OL and other topics

[WVAPPeer]

First I must say that even I have been amazed at the vitriol by many on here over the last few weeks --- In all fairness, there have been some who have tried to maintain some realism during this time and those of us who share your level-headed views applaud you !!!

Some points like "fire Satterfield" are absurd -
Some like "the 3-4 isn't working because the LBs are making all the tackles" are ill-informed -
Some like "this team is not playing well and 'I' hate to lose" are very understandable -

Some posters bitched daily/weekly while the APPs were winning 8 of 9 SoCon Championships, 8 straight playoff berths, and 3 National Championships so there you go ---

I'm not sure exactly what some of you are looking for with the OL? - We are APP STATE, not Alabama - We don't get the pick of the litter --- Now, while I will readily admit we don't have 5 1st team SoCon performers across the front I don't see the bottom-of-the-barrel performance that some of you seem to see --- I checked the stats for the last 3 games and what I found was APP STATE has been averaging just less than 470 yards per game which would place them in the top 15 nationally - During that time the offense has averaged 6.6 per play - Not sure how this would rank but I'm sure it is highly ranked --- How many sacks have our guys given up this season? maybe 3 or 4 and with half the time protecting a QB you can't run -
Sorry I just don't see where the OL is "so bad" - all the players (and coaches) have room for improvement but this group will be fine in the years to come ---

[PhillyApp1]

AWWW...the sun is shining in WV

The world is not ending but you know as well as anyone those numbers are shaky.

Many other numbers show different...the results of 1-3 is a good example....3 straight home losses is another

Have you seen our Oline get pushed around??
Most of us have and evaluating our past 3 seasons along with the expectation of APP State being the Alabama of the FCS or atleast the LSU/ Oregon/ Ohio State, we have a problem in Wonderland!

The answer is " It will take more time" to fix the issues and

GO APP...............ITS GREAT TO BE A MOUNTAINEER

Conclusion......Suck it up for a while...enjoy the team for what it is......WE shall rise AGAIN someday

[WVAPPeer]

"Pushed around" - some, sure, but most OL suffer thru periods like that when the defense has figured out what's coming - As Steve Brown has said consistently, "in our offense when the QB is not a running threat, we are going to have problems" - I just can't drop the blame on the OL when many factors are in play, including some strange play calls ---

[Saint3333]

Our WR bailed out Jamal quite a few times on under thrown balls.

Until he can step into his throws he is a bigger concern to be than our oline.

In fact oline would be third on my list. Second would be getting pressure on the opponent's QB and making tackles for losses from our defense.

The bend but don't break method only works if you can hold them out of the endzone, that didn' happen Saturday.

[asutrnr81]

... we have a problem in Wonderland!

Hold it buddy, as smitty (Scatman) would once say. There is no problem in "Wonderland"! We may have gotten beat by KonKord....but in Wonderland all is gtg!

You might want to think about a different noun!

....i feel better now!

[App91]

WV, youi must have missed the 3rd and inches fail. That is all OL and moreso it is "want to". To get a yard you have to defeat the guy in front of you. Everyone in the stadium knows where the ball is going in that case. Is man on man.

Bottom line, didn't get it done.

[AppSt94]

First I must say that even I have been amazed at the vitriol by many on here over the last few weeks --- In all fairness, there have been some who have tried to maintain some realism during this time and those of us who share your level-headed views applaud you !!!

Some points like "fire Satterfield" are absurd -
Some like "the 3-4 isn't working because the LBs are making all the tackles" are ill-informed -
Some like "this team is not playing well and 'I' hate to lose" are very understandable -

Some posters bitched daily/weekly while the APPs were winning 8 of 9 SoCon Championships, 8 straight playoff berths, and 3 National Championships so there you go ---



I'm not sure exactly what some of you are looking for with the OL? - We are APP STATE, not Alabama - We don't get the pick of the litter --- Now, while I will readily admit we don't have 5 1st team SoCon performers across the front I don't see the bottom-of-the-barrel performance that some of you seem to see --- I checked the stats for the last 3 games and what I found was APP STATE has been averaging just less than 470 yards per game which would place them in the top 15 nationally - During that time the offense has averaged 6.6 per play - Not sure how this would rank but I'm sure it is highly ranked --- How many sacks have our guys given up this season? maybe 3 or 4 and with half the time protecting a QB you can't run -
Sorry I just don't see where the OL is "so bad" - all the players (and coaches) have room for improvement but this group will be fine in the years to come ---

Good post. You are right in that we are not Alabama. But they are not a bad program to learn a few things from.

[WVAPPeer]

WV, youi must have missed the 3rd and inches fail. That is all OL and moreso it is "want to". To get a yard you have to defeat the guy in front of you. Everyone in the stadium knows where the ball is going in that case. Is man on man.

Bottom line, didn't get it done.

Don't know about you but I have certainly seen all-pro offensive linemen get stuffed on 3rd and inches - it happens when the defense knows what's coming - I agree with Steve Brown when he says we need to go to a 2 back set on short yardage so the D can't target just one RB
---

[App91]

That I can agree on, 2 backs are a must! You going to make it over to the tailgate with Viewcrew?

[WVAPPeer]

That I can agree on, 2 backs are a must! You going to make it over to the tailgate with Viewcrew?

I'm hoping to make the next game - figured ViewCrew might be down east talking Black Saturday off the bridge ---

[DaphneUrquhart]

Good post. You are right in that we are not Alabama. But they are not a bad program to learn a few things from.

