Friend doesn’t have much to work with. I’ll get down on him if he gets some legit talent and they still look the way they’ve looked this year.
My issue with Helton is that his playcalling makes no damn sense and is as predictable as Sab stalking teen recruits. No, he does not have a good offensive line. That line has been terrible for 5 years now and there is no Dobbs to bail them out. There are not many ways around that, but there are a few. He did it against SC. He has not done it since. It makes no sense. At one point how many first down runs in a row did he call? It was at least 10.
You had 2 substantial questions with this offense starting the season. The OL and QB play. The 2 most important positions/units on that side of the ball. Most felt the skill positions would be fine and they have been for the most part. The OL questions got answered early when Kennedy went out, and Smith and Hall never got right with Smith eventually going completely out. It went from questionable to terminal. Not at LT or the right side or one position but pretty much across the board. You dont have one guy unlike last year with Smith where you can at least run behind him and know you will get something positive. I dont believe there is a player on this OL today that could start at Vandy. That's a different level of bad. At QB you ve had solid progress that has been tied to JG staying on his feet. He has missed time against UF, Bama, and Mizzou because his OL cant pass block nor run block well enough to even keep a D somewhat honest. I'm surprised he has been able to play in every game honestly that's a miracle in and of itself. Expecting any level of consistency out of this offense with that OL and a brand new scheme to the point of firing the OC after 1 season is not being realistic.
Hard for me to believe Friend cant coach. OL who have committed to play for him, including 2 top tackles in the country do their homework.
What's "logical" when you cant run or pass block and your starting QB has missed time in 3 games and may not play in the last because hes taken more shots than Joe Frazier? You have to have something you can consistently go to with or without balance or a lot of what you try wont make sense. The OL is not even slightly consistent in either phase of blocking. All in mind that your trying to teach a new philosophy that includes a down hill, smashmouth identity as per the head coach.
Agreed. And hes coaching the least talented and worst developed unit on this team. And it's not really close.
I’ve gone over what logical is. Playing to the few strengths, or smallest weaknesses, of the team. Not being so predictable.
You know what, this line can’t block air. Let’s do play action from under center. That doesn’t take time to develop at all. How about pass plays that take time to develop instead of more quick hitters. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know what won’t work with this offense. Well, maybe to everyone not named Tyson Helton
When your OL is what this one is your gonna be predictable and easier to defend. Our strength is going down field and opening up the underneath stuff. That strength also has your QB seeing double about every other attempt. That's not rocket science either.
I agree. Why does that not work for Helton when 5 of the 11 players on the field are coming from Friends unit? It's no different than saying Helton needs better players or even Pruitt for the entire program.
The only strengths are jump balls to Callaway and letting Palmer and Murphy run by everyone, Jennings on slants as well. You can't abandon the run and be one dimensional because you can't pass block and you've got an, at best, two read QB. It's a bad situation all the way around.
It's been bad, but it's had its moments. The entire team is wildly inconsistent, it's what happens when you have mediocre players, no depth and first time HC, DC and OC all learning on the job.
Also why does this excuse bad play calling? Throw it 35 times a game because that’s playing to the strengths. Nothing but shotgun to give the QB more time.
