random thoughts (very long)

[JustBlues]

Many of my thoughts center (no pun intended-- honestly) on the offensive line. There are a few reasons for this. First, it is our biggest weakness. Second, I was a center when I played football. Finally, I think that they are too often criticized. The last and the first may seem to contradict each other, but maybe I can communicate clearly enough that you will understand my feelings on the matter well enough.

As a former lineman, I often watch the battle in the trenches while others are watching the so called skill players. I do not think that I am more football smart, nor even more oline smart than many of the football gurus here. I do think that there are some things that I see better than a lot because I am watching the game differently than most others. The thing I enjoy most about football are two athletic big guys battling it out. In other words, I am weird.

Offensive line is the hardest position to learn. There is a reason when you look at a list of football players that make the dean’s list, a majority of them are offensive linemen. The media sometimes portrays the offensive linemen as big dumb klutzes, but in reality the major college football offensive linemen and the nfl offensive linemen are among the smartest players on the field. You rarely see a freshman start because it take time to learn. Ben Still is smart. Robert Conyers is athletic. Wouldn’t it be great if you could combine the best traits of the two? I said after the Alabama game that we were a better team with Conyers at center because of his athletic ability. In saying such, I was partially correct. One of the smart things that Ben Still did was work out silent communications with Bo Wallace. It came in handy in the second half against Boise because of the confusing shouting the defense was doing that was throwing us off rhythm. Once Bo and Ben went to silent communications so that everyone could block out the shouts, our offense improved many fold. It was absolutely crucial when we played A&M in front of the largest crowd in SEC history. It could have been a difference maker against LSU. Unfortunately there wasn’t much Ben could do on the sideline to help. When communication between the QB and center is lacking, snaps are off. When snaps are off, a fraction of a second is lost. Every fraction of a second is crucial in a football game of this magnitude. The simple way of saying it is that when you lose your starting center, you lose a certain rhythm, especially in an environment like that. In a friendlier environment it wouldn’t have been nearly as big a deal, but at LSU that slight alteration in rhythm was deadly.
Being without Ben was made even worse with Tunsil hurt. Conyers is the first choice replacement tackle. We would have been much better if Conyers could have played right tackle when cooper moved over to left. Instead we had to plug a natural guard with little experience in at right tackle.

Our line is adequate. It is our weak point, but with proper game planning, considering the rest of our team it is adequate to win a championship BARRING INJURIES. We do not have the depth to absorb much in the way of injury on the offensive line. The difficult thing is that offensive linemen tend to heal slowly from injury because of the extra weight they carry. Some players may be able to play through a minor ankle tweak, but that’s not the case when that ankle has to support its share of 320 pounds.

If Aaron Morris was the same Aaron Morris we had before his first injury, we’d have a good offensive line. With that Aaron Morris and Golson, we’d have one of the best lines around. Such is the way the odd shaped ball bounces.

Tunsil will play. That is both good and bad. He will not be the same Tunsil this year. When I played, offensive linemen didn’t use their arms and hands. The rules didn’t allow it. A bicep injury wouldn’t affect blocking much at all then. Now it is a totally different creature. I don’t know which arm is injured. If it is his left arm it will hinder him against certain kinds of rushes and if it is his right it will hinder him against others. Auburn, Arkansas and State all have players capable of taking advantage of that weakness. He will have surgery right after the season. It will be interesting to see which Tunsil shows up next year. Will he be the one that has been so valuable or will he do like Morris and come back a different player?

If Tunsil is up to speed next season, we have the potential of having a very good line. Overall we have recruited well there. Some of our younger players will have more experience. Richmond, if he stays true to the commitment, will be getting a lot of playing time by the end of the year and will become a very valuable player. If Tunsil recovers well from his injury, he will leave early and be one of the top five players chosen in the 2016 NFL draft. In other words, we will have the best left tackle in the NCAA next year.

I don’t want to sound insensitive. I really think that Les Miles is a good man. He is weird, but has a good heart. His players absolutely love him. My condolences go out to him and his family. There is no doubt that he was hurting emotionally Saturday night. I went through the same thing a few years ago. LSU is a good team, but we are better. We had an off game, but emotion was a very key thing Saturday night. Those players were playing for their beloved coach. They weren’t crisp, but they played as hard as I’ve ever seen players play. Criticize me if you will, but I am glad that his players were able to give him something to feel good about on a very difficult weekend although I obviously wish that it had not been at our expense.

