09-18-2014, 06:42 AM
Color me unconcerned. Yes our Oline play has taken a step back, but it has in precisely the way that you would expect a young but talented line to. The level of play is high, but with a higher rate of mistakes and miscommunications. The penalties have been bad but are improving (and 9 times out of 10 that chop block wouldn't be called). The pass blocking miscommunications are present but unfortunately expected, and should clear up as the season progresses.
I've seen plenty of plays where our O-line protects beautifully or opens up brobdingnagian holes. The stop on the 4th and short wasn't a case where the O-line didn't do its job, but rather our fullback failing to navigate the quagmire and tripping on his own blocker. Those plays always turn into a giant pile at the line of scrimmage. Our line kept them out of the backfield, which is all you can hope for when they have 11 people at the line of scrimmage.
I've seen plenty of plays where our O-line protects beautifully or opens up brobdingnagian holes. The stop on the 4th and short wasn't a case where the O-line didn't do its job, but rather our fullback failing to navigate the quagmire and tripping on his own blocker. Those plays always turn into a giant pile at the line of scrimmage. Our line kept them out of the backfield, which is all you can hope for when they have 11 people at the line of scrimmage.