Offensive Line
- Thread starter purduepat1969
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A little dramatic. It's not going to be a strength of the team this year but they can be serviceable if they stay healthy and improve during the season.
Not so sure. We'll see what happens when Purdue plays against a really aggressive D. Hopefully they'll improve. But it's been 5 years now...
I don't get the relevance of 5 years. Do you think that every position group is only going to get better every year? It's a process. When we lose David Bell after this year our WR position might not be as good in year 6 as they were in year 4 and 5. The fact that it's year 6 doesn't mean that we never have to take a step back and retool/rebuild/reload. And there are reasons that make offensive line harder to build at Purdue than several other position groups. If we had a gap in recruiting and/or development in the past 3-5 years, that's probably going to be reflected on the field now.
They've struggled with the OL for the prior 4 years, specifically the run game and at times, pass protection. Not sure what game you were watching tonight, or in the past. But it didn't look to be much improved. Luckily Horvath makes his own yards when needed. The issue is that Brohm has yet to put together a good OL. And it's one of the reasons why Purdue struggles to score.
30 points. “Struggles to score”? Yea I would have liked to see some of those FGs turned into TDs, but I would not use the phrase struggles to score.
Watched the same game you did. Not sure what you were expecting to see though. Did you watch the same season I did last year? If so, I'm not sure why you would've expected to see us dominate up front tonight. We played well enough up front to win. That's all I was hoping for. Now I hope they stay healthy and improve going forward.
Opposing DL may well be the strength of every opponent with Purdue's OL...as, it is yet again, subpar (at best) seemingly.
It was touched on in the initial post...to be 5 years in and STILL have the issues that they have on the OL is, at the least, concerning...and, the issue is magnified absent a stellar QB or RB(s) to hide the shortcomings.
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The OL was/has been/is a process because the staff failed to adequately address it when they arrived...despite knowing that the majority of the group that they inherited (and, who formed the best OL this staff has had) was graduating.
How many other schools in the conference have had an issue as a collective OL group for at least three years as is the case at Purdue?
If guys like Hope and Hazell could somehow manage to do it, I am hard pressed to understand how Brohm and staff have struggled to put together an OL that is at least average.
I don't disagree with that point. I just don't see the point in grousing about it at this point in time (or all the time). There will always be things that could have been done better and we knew the OL wasn't going to be a strength this year. Nothing can be done now to change mistakes that were made 2-3 years ago. I guess we can hit on those same complaints during/after every game but it seems kind of pointless to start a thread to complain about it in the middle of our opener where we ended up beating another P5 team. I guess if that's what this poster wants to do, hopefully he can just bump this post every game rather than start a new one.
Right side struggled at times with the veteran 3-4 defense of Oregon St. Tight end line blocking did not help much there either. Center controls the calls and may have had the same problem! They will get better when the video is broken down to them today!
Horvath most certainly is a home run threat, he's done it before. Just because you think he is slow, doesn't mean he is't a viable option as he just runs over entire teams. He quite literally did it a lot last night.
I give Plummer a lot of credit....played a really good game considering he didn't have much time to throw! Great win, but there is no doubt the line was about a C grade. Maybe it's just me, but our O-Line for past several years seem small compared to other Big Ten lines!! Just seems we need to spend more time in the weight room...Hey, overall it was a great win! Very impressed with our Defense and their effort! And the crowd looked great on TV!!!!!
I agree w/ the line needing to be in he weight room more, they got some size but don't look strong or bulky
I question whether we have the right coach for the OL. They seemed unprepared for what they saw from an Oregon St team that played the same scheme they have on film. Secondarily, we still haven't seen this OL improve in run blocking.
On the contrary, we have a new cornerbacks coach and I would argue that's a good thing after seeing game 1. The secondary was vastly improved. And that's all coaching.
The OL was really good in short yardage situations last night. I think we converted 3rd and 1 almost every time. Seems like the right side of the line was having issues with pass protection. Plummer has to run for his life a few times.
The OL was probably graded a C/C+ for me. I think Oregon played similar to Wisconsin, although not near the talent level. They were pretty fast and active. It was a good test.
The OL was probably graded a C/C+ for me. I think Oregon played similar to Wisconsin, although not near the talent level. They were pretty fast and active. It was a good test.
ZH can get the tough short yardage situations, but he’s not turning the corner and outrunning anyone. He’s slow hitting the hole and takes too long to get top speed.
He has a role in the offense, I just don’t like him as your primary ball carrier.
Oregon State's defensive strength is their DL. So we did okay. I am the guy with no connection to Zander who posters thought I was related to him this off season because how much I was praising him. So I concentrated on him last night and I thought he did very well. My only real criticism was a dropped pass looking up field but then again another time he was dropped for a loss when he did not look up field. Yes, it is easy to criticize but during the game there are other factors. Overall, I counted 4 drop passes with one ending in an interception.
BTW, I know he doesn't like it but more praise should go to David Bell. He is outstanding! I thought the refs were excellent except for the obvious pass interference that robbed Bell of a TD on that early drive.
I was surprised how well Anthrop played but then again outside of Thompson where were the other WRs. Don't we have a diminutive speed guy who could be great at the reverse? What is his status?
