re: It’s quite simple. Our Offensive Line isn’t good.

“Ensminger issue”

I thought we were paying Steve about $1 million to produce a better than average offense. Hasn’t LSU, in under two years, spend about 3.5 million on our OCs and our dividend from that expense Is the 12th best offense in the SEC.

It’s interesting that in the past every offensive disappointment or Failure had been attributed to the OC and the head coach. Now, for some reason, we want to attribute it to a position coach. I’m just wondering here, who has more authority over the offense, a line coach, OC, or HC?

We are having a good season despite our lack of offensive production . Seems much the same old, same old to me.

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Our Offensive Line isn’t good.

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VERY true. No argument.

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It’s quite simple.

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Not quite.
Below are OL rankings by "Adjusted Line Yards". I prefer this to blocking grades because it is a measure of the unit, not the individual. You'll have to save the pic and zoom outside TD to read, sorry.

Let's focus on OL's ranked worse than ours (highlighted in yellow) even though I've included the top-6 (to get UGA in there) and some just above us. I've deleted many that are of no interest or aren't P5 simply to get the capture to work and not be too small.

I've added offensive ranks by yards (column A) and points (column B). I've filled in with purple offenses with worse OLs but better offensive ranks.


- yes OL is sucking.

- Pass down LY's isn't bad. Our pass blocking isn't the catastrophe everyone thinks it is. Not good, but not terrible. Burrow makes this better because....

- ... Sack rate (both) is pretty bad.

- Power success rate is pretty good. LSU should be better than this with our supposed 'road graders who can't pass block'. Somewhat of another myth; somewhat true. Our schedule is probably bringing this down alot.

MORAL OF THE STORY:
- Yep, OL is hurting us.
- Could be better. Teams with worse OL do better.
- Vandy does better so don't give me 'but muh SEC defenses'
- And yeah, there are some better OL's that do worse or close to the same: AU, Arky. That's who we equate to offensively.

That last point... coaching/scheme have a role to play (AU). So do Jimmies & Joes (Arky).

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And yeah, there are some better OL's that do worse or close to the same: AU, Arky. That's who we equate to offensively.

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except Arky has an offensive play caller that managed to put points up against Bama.

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We won't. We're not going to out recruit Alabama. I don't know why people are so against trying to get an OC who can get the best out of what we have. I just don't understand it.

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I’m not against LSU getting a new offensive coordinator at all....I just understand that LSU’s offensive problems are with a young and inexperienced o line and young WRs..and both groups have a hard time blocking and the latter has a strength problem and can’t stop DBs from altering their routes....

Next year, with more time in the weight room...that will probably change....

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the negative opinions are coming from people with an agenda to get rid of Coach O at all costs

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The negative opinions are coming from people who do not have an agenda to keep Coach O at all cost.

The game against Arkansas was a badly played game against a bad team.

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The OL's shitty performance is a fact, true. But the present staff recruited these guys, who were hyped up before the season. Now they are part of the typical "maybe next year" B/S. These same old excuses, even though maybe based on fact, have gotten ridiculous. They will remain excuses as long as no serious effort is made to alleviate the problem. So far, that does not seem to be the case.

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The OL is getting better. It's just the starting point was really bad.

Our RT is a SO getting his first starts, our LT is a converted OG (with all the athletic ability to be a OT- good conversion) but is just now really learning the position to play at a SEC level. Both of those guys have improved. I know it's en vogue to rip on Deculus, but if you look at his performance as of late, including Bama, it's not near about as bad as LTU or earlier in the year when the Traore experiment ended. In fact, Charles struggled slightly more than Deculus in the Bama game. Both of these guys are SO just now getting a good grip on the position. OT is the hardest position to learn other than QB.

Cushenberry is what I thought he'd be before the season. Solid.

Lewis has improved... he just needed to adjust to the level of competition. Still has a way to go especially combo blocks and pulling. He has a problem getting out of his stance. But overall, has improved.

Brumfield hasn't been the same since injury. He's struggling especially with power. Hines is doing pretty damn good in his place. He needs to just like Deculus and Charles and get his sea legs. It won't happen this year, but every rep helps.

In order of things killing our passing game I'm going to say:
1. WRs
2a. Scheme with weak OL in mind
2b. A weak OL
3. Playcalling and route trees

Our o line wasn’t great that year too....

But let me ask you.....Bama only scored 10.....

What was Bama’s problem...10 points, really....? On LSU....geez....Kiffin must suck...

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el. Both of those guys have improved. I know it's en vogue to rip on Deculus

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I'm guilty of this. He's slow out his stance and his footwork is bad. He keeps his feet too close together which keeps his center of gravity too high so he can't move laterally. I don't think he's athletic enough to play tackle. You sound like you have studied it more than me and have a better grasp on what it takes to play the position. I played center and noseguard so tackle wouldn't be my specialty.

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It’s quite simple. Our Offensive Line isn’t good. by poncho villa

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So what happened in the Georgia game? Was it luck? a perfect storm.

Our coaches did a great job that game of putting the offense, and the o-line with it's admitted limitations, in a position to succeed. IMHO they have not since.

Does it not seem they have been regressing since?

Hey, I agree, this o-line ain't near our best talent-wise, but is it so bad we are touting 164 rushing yards and excusing the inability to pass protect against the second worst defense in the SEC as acceptable?

I think accepting the offensive performance of late based solely on lack of talent is rationalizing pure and simple.