The Strength/Impact of our OL

Good article in http://BYU.scout.com/2/1089801.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Appears that Ryker Matthews may have good shot at starting at right guard (he doesn't stink :-)) with Terrence Brown at center. This would be one athletic and nasty starting five with lots of talented 2-deep back-ups. We should be very formidable on offense this year with an extremely balanced passing and rushing attack.



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I have no idea who is better but I expected Houston R to move into the line considering how good his brothers were.

Strength of our OL. We have 107 career OL starts. The only teams with more starts are Florida St (115), Clemson (118), Northwestern (137), SMU (158), Tulsa (116), Rice (109), UAB (118), Temple (111), and Northern Illinois (116)

Can you break those figures our for our individual OL players?



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I've just go to ask...am I the only one who thinks our OL is overrated just about every single season? I mean, I think they are generally really good pass blockers but we tend to struggle running against BCS teams. A dominant Oline should be able to run on everyone!

With the hiring of Dupaix an emphasis will clearly be on the running game and as such our OL will have to step up and deliver to meet expectations. Additionally, when you look at the last several years, Unga et al did have 1,000 yard seasons so this should be considered our baseline.



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mizzoucoug wrote:
I've just go to ask...am I the only one who thinks our OL is overrated just about every single season? I mean, I think they are generally really good pass blockers but we tend to struggle running against BCS teams. A dominant Oline should be able to run on everyone!

Most teams tend to struggle running against "BCS" teams. It's like fans bemoaning our lack of success against top 25 teams on the road, forgetting the most teams lose on the road to Top 25 teams.



I do think we do tend to over estimate our OL, but I don't think we are this year. We have three guys I think can play in the NFL: Reynolds who is a first-day pick and the Hansens who could be top 3 round picks.



I think our OL will be dominant. I don't think we're going to see any 8 sack games allowed. We may not run on everyone, but I thinkk we can run sufficiently on every team we play.



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This starting 5 has 2 solid NFL prospects, outside shot at 3. Talking the 2011 crew. I'd call it the best O-line BYU has had in 2 decades. Just wish we had an elite back like Staley or Jenkins behind them, because then we would see how good they really are. Hopefully, 1 back surprises me this year. We are solid at RB, not spectacular. Solid is good enough if you have an elite passing attack, though. But I expect them to be really good on passing downs, and much improved in the run game.

The OL should also me better because of the change in offense. No more wide spilts. They'll be used to having their hands onthe ground, and have more reps running the ball that way.

mizzoucoug wrote:
I've just go to ask...am I the only one who thinks our OL is overrated just about every single season? I mean, I think they are generally really good pass blockers but we tend to struggle running against BCS teams. A dominant Oline should be able to run on everyone!

Yes.



In the last 5 seasons BYU has played 14 BCS conference opponents.



Four times BYU exceeded their own average yards per carry:



UW '10, BYU averaged 4.42 ypc above the season average of 4.22.

FSU '09 5.68 vs. 4.03.

UW '08 4.89 vs. 4.10

Oregon '06 5.58 vs. 4.22



Three times BYU exceeded their average yards per game:



UW '08 137 vs. 134

UCLA '08 184 vs. 134

Oregon '06 173 vs. 142



In only 3 out of the 14 games did BYU's ypc numbers exceed the average ypc number of their opponents.



'06 Oregon, BYU had 5.58 ypc while Oregon defense typically gave up 4.35 ypc that year.

'06 BC 3.7 vs. 3.52

'09 FSU 5.68 vs. 5.39



In only 3 out of the 14 games did BYU's rushing yard total exceed the yards allowed average of their BCS opponent.



'06 Oregon 173 vs. 151

'06 BC 111 vs. 109

'08 UCLA 184 vs. 170



So the only time BYU was truly great running the football against a BCS conference opponent in the last 5 years by meeting or exceeding their own averages and the defense's averages was against Oregon in '06. Most of the time when a BCS conference team plays BYU the run defense will have a good day. It's not like we're playing exceptional teams for the most part 9 of the 14 teams had 7 wins or less.



Maybe it's not a talent issue rather than an offensive mentality issue. Whatever the case, this has got to change if BYU wants to fulfill the National Championship talk that they aspire to.

mizzoucoug wrote:
I've just go to ask...am I the only one who thinks our OL is overrated just about every single season? I mean, I think they are generally really good pass blockers but we tend to struggle running against BCS teams. A dominant Oline should be able to run on everyone!

