[Goose]

I think Hulk has it exactly right, in a very convincing fashion. Why our OL isn't performing as well as expected, and how to "cure" it, if possible, is the real question. We have actually seen somewhat different defensive approaches from all the defensive lines we have played, as would be expected due to different personnel with different strengths and weaknesses. The disturbing thing about that is that we have not been real successful against any of them. ND had the most talent, and we looked worse against them than anybody else. However, we really must improve on the OL or it will become a long year. For a few weeks, some were taking solace in an improved pass blocking performance. I think that was probably more due to defenses believing we couldn't pass at all and playing the run all the time. Defenses now know that we can pass, but they also know that we aren't playing well enough to require them to sell out against the run.
We aren't built to run the Air Raid (thank goodness), or to even be a "pass first" offense. We need a robust running game to force the opposing defense to overplay the run and to keep our defense fresh.There effectively is no real "plan B".

[Goose]

I think Hulk has it exactly right, in a very convincing fashion. Why our OL isn't performing as well as expected, and how to "cure" it, if possible, is the real question. We have actually seen somewhat different defensive approaches from all the defensive lines we have played, as would be expected due to different personnel with different strengths and weaknesses. The disturbing thing about that is that we have not been real successful against any of them. ND had the most talent, and we looked worse against them than anybody else. However, we really must improve on the OL or it will become a long year. For a few weeks, some were taking solace in an improved pass blocking performance. I think that was probably more due to defenses believing we couldn't pass at all and playing the run all the time. Defenses now know that we can pass, but they also know that we aren't playing well enough to require them to sell out against the run.
We aren't built to run the Air Raid (thank goodness), or to even be a "pass first" offense. We need a robust running game to force the opposing defense to overplay the run and to keep our defense fresh.There effectively is no real "plan B".