O Line Splits - too narrow?

[We're Comin']

Does anyone know/coach offensive line? It appears to me that our O Line splits are too narrow. We looked bunched up in general around the ball with our formations. It would give the backs more running lanes if we spread out more.

Am I crazy?

 

[Dr.Don]

Does anyone know/coach offensive line? It appears to me that our O Line splits are too narrow. We looked bunched up in general around the ball with our formations. It would give the backs more running lanes if we spread out more.

Am I crazy?

No more so than the rest of us here!!!

 

[matt]

Does anyone know/coach offensive line? It appears to me that our O Line splits are too narrow. We looked bunched up in general around the ball with our formations. It would give the backs more running lanes if we spread out more.

Am I crazy?

Along the same lines for anyone educated on O-line matters, what is behind the poor O-line play? Is it a talent issue, a scheme issue, or is the defense stacking the box? Or is it something else?

 

[play hard]

It doesn't seem we're getting any push on the line so far. Any help understanding the issues so far. On paper you would think we could really open up some big holes. Seems the Qb's have huge holes as the teams are daring them to run. Maybe we're taking what is out there.

 

[gopherdudepart2]

I don't think the O-line splits are to narrow we are just to slow off the ball in the O-line right now and have too many guys with slow feet, yesterday we had guy's size wise that take bigger dumps than the players they were playing against
and these guys from Western Illinois speed wise were getting under our players pads and shooting the gaps. The front five is struggling with quickness not strength or spacing. We are struggling to get our hand on people and not moving our feet quick enough off the ball. Some of it is the formations we are showing on field, we do not have enough deception.
Seems like the back up QB provided a spark to the O-line and that they players played faster, and harder and more effectively after the change in Quarterback.

They the O-line struggled to gain leverage especially the center and left tackle and it is difficult for five, to six guys to block constantly 7 to 8 guys in the box, and this is what they are going to see all season with our lack of a passing game. Our formations seem a bit predictable and you can key on the run because of the sets we run and our motion tip the hand of the offense especially the toss sweep plays, we cannot set the edge. Gophers need to develop some different looks and change up the fact that right now it doesn't look like we have any resemblance of a passing game
or any wide receivers that can get any kind of separation. Until we have some threat of a pass we are going to see these struggles on offense.
O-line has not played that well so far and the pass blocking has been suspect, things got better when Lauer got in there at left tackle,
right now the O-line struggles are as much talent(or lack of) as they are scheme. If the younger guys are going to play better than some of the people we have now then they need to step up and get in there before
the Big 10 season starts as we need some continuity. I really liked how Lauer played and was impressed with him when he got in there. I would move Mark L to right tackle and play Lauer at left tackle and move Josh Campion
to right guard, we need that right now, more height and speed on the right edge, or both on the edges and the improved strength at right guard but that is my humble opinion.

 

[GopherinPhilly]

If you look at the big runs by Cobb, they were all cut backs. I think this is a big part of the problem, our two big backs don't cut back so backers can over persue and not worry about it. Cobb is showing what a quick cut back can do to defenses...plus it opened up the play side for future runs.

We do a good job of holding blocks, getting to the second level on blocks and receiver blocking (see all the 20 yard plus running plays year to date), we just struggle sometimes at the point of attack due to a more simplified scheme, lack of RB cut back/edge speed.

I hope we bring Jones in for a wildcat package as the year goes on and we need to get Edwards healthy so we can offer a two back set with him as the speed back. Give us more options, sets, sprint him wide for match up issues and run more pitch option to get him wide.

 

[BBShopGo4]

A big part of the periodic rushing difficulty is that opposing defenses are definitely stacking the box with 8-9 guys and selling out against the run. That's also why the QB keeps a lot on the read option. He has to read his key and keep it when indicated.

It also appears that the defenses are just turning the attacking run defense into a de facto blitz in e Gophers are passing. I infer that they think they can overwhelm the O-line and get enough pressure on our young QBs that it will sufficiently disrupt our passing game. Plays like the seam route to Maxx and QB roll-outs have worked because of this defensive scheme.

I take it as a positive sign that the Gophers have been able to amass as many rushing yards as they have against defenses that are selling out to stop the run. I keep expecting that the O will call some plays to make the D pay for this scheme. But maybe Limegrover is using this as an opportunity to teach the players how to deal with this sort of thing. We shall see as the season progresses. I don't think we will be able to impose our will on B1G defenses, so some more diversity and deception will be required. We will see if that happens.