And now: The Offensive Line. 

TwistNHook:  Going into the year, I thought that this OLine might be at 2004 levels.  I was incredibly excited.  Sure, we had lost Marshawn.  And Forsett is no Marshawn (really, who is?).  I was hoping with an improved O-Line creating holes for Forsett it would be OK.

I fear that that has not come to pass, esp. in the last few games.

Yellow Fever:  I think every offensive line will have a few bad days every now and then, but for the most part I’m reasonably happy with our O-Line.  Of course, coaches always like to say that everything starts up front, and when the offense is doing well, it’s because the offensive line is blocking well and creating space for the running game; when the offense is falling apart, it’s because there are no holes in the running game and too many holes for the pass rushers.  I think Hydrotech’s done a good job in his Longshore article earlier this week outlining how not all of his problems are on him alone, and how they’re on the part of the O-line letting too much free rushers get in his face.  So there’s no question the line hasn’t played well the last few games, but I think they’ve been doing an acceptable job.  Could they do better?  Probably.  I’m calling that a solid B.

HydroTech: I would agree with YellowFever’s grade.  The OL has been pretty good for the most part.  There have been games of great pass blocking and running.  Then there are games where things seem to get bogged down. 

I would also like to point out here that there are some new pass blocking schemes that I have not seen before this year.  I will elaborate upon this in the off-season but I thought I’d give it a mention now.

TwistNHook:  DON’T TOY WITH MY EMOTICONS, HYDRO!  IF YOU DON’T ELABORATE NOW I’LL GRAB YOU BY YOUR FRILLY 19TH CENTURY LAPELS AND SHAKE YOU VIOLENTLY!

BTW, Hydro, I think you misunderstood when I told you the 80s were in last year.  It’s the 1980s that are in.   Mullets and mustaches.  Not full length frilly black coats and the continued subjugation of the dark continent.

Ragnarok:  Wow, I haven’t even joined the discussion yet, and it’s already taken a bizzare turn into the Gilded Age, A.K.A. the last time Rutgers was good.

Anyway, regarding our O-Line, I was going to try and say something intelligent regarding the number of holding and false start penalties we’ve been getting (it *seems* like a lot), but these stats are hard to find, and if I tried to go back and watch the last few games myself, I’d probably just gouge my own eyes out, which wouldn’t help anybody.  Least of all me. I’ll say B- for the O-Line.  My jokes get a D.

HydroTech:  As for the false start penalties, I’ll elaborate on those.  Most of those penalties that I’ve seen have come from the following series of events.  The QB in shotgun signals the center that he’s ready for the snap.  The center quickly points out a defender pre-snap.  The sudden movement causes a DLineman to twitch or jump.  That sudden movement causes one of our OLineman to jump, causing the false start.  Then the ball is snapped. I do not recall Mack doing the little pre-snap point thing last year or even earlier in this season.  I don’t think he’s actually making pass protection calls so last second, instead I think it’s just a tactic to try and get the DL to jump offsides but has instead caused more false starts than offsides.

TwistNHook:  I have noticed Mack doing that. I just figured he was pointing out John Candy in the crowd.