O-Line Notes from IA Game

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GopherinFlorida

GopherinFlorida

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I was finally able to watch the IA game again and wanted to share some O-line observations.

1. I was very impressed with the play of our line versus a few weeks ago. The changes made to reduce splits has really started to make an impact. I also noticed we were pulling our guards a lot more this week. I think our TEs are too small to do what Kill wants to do so he needs to get linemen out in front. Epping is quick and has good feet, if he wasn't so undersized, he would be formidable. Tank Olson is going to be a stud...not sure if he isn't better suited for the right side...we shall see. Limegrover likes the way he keeps his brother settled during the game so he may stay put.

2. The chop block calls on Epping were not really chop blocks...Epping just got knocked off his feet once and simply tripped the other time leaving him falling into the legs of a defender. If he can add 30 pounds over the next couple of years, I think he is going to be very good.

3. Wynn was solid all day.

4. Ed Olson is our best lineman by far. He can get to the second level and lay into LBs, he is good at the point of attack (still growing) and he was much improved on pass blocking. New scheme is helping him.

5. Pass protection was awesome on both of DCTs pass receptions and the McGarry TD pass play was the best designed play of the day.

6. Our line and Bennett/Gray owned the IA defensive line the in the second half. Blowing them off the line, cutting them down and just out hustling them. Bak was very good, a bit undersized and needs strength, but he has great feet and gets position and uses his hands really well.

7. I think we need more beef at TE to really run this offense. Not sure if we have anyone that is suited for it...might need to move one of the RS FR Tackles to TE next year...just to make the running game work better, especially on short yardage and goal line.

I am still not convinced we are seeing more than about 40% of the offense that Kill ran last year at NIU. Gray isn't reading anything...all the runs seem to be called. Plus, we are not running any of the screen packages that NIU ran last year...we will need them against MSU if we want to stay in that game. They are much tougher across the D-Line than IA is. That's my two cents.
 

Yep, the size of our current TEs is an issue.

We do have Drew Goodger, who is a large kid...already 6'5" 245 lbs, Ernie Heifort is getting RS (he is 6'5" 225 lbs) and is putting on some weight this year during his RS, and Maxx Williams coming in who is supposedly putting on a ton of weight (not bad weight).
 

Thanks, GopherinPhilly. I thought our line play got better as the game went on but don't have the patience to sit down and actually study it. Appreciate the insights.
 

Will Johnson would be a heckuva nice pick up to help fix that little problem.
 

I agree with everything you said Philly. I am surprised we haven't seen more screens to Bennett out of the backfield. In fact, he's hardly been involved with the passing game this year.
 


I think it was in the Eric Lair thread last week that someone commented that Will Johnson probably wouldn't like the way Lair was being used and it may affect his decision, but after watching Saturday's game and seeing them target McGarry five times (and not just as a check-down guy), my guess is that might not be a problem. It would be nice to have a guy with the size the block and the speed to get downfield a ways.
 

On most passing plays, Gray made a fake step to the line of scrimmage to make it appear as a run. He would then dropback and setup to throw. The fake step appeared to hold the LBs for a count, helping receivers to get open and helped the OL in getting set up to block. The boot leg to the right that Gray ran on the last 3rd down (or was it 4th down) run for a first down looked like the same play NIU ran last year against us late in the game in key situations. Sure glad it worked as well this year for us.
 

Thank you!

Gopher in Philly thanks a lot for doing that. Very informative interesting read.
 

GophersInIowa said:
I agree with everything you said Philly. I am surprised we haven't seen more screens to Bennett out of the backfield. In fact, he's hardly been involved with the passing game this year.
Click to expand...

Maybe they are saving it for the MSU game. I think that as the season progresses, we will see more plays out of the play book. A screen against MSU at this point would be a nice surprise for them.
 



50PoundHead said:
I think it was in the Eric Lair thread last week that someone commented that Will Johnson probably wouldn't like the way Lair was being used and it may affect his decision, but after watching Saturday's game and seeing them target McGarry five times (and not just as a check-down guy), my guess is that might not be a problem. It would be nice to have a guy with the size the block and the speed to get downfield a ways.
Click to expand...

I think the main problem with Lair is that he is a tweener. He is a speed tight end, or a large slower WR. Will Johnson will most certainly not be a tweener. He could almost develop into a LT with his size, but if he stays as a TE he would be a great TE for Kill's offense. He is made for this offense.
 


Using Hageman at TE would certainly add some beef. Not a suggestion though. He may actually be better where he is at but if it is beef you are after we do have it.
 

This young line is exactly why it' will be nice when we can play 3-4-5 yr. kids in the o-line. Just look at the progress these kids have made in one yr. under this staff. I think good things will happen in time.
 



gophervet said:
I think the main problem with Lair is that he is a tweener. He is a speed tight end, or a large slower WR. Will Johnson will most certainly not be a tweener. He could almost develop into a LT with his size, but if he stays as a TE he would be a great TE for Kill's offense. He is made for this offense.
Click to expand...

I liked what they did with Lair last week. Put him in the slot. He can use his size to get position on option routes.
 

Now if he could catch those wide open passes Lair would be in much better shape. That one he had this week was aggravating.
 

Olson boys

We are so fortunate to have kids like the Olson boys playing on this team I played with their Dad and he was Captain and Hnrlbl mention all Big 10 overall there is a generation from the 80s that stayed in Minnesota to raise families and still Love the Golden Gophers and will have a big influence on where they would like their Boys to play. When we meet up with ex-players at tailgates and reunions many teenaged sons see the comradary and friendship and it rubs off to the point of they want to be a part of something like that. And that's how you build a program. If you went to the U you tell the kid about the great experience you had even if you didnt play sports. Every bit counts!
 

I felt all year that Tommy Olson would be a very good right guard because of his aggressiveness. You made some interesting observations, GopherinPhilly. I never noticed the increase in pulling the guards or Ed Olson getting into the next level on run plays. I guess I've been too busy croosing my fingers concerning his pass protection. Think he's not as beat up as he's been? Pulling Tommy is a FANTASTIC idea though. I'll have to look for that!
 

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