Saban Places Blame On Offensive Line

[Joneal7]

i say we give this a shot

Carey
Hadnot
Mckinney
Middleton
Stockar

or switch the guards

 

[Awsi Dooger]

And yet Rex Hadnot, our 6th rounder, has impressed the hell out of the coaching staff, while these 2nd and 3rd round picks have done nothing of note.

Go figure.

The offensive line does not have to be built with first day picks- look at some of the best lines (as a group, not the individuals necessarily) and they are built on a good scheme and chemistry. Rex Hadnot vs. Seth Mckinney (6th rounder vs. 2nd rounder) is the perfect example. Based on where they were picked, Seth should be lightyears ahead of Rex, when in fact Rex is challenging for Seth's job.

Agreed. There are countless examples of superior offensive lines constructed with castoffs. Our early '70s unit perhaps the prime example.

My gripe has always been the athletic ability, or lack thereof, regardless of when they were drafted. Take a shot at a quality athlete and it might pay off. Mark Dixon was a CFL pickup but he had unusual feet and agility for an offensive lineman, unfortunately just not the good health or a big enough frame. Jamie Nails was another guy who had skill and explosiveness before the Achilles injury.

But far too often we have chosen the other route, functional players who will never impress you with athletic skill. Todd Perry. Tim Ruddy. The list can go on forever. You can get away with one or two like that, but when they stretch across the entire line you are at the mercy of the better defensive teams.

When we drafted Webb and Sims in '90 I thought we finally figured it out, talented big men to combat the new monsters emerging on every defensive front seven. Turns out those picks were flukes. You can't argue any other way. Not when the Andrew Greenes started showing up.

 

[Amars]

Stocker McDougle can't block. Even with Randy McMicheal help they both can't get it done.

 

[bakedmatt]

the writer has selective memory. the blame was placed on players' consistency across the board.

 

[Oregonfinfan]

Guys, whats the chance saban singles out the ol rather than give any heat to the qb he gave the starting job to who then went out and made saban look bad? I mean does saban care if he picks wrong guy and then is reading in the paper every day that he is second guessed? Or i sit he doesnt want any heat on GUs cause eh wants him to keep the starters job so he just puts it on ol for this week?

 

[Lederhosen]

I do agree that the main thing for an O-line is establishing a mutual understanding as a unit, what is the guy on the left doing, what on the right and so on. So it is fair to assume they will get better, if Middleton gets in shape and remains healthy I would expect him to start also.

BUT from reading about the last 3 games (OK, it is preseason) it is also fair to assume that this unit has ways to go and probably will not be better than average. McDougle shows exactly why the Lions decided to release a former 1st rounder, Carey is rather a RT, MCKinney is a waste (nuff said). That leaves us with Hadnot and James, and I am not sure if he is not 100% at this point of season or if he is an underachiever. He was not overly impressive last season., was he? So regardless what our coach can squeeze out of this unit, the Fins need help in LT and C next year desperately.
But if the Fins' season will match their effort in preseason they have enough solid and early draft picks next year

 

[Bills4Life]

Ouch Guys!!

Saban is 0-0 and already placing Blame in the media. He better win early, or he will lose the team quickly.

 

[armyfinfan]

Ouch Guys!!

Saban is 0-0 and already placing Blame in the media. He better win early, or he will lose the team quickly.

Thats just what you want to happen. Saban was only stating the obvious. And if they dont win early Saban will get rid of these guys in the offseason. Dont forget most of these players are leftovers from the Wanny era. It takes more than one season to bring in the guys you want.

 

[BlueFin]

They have to determine who the five starters are going to be at each position and then let them gel and become cohesive, until this happens they are going to struggle.

Every O-line needs a certain amount of time to become a good unit.

 

[FinaticalOne]

The runs up the middle were not working last night, and yet Linehan kept calling them. I would have liked to have seen some more runs to the outside, some pitches to the outside etc.- maybe this would have built some offensive momentum and confidence, and that would take some pressure of the guards and Seth. And in my opinion, Ricky was always better when running towards his tackles anyway- when he turns the corner he is near impossible to stop.

Linehan was calling those plays to evaluate how the interior would block. If we were trying to win the game, then I'm sure Linehan would've avoided running the ball up middle as many times as he tried. If he doesn't call enough run plays up middle, then how are going to evaluate our players strengths? If the plays are not working, this is the time to continue trying those plays and evaluate why they are not working, and come up with a solution.

This is preseason, we have to do our "due dilligence" to better understand our strength and weaknesses.

 

[FinaticalOne]

i say we give this a shot

Carey
Hadnot
Mckinney
Middleton
Stockar

or switch the guards

You got to be kidding me. You would keep McKinney in the lineup?!?!?!?!? :confused:

I like this much better:

Carey
James
Hadnot
Middleton
McDougle

All of these guys have been able to move people out of the way. McKinney ALWAYS gets pushed into our backfield.

 

[P.C.H.D.]

Linehan was calling those plays to evaluate how the interior would block. If we were trying to win the game, then I'm sure Linehan would've avoided running the ball up middle as many times as he tried. If he doesn't call enough run plays up middle, then how are going to evaluate our players strengths? If the plays are not working, this is the time to continue trying those plays and evaluate why they are not working, and come up with a solution.

This is preseason, we have to do our "due dilligence" to better understand our strength and weaknesses.

So true I believe they have given old Seth every chance to make this team.Don't understand why but there it is,He sure failed miserably once again.Judging from saban's comment's I would not be surprised if we don't see a few change's in our o-line this weekend.I would like to see that center from philly given a chance.

 

[BlueFin]

You got to be kidding me. You would keep McKinney in the lineup?!?!?!?!? :confused:

I like this much better:

Carey
James
Hadnot
Middleton
McDougle

All of these guys have been able to move people out of the way. McKinney ALWAYS gets pushed into our backfield.

That is the lineup I want to see.

 

[larfo2224]

Hopefully this week they solidify the actual starters on the O-Line. I don't pretend to be an expert but really don't think that Seth is the answer at center. Put Hadnot in center and put Middleton at RG and hopefully the situation will settle down somewhat until we can draft more athletic depth to shore up our most glaring weakness. On the same note, does anyone know anything about the potential of Alibi (sp)? Does he have the potential to be a starter, or is he just added for depth?

 

[FinaticalOne]

Hopefully this week they solidify the actual starters on the O-Line. I don't pretend to be an expert but really don't think that Seth is the answer at center. Put Hadnot in center and put Middleton at RG and hopefully the situation will settle down somewhat until we can draft more athletic depth to shore up our most glaring weakness. On the same note, does anyone know anything about the potential of Alibi (sp)? Does he have the potential to be a starter, or is he just added for depth?

I believe there will be a couple of changes on the starting the lineup this week too. I'm hoping it will be the lineup that I mentioned earlier so the guys will have time to gel the rest of the preseason. I've had the chance to watch Alabi vs. the Jags and the Bears. IMO, he is a project. He still needs time to develop before he gets any consideration to push for a starting position.