Agreed. Let's learn from Alabama. Ray Perkins got 4 years to try and prove he was Bear Bryant's equal - no easy feat. After going 32-15-1 (14-9-1 in SEC) with only 3 post-season wins, Perkins gave way to Bill Curry 26-10-0 (14-6-0 in SEC). In 1990, Gene Stallings took over what many 'Bama fans considered a floundering program and eventually returned a national championship to Tuscaloosa in 1992. The years between Stallings and Saban were horrible by 'Bama standards. Along the way, there have been wins vacated for playing ineligible players and various other NCAA sanctions.

'Bama even has the "Million Dollar Band" which got its name because it had to raise its own funds to travel to games. Generally, the band would travel all night on day coaches (no sleeping). Finally, they raised enough money for the band to ride in sleeper cars to the 1922 Georgia Tech game. 'Bama lost that game pretty badly. When a reporter asked an Alabama alumnus if they had anything at Alabama since it was obvious they didn't have a football team, the response was, "We've got a Million Dollar Band". The name stuck.

Many folks would say that Alabama is a powerhouse in a powerhouse conference. History shows there have, indeed, been down times - even losing seasons.

All will be well in Mountaineer football ... eventually.

[moehler]

when you have 2 teams somewhat evenly matched, it usually comes do to 4 or 5 plays that you either make or you don't. Last game was a great example, the 3 and 1, than 4 and 1, CS third and goal from out 16 and score, the dropped td by Price that ultimately led to a field goal, I'm sure that I've forgotten one or two. The point is when we were winning championships, we almost always made these big plays, we played with confidence, alittle cockiness , and we knew, that we would make the big plays and not the other team. How we get that feeling back, I have no idea, I think the last 4 years, the teams have forgotten that we were considered the program, that all other programs measured themselves, you come here to play, you quickly realize that losing is not an option, now, I don't believe that the kids have that feeling anymore. They need to be reminded that playing here is as good as it gets, and if you are not going to embrace what it means to be a mountaineer, than maybe this isn't the school for you.

[App91]

That I can agree on, 2 backs are a must! You going to make it over to the tailgate with Viewcrew?

I'm hoping to make the next game - figured ViewCrew might be down east talking Black Saturday off the bridge ---

Na, the 2 of them have to keep me away from the knives!

[AppAttack]

when you have 2 teams somewhat evenly matched, it usually comes do to 4 or 5 plays that you either make or you don't. Last game was a great example, the 3 and 1, than 4 and 1, CS third and goal from out 16 and score, the dropped td by Price that ultimately led to a field goal, I'm sure that I've forgotten one or two. The point is when we were winning championships, we almost always made these big plays, we played with confidence, alittle cockiness , and we knew, that we would make the big plays and not the other team. How we get that feeling back, I have no idea, I think the last 4 years, the teams have forgotten that we were considered the program, that all other programs measured themselves, you come here to play, you quickly realize that losing is not an option, now, I don't believe that the kids have that feeling anymore. They need to be reminded that playing here is as good as it gets, and if you are not going to embrace what it means to be a mountaineer, than maybe this isn't the school for you.

Yes, it's usually a few plays that decide tight games like that. SEVERAL come to mind in this game though. A lot of stupid penalties, out of position on D and bad play calls on O.

1. Dropped TD by Price
2. Stuffed on 4th and 1 (run up the middle)
3. Stuffed on 3rd and 2 (run up the middle)
4. Pass batted down on 4th and 2
5. Offsides on 3rd and 3, giving them a 1st down
6. TD on 3rd and goal from the 16
7. TD on 3rd and goal from the 15 (WITH A BACKUP QB!)
8. Multiple penalties on D that extended TD drives
9. D could not make ONE play to get off the field on 3rd downs

Lots of work to do. Some things can be fixed and some probably can't. Like you said it seems we almost ALWAYS made those plays at The Rock and now we're 0-2 and clueless. We'll get it figured out eventually, maybe not this year -- or even next, but we will. Let's go win another conference road game.

[moehler]

agree, hopefully we are all overreacting, and this is just a temporary setback.

[AppSt94]

agree, hopefully we are all overreacting, and this is just a temporary setback.

I think that this will be the case. Bobby Bowden use to say there were four steps to a winning program.
1) lose in blowout fashion
2) lose close games
3) win close games, and
4) win in dominating style.

I think with our talent and with a little experiance, we should back on the upswing soon.

[Black Saturday]

That I can agree on, 2 backs are a must! You going to make it over to the tailgate with Viewcrew?

I'm hoping to make the next game - figured ViewCrew might be down east talking Black Saturday off the bridge ---

WV, I completely understand our program's current situation. That's why you haven't seen me on here whining daily, like you did '08-'12 seasons. Especially the three seasons '08 through '10, when we were the favorites to win national championships. I've mellowed.

Hope to see you when we swat the Gnats.

[asutrnr81]

One Mountaineer team lost (got shut out) at Maryland one Saturday, and beat the # 11 team in the nation the next.....

They are 18-21 year olds...**it happens!

[WataugaMan]

And, another Mountaineer team lost twice in a row (at home) to teams they have no business losing to. Regardless of age, that should not happen. With that said, hopefully our Mountaineers will do what the other Mountaineers did last week and take it to El Cid.

[WVAPPeer]

" I've mellowed. "

"They" do say that the first step to recovery is admitting the problem? ---
Hope to see Black Saturday on Black Saturday ---