Offensive line
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For others who want a quick hit from this article ...
"Big Splits
Another unique aspect of the Texas Tech offense is the unusually wide splits the offensive line takes. They start at three feet and get even wider, which is different, particularly for a passing team.
They do it for three reasons:
- Widens defense to create running lanes for backs.
- Widens defense to create passing lanes for QB.
- Widens outside pass rusher to increase his distance to QB.
Tech is a difficult team to pressure and they do a great job of pass protection."
The challenge for o-linemen in wide splits is that if they get beat in pass protection, there's no help, and the big splits can allow linebackers to shoot through. But the counters are traps, screens, run plays to the outside, and quick passes generally. The pressure is really on linemen to perform well. They simply have to have great technique and be conditioned to react quickly. You don't get this if you don't have many linemen from which to choose. The greater number of bodies creates greater competition in practices to be "the guy." Leach likely will have 21 o-linemen on schollies this fall, although it's certain that the freshmen will redshirt.
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Ed, seriously, what the hell are you talking about? When did I say I have a problem with the offensive line? Again, it is you. You have this simplistic idea of what is actually happening and you are trying to argue with me like you really understand this. You don't.
Again, why don't other teams use the wide splits if it makes both running and passing easier? It is just not as simple as you believe. As with any blocking scheme, there are both advantages and disadvantages.
This is so weird… Instead of just making counter points with articles, quotes, something, some here have gone to telling others how they "feel" about others, just to start a fight. This has literally gone into the surreal world. He must have had one of the worst weeks at the office…
I just don't get him. Years ago at the beginning of this site, I actually thought Ed was fine. Somewhere along the way he went off the rails. It took me until his second post about me having a problem with Leach and his offensive line scheme when I realized how he tried to manipulate what was said.This is so weird… Instead of just making counter points with articles, quotes, something, some here have gone to telling others how they "feel" about others, just to start a fight. This has literally gone into the surreal world. He must have had one of the worst weeks at the office…
That's a bit hyperbolic. The best Coug offense I ever saw was the 1997 group, and the best defense was the 1994 group. And I don't think it's close. The 2003 defense was pretty strong, and there were several Price offenses that were decent, but any discussion of "best stretches" in the modern era has to begin with comparisons to those two squads.
The key word that Tron used was "Stretch". There is a great chance that WSU is in for it's greatest offense stretch, as in multiple years. While I do agree that the 1997 team was the best offense I had ever seen at WSU, it was one outstanding year. I believe that is what Tron is saying.
Well let's take a look at the 1997 offense.(We are far away from defense and my comment was just about the offense)
So 1997 Offense.
The 1997 offense scored 40.2 ppg and ranked #2 in the nation.
Most certainly an impressive accomplishment.
In 2014. We scored 31.8. 9 ppg short of the 1997 team.
In total yards in 1997 5,524 yards of total offense averaging 6.8 yds / per play
In total yards in 2014 5,732 yards of total offense averaging 6.12 yds / per play
So in 2014 we had more yards and .6 less yards per play
Considering how mediocre our offense is. how poor our special teams / defense was....
We aren't far away from those 1997 numbers. There is no doubt that the 1997 team was the best offense we've ever had, but we if we keep improving we can hit those numbers.
And yes as 1990 pointed I am talking about consecutive years of stellar offense. Once the engine is in place we should be just getting better and better and continually reload.
The thing I like about our current and future OL players is that they all seem to fit the Leach style of large and athletic OL players. Two seasons with the same guys should help. Not having only freshmen at RB should help. Having a QB who will opt to run when presented with the right D alignment should also help. I think for the past three seasons we have seen what this system looks like with varied dysfunctional parts. I am hoping this will be the first time we see it without a huge and glaring weakness. If our D can keep teams to 28 a game, things are going to be crazy fun this year. Dahl only giving up one sack for the season last year was phenomenal. I think this is the year we actually have enough depth on the lines to create some situational havoc.
As far as the initial discussion in this thread is concerned, Flat seems right to me and man2 hit it on the head. Brent's post was a nice compliment to McGuire and Leach for having done a good job of building a respectable O-line. SoCal posted that the O-line is not yet praiseworthy. Also true. And Flat's post about needing more improvement is also correct. So we are somewhere between the dark day of Leach's first Apple Cup when he had only six available offensive linemen and being "praiseworthy". And, as Flat posted, more work remains to be done. Can we all agree with that? Anyone disagree? No? Good. Everybody is right. Sometimes this board is comedic gold. Arguing at times when there is nothing to really argue about.
As far as the wide splits are concerned, I don't see them as "easy" at all. Increased separation seems to me to place each lineman on a little island with distance from any assistance in times of need. The right tackle has no tight end to help him. He is isolated to the same degree as the left tackle where normal teams place their most athletic lineman. Where another team can have the tight end assist the strong side tackle and cover for any of his problems, Leach's wide split formation requires the right tackle to be as athletic as the left one. That is not "easy"; that is a problem. Leach deals with it by extra concentration on recruiting as many good and athletic OL's as possible and then coaching the hell out of them. Using four WR's and only one RB accentuates the problem by removing another source of assistance. Doesn't seem easy to me at all. Leach has a pass oriented offense and has created an OL formation to accommodate that by creating wider passing lanes up the middle and forcing the DE's away from the QB. Look at Tron's numbers of sacks and then consider that we are getting down to a number seen previously. Then think about the numbers of passing plays and factor that in. Lots more passing with the same sack number as was suffered by more running oriented offenses. Leach's OL formation works but "easy"? I don't see it. Sorry, Ed, have to go with 1990 here.
