[Austroturf]

But those are massive problems.  In essence, your assessment is that we are losing in the trenches -- what I referred to as "feeble line play" in my post.  And, yes, the knock-on effects are that our defense is porous and puts no pressure on the opposing QB, who then torches us downfield, and our running backs have no holes to run through nor does McKee have the pass protection he needs.  Shawball, in its original form, was predicated on superior line play, with the power run game controlling TOP and the defense reliably getting stops when needed.  It was beautiful when we had it, but that superior line play (on both sides of the ball) is a distant memory.

Indeed they are massive problems. It isn't just Shawball. It is Everybody ball. Thus my Kal comment. If your OL can't block, you lose. As Kal is finally noticing, it doesn't matter if it is Baldwin or Musgrave calling the plays/designing the offense. If your OL sucks, your offense will suck. The issue I have is that we have recruited guys who are supposedly elite. Why aren't they playing like it? I for one have no idea at all. It isn't just the OL coach, because we have been through several of them lately. Or, maybe its is the OL coaches and we have been going steadily downhill?

On the DL, we know we just don't have adequate depth. We have a couple of players who are quite good, and then fall off a cliff. We often say "We play dime so much we only need two DL". In fact, I think we do it because we only HAVE two DL and therefore no choice. We have at least a plausible source of the problem here and it is rumored that "help is on the way". Hopefully that is true. On the OL, it is still a mystery.

Agree that a bad OL neuters any offense; but Shawball, with the power-run game and high emphasis on long drives and high TOP was absolutely dependent on top-flight OL play to get the push and slowly grind the defense down.    

Why the OL performance has slipped?  Probably a combination of subpar coaching (the unit under Bloomgren was good to excellent, with some patchiness at times), deficient S&C and lack of depth.  The many injuries are probably a result of deficient S&C.  The quality of recruits appears to be good, but there were some years when we didn't sign enough new players, which also impacts depth.  The downward slide in performance is unmistakable.  Who owns the problem?  Shaw, Pritchard, the new position coach?

[Austroturf]

But those are massive problems.  In essence, your assessment is that we are losing in the trenches -- what I referred to as "feeble line play" in my post.  And, yes, the knock-on effects are that our defense is porous and puts no pressure on the opposing QB, who then torches us downfield, and our running backs have no holes to run through nor does McKee have the pass protection he needs.  Shawball, in its original form, was predicated on superior line play, with the power run game controlling TOP and the defense reliably getting stops when needed.  It was beautiful when we had it, but that superior line play (on both sides of the ball) is a distant memory.

Indeed they are massive problems. It isn't just Shawball. It is Everybody ball. Thus my Kal comment. If your OL can't block, you lose. As Kal is finally noticing, it doesn't matter if it is Baldwin or Musgrave calling the plays/designing the offense. If your OL sucks, your offense will suck. The issue I have is that we have recruited guys who are supposedly elite. Why aren't they playing like it? I for one have no idea at all. It isn't just the OL coach, because we have been through several of them lately. Or, maybe its is the OL coaches and we have been going steadily downhill?

On the DL, we know we just don't have adequate depth. We have a couple of players who are quite good, and then fall off a cliff. We often say "We play dime so much we only need two DL". In fact, I think we do it because we only HAVE two DL and therefore no choice. We have at least a plausible source of the problem here and it is rumored that "help is on the way". Hopefully that is true. On the OL, it is still a mystery.

Agree that a bad OL neuters any offense; but Shawball, with the power-run game and high emphasis on long drives and high TOP was absolutely dependent on top-flight OL play to get the push and slowly grind the defense down.    

Why the OL performance has slipped?  Probably a combination of subpar coaching (the unit under Bloomgren was good to excellent, with some patchiness at times), deficient S&C and lack of depth.  The many injuries are probably a result of deficient S&C.  The quality of recruits appears to be good, but there were some years when we didn't sign enough new players, which also impacts depth.  The downward slide in performance is unmistakable.  Who owns the problem?  Shaw, Pritchard, the new position coach?