The Line of Scrimmage Lost This Game

[4skers89]

 

I also have to believe that there is no way those guys can be worse.

 

Maybe the second string falls over like dominos...that's all I got...

 

[Husker67]

 

We got handled by Purdue on both sides of the line. They were able to get pressure on us relatively easily and put our run game in check. On the other side of the ball, we were unable to generate any sort of pressure. When they needed a close out drive, they ran the ball down the field for a score.

 

The struggle of both lines have been the biggest issue this team has, not coaching, not the QB, but the line. When both sides consistently lose the battle at the LOS, you're never going to be a very good football team.

 

It's been this way for 3-4 years. The big play luck isn't there anymore and everyone wants heads.

 

The have looked like this for years, but have been bailed out by 4-5 huge plays in the game.

 

Makes you really appreciate Abdullah and Burkhead the last few years.

[Sargon]

What lost this was preparation. Purdue identified things they couldn't do well and tried to fix them. They're bandage solutions to be sure, but there was genuine effort to try to win this game. Granted, that 8 man front they showed will be exploited to holy hell by the next offensive coordinator....and if your offensive strategy is to QB sneak all day then you need to up the difficulty on Madden.

 

But there was real preparation. They know they aren't any good so they tried to be more aggressive. More trick plays. More moving the pocket. More single coverage. More going for it on 4th down. As much as all of that is too high risk to be viable for long, they still identified an opportunity and went for it.

 

And what did we do? Backup QB in a must win game making his first start on the road and we play exactly to tendencies. Takes 3 quarters to see the middle of the field is open all day. A decent offensive coordinator needs only a series or two, at the most, to see any inside release against that coverage is easy pitch and catch.

 

No, what happened in this game was they were so much better prepared that the game got out of hand early, limiting our options, and giving the home underdog the momentum.

 

Good post. Seems like Langs probably knows techniques and detailed play design and scheme but making smart game plans and play calls ... he doesn't seem to get that. Langs has not called plays much IIRC. He did not at NYG last year right? And prior he'd done it for a year or two and Mike did it before. I think Langs is a weak play caller and it is hurting us.

[ndobney]

I heard that Purdue QB has a hot gf. That is probably what lost the game for us to be honest.

[Enhance]

There's just a serious flow and consistency problem. When things aren't clicking play-to-play they struggle to get themselves out of the hole. It'll be first down or 2nd down and then we'll run some kind of sweep play that gets blown up for a 6-yard loss. Or, we'll have two straight running plays and then an incompletion. The lack of rhythm is what's killing them.

 

The fact that Ryker threw almost 50 times is also laughable. The fact that Jano didn't have a carry until some point in the second half is laughable. I know the coaches claim they can't find a running game rhythm, but when you're ignoring your best weapons and trying to do cute things in the run game, what do you expect?

[Danimal]

Ya, Ryker obviously struggled, but against a team like Purdue we should be able to pound the rock with the occasional well-blocked pass-play, Our inability to win at the LOS put Fyfe in a position where he had to win the game, and that just shouldn't happen against this level of competition.