Lots of intrigue on issues with the Offensive Line after 2 games. 1 series in particular I found a bunch of issues with was the 3rd series of the 1st half.
Play #1 was a Draw which got eaten up by the Toledo defensive line. On a draw play the offense line should do a quick set and pass guys off to one another, or ride your rusher to where he wants to go. From what I saw Correll did a quick pass set then attacked up to the 2nd level to fast. This caused Patterson to stay on his guy when it looks like Patterson wanted to pass him off to Correll. Madden looked confused as those 2 interior defenders should have been handled by Correll and Patterson. I would chalk this up to a major error of communication and not enough patience from Correll.
Play #2 was an outside stretch play into the boundary. This was a tackle for loss because of a multitude of reasons. The major issue on this play is Coan gives the defense zero threat to keep the ball on a QB keeper. The defensive end crashed down the line giving no pause to Coan's ability to keep the ball. Carmody does an amazing job reach blocking his guy. Correll is really quick up to the 2nd level and starts to make a great block, but he stops his feet for just a second as he makes contact on the linebacker. Now comes an issue of what was the line call on this play? On a outside zone play the goal of the linemen is to scoop block the next gap over meaning Patterson should be working to get to the play side B gap. Madden and Lugg take their guy to the inside, which I found as strange since Patterson also went to Madden's guy. This is a mistake as now you have 3 offensive linemen blocking 2 defenders on a outside run play. For example if Lugg and Madden are going to pin their guys down towards the inside then Patterson should have been pulling around them.
Many outside zone runs you will see a center pulling around on a pin call. On the traditional outside zone play Patterson would be aiming towards Madden's defender, Madden would be working to get outside of Lugg's guy, and Lugg working to the outside of Mayer's guy for example. On this play Mayer and Carmody look like the only ones reaching to their outside gap. My 1st reaction to watching this was someone on the right side did not make a call down to Patterson. The guys do not seem to be on the same page before the snap.
Play #3 is a drop back pass on 3rd down and 9. Carmody gives up a sack, and everyone's instinct is to blame him. Watch the play with a stop watch and you will see Coan holds the ball for nearly 4 seconds. Now I have coached in a couple thousand 7 on 7 tournaments over the years, and the standard rule is with a center you get 3.5 seconds. That is forever when facing no pass rush. My take on this play is why is Coan holding the ball so long? You only need 9 yards and is everyone running vertical fades and getting locked up by the coverage guys? While pass blocking Correll nicely drives his guy outside. Toledo runs a defensive line twist that Lugg and Patterson do an excellent job of passing off their guys and taking the rusher to them. That is a great example of experience and coaching on this protection. Carmoday does not stay square long enough in his pass set, as when you hit pause you see the back of his jersey number towards the sideline meaning he turned his shoulders and gave up his leverage side. Carmody tries to reset his hands as a counter move only to find himself over extended and the rusher gets to Coan.
These are just 3 plays, but it shows this group of offensive linemen are still working out the kinks with communication the more I watch film on them.
Play #1 was a Draw which got eaten up by the Toledo defensive line. On a draw play the offense line should do a quick set and pass guys off to one another, or ride your rusher to where he wants to go. From what I saw Correll did a quick pass set then attacked up to the 2nd level to fast. This caused Patterson to stay on his guy when it looks like Patterson wanted to pass him off to Correll. Madden looked confused as those 2 interior defenders should have been handled by Correll and Patterson. I would chalk this up to a major error of communication and not enough patience from Correll.
Play #2 was an outside stretch play into the boundary. This was a tackle for loss because of a multitude of reasons. The major issue on this play is Coan gives the defense zero threat to keep the ball on a QB keeper. The defensive end crashed down the line giving no pause to Coan's ability to keep the ball. Carmody does an amazing job reach blocking his guy. Correll is really quick up to the 2nd level and starts to make a great block, but he stops his feet for just a second as he makes contact on the linebacker. Now comes an issue of what was the line call on this play? On a outside zone play the goal of the linemen is to scoop block the next gap over meaning Patterson should be working to get to the play side B gap. Madden and Lugg take their guy to the inside, which I found as strange since Patterson also went to Madden's guy. This is a mistake as now you have 3 offensive linemen blocking 2 defenders on a outside run play. For example if Lugg and Madden are going to pin their guys down towards the inside then Patterson should have been pulling around them.
Many outside zone runs you will see a center pulling around on a pin call. On the traditional outside zone play Patterson would be aiming towards Madden's defender, Madden would be working to get outside of Lugg's guy, and Lugg working to the outside of Mayer's guy for example. On this play Mayer and Carmody look like the only ones reaching to their outside gap. My 1st reaction to watching this was someone on the right side did not make a call down to Patterson. The guys do not seem to be on the same page before the snap.
Play #3 is a drop back pass on 3rd down and 9. Carmody gives up a sack, and everyone's instinct is to blame him. Watch the play with a stop watch and you will see Coan holds the ball for nearly 4 seconds. Now I have coached in a couple thousand 7 on 7 tournaments over the years, and the standard rule is with a center you get 3.5 seconds. That is forever when facing no pass rush. My take on this play is why is Coan holding the ball so long? You only need 9 yards and is everyone running vertical fades and getting locked up by the coverage guys? While pass blocking Correll nicely drives his guy outside. Toledo runs a defensive line twist that Lugg and Patterson do an excellent job of passing off their guys and taking the rusher to them. That is a great example of experience and coaching on this protection. Carmoday does not stay square long enough in his pass set, as when you hit pause you see the back of his jersey number towards the sideline meaning he turned his shoulders and gave up his leverage side. Carmody tries to reset his hands as a counter move only to find himself over extended and the rusher gets to Coan.
These are just 3 plays, but it shows this group of offensive linemen are still working out the kinks with communication the more I watch film on them.