My biggest surprise was our kicker. He couldn't miss. Our punter played well but their punter looked All Big Ten. Especially if that 72 yard punt was 71 yards. However, I was also impressed when he took his time on that one punt that went inside the 20.
But my final praise goes to the D. They were everything I was praying for. And Karlaftis is a STUD! When he was out of the game, it was obvious. However, the entire D came together including my worry, the DTs, who played well.. Congratulations to all!
BTW, I know he doesn't like it but more praise should go to David Bell. He is outstanding! I thought the refs were excellent except for the obvious pass interference that robbed Bell of a TD on that early drive.
I was surprised how well Anthrop played but then again outside of Thompson where were the other WRs. Don't we have a diminutive speed guy who could be great at the reverse? What is his status?
My biggest surprise was our kicker. He couldn't miss. Our punter played well but their punter looked All Big Ten. Especially if that 72 yard punt was 71 yards. However, I was also impressed when he took his time on that one punt that went inside the 20.
But my final praise goes to the D. They were everything I was praying for. And Karlaftis is a STUD! When he was out of the game, it was obvious. However, the entire D came together including my worry, the DTs, who played well.. Congratulations to all!
I don't think anyone could criticize the effort Horvath played with again last night. He deserves a ton of credit for what he does.
The dude got d@mn near 4 yards a carry, on 21 carries (21 for 81).
Absolutely right.
He's earned the PT he's getting, and he's producing when he's on the field.
While I agree with Horvath's speed, Doerue has been a non-factor. And we have no one else to play as an every down back. And the offensive line hasn't opened up many holes. Hopefully we'll see some additional depth with James if he can get a waiver. Doubtful, but who knows.
He doesn't have to out run everyone, just have to get him past the line and make secondary players have to try and tackle him. If we could open up a hole so he doesn't have to drag lineman and LB'ers for several yards, not sure there are many corners and safeties to thrilled with the idea of having to tackle him.
The reason he is our primary carrier is because there is no hole for him to run through with this offensive line so he creates his own. He doesn't even need to necessarily out run anyone because he can just power through them and when he has gotten in open space he has picked up speed
He's attacking the line perfectly actually as his "slowness" is just enough that he can see how the line develops and then run accordingly. And he is exceptionally effective at it no less.
25 yards were on a carry, 11 more on another...19 for 45 absent those simply will not get it done.
I love the guy and love how he plays...he does generally everything asked of him (and more), but, anybody that feels like he is representative of a feature back in the B1G (more so with another subpar OL in front of him) is just not being genuine.
He is without question the best that Purdue has, and, he will get the most out of what the has...that is a credit to him...but, that also is a Purdue problem...one VERY similar to the OL problem...self-imposed and no indication that they have any clue how to fix it, and, that absolutely should be a red flag and concern.
I hope we get to see Cross in the UConn game. I hear he is the speediest and shifty but has a ways to go in pass protection
Completely irrelevant.
He carried 21 times. 21. You can take away the successes to bring down his numbers if you choose, but that's not how it works. Especially on 21 carries.
Every back will have long gains and plays in which he's stuffed. Same stats work for QBs.
It boggles my mind why, after a game in which we play fairly well, and we've clearly made progress, there's a sense that we need to take away from performances under the misguided notion of "being genuine". Goodness.
Are thing perfect? No. They never will be. Do we have ... "problems"? Yes. Even Clempson found that out yesterday.
This exercise of tearing down performances for the self-congratulatory nature of being "genuine" simply makes no sense.
Horvath has worked his ass off to get where he is. Horvath has earned his PT. Horvath has performed on the field.
Not sure why we just can't give a tip o' the hat to him and not find a way to try to convince people it isn't real, under the notion of "being genuine".
I would also like to see other players get some playing time if the game goes well. Marcellus Moore to see if his speed could help us, and perhaps Wright to see if he can make up for that pass drop in the end zone. I would like to see if playing in an actual game improves some other players performances so that they might get some playing time.
Fair point(s)...and, I am not trying to tear anyone down.
Again...I like the kid...a great deal, and, admire how hard he has worked and how hard that he plays...but, I still feel like it is ridiculous that Purdue does not have guys at the position.
I indeed tip my hat to Horvath...more so in that per what I have mentioned a couple of times, he does not have a lot to help him. I tip my hat to Anthrop for that matter...for the same reason(s), and, with the same respect...but, that he is an integral part of the offensive game plan says way more about Purdue and the program than it does him.
I am in the minority I know, but, I missed much of the alleged progress that was made...play calling was not great for much of the game...Purdue has a single legit WR threat...Purdue lacks depth and quality at the RB position...Purdue's OL is still subpar...Purdue has very little talent at LB (and no difference makers)...Purdue has some issues in the secondary still...and, the defense, while better (which was nearly impossible not to be), is still very much a concern.
I am glad that they won certainly...we literally were trying to remember the last time we had seen them win in person as we left the game...the atmosphere was great...guys played hard...but, aside of Bell and Karlaftis, this team has a severe lack of talent...and, if Purdue does not play in a bowl this year, it will be a shame that those two guys did not have a chance to do so during their career given that both had a litany of great offers coming out and chose to go to Purdue thinking that they were going to be a part of something special...they lived up to their end of the bargain...Brohm/Purdue has not.
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