OL and QB thoughts

[SmokeyRone]

I thought our OL play last year, with a couple exceptions, was poor, sometimes very poor. Particularly on short yardage situations. Often against weak and understrength D Lines.

Will our OL be better in '14? Can it be better? How or Why?

To win the Coastal, I would think we are going to need better QB play than we had last year. Do you think Heaps or Williams can or will be better? Reasons? Could smarter QB play be possible? (3 years of Morris throwing short of the chains on 3rd down, running shortof said, missing open recievers, etc were indicative of not smart QB play)


Two basic, but IMO, relevent questions.

 

[OBLIVION]

No reason why our QB play can't be 50% better than last season. I don't care who gets the role out of Williams, Heaps, Olsen our Kaaya. Teams all over implant new QB's every year and do it nicely. No excuse why we can't do it here. Coleys chance to really prove himself outside of the great recruiter tag.

The OL has been a wait and see project with me for many years. Always get they hype in the spring and summer about how it will be a strength. Just to be disappointed shortly into the season.

 

[rok]

Morris was awful last year. Simply awful. His numbers were inflated somewhat the year before but he regressed into something really bad last season. He was short-hopping throws against UVA. He played his worst game against L'ville. It won't take much to improve on his output.

 

[ProjectMKUltra5]

I think the offensive line last year was good in pass protection, they allowed Morris the time to throw the ball down field. With a different QB who will hopefully throw more short and intermediate passes, I think the pass protection will be awesome. Run blocking is a different story, Duke can cover a lot of holes but I don't think they have that mean streak. When they need to nut up and maul an opposing line they fold more often then not. Hopefully we see a improvement in that area, it would go a long way in being able to sustain drives.

 

[BigDikCane]

I think we should start the best qb that can run...

 

[RaiseCane]

Our OL play has been one of the biggest mysteries and disappointments over the last few years, and that's saying a lot. In the past few years, it seemed like, when looking at the roster, that OL should be our strength and yet it seems like we've been unable to get the tough yards when necessary. There's been lots of talk about zone v. man blocking schemes and what our guys are best suited to do. This year, I think there are probably more question marks than before. Flowers is set at LT and McDermott at C, but otherwise there are a bunch of questions. Who will play RT? If Gadbois or younger McDermott aren't ready, then Feliciano will have to play out there (not his best position), with probably Isidora and Gall at the guards. Who will provide depth? I think this group will be solid, but the lack of depth and lack of proven RT are both scary issues.

The QB position was a huge question mark when we thought Williams was going to start. Would a game manager be better than Morris's desire to always go for the homerun. Would we use the middle of the field now that the deep ball wouldn't be as available (without a guy with a huge arm)? Without Williams, we're left with a 5th year transfer who has to learn the system and who hasn't been great at his prior stops, a RS Frosh QB who by all accounts still is immature and not ready to lead and 2 true freshmen. Can one of these guys be better than Morris? Sure, but it's definitely a huge question mark, only made bigger by having to play on the road at Louisville and at Nebraska in the first 4 games. I'm ready to see our QB play more consistently and be someone who gets the ball to our playmakers, but RW's injury really complicates things.

 

[dk72]

Morris was awful last year. Simply awful. His numbers were inflated somewhat the year before but he regressed into something really bad last season. He was short-hopping throws against UVA. He played his worst game against L'ville. It won't take much to improve on his output.

Exactly. The only throw Morris was proficient at was throwing long and letting his receiver run under it. When it came to anything involving timing or finesse, he stunk. I'd gladly trade the arm for someone who can throw to a receiver in stride, with good timing. We have the playmakers, just get them the ball.

 

[rok]

In his defense, once Duke and Dorsett were lost it hamstrung the entire team. But he did a horrible job moving the chains all year, threw backbreaking picks all year, he was complete ****. How we won the UNC game in spite of him I'll never know.

 

[Calinative]

Our OL was one of 2 offenses in Country to have a top 15 for Adj Line Yards and Adj Sack Rate.
http://www.sbnation.com/college-foo...ricanes-football-2014-preview-schedule-roster

 

[SmokeyRone]

That's what scares me. Morris was awful, yet Williams apparently was not an option, even when Morris was awful and injured.

 

[whoopingcane]

Morris was awful last year. Simply awful. His numbers were inflated somewhat the year before but he regressed into something really bad last season. He was short-hopping throws against UVA. He played his worst game against L'ville. It won't take much to improve on his output.

He only really regressed in three areas; pocket presence, passing and mobility.

 

[OldManCane]

I rewatched most of the games from last year and really struck by how bad Morris played. The guy didn't know how to read anything, just tried to fun and gun his way through the season and it cost him not getting drafted by any NFL team.

I think Heaps should do better, and I like what we're hearing about Kaaya.

I disagree about the o line. When I watched them, I though that they played remarkably well and were probably the best coached offensive line of any college football team I watched last year.

