WR blocking

[HuskerBred]

The other issue we have is you swap out the better receivers for the better blockers on a run play……like we did last year….and even those watching and home have a really good idea what’s coming.

We just need to get better at it and make it harder for the defense across the board. It would open up so much in anyone’s playbook to flip those results.

And get healthier and deeper in the o-line. We’re putting a lot of pressure on the skill guys to block because we’re thin up front. Our WR blocking issues are partly because they’re forced to carry a heavier load.

 

[Brew City Husker]

It’s a trade off. Bench the best receiving WRs for blockers? Or vice versa? It’s the same dilemma in the RB room. My gut tells me that a few of the four are not great at pass protection. Challenge to find a guy who does all of it well. I’d settle for the WRs not grabbing and getting the “cheap” holds.

I’m just saying that if you aren’t getting the results you want from your starters, they might become more motivated if say, for example, that there might be some bench time as a consequence of missed blocks. I get tired of hearing week after week that perimeter blocking is a weakness on this team, yet seeing the same guys out there over and over again failing to execute blocks.

Then I go back to the same thing. Is it that certain guys “can’t” block or is it that certain guys “won’t” block. If they can’t, then our coaching staff needs to be accountable for failing to teach them. If they won’t block, then we are not motivating them properly. Maybe coaching basketball and coaching football don’t translate directly, but Hall of Fame basketball coaches John Wooden and Bobby Knight both said in their careers that the bench is their most valuable motivational tool. Maybe it’s generational and that sort of discipline just doesn’t work with today’s generation. But can you imagine Nick Saban tolerating such poor execution in an area of the game that he deems as important to overall success?

 

[Nehunter88]

I’m just saying that if you aren’t getting the results you want from your starters, they might become more motivated if say, for example, that there might be some bench time as a consequence of missed blocks. I get tired of hearing week after week that perimeter blocking is a weakness on this team, yet seeing the same guys out there over and over again failing to execute blocks.

Then I go back to the same thing. Is it that certain guys “can’t” block or is it that certain guys “won’t” block. If they can’t, then our coaching staff needs to be accountable for failing to teach them. If they won’t block, then we are not motivating them properly. Maybe coaching basketball and coaching football don’t translate directly, but Hall of Fame basketball coaches John Wooden and Bobby Knight both said in their careers that the bench is their most valuable motivational tool. Maybe it’s generational and that sort of discipline just doesn’t work with today’s generation. But can you imagine Nick Saban tolerating such poor execution in an area of the game that he deems as important to overall success?

Perhaps now that we're down to the last four games there are some guys that have been red shirting who may see the field at WR, and if their blocking is better they may see quite a bit of action.

 

[CrabHusker]

Perhaps now that we're down to the last four games there are some guys that have been red shirting who may see the field at WR, and if their blocking is better they may see quite a bit of action.

Rhule mentioned that in the presser.

Anyone who’s ready will likely see action.

 

[HuskerBred]

I’m just saying that if you aren’t getting the results you want from your starters, they might become more motivated if say, for example, that there might be some bench time as a consequence of missed blocks. I get tired of hearing week after week that perimeter blocking is a weakness on this team, yet seeing the same guys out there over and over again failing to execute blocks.

Then I go back to the same thing. Is it that certain guys “can’t” block or is it that certain guys “won’t” block. If they can’t, then our coaching staff needs to be accountable for failing to teach them. If they won’t block, then we are not motivating them properly. Maybe coaching basketball and coaching football don’t translate directly, but Hall of Fame basketball coaches John Wooden and Bobby Knight both said in their careers that the bench is their most valuable motivational tool. Maybe it’s generational and that sort of discipline just doesn’t work with today’s generation. But can you imagine Nick Saban tolerating such poor execution in an area of the game that he deems as important to overall success?

I get it. I’d like to have the bench that Saban, Wooden, and Knight had, but I hear you. I think this is one of the biggest tensions as Rhule continues to build his roster. Until he has better depth at all positions it’s difficult to sit talent, even when talent sometimes makes mistakes. You cut off your nose in spite of your face. We’ll see some redshirt guys get more snaps soon. And sometimes you can’t “coach” all the mistakes away. For a host of reasons — just like a work/school environment where not everyone is a great or quick learner and not everyone is a great manager or teacher but may bring other skills to the org.

I see four things that have generated both fair and unfair criticism, of the players and coaches: 1) the guys have a tendency to grab, which is hard to coach out of a skill guy and is instinctive because he uses his hands to do everything else; 2) some of the penalties have been true effort plays where they try to do too much (not all penalties are created equally); 3) the offense is running a lot of screens/perimeter hitters because of pressure up middle/blitzes (this is a fact but the strategy is a different discussion) so play calling is creating more WR blocking issues; and (4) the timing with some of the penalties has been awful, not that there is ever a great time to hold, which highlights the penalty in our minds.

Side note: although better this year, one of my pet peeves is the penalty at the worst time. Penalties happen. But keep it together at key times. That motion/shift penalty to start the last drive against OSU about gave me a heart attack.

 

[ReasonablyRed]

And get healthier and deeper in the o-line. We’re putting a lot of pressure on the skill guys to block because we’re thin up front. Our WR blocking issues are partly because they’re forced to carry a heavier load.

Agreed on the on-line.
Gottula has been a surprise player for me this year and we have some good young guys up and coming.

 

[HuskerBred]

Agreed on the on-line.
Gottula has been a surprise player for me this year and we have some good young guys up and coming.

100%. When the Huskers have a healthy, relatively talented and deep o-line, I’ll start bringing the heat on the coaching staff for results on that side of the ball. But that’s always the threshold. In a non-gimmick, balanced attack it begins and ends up front.