I think I'm in the camp of hoping this was a Robert Anae issue with the scheme more than a BYU thing.

snoscythe wrote:

I've just go to ask...am I the only one who thinks our OL is overrated just about every single season? I mean, I think they are generally really good pass blockers but we tend to struggle running against BCS teams. A dominant Oline should be able to run on everyone!

I think I'm in the camp of hoping this was a Robert Anae issue with the scheme more than a BYU thing.

Funny how easy it becomes to blame Anae for all of BYU's past seasons woes. Here's hoping Doman is the difference maker that so many people assume he will be.

Anae's offense was short passing, ball control, and did not go for many big plays and passes ofen substituted for runs. Exception was when we had Collie, who was too good to ignore. Anae's offense was great for Max, but Beck had more vertical skills and it showed, once Anae took the training wheels off (remember the BC game?? Ugh). I suspect that our offense will look more like what USC runs when they have solid QB play, and that excites me. I love pro style offense the best. Excited to see the Doman version. Personally, I suspect it will have a West Coast offense emphasis, from his 49ers days, which would fit our talent really well..

In the Bill Walsh WCO, the majority of the pass plays occur within 15 yards. Bill Walsh's West Coast Offense differs from traditional offense by emphasizing a short, horizontal passing attack to help stretch the defense out, thus opening up options for longer running plays and longer passes that can achieve greater gains. The West Coast Offense as implemented under Walsh features precisely run pass patterns by the receivers that make up about 65% to 80% of the offensive scheme. BC should help in this area with his focus on precise routes. With the defense stretched out, the offense is then free to focus the remaining plays on longer throws of more than 14 yards and mid to long yard rushes. It also focuses on exploiting mismatches with multiple formations (rotating players in backfield, hiding recievers- slot backs) and isolating players in zones of weakness. We appear to have the WR personnel to open things up for the running game and keep the D off balance.



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[quote="byucougar1"]In the Bill Walsh WCO, the majority of the pass plays occur within 15 yards. Bill Walsh's West Coast Offense differs from traditional offense by emphasizing a short, horizontal passing attack to help stretch the defense out, thus opening up options for longer running plays and longer passes that can achieve greater gains. The West Coast Offense as implemented under Walsh features precisely run pass patterns by the receivers that make up about 65% to 80% of the offensive scheme. BC should help in this area with his focus on precise routes. With the defense stretched out, the offense is then free to focus the remaining plays on longer throws of more than 14 yards and mid to long yard rushes. It also focuses on exploiting mismatches with multiple formations (rotating players in backfield, hiding recievers- slot backs) and isolating players in zones of weakness. We appear to have the WR personnel to open things up for the running game and keep the D off balance.



I believe this is, at least in part, a description of Edwards offense. I think Walsh got at least part of his idea from Edwards. This I know, BYU would be working on the field with the small quick recievers running routes. Soon one of them would find a seem and catch a 16 yarder. Shortly after another one would break for a similar gain. It wasn't long before the defense would break down, being unable to contain the offense. Those were the days when we didn't beat Utah by one point but by 20 or 30 points. It was fun to watch.

I think part of the OL frustration from last year was that we did have a lot of sacks given up early in the year. But a lot of the sack blame goes on the QB as well. There isn't a line in the country that can hold a defensive pash rush, especially a blitz, for 10-15 seconds on every down. Someone's going to get through and you have to get rid of the ball.



Heaps definitely was holding onto the ball too long early in the season and Riley would sometimes get caught scrambling in the backfield for a loss. Neither of those helps with your OLine sack stats. I thought Heaps did much better later in the year not only with release timing but also with throwing it away when nothing was there.

The OL has under-performed at the beginning of every year since Weber arrived. Grimes was a much better line coach and did more with less talent. Would have liked to have seen Weber replaced this past off season.



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I have to agree that I feel Grimes did a much better job. Let's hope Weber gets it together much earlier this year!

Players love Weber and he recruits really well. Many have selected BYU because they want to work with him, like Ryker Mathews and others. I think he does a great job. I just think that we overestimate our talent at the position far too often. NFL Drafts and OL players on rosters tell the tale. We have not been elite at the position recently, but we are improving, starting with this senior class. WE have 3 starters on watch lists o start the year. Let's hope they play good enough to stay on those lists mid year and year end.