 

[OldManCane]

Our OL play has been one of the biggest mysteries and disappointments over the last few years, and that's saying a lot. In the past few years, it seemed like, when looking at the roster, that OL should be our strength and yet it seems like we've been unable to get the tough yards when necessary. There's been lots of talk about zone v. man blocking schemes and what our guys are best suited to do. This year, I think there are probably more question marks than before. Flowers is set at LT and McDermott at C, but otherwise there are a bunch of questions. Who will play RT? If Gadbois or younger McDermott aren't ready, then Feliciano will have to play out there (not his best position), with probably Isidora and Gall at the guards. Who will provide depth? I think this group will be solid, but the lack of depth and lack of proven RT are both scary issues.

The QB position was a huge question mark when we thought Williams was going to start. Would a game manager be better than Morris's desire to always go for the homerun. Would we use the middle of the field now that the deep ball wouldn't be as available (without a guy with a huge arm)? Without Williams, we're left with a 5th year transfer who has to learn the system and who hasn't been great at his prior stops, a RS Frosh QB who by all accounts still is immature and not ready to lead and 2 true freshmen. Can one of these guys be better than Morris? Sure, but it's definitely a huge question mark, only made bigger by having to play on the road at Louisville and at Nebraska in the first 4 games. I'm ready to see our QB play more consistently and be someone who gets the ball to our playmakers, but RW's injury really complicates things.

A lot of that last year was on the running backs.

Sorry to say, but Dallas Crawford was not a good running back, and Gus Edwards wasn't a good running back last year. Duke was good but a little light to be a short yardage back, and Eduardo Clements was good but was injured or something.

 

[OldManCane]

That's what scares me. Morris was awful, yet Williams apparently was not an option, even when Morris was awful and injured.

Golden, for whatever dumb reason, favors playing seniors over playing the best player sometimes. Not sure if it was to thank them for sticking with the team during "the cloud" or whatever, but you can't tell me that AJ Highsmith and Jimmy Gaines were better than the kids behind them either.

 

[SmokeyRone]

OldManCane, I agree about your RB assessment, but on short yardage, they were getting crushed behind the LOS, consistantly. Our OL was blown off the ball more often than not.

 

[Gi0logy]

That's what scares me. Morris was awful, yet Williams apparently was not an option, even when Morris was awful and injured.

Golden, for whatever dumb reason, favors playing seniors over playing the best player sometimes. Not sure if it was to thank them for sticking with the team during "the cloud" or whatever, but you can't tell me that AJ Highsmith and Jimmy Gaines were better than the kids behind them either.

This. I don't understand the logic of "Williams didn't play therefore Morris is better than him." It has nothing to do with Morris being better or worse than Williams. Golden's loyalty to his seniors that stayed with him during the tough times coupled with the fact that he wasn't about to bench a player who was a preseason 2nd round pick is the only reason Morris kept playing. While I don't agree with it, I don't blame him for it.

I think Williams skill set fits our team better and it's a shame we won't see a fully healthy Williams this season. Unfortunately, I predict a QB carousel. Olsen getting the first two starts or so and plays terribly. I think Heaps then comes in for another game or two until Williams is healthy enough. Williams then gets injured again and we go with Kaaya for the rest of the season. However, I do hope that Kaaya gets the start from the beginning.

I'm hopeful our O-Line is more consistent and I think we see Flowers emerge as a first round draft prospect (I know there's a lot of hype locally but I think he gets NFL scouts to start realizing he is a 1st round talent). I think our inside guys will start to maul people the way they should have last year. Oline, RB, and Wr will be the brightest units for our team.

 

[OldManCane]

That's what scares me. Morris was awful, yet Williams apparently was not an option, even when Morris was awful and injured.

Golden, for whatever dumb reason, favors playing seniors over playing the best player sometimes. Not sure if it was to thank them for sticking with the team during "the cloud" or whatever, but you can't tell me that AJ Highsmith and Jimmy Gaines were better than the kids behind them either.

This. I don't understand the logic of "Williams didn't play therefore Morris is better than him." It has nothing to do with Morris being better or worse than Williams. Golden's loyalty to his seniors that stayed with him during the tough times coupled with the fact that he wasn't about to bench a player who was a preseason 2nd round pick is the only reason Morris kept playing. While I don't agree with it, I don't blame him for it.

I think Williams skill set fits our team better and it's a shame we won't see a fully healthy Williams this season. Unfortunately, I predict a QB carousel. Olsen getting the first two starts or so and plays terribly. I think Heaps then comes in for another game or two until Williams is healthy enough. Williams then gets injured again and we go with Kaaya for the rest of the season. However, I do hope that Kaaya gets the start from the beginning.

I'm hopeful our O-Line is more consistent and I think we see Flowers emerge as a first round draft prospect (I know there's a lot of hype locally but I think he gets NFL scouts to start realizing he is a 1st round talent). I think our inside guys will start to maul people the way they should have last year. Oline, RB, and Wr will be the brightest units for our team.

