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Topic: Shout out for the O line

Topic: Shout out for the O line

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Pataskala
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Shout out for the O line

Posted: 10/3/2012 9:45:41 AM

With all the discussion of Beau, we've neglected to give some real credit to the O line. They're a big reason why Ohio is 22nd in the US in rushing (224 ypg) and tied for 10th in sacks allowed (3 in 5 games). The line play is where games are won or lost, and these guys are doing super.

We will get by.
We will get by.
We will get by.
We will survive.

oucs 1986
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Location: Mason, OH
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RE: Shout out for the O line

Posted: 10/3/2012 10:42:28 AM

Pataskala wrote:

I concur.

-John

Go Bobcats!

chauncey1
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RE: Shout out for the O line

Posted: 10/3/2012 10:44:02 AM

L.C.
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RE: Shout out for the O line

Posted: 10/3/2012 10:50:39 AM

It's also true that the future there looks bright, too. The grades for the Freshmen backups, when they have been in, have been very good, better, in fact, than the grades of the current starters when they were Freshmen. A few years from now, when we are looking at a line consisting of McQueen, Lucas, Powell, Dietz, and others, it projects to be every bit as good as the current one.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

Kinggeorge4
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RE: Shout out for the O line

Posted: 10/3/2012 10:51:24 AM

This group has been awesome. They have opened holes for our running backs and have given TT enough time to pick defenses apart. They should be our MVPs.

GO BOBCATS
GEORGE

PA Bobcat Fan
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RE: Shout out for the O line

Posted: 10/3/2012 1:14:47 PM

After watching the replay of the Penn State game, I was amazed at how our O line was able to open it up for Beau in the second half of the game.

They are a big reason that he is having such a tremendous season so far.

Hats off to ALL of the offense for "bringing it" when we need it.

GoCats105
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Location: Seattle, WA
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RE: Shout out for the O line

Posted: 10/3/2012 4:40:54 PM

I mentioned this in the preseason, but when Phil Steele is ranking three of our linemen in his Top 50 rankings, that's huge. Two Guards, Lechner and Herman, and Center Allen made his list. That's pretty good for any program let alone a MAC school.

Brian Smith (No, not that one)
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RE: Shout out for the O line

Posted: 10/3/2012 8:44:51 PM

Iit's hard to believe that Ohio went from a team that could hardly get three yards a pop a few years ago to this. Was it getting linemen fit for this blocking scheme? Health? Experience? A few years ago, Ohio was the worst third and short team I've ever rooted for. Now they're automatic.

L.C.
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RE: Shout out for the O line

Posted: 10/3/2012 9:19:41 PM

GoCats105 wrote:

Lechner will be All-MAC, but not this year, because he's not even starting, at least, most games. Carlotta, Herman, and Allen all deserve consideration for All-MAC, but so does McGrath, who is having an amazing first year as a starter, and Prior is playing well, too. It wouldn't surprise me if Herman gets drafted, either.

As an aside, it's a shame the old Bobcatattack archives have been deleted. When the offer was made to Herman, some clown came on and posted ad nauseam about what a mistake Ohio had made, and how his friend was a much better choice, and that Herman would be awful... I'd love to go back and find that thread and see whatever happened to the guy that clown was touting as better than Herman.

Back on subject, the offensive line has shown steady improvement over the last 8 years. The way I see it, the initial line, in 2005, was pretty good...until the BG game, when 3 starters were injured in one 5 minute period, and there was really no one behind them. From that point on it was a struggle. The 2005 class had a lot of linemen, but you don't take a high school kid and turn him into a college level player overnight. It takes years in the weight room. Unfortunately, a lot of those early players had career ending injuries, so it was 2 steps forward, 1 step back. Paul Johnson, Flowers, Laudermilch, Black, Britain, Philbin, Bunner, and Ferrainolo and just some of the names I recall of injured linemen. Each year, however, the quality of the recruits kept getting better, and that seems to still be true. Thus I don't think that the line quality has peaked yet - it is still getting better and better.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

GoCats105
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RE: Shout out for the O line

Posted: 10/4/2012 7:47:46 AM

Brian Smith wrote:

I would say it's probably a combination of all those things. But even more important: DEPTH.

Valley Cat
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RE: Shout out for the O line

Posted: 10/5/2012 7:06:39 AM

http://woub.org/2012/10/04/herman-offensive-line-gluing-everything-together

Cool article on Eric Herman and the O-Line

L.C.
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RE: Shout out for the O line

Posted: 10/5/2012 1:31:18 PM

One thing I remember reading about was that the offensive line set up an "Offensive Line Olympics" or something during the off-season, with competition between them on a variety of things. It wasn't for the benefit of anyone but them, and results weren't really announced, but it sounded like something they did on their own initiative, and seemed like a great way of building camaraderie, plus motivating them to work harder.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

Monroe Slavin
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RE: Shout out for the O line

Posted: 10/5/2012 2:18:14 PM

CUPCAKES AND DONUTS!

(universal top tier business motivational tools)

Where's the band?!
WHERE"S THE BAND?!

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Nash'Cat
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RE: Shout out for the O line

Posted: 10/5/2012 4:48:23 PM

Recruiting for the offensive line keeps getting better, too:
"Leavitt is a 6-foot-7-inch, 300-pound lineman who has impressive footwork. Murdock is slightly smaller at 6 foot 4 inches and only about 290 pounds, but is still a solid offensive lineman who has experience blocking in an up-tempo offense and currently protects (2013 QB Commit James) Walsh’s blindside at Dublin Coffman. Murdock and Leavitt provide Ohio with an imposing set of bookend tackles that have the potential to develop into key members of the o-line in the span of their careers at Ohio.
The giant of the group is Bristol, though, who at 6 foot 4 inches, weighs over 320 pounds and explodes off the line at the guard position. 'I felt Ohio was the best fit for me because they pride themselves on their offensive line and (they have) great coaches,' Bristol stated. 'They all seem to play as a unit, they are a family, no individuals.' "

I think I like these guys already :)

http://www.woub.org/2012/10/04/ohio-building-brand-through-recruiting

edited in source

Last Edited: 10/5/2012 4:49:05 PM by Nash'Cat

WE ARE OHIO
-Mike C.
Class of 2010
Media Arts & Studies - Music Production

OhioCatFan
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
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RE: Shout out for the O line

Posted: 10/5/2012 10:48:54 PM

A question or two about the OL's improvement over the last few years. I remember a few years ago there were several threads on BA that referred to the fact that at the time we were converting from man blocking on the OL to zone blocking. Did this change occur? (I think I can see a difference, but it's kind of subtle. It does look to me like the left and the right sides of the line block more as a unit rather than as individuals, which looks like what I think zone blocking would look like, but I really don't know what I'm talking about here.) If the change did occur, to what extent has this been a factor in the improved performance of our line?

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org

EyePatchSolich
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Member Since: 7/26/2012
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RE: Shout out for the O line

Posted: 10/5/2012 11:04:21 PM

Do not forget to credit Coach keven Lightner. In my opinion, the o-line has been one of the most consistent position groups in the program.

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