Depth has been mentioned as resulting in Falk being treated like a piñata. Fair enough. But, as someone else pointed out, the right side of the line was new last year and, as another posted, the "depth" inserted was not up to the task. Also fair. But that doesn't look to be the case this year. Center, right guard and right tackle now have some experience and the potential replacements in case of injury or illness also have some experience albeit brief. There is also a greater number of OL's on the second and even third tiers of the OL.
One of the worst offensive lines in the conference? Don't see that either. Reaching that conclusion by looking at the running game stats is somewhat like grading Woody Hayes's Ohio State OL on their skill during his limited passing plays. The kids on the line have done what they were asked to do and done what the formation was designed to do and done it well. The running game needs upgrading. We all know that but it is not the primary concern of the offense Leach has designed. Would I turn down a week in Vegas with a Sports Illustrated swimming suit model because she can't cook?
A question popped into my empty head. We have the mentioned wide splits with the DE forced further toward the sideline. Our screens to the RB out wide have been disappointing. Is there a connection? Is not the DE in better position with Leach's formation to deal with those screens? A disadvantage to his OL formation? You guys know more about the X's and O's of football than I do. Would appreciate a brief comment by one of you.
As far as the wide splits are concerned, I don't see them as "easy" at all. Increased separation seems to me to place each lineman on a little island with distance from any assistance in times of need. The right tackle has no tight end to help him. He is isolated to the same degree as the left tackle where normal teams place their most athletic lineman. Where another team can have the tight end assist the strong side tackle and cover for any of his problems, Leach's wide split formation requires the right tackle to be as athletic as the left one. That is not "easy"; that is a problem. Leach deals with it by extra concentration on recruiting as many good and athletic OL's as possible and then coaching the hell out of them. Using four WR's and only one RB accentuates the problem by removing another source of assistance. Doesn't seem easy to me at all. Leach has a pass oriented offense and has created an OL formation to accommodate that by creating wider passing lanes up the middle and forcing the DE's away from the QB. Look at Tron's numbers of sacks and then consider that we are getting down to a number seen previously. Then think about the numbers of passing plays and factor that in. Lots more passing with the same sack number as was suffered by more running oriented offenses. Leach's OL formation works but "easy"? I don't see it. Sorry, Ed, have to go with 1990 here.
Depth has been mentioned as resulting in Falk being treated like a piñata. Fair enough. But, as someone else pointed out, the right side of the line was new last year and, as another posted, the "depth" inserted was not up to the task. Also fair. But that doesn't look to be the case this year. Center, right guard and right tackle now have some experience and the potential replacements in case of injury or illness also have some experience albeit brief. There is also a greater number of OL's on the second and even third tiers of the OL.
One of the worst offensive lines in the conference? Don't see that either. Reaching that conclusion by looking at the running game stats is somewhat like grading Woody Hayes's Ohio State OL on their skill during his limited passing plays. The kids on the line have done what they were asked to do and done what the formation was designed to do and done it well. The running game needs upgrading. We all know that but it is not the primary concern of the offense Leach has designed. Would I turn down a week in Vegas with a Sports Illustrated swimming suit model because she can't cook?
A question popped into my empty head. We have the mentioned wide splits with the DE forced further toward the sideline. Our screens to the RB out wide have been disappointing. Is there a connection? Is not the DE in better position with Leach's formation to deal with those screens? A disadvantage to his OL formation? You guys know more about the X's and O's of football than I do. Would appreciate a brief comment by one of you.
No it's not a disadvantage because they are further out wide allowing the tackle to kick them out even further so the screen can go inside the tackle.
The problem with our screens comes down to just a few basic issues.
The first is the ability for the offensive line to move and get into position to set the screen. While we do have big bodies they are not as mobile as is desired to execute the screen. You have to be big AND quick, and we aren't as quick as needed. If our guys are too slow to get to the right spot then defensive players will be able to avoid it and or out maneuver to get to the ball.
The second is the importance of WR being able to hold blocks. This was a huge issue with Marquess Wilson who did not want to do this at all, and for not wanting to do it was lowered on the depth chart. WR blocking is important in the air raid, and being able to move the secondary around and turn and engage a strong block is important as well.
I think we are getting better at getting out there and doing things on screens. Some things are better than other, but it's something we have to continually work on and improve.
I didn't say you had a problem with the oline, I said your problem is with Leach, because he has said many times he splits are designed to make things "easier" on the oline. Some simply by scheme. IE moving the DE out, creating more running lanes etc. Not sure why the term easier is so offensive. It is a great compliment to the guy who designs the offense that things can be simplified, that makes it easier to rep.
In terms of the gaps he has addressed that many times as well. He thinks that plays to his advantage again. They get their best pass rusher to be further away from the qb, and the gaps Leach will tell you don't concern him as they make a slight adjustment up front,
No where did I say the kids weren't good, or they weren't talented. All I said is I disagree with you, and so does Leach. Its his offense but feel free to disagree with him.
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