A question about the OL

Is it me or is the OL continuing to look pretty poor compared to last season? In 4 games Connor hasn't come close to sniffing 100 yards rushing, is it the line, scheme, or something else? I liked what Munchak was able to do with the OL but did his departure really hurt as bad as it seems?

I also wonder if AB not on the field is making it tough? To be honest the only major difference that they changed on offense is adding the wildcat and using quick short passes for a run game. Is it age? Did one season suddenly have Foster and AV unable to play or move? I want to hear thoughts, to me they look bad but am I missing something? Let me know.

 

The O Line is getting up there in age especially Ramon Foster but in addition to that our tackles Fielder and Villanueva are average AT BEST. We will need to address this in the upcoming draft

 

AV and Foster have been playing pretty poorly. AV got off to a slow start last year as well. Not sure what is going on with him

 

Yeah, the O line has not been great. Conner almost seems like a different runner than last season, and I've believed for the last couple of weeks that it's because the O isn't making any lanes for him to be able to successfully run.

 

Its's trending down. I'm not sure if age is a factor, if Munch is gone.

They seem to pass block well and you can't put Mason's knock out yesterday on the line, that was a vastly extended play.

But the run game has left a lot to be desired.

 

After C,RG we have below average OL.

 

Add the OL to the list of areas going in the wrong direction. How the memory of 3 past seems so long ago now. I think the reason for this is part of the answer to your question.

Edit: One thing I did observe yesterday was that MR was holding on to the ball for ever it seemed and the line was giving him plenty of time for the most part. MR paid the price for it unfortunately.

 

It was brought up in one of articles on Depot or BSC or somewhere I read that during run plays guys are moving off the dbl team block early and moving into the second level block. This had the result of the defender on the dbl was able to get away once the move is made and clog up the hole. The defenses as a whole have gotten smarter at defending the zone block, they will let the lineman move into the second level and just fill in behind them because the threat of the seam route or shallow drags and slants aren't there. If both TE's are healthy you can start to work play action and get those lb''s and db's to play honest instead of cheating towards the run.

The run game will greatly improve if the OL concentrates on blocking the guy in front of them and creating a hole, Conner, Samuels and Snell gave enough talent to make a move and 6 yards on a dive play.

 

They are underacheiving, all of them.

 

I am tempted to dig up the comments by the fans who were complaining about how often MR would dump it to his 2nd read (in the previous games), instead of spending the time to go through with his 3rd and 4th reads.

 

Yes the OL is on the decline and I hope the front office will begin the process of replacing them slowly.

BUT I you’re missing a key factor here. Ben threw for a record amount of yards last year. He totally opened up the field for the running backs.

The Steelers are now playing their second QB who was never played a down in the NFL before this year. The defenders are daring our rookie qb’s to beat them. They are playing the run first. That makes it a lot more difficult for those guys to find space.