I have to see how well Gadbois does before I say anything about next year's line. I do think Isadora will do fine but I hope Gadbois has the footwork honestly.

For QB, I think Heaps wins the job for the rest of the season if he beats Louisville. If we have a QB controversy mid-season that's just poor coaching and not acceptable.

All the love in the world for Ryan Williams, but Heaps is a better QB in my opinion. You're not entitled to a starting job at the University of Miami. I feel bad for him and his injury, but if it's my team and Heaps plays well against Louisville, then that's gonna be my starting QB for the season.

I'm also not throwing a true freshman in to the fire. I predict that in a couple weeks, this will be a two-man race between Heaps and Olsen, Kaaya won't even be in the picture to start.

 

[freespirted305]

I think the biggest issue with the Oline the last few years is that they struggle with the stretch run and similar plays due to their shear size. Teams that run the zone blocking schemes have smaller more athletic lineman. I also think our lack of RB talent outside of Duke was another contributing factor.

 

[RaiseCane]

That's what scares me. Morris was awful, yet Williams apparently was not an option, even when Morris was awful and injured.

Golden, for whatever dumb reason, favors playing seniors over playing the best player sometimes. Not sure if it was to thank them for sticking with the team during "the cloud" or whatever, but you can't tell me that AJ Highsmith and Jimmy Gaines were better than the kids behind them either.

This. I don't understand the logic of "Williams didn't play therefore Morris is better than him." It has nothing to do with Morris being better or worse than Williams. Golden's loyalty to his seniors that stayed with him during the tough times coupled with the fact that he wasn't about to bench a player who was a preseason 2nd round pick is the only reason Morris kept playing. While I don't agree with it, I don't blame him for it.

I think Williams skill set fits our team better and it's a shame we won't see a fully healthy Williams this season. Unfortunately, I predict a QB carousel. Olsen getting the first two starts or so and plays terribly. I think Heaps then comes in for another game or two until Williams is healthy enough. Williams then gets injured again and we go with Kaaya for the rest of the season. However, I do hope that Kaaya gets the start from the beginning.

I'm hopeful our O-Line is more consistent and I think we see Flowers emerge as a first round draft prospect (I know there's a lot of hype locally but I think he gets NFL scouts to start realizing he is a 1st round talent). I think our inside guys will start to maul people the way they should have last year. Oline, RB, and Wr will be the brightest units for our team.

I have to see how well Gadbois does before I say anything about next year's line. I do think Isadora will do fine but I hope Gadbois has the footwork honestly.

For QB, I think Heaps wins the job for the rest of the season if he beats Louisville. If we have a QB controversy mid-season that's just poor coaching and not acceptable.

All the love in the world for Ryan Williams, but Heaps is a better QB in my opinion. You're not entitled to a starting job at the University of Miami. I feel bad for him and his injury, but if it's my team and Heaps plays well against Louisville, then that's gonna be my starting QB for the season.

I'm also not throwing a true freshman in to the fire. I predict that in a couple weeks, this will be a two-man race between Heaps and Olsen, Kaaya won't even be in the picture to start.

I agree with your take on the QB situation. Williams was the clear cut starter at QB until he got hurt. We brought in Heaps as a veteran QB once Williams got hurt and the coaches saw that Olsen wasn't ready to be the guy. With 2 of our first 4 games on the road against solid teams, I think that it would be shocking to see us go with a true frosh at QB. I think unless Heaps really, really struggles AND Olsen really shines, Heaps is the guy in game 1. Just read what Golden had to say about those 2 guys, citing Heaps's maturity, readiness, etc, while saying that Olsen is moving in the right direction. None of Golden, Duke or DP had anything positive to say about Olsen, even though they all know how unlikely it is for Williams to be back for game 1.

If Heaps plays well in game 1, I think it takes a whole lot to get him replaced by Williams. I think once Williams comes back, Heaps and Williams will be 1-2, with Olsen a clear 3rd and the 2 freshmen hopefully redshirting.

 

[SmokeyRone]

Golden didn't bench an awful Harris, when Morris at that time looked much better, even when the season was over with, and he knew Morris was gonna need reps for the 2012 season.

(Remember Morris with his bug eyes, looking like a deer in the headlights, for Maryland in 2012?)

Was that loyalty to a senior who was one of the main reasons why there was a cloud? (Harris was all in on Shapiro freebees)

I said it at that time, he was setting up an for an excuse in 2012. Don't play your backup who will be your only QB the next season, because you know he's bad. That gives you two years of excuses for not doing anything about an obvious lack of QBs. Granted, Golden has turned it into a FOUR year excuse. He is GOAT at excuses, I will crown him for that.


Frankly, I don't see "loyalty" as the reason Williams didn't play. I see "But...no QB! We lost Morris! Kaaya in 2015!" as the reason.

I hopre I'm wrong, hence why I wanted reasons we will have a serviceable QB in 2014.