 

[CrabHusker]

Agreed on the on-line.
Gottula has been a surprise player for me this year and we have some good young guys up and coming.

He’s really done well.

I also like the youth we have on the bench. Just have to keep developing and recruiting to what we want to do. I never understood Frost’s desire to have a room full of 6’8”+ guys. Simple physics should be all the explanation of ‘Why?’ he’d need.

 

[HuskerBred]

He’s really done well.

I also like the youth we have on the bench. Just have to keep developing and recruiting to what we want to do. I never understood Frost’s desire to have a room full of 6’8”+ guys. Simple physics should be all the explanation of ‘Why?’ he’d need.

Agree. I’d actually like HCMR to hit the FCS and non-Power5 rosters hard for linemen the next few years. It’s brutal for those programs but they are the new JUCOs.

 

[CrabHusker]

Agree. I’d actually like HCMR to hit the FCS and non-Power5 rosters hard for linemen the next few years. It’s brutal for those programs but they are the new JUCOs.

Agree, if we can find a guy or two a cycle to add to the room that’s capable of meaningful playing time. Too many equate the lower conference guys with ‘Lower quality’ and that’s often off the mark.

In saying that, we do have a nice number of younger players who’ll be ready for snaps next year, but we’ve also seen how easy it is to go from 3rd to 1st on a depth chart on the line due to injury.

 

[HuskerBred]

Agree, if we can find a guy or two a cycle to add to the room that’s capable of meaningful playing time. Too many equate the lower conference guys with ‘Lower quality’ and that’s often off the mark.

In saying that, we do have a nice number of younger players who’ll be ready for snaps next year, but we’ve also seen how easy it is to go from 3rd to 1st on a depth chart on the line due to injury.

The injuries are the killer. They really need a dozen healthy guys in the room who could take snaps on Saturday. Or at least 10, with guys who can slide to different positions. If I guy can play well at the FCS or lower conference level, he’s still a player. He likely didn’t have the development, grades, “character,” measurables, or exposure to get a high D1 offer. I’ll take the “too short,” butt-kicking proven performer in that room all day long. If the higher star kid stays healthy and develops, then all the better. Quality depth comes in different shapes and sizes. The key word is quality.

 

[HuskerBred]

The injuries are the killer. They really need a dozen healthy guys in the room who could take snaps on Saturday. Or at least 10, with guys who can slide to different positions. If I guy can play well at the FCS or lower conference level, he’s still a player. He likely didn’t have the development, grades, “character,” measurables, or exposure to get a high D1 offer. I’ll take the “too short,” butt-kicking proven performer in that room all day long. If the higher star kid stays healthy and develops, then all the better. Quality depth comes in different shapes and sizes. The key word is quality.

We’ve got that position group figured out. On to the next.

 

[36Blast]

I’ll give us a breather from picking on the WR coach — without really knowing what we’re talking about — to point out that the blocking on the perimeter by WRs is about as difficult as it gets. Huskers were spoiled for decades by wideouts who blocked first, second, and third — and then ran a pass pattern a few times per game. And some of the better receivers were terrific blockers too.

Three factors make it a chore: 1) you’re in space; 2) the guys getting blocked are often the best athletes on the field; and 3) the blocks generally need to be held for a longer time. When I watch the tape, guys are being “grabby” when they start losing contact. What I’d like to see the WRs do (and the TEs on the edge) is not worry about direction and focus on contact. If the guy wants to go left, take him left at 100 mph. Don’t try to do anything else with him because you’ll lose him and start clutching. Just make contact, stay squared up, and dance with him close until the whistle. Let the ball carrier figure it out.

I've noticed this as well. They stop moving their feet instead of taking the defender where he wants to go. It is why we had so many holding calls earlier in the year. If they move their feet, they can still wash out the defender, even if it isn't exactly how it was schemed.

Having worked with wideouts for many years, blocking in space on the perimeter is extremely difficult, as you keenly mentioned above relating to the athleticism at CB. There's also a "want to" factor. As hard as I've been on Bullock, if you watch the tape, he gives the best effort out of anyone. Unfortunately he isn't a threat as a receiver so teams know why he is out there. We need the same level of commitment from the other wideouts that he provides.

Long story short, I think there are multiple reasons why our perimeter blocking has been dreadful.

 

[ReasonablyRed]

He’s really done well.

I also like the youth we have on the bench. Just have to keep developing and recruiting to what we want to do. I never understood Frost’s desire to have a room full of 6’8”+ guys. Simple physics should be all the explanation of ‘Why?’ he’d need.

The physique requirements that Frost preferred were indeed head scratching and frustrating.
The foot speed was not there and all the O line could do was turn around and pick out QB off the turf.
Speed, size, agility with a good mind for football, but we have experienced the limitations of 6'8" on the Offensive line.

 

[HuskerBred]

I've noticed this as well. They stop moving their feet instead of taking the defender where he wants to go. It is why we had so many holding calls earlier in the year. If they move their feet, they can still wash out the defender, even if it isn't exactly how it was schemed.

Having worked with wideouts for many years, blocking in space on the perimeter is extremely difficult, as you keenly mentioned above relating to the athleticism at CB. There's also a "want to" factor. As hard as I've been on Bullock, if you watch the tape, he gives the best effort out of anyone. Unfortunately he isn't a threat as a receiver so teams know why he is out there. We need the same level of commitment from the other wideouts that he provides.

Long story short, I think there are multiple reasons why our perimeter blocking has been dreadful.

Totally agree. I think too that it’s hard to make players understand that if they do miss or have a bad fit, don’t go bad to worse. Don’t grab. Don’t chase. Find the next guy in your line of vision and take him out of the play. It’s not ideal. But it saves the penalty yards and may lead to something special if the RB can make someone miss.