Offensive Line Play

[Orijinal]

Listen, I know that there are injuries. But it sounds like Hickey, Trudo, and Miller played the entirety of the game against NC State.

I honestly don't know--were many of the mistakes committed by Palmer and Emmerich/Lasker? One tackle for a loss towards the end of the game looks like it was a missed assignment by the right guard and on the last sack of the game, Palmer held up the DE for a second and then was plain beat.

Lots of pressure right up the middle (which is the last place an o line should give up ground) and on so many plays even if they didn't end up lost yardage. We FOR SURE wouldn't even have the yards we had if it weren't for the escape ability of Long. I think Long gained at least 2 first downs with his feet after being hurried.

I just don't get this. The O Line hasn't NEARLY play this bad all year, and actually held up better vs "the best defensive front" when playing Clemson. I scratch my head. If this continues, no more wins this year.

The offensive line is the most important piece to any football team. More than a good defense, more than good special teams, and more than a dynamic wide receiver or running back. A leaky O Line will always lead to a fatigued defense, an excessive amount of special teams play, a running back unable to run, and a QB not able to find a receiver.

This is just exasperating to think about.

 

[OrangeinBoston]

Listen, I know that there are injuries. But it sounds like Hickey, Trudo, and Miller played the entirety of the game against NC State.

I honestly don't know--were many of the mistakes committed by Palmer and Emmerich/Lasker? One tackle for a loss towards the end of the game looks like it was a missed assignment by the right guard and on the last sack of the game, Palmer held up the DE for a second and then was plain beat.

Lots of pressure right up the middle (which is the last place an o line should give up ground) and on so many plays even if they didn't end up lost yardage. We FOR SURE wouldn't even have the yards we had if it weren't for the escape ability of Long. I think Long gained at least 2 first downs with his feet after being hurried.

I just don't get this. The O Line hasn't NEARLY play this bad all year, and actually held up better vs "the best defensive front" when playing Clemson. I scratch my head. If this continues, no more wins this year.

The offensive line is the most important piece to any football team. More than a good defense, more than good special teams, and more than a dynamic wide receiver or running back. A leaky O Line will always lead to a fatigued defense, an excessive amount of special teams play, a running back unable to run, and a QB not able to find a receiver.

This is just exasperating to think about.

Well, there's a new OL coach this year...

 

[TheCusian]

Well, there's a new OL coach this year...

Who has done a very good job.

 

[TheCusian]

Listen, I know that there are injuries. But it sounds like Hickey, Trudo, and Miller played the entirety of the game against NC State. I honestly don't know--were many of the mistakes committed by Palmer and Emmerich/Lasker? One tackle for a loss towards the end of the game looks like it was a missed assignment by the right guard and on the last sack of the game, Palmer held up the DE for a second and then was plain beat. Lots of pressure right up the middle (which is the last place an o line should give up ground) and on so many plays even if they didn't end up lost yardage. We FOR SURE wouldn't even have the yards we had if it weren't for the escape ability of Long. I think Long gained at least 2 first downs with his feet after being hurried. I just don't get this. The O Line hasn't NEARLY play this bad all year, and actually held up better vs "the best defensive front" when playing Clemson. I scratch my head. If this continues, no more wins this year. The offensive line is the most important piece to any football team. More than a good defense, more than good special teams, and more than a dynamic wide receiver or running back. A leaky O Line will always lead to a fatigued defense, an excessive amount of special teams play, a running back unable to run, and a QB not able to find a receiver. This is just exasperating to think about.

Trudo and Miller were not at 100%. And yes the other guys are not great.

 

[Upstate]

Who has done a very good job.

Yeah, the # of sacks up until the Clemson game had been excellent. Now... I just don't think everyone's as healthy as we imagine, even if they're playing the whole game. AJ hasn't been quite as successful tucking and running as Hunt had been, which has been a factor. We really miss that ability.

 

[sutomcat]

Listen, I know that there are injuries. But it sounds like Hickey, Trudo, and Miller played the entirety of the game against NC State.

I honestly don't know--were many of the mistakes committed by Palmer and Emmerich/Lasker? One tackle for a loss towards the end of the game looks like it was a missed assignment by the right guard and on the last sack of the game, Palmer held up the DE for a second and then was plain beat.

Lots of pressure right up the middle (which is the last place an o line should give up ground) and on so many plays even if they didn't end up lost yardage. We FOR SURE wouldn't even have the yards we had if it weren't for the escape ability of Long. I think Long gained at least 2 first downs with his feet after being hurried.

I just don't get this. The O Line hasn't NEARLY play this bad all year, and actually held up better vs "the best defensive front" when playing Clemson. I scratch my head. If this continues, no more wins this year.

The offensive line is the most important piece to any football team. More than a good defense, more than good special teams, and more than a dynamic wide receiver or running back. A leaky O Line will always lead to a fatigued defense, an excessive amount of special teams play, a running back unable to run, and a QB not able to find a receiver.

This is just exasperating to think about.

Trudo was questionable for the game. He has been hurt for most of the season, and as Bailey says, looks like he is playing on one leg. From what I see, his condition gets worse with each game.

Hickey had to leave the game against Clemson with a bad ankle and the coaches were surprised when he returned. He is visibly limping and is nowhere close to 100%.

Miller has been hurt for a while. It got so bad he missed the WF game. He has returned for Clemson and NC State but is also clearly hindered by a leg injury. Has a hard time getting up, limps back to the huddle regularly, etc.

Robinson has probably been the most messed up player on the OL (unless you count Foy). He has been playing hurt all season, you can see him getting worse with each game and he was doubtful for NC State, which meant he was not expected to play. He went out anyway and tried to play for 4 series, was a shadow of his normal self and finally had to leave the game.

If memory serves, when Nick left, the staff moved Palmer to RG and put Lasker at RT. Lasker struggled again playing tackle. He just isn't a good D1 OT right now. Then Palmer went down. They replaced him with Emerich at OG, where Emerich had extreme issues pass blocking at the time when we were passing almost every down. They even tried to move Lasker to OG and gave McGloster a shot at OT briefly.

But none of it worked. The only healthy OL we have are Emerich and Lasker, and neither is really ready to play. I have never seen a Syracuse OL so devastated by injuries...many years we will play the same 5 starters every game all season long.

I think Penn State makes their OL all wear knee braces for all games, regardless of whether they have a knee problem or not. Maybe we should consider doing that. Though I think at least half of the OL leg injuries are badly sprained ankles.

 

[Orangejet]

Good points Tom! After watching the game for the second time, Lasker is NOT a D1 player and Emerich is more of a center. Think some of these linemen should "suck it up" and stop showing their opponents that they are injured/limping for good defenders smell blood when they see that occuring for I did in the day!!
BTW - When is Foy scheduled to return?