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Yeah what's that all about?Mr Benson a bit angry in those comments
Typical Paul Johnson. One of the things I really like about him is that he doesn't pull punches. I remember when the networks put John Unitas in as a color guy. Unitas wouldn't excuse poor play by anybody. If someone screwed up he would immediately call him out and usually say how he screwed up and what it cost his team. Needless perhaps to say, this worked against the "both teams are doing good things" ethos that the networks like and Unitas was not long for the booth.
I hated that. If someone goofs up, say it, identify who it was, say what it cost the team, and FIX it. It's real simple: if you don't get honest criticism, you will never improve. Coach understands that and delivers on it. I expect over the next three weeks we'll hear him say that things have improved. When the leaves turn, the offense churns.
Even though our guard missed his blocking target, the MLB, TM still had enough quicks/speed to beat him to the edge. A faster MLB (Clemson) has me worried, though. (Great block by Lee on the OLB!) [/MEDIA]
I said our guard missed the block, I was wrong. I relooked at it and it was our RT that missed him. But that's a tough, tough deal for the T, especially how Wake played it. The Wake coach said they repped that play a ton in practice and it shows, but we still beat it. The MLB got a running start to the outside which makes him a moving target. But what makes the block even more difficult is the defensive end gives our T a shove to the inside as our T runs by, effectively sending him off his line to the MLB. The MLB then has to decide to take the alley or take the edge. He takes the alley because the OLB has the edge responsibility and TM takes the edge. Lee cut down the OLB freeing up the edge.I thought the same thing. #50 (?) I believe should have had an angle on TM, but TM simply out-athleted him. That won't happen against CU/VT. Need to make that block. Still can't fault most of our blocking in the second half. We ask a lot of our C to get the MLB. Not many are as good at it as FB was.
Its tough for our OL to make that block when the LB is already in motion outside and they get pinched inside. If he could have released clean ,I think he would have been able to stay on the proper angle. He did keep # 3 out of the play 25 yards downfield .He was able to get the the MLB on the 70 rd run in the 4th qtr. He still got pinched but the MLB took a step up first instead of flying outside instantly when the ball was snapped. TQ just needs a crease and he can make yards.
I noticed that on the replay as well. Our guys, OL's and skill guys alike, continue to find blocking targets well into the second and third levels. We have the best downfield blocking team we've ever had, imo.Its tough for our OL to make that block when the LB is already in motion outside and they get pinched inside. If he could have released clean ,I think he would have been able to stay on the proper angle. He did keep # 3 out of the play 25 yards downfield .He was able to get the the MLB on the 70 rd run in the 4th qtr. He still got pinched but the MLB took a step up first instead of flying outside instantly when the ball was snapped. TQ just needs a crease and he can make yards.
I noticed that on the replay as well. Our guys, OL's and skill guys alike, continue to find blocking targets well into the second and third levels. We have the best downfield blocking team we've ever had, imo.
To your first point, these plays really demonstrate why we have such a premium on speed, quickness, agility, etc when recruiting OL. Another point I'd like to make is a while back there was a big uproar on the board about why we cut so much on the second level. Some guys just couldn't understand why our bigger OL's needed to cut smaller LB's and DB's rather than just steam rolling them. Well it's because these smaller guys are super athletic and it's darn hard to get perfectly square up on 'em. A cut gives the blocker greater surface area to get in the way of the defender. Most times all we need to do is slow 'em down a sec anyway.