re: why cant we find a qb?

quote:

---

However, you first need a line and that is the greatest area of need right now.

---

There is an old adage - OL/DL rarely "look good" - particularly during the game (by that, I mean, you can go back and see it on film - other than the occasional pancake or successful bull rush for a sack, it's not obvious in real time). What you will see is that all your offensive skill players look good - often the QB and/or OC will get the credit in that case, and it is typically warranted if an offense is clicking. Ditto for linebackers and DB seemingly everywhere "smothering" - your Mike, lockdown corner or DC get the credit there, generally deserved.

But, what is missing in the analysis is that almost none of the above is possible with even mediocre line play. It doesn't have to be world class, but you need good or a little better - and by good, I mean consistent, predictable, reliable - line play on that side of the ball.

A mediocre QB will look good behind an exemplary OL. Conversely, a mediocre OL will make a good QB look mediocre or worse. Even worse, you can have a great QB and a bad line will get him injured, forcing you to go to your bench.

Likewise, when you see linebackers making all the tackles, folks will bash the line, particularly the DTs. bullshite - that's big boy's job - tie up 1 or 2 blockers precisely so the linebackers can run to the ball and make tackles. Under most circumstances, a DL making a tackle for loss on a runner means he blew up the play or the OL blew the scheme - either way, that's lagniappe.

So, rebuilding high quality, deep lines should have been and obviously was priority #1 this year. The team will look better, particularly compared to MSU and Troy this past season, with these changes alone.