re: Why does the Offensive Line seem to be underperforming?

Meh, I think run blocking will be ok. The play calling was terribly predictable. We lined up in tight formations and ran up the middle almost every play.

Pass protection is a much, much bigger concern. Jennings didn't have much time to throw, you bet teams will be watching what ULM did on defense.

Ill say that its a combination of blocking and playcalling.

The actual number of defenders with a hand down on the D-line is usually less than the number offensive linemen LSU has on the line. With that being said, we should get an initial push until the LBers and safeties come up, esp against a smaller D line.

we're not even getting that initial push.

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It's tough for six to block nine

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This has a lot to do with it. ULM was putting 10 in the box. We were running right at it.

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we telegraph every play no creativity in play calling no use of speed and agile players in space Les's philosophy and brand of football are known and teams gameplan around that

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I can't disagree with anything you've said. Except for one trick play now and then, we are extremely predictable on offense. More often than not, we can overcome that with talent, but it's seldom that Les will take any decent opposing coach by surprise. Because we aren't very imaginative with our play calling, we have to execute perfectly for it to work.

you have to trust the RBs to know their assignments if they are in lone back set, which means picking up blitzes, etc...

I knew this would happen and called it months ago. Now where is my fricking cookie.

I don't understand it. I know Texas Tech is no SEC team, but I would guess they are better than ULM. Arkansas consistently gashed right up the middle or the defense. I mean all game long it was right up the middle. 8, 8, 12, 4, 7, 6, 4, 8, 20, 6, 4, 8, 10, 11, 11, 5, etc. it was glorious to watch. They passed the ball like 2-3 times in each quarter. They had like 4-5, 11 play drives that chewed up 6-8 minutes at a time, and still score 49 points on the road.

I also liked their use of only two RB, with the third coming in as a change of pace. The way we have used our RBs is silly in comparison. Every game, Fournette and Hilliard should be the main guys with 15-16, and 13-14,l carries respectively. Magee with 8-10, and Williams should come in when the game is out of hand, or late in the fourth. Rotating four backs the way we do it is nonsense. We have never done it like this before.

Even when four guys had over 330 yards and 7 TDs in 2011, That's not how it started out. Ware was averaging 18 carries with Ford behind at 9 carries. When Ware got suspended, Hilliard took over his spot, and Ford kept his backup role. Blue was used to run on worn down defenses in the second half of games.

It seems like they are underperforming because they are underperforming. I have grave concerns when they face top end defensive lines and LBs...like Bama and Ole Miss.

I was going to use the Arky/Texas Tech game as an example too. That was ridiculously impressive the way they shredded TTs D by running virtually the same running plays over and over. I don't expect our line or run game to duplicate that, but I was expecting better, especially against 2nd tier opponents.

I do expect line play to improve. Just surprised it hasn't dominated yet. I think we are capable of a 2011 type season (hopefully with better finish) if the line can get it going and if Jennings can progress in the passing game.