O-Line is the difference

You right on

Well last year proved that. Of course Burrow had a lot to do with it but OL play was very very good.

If we can finish up with a good OL haul this class will end up being very very good!

Yes we need to recruit better on the O line, but D line and QB are the difference.

That's why Clemson was able to recruit in the teens and become a national power. Their high recruits were D linemen and QBs when they were on the come up. You can scheme around mediocre offensive lineman (at least, they did for years). They rarely send O linemen to the pros but had an excellent offense under Boyd, Watson, Lawrence and now DJ looks the part as well. But they send plenty of D linemen to the pros every year.

WR is becoming more and more important as well (teams straight up could not cover Chase 1 on 1 and that handcuffs the defense). But just last year our O line was good not great but we schemed to their strengths, had an exceptional QB and a very shifty RB who defenses had to worry about going out for a pass.

UGA has had one of the best O lines in the country for almost a decade it seems like. But their offenses have not been good (for the most part). Again, I agree we need to recruit better on the O line, but it's less of an issue than people are making it out to be. You need depth that can at least hold their own more than you need two first round tackles.

But if your QB sucks or your D line is getting pushed back 3 yards every play, that's it.

quote:

---

That is the only area we get blown away in recruiting vs our biggest competitor.

---

To compete at a high level EVERY year, you need to recruit OL/DL at a high level then build around your OL/DL

We all know NS / Alabama recruit this way, so need need showing it. So here’s oSU and UGA

Ohio state
2017
OG 5star #1 cali
OG 4star #2 Ohio
OT 4star #28 Ohio

2018
OT 5star #1 fla
OC 4star #1 NY
OT 4star #9 Tenn

2019
OC 5star #2 Ga
OG 4star #7 Hi
OT 4star #23 Ohio
OG 4star transfer Rutgers
OT 3star #86 ind

2020
OT 5star #1 Ohio
OC 4star #2 NJ
OT 3star #3 Mich
OG 3star #91 Ohio



UGA
2017
OT 5star #5 NY
OT 4star #9 Ga
OG 4star #6 Ga
OT 4star #2 Ms
OG 3star #23 ga

2018
OG 5star #1 ga
OT 5star #3 tenn
OG 4star #3 ga
OC 4star #3 ga
OT 3star #33 okla

2019
OC 5star #1 Ala
OT 4star #19 RI
OT 4star #20 ga

2020
OT 5star #2 ga
OT 4star #3 ga
OC 4star #1 La
OT 4star #13 Tx
OT 3star #33 ga
OT 3star #70 NJ

2021
OT 5star #2 ga
OT 4star #10 ga
OG 4star #5 ga
Oh 3star #19 NC


LSU
2017
OT 4star #10 Texas
OG 4star #14 tx
OG 4star #18 ms
OT 3star #70 WV


2018
OT 4star #24 NY
OT 3star #31 La
OC 3star #8 ms
OG 3star #2 ms CC

2019
OT 4star #3 La
OT 4star #14 La
OG 4star #13 mich
OT 3star #36 La
OC 3star #8 Fla

2020
OT 4star #11 fla
OG 3star #18 fla
OG 3star #26 fla
OC 3star transfer

LSU has had more 3star recruits than those two combined

This class is good, but not great. We needed a Maason Smith on the OL.

I really like your explanation. This is where a competent OC comes into play. The Saints have done this as well for years with all star guards and some serviceable tackles.