just the stacked lines, which they saw at times last year, but the fact that the defensive linemen can think "run first" in most situations. When the qb is just checking down, there's no reason for a lineman to worry about hitting the qb. He's probably going to check it down before you'd get the chance anyway. With Romo, they have a lot more to worry about.

 

[Idgit]

Those posters are most likely not the type to objectively look at the RBs at this point. They've dug their heels in on it. I have zero vested interest into any particular RB and could care less which one is able to get the job done, as long as one does. If they weren't getting it done, I would have no problem saying that as well. Right now, we haven't been able to evaluate them fairly due to poor blocking. Very poor at times.

Yep. They're calling for Michael, as we speak. As if that's what the problem has been.

Not that I don't want to see Michael. But I want to see the OL performing better, first. It's more important.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Yup.
You got time to do some Fuzzy Observations this week?

If I have time I will make a post about position groups from time to time but the exhaustive roster analysis days are likely over.

 

[Corso]

If I have time I will make a post about position groups from time to time but the exhaustive roster analysis days are likely over.

No worries, friend. Just know this one appreciates your efforts and looks forward to future efforts.

 

[AzorAhai]

Yep. They're calling for Michael, as we speak. As if that's what the problem has been.

Not that I don't want to see Michael. But I want to see the OL performing better, first. It's more important.

These coaches see these guys everyday and if they thought Michael was going to be better, he would be active and getting that opportunity. I have no clue how people can look at the OL play and say "Yep, if Michael was running there we're good." If/when the OL play improves, Randle isn't getting the job done, we will see Michael. If Randle is doing the job at that point, I don't think Michael sees the field.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I defer to Pollack obviously but I see it the opposite way. Collins was an OT in the SEC for his Junior and Senior years, moving him to OG is a bigger change IMO. My understanding is that the assignments at OG are more complicated than at OT in this offense, and RT is closer to the "hit the guy in front of you" assignment that he had at LSU.

There are some players that just don't transition from one side to the other, Collins may very well be one of those guys but I've never read it if so. Sometimes they just don't want to take the guy out of his comfort zone. They played Tryon at RT as a Rookie before moving him to LT, but if you stay with that it would make more sense to have him at RT than LG.

The problem is you're doing everything in reverse when you switch from left to right and it's far harder than people think. It's one of the things that Parcells discussed when he was here...taking a guy from LG to RG isn't as simple as people thinking because you're doing everything in the opposite fashion.




YR

 

[Frosty]

Need more from the OL:

"And after sifting through a lot of the evidence, it seems that this Week 3 performance required the offensive line to be way better. If you add Jason Witten and Tyler Clutts to the offensive line as the run blocking unit, they are responsible for way too many penalties and blown blocks in the last few weeks. On top of that, Zack Martin might have played his worse game in Philadelphia and Travis Frederick might have played his worst game against the Falcons. Tyron Smith gave up a sack at the very worst time and Doug Free has been rather mediocre. "​

Biggest offseason mistakes...No true workhorse RB and Garrett getting rid of Bill Callahan....This Frank Polisaki OL coach is a JAG coach from the RAIDERS of all places. When was the last time the Raiders had a good OL.....1975.

Ironic ....Big Bill Callahan leaves and everyone assumes the OL should be on auto pilot.......go figure....the great wall is falling down....what a coincidence.....uuuuhhhhhmm.

 

[AzorAhai]

Biggest offseason mistakes...No true workhorse RB and Garrett getting rid of Bill Callahan....This Frank Polisaki OL coach is a JAG coach from the RAIDERS of all places. When was the last time the Raiders had a good OL.....1975.

Ironic ....Big Bill Callahan leaves and everyone assumes the OL should be on auto pilot.......go figure....the great wall is falling down....what a coincidence.....uuuuhhhhhmm.

So you wanted Callahan calling plays? Because that's when HE decided he was leaving and wanted to leave prior to 2014. Anyone who was paying attention knew he was gone, but apparently you weren't.

 

[dallasfan4lizife]

i really don't understand why we let Parnell walk.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

i really don't understand why we let Parnell walk.

He wanted more money than we were willing to offer.

 

[AzorAhai]

i really don't understand why we let Parnell walk.

Because he got a contract that made him the 2nd highest paid RT in the NFL with the highest % guaranteed outside of those on rookie deals. If he could have been retained for a reasonable price he probably would still be here.

 

[TheDude]

i really don't understand why we let Parnell walk.

@xwalker will catch the pheromone trail on this post in 3..2..1..

 

[Frosty]

So you wanted Callahan calling plays? Because that's when HE decided he was leaving and wanted to leave prior to 2014. Anyone who was paying attention knew he was gone, but apparently you weren't.

Anybody who not what was going on knows Garett dumped Callahan because the GM stripped the HC of play calling duties.... Had little to do with play calling. Garrett had the opportunity to replace him an he did....with a JAG raiders OL coach.

Is Callahan calling plays in Washington nope. He is doing he same job he did in Dallas an turning a horrible OL into a pretty dam good one.

 

[Kaiser]

i really don't understand why we let Parnell walk.

The same reason they let DeMarco walk. They don't want to overpay anyone unless its absolutely critical like Romo or Dez.