[winflop]

I will be a contrarian here and say that the irony is probably that next year the line will be a lot better, and might even be an above average offensive line.  As Sam noted, everyone is coming back (pending a late transfer portal decision), and these guys were all sophomores and juniors this year, but because of COVID, really more like freshmen and sophomores.  The sanguine (or perhaps delusional) take here is that having played together all year, and having a chance for a full year under their new coach, that they will gel next year and be substantially better.

BC

I recall a fair number of comments last year saying they didn't think Jones and Peat were all that good and tended to go down on first contact. While I didn't really subscribe to that, maybe E.J. getting the lions share of the carries this fall will be good for the offense. Assuming he can stay healthy of course.

I think it's a valid critique of Jones that he was not elusive. We did not see a burst of speed to find open space. He was not able to make defenders miss. Even in 2020, his best season when he averaged 92 yards a game with a more effective OL, his longest run was 21 yards. 
In 2021, his long runs were:
KState - 6 yards
USC - 5 yards
Vandy - 61 yards (career best); otherwise he had 6 carries for 19 yards
Oregon - 11 yards
ASU - 5 yards
WSU - 9 yards

You get the idea. At the end of the season, Shaw seemed to want to give more carries to backs with more big play potential.

Really good points Spiny. I'm wondering if these late transfer decisions were at least in part due to Shaw telling them that at best they'd be sharing snaps with Smith Filkins and Farrell. That's a really crowded backfield with more than three or four.

Doubt we'll ever get the real story, but it's probably a lot more than just one or two things.

[winflop]

I will be a contrarian here and say that the irony is probably that next year the line will be a lot better, and might even be an above average offensive line.  As Sam noted, everyone is coming back (pending a late transfer portal decision), and these guys were all sophomores and juniors this year, but because of COVID, really more like freshmen and sophomores.  The sanguine (or perhaps delusional) take here is that having played together all year, and having a chance for a full year under their new coach, that they will gel next year and be substantially better.

BC

I recall a fair number of comments last year saying they didn't think Jones and Peat were all that good and tended to go down on first contact. While I didn't really subscribe to that, maybe E.J. getting the lions share of the carries this fall will be good for the offense. Assuming he can stay healthy of course.

I think it's a valid critique of Jones that he was not elusive. We did not see a burst of speed to find open space. He was not able to make defenders miss. Even in 2020, his best season when he averaged 92 yards a game with a more effective OL, his longest run was 21 yards. 
In 2021, his long runs were:
KState - 6 yards
USC - 5 yards
Vandy - 61 yards (career best); otherwise he had 6 carries for 19 yards
Oregon - 11 yards
ASU - 5 yards
WSU - 9 yards

You get the idea. At the end of the season, Shaw seemed to want to give more carries to backs with more big play potential.

Really good points Spiny. I'm wondering if these late transfer decisions were at least in part due to Shaw telling them that at best they'd be sharing snaps with Smith Filkins and Farrell. That's a really crowded backfield with more than three or four.

Doubt we'll ever get the real story, but it's probably a lot more than just one or two things.