Week One: Offensive Line

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RememberMurray

RememberMurray

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One of the features I enjoy about NFL broadcasts is how, before or around the first play from scrimmage of a game, they put up a graphic listing the starting lineups, broken down by position group (do they still do this?). I wish they would do that for the college games.

Does anyone know who the starters were on the Gopher offensive line last night?

Also, I'd like to read Gopher Holers opinions on how the o-line played last night.

My impression: considering all the new starters I thought they played quite well. Pass protection in particular looked strong — Lindsey seemed to have a good amount of time to go through his progressions. Generally clean pockets. The run blocking was good at times, not so good at other times. Taylor had to make like Barry Sanders/Emmitt Smith on some of those plays.

Your thoughts?
 

Confident qb probably masked a number of mistakes in pass pro but he had time to throw and the pocket didn't collapse on him in any substantial ways that I recall. That sack towards the end of the half was more of a "holding onto the ball too long" problem. I'm not a line blocking aficionado, but the run blocking seemed very mediocre as I'd expect in the first game and has room for improvement. It was a good test against a G5 team with a lot of returning talent from a very successful squad last year.
 







For the first game of the season (and with a new starter at EVERY position), I thought the OL played very well. I’d go solid B. I noticed them picking up multiple complex twists/stunts (unlike early in past seasons), and Lindsey was frequently getting to his 3rd or 4th read (also impressive for a RsFrosh). Run game struggled early and in the red zone as in past years, and Buffalo did generate a good pash rush a few times. Lots to clean up. I’m guessing they’ll be fine.
 

MGGopher said:
For the first game of the season (and with a new starter at EVERY position), I thought the OL played very well. I’d go solid B. I noticed them picking up multiple complex twists/stunts (unlike early in past seasons), and Lindsey was frequently getting to his 3rd or 4th read (also impressive for a RsFrosh). Run game struggled early and in the red zone as in past years, and Buffalo did generate a good pash rush a few times. Lots to clean up. I’m guessing they’ll be fine.
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Yup, just didn't score as much as they should have. But, we controlled the game.
 





Clairemont Gopher said:
I was impressed by our last possession. The line finally imposed its will on a tired and perhaps discouraged run defense. I would have hated to see a punt followed by a "consolation touchdown".
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Yep... another excellent point.

Despite the fact that Buffalo knew we were going to pound the rock to run the clock, we were able to impose our will and keep the chains moving. That was very encouraging.
 





Only major mistake I noticed was on the sack from the blitz, think it was in the first half but forget now.

Their player Murdock is a good player. He did a really tough blitz and our Right OT I believe thought he was passing him off to the outside blocker but that guy was already blocking someone so Murdock then took a hard turn and was able to sack the QB.

That will get corrected.


Think the OL seemed to play pretty well!
 

GopherGrit said:
Only major mistake I noticed was on the sack from the blitz, think it was in the first half but forget now.

Their player Murdock is a good player. He did a really tough blitz and our Right OT I believe thought he was passing him off to the outside blocker but that guy was already blocking someone so Murdock then took a hard turn and was able to sack the QB.

That will get corrected.


Think the OL seemed to play pretty well!
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Yep they'll 100% focus on what led to that sack during game review this week. I think the line did a great job alleviating pressure on pass plays overall, but Drake was also very impressive in being pretty quick and decisive with his decision making in the pocket. We've got a lot to look forward to!
 

OL did a good job in pass pro-run blocking was okay at best. Had a hard time sealing off the interior and don’t think they always had great body position. Not much push at all.

Really excited for Roy at LT-going to be a good one. Still have 4 weeks to get it right before B1G play so we are fine.
 

I mentioned this in another thread, but from a topical perspective my observation should be here.

I noticed an OL screw up on a particular play in which Lindsey was sacked.

The DE took a hard inside rush to "draw" Roy inside with him, and meanwhile the DT made initial contact with Johnson, disengaged and then stunted around the end. Roy responded correctly: (i) he punched the DE inside to Johnson; and (ii) then dove back outside to meet the stunting DT. But Johnson messed up: he maintained engagement with the DT -- whereas he should have: (i) let the DT stunt and be met by Roy; and (ii) handled the DE punched over to him.

The mess up meant: (i) that Roy dove out to meet no one, really, because Johnson was still engaged with the dude that Roy dove out to engage; and (ii) the DE that Roy punched over to Johnson went totally unengaged after having been punched, and the DE went on to sack Lindsey.
 

I hasten to add to my previous observation that: (i) this sort of lack of coordination so early in the season is commonplace, especially when Johnson spent last year playing center; (ii) I thought Johnson looked pretty darn good out there from an all-in perspective; and (iii) I was THRILLED to see Roy at LT -- and, man, did he look good to my eyes!
 

GopherMenace said:
Overall I thought they played fine. My biggest gripe is not being able to get a push on that 4th and 1 attempt.
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I agree but if I remember that play correctly Jamison Geers leaped off his feet for that play which is a big mistake. You lose all the push once you do that. Have to stay low and drive. I did not like ol push but if he stays low he might get it.
 




MonikerSchmoniker45 said:
PFF graded Marshall lowest on the line in both pass and run blocking. I wonder if they'll move Ray back to guard and try Tafai at RT.
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I wonder if this is in the cards at some point. Ray and Marshall are both done after this year and I would think they would want to get positive experience for younger players, especially one as highly-rated as Tafai.
 

I commented in the post game thread but will add some more thoughts. Beauty of being at the game is you can really focus on things for longer than the tv allows, like sustaining blocks seeing stunts beyond where the play was etc. Overall I thought the way played pretty good considering the new players and the fact it was a first game. Beers I thought played center quite well. There were a lot (relatively speaking) of mental mistakes that you expect in a first game and Buffalo did quite a few stunts and delayed stuff. I think that’s what caused a bit of a lack of push in the run game. Hard to catch that in those first few games. Roy is going to be a player. Good start against a quality opponent in my opinion.
 

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