I could say a lot more about this game, but this post is already too long. I may or may not post a part 2 at some point.

[GtownRebel]

Good post

[lewindha]

Yeah, Golson leaving hurt more than we wanted to admit. I hope some of these freshmen that we're red shirting can help out next year. What worries me is that they aren't playing now considering how bad our line has been. I know there is a learning curve, but that group needs help.

And whatever happened to Christian Morris, has Freeze just decided to red shirt him?

[GtownRebel]

It isn't just a learning curve. It is also a physical build up of muscle development unless you come in as L. Tunsil, already developed. Those freshmen aren't ready to physically play against the defensive linemen in college football.

Don't know the story about C. Morris.

[JustBlues]

Yeah, Golson leaving hurt more than we wanted to admit. I hope some of these freshmen that we're red shirting can help out next year. What worries me is that they aren't playing now considering how bad our line has been. I know there is a learning curve, but that group needs help.

And whatever happened to Christian Morris, has Freeze just decided to red shirt him?

Christian Morris showed up out of shape and was cleared late.

[bbolden]

I know that this sounds crazy, but this is the best time to have a lost. This is very very tough conference and the season is very long and taxing on the players and the coaches. I thought that the Auburn game would be the toughest game. With this lost I really think now that the players become more focused and I really expect them to play very well against Auburn.

[JustBlues]

I know that this sounds crazy, but this is the best time to have a lost. This is very very tough conference and the season is very long and taxing on the players and the coaches. I thought that the Auburn game would be the toughest game. With this lost I really think now that the players become more focused and I really expect them to play very well against Auburn.

I don't disagree with that. Also, if we were going to lose it needed to be against a team that isn't really in contention for the SEC west to keep us in control of our destiny.

[proud2breb]

Good post, but in all the O line expertise I didn't hear your opinion of Matt Luke. With your expertise in this area, what do you think about him?


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[rebeljim]

Good post, but in all the O line expertise I didn't hear your opinion of Matt Luke. With your expertise in this area, what do you think about him?


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I saws this on another board concerning our oline and rankings.

Below are the recruiting "stars" for the starting OL for OM, Auburn, LSU and MSU.
Any way you slice it State has overachieved

Ole Miss (avg. 3.4):
LT - 5
LG - 3
C - 3
RG - 3
RT - 3

MSU (avg. 2.2) :
LT - 2
LG - 2
C - 2
RG - Not Rated (assumed 2 for avg.)
RT - 3

Auburn (avg. 3.6):
LT - 4
LG - 2
C - 4
RG - 3
RT - 5

LSU (avg. 3.8):
LT - 5
LG - 4
C - 3
RG - 4
RT - 3

[Hagar]

Good post, but in all the O line expertise I didn't hear your opinion of Matt Luke. With your expertise in this area, what do you think about him?


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I saws this on another board concerning our oline and rankings.

Below are the recruiting "stars" for the starting OL for OM, Auburn, LSU and MSU.
Any way you slice it State has overachieved

Ole Miss (avg. 3.4):
LT - 5
LG - 3
C - 3
RG - 3
RT - 3

MSU (avg. 2.2) :
LT - 2
LG - 2
C - 2
RG - Not Rated (assumed 2 for avg.)
RT - 3

Auburn (avg. 3.6):
LT - 4
LG - 2
C - 4
RG - 3
RT - 5

LSU (avg. 3.8):
LT - 5
LG - 4
C - 3
RG - 4
RT - 3

now that is interesting...hm....good job of finding this info.

[JustBlues]

state has indeed done a very good job of developing offensive linemen. To compare the development between the two programs, however, you're going to have to wait a few years. Here is how long the respective coaching staffs have had those players in their program with the current staff (counting this year) to develop:

State
LT 5 years
LG 4 years
C 4 years
RG 5 years
RT 3 years

Ole Miss
LT 2 years
LG 3 years (one of which he was injured the entire year)
C 3 years
RG 3 years
RT 1 year

If you want to compare other programs, we can find that information as well. In the case of Auburn, the current staff has had those players a shorter time than our current staff, but they weren't left the offensive line mess that our current staff was left with. Their mess was of a different nature.