You dont beat Alabama by kicking FG's and Lane knows that. Kicking a FG that first drive would have done zero for all the moral victories that people like to think, The players knew FGs were not going to beat Bama and before the game even started were all in on going for it every time.   It sometimes makes fans feel better, but the players and coaches know the only way to win against a giant like Bama is touchdowns.  Kick a FG on that first drive, the players are looking at the coach like he is a coward and wants to try and play it close..

OM is getting better  a little at a time against Bama, they dont change much, they are consistent.  Almost impossible to upgrade your OL and Dl to compete with Bama in a year. takes a few years to get the talent and then depth,

Honestly it has zero to do with the OL coach, OM is WAY WAY behind Bama as far as talent on the OL and DL.  Kiffins scheme is the only reason OM has gained yards against them the past 2 years. Big reason Kiffin is searching JUCO's high and low for offensive linemen.   As most things, when Luke was fired, he had depleted the position . Little and Patterson left after that season for the draft and the last holdover was Newman in this past draft. Luke took the #3 player in the country and almost ruined him and his pro prospects.  Kid was a sure fire top 5 pick and then Luke got his hands on him. Same with Patterson, came in a Army All American, #1 player in the state, top 40 player in the country.  Those guys are at worst 2nd round pick guys.  Patterson was late 7th, almost not drafted.

Then you take a player like Royce Newman a 3 star player out of HS, barely in the top 400 players in the country,  picked OM over a terrible Neb program and a terrible Iowa st program at the time.  After not really being developed under Luke and staff ( Newman was a starter in 2019 as a RS JR-that was on campus for 4 years before starting), Kiffin brings in Clements as OL coach and they develop Newman into a 4th round pick that made the Packers roster as a rookie this year. Clements and Kiffin had a disagreement and Kiffin fired him, but it was not for coaching, Clements was/is a good OL coach.



I say all this to say, the talent is coming, and it takes some time to catch up.  The cupboard was BARE. The OL is not like a WR/RB/DL etc where you can basically come in and just go play (unless you are a Little/Patterson super stud and sometimes they still  take a year).   But until Kiffin can bring those type OL in, it may be another recruiting cycle, (2023 class) the talent he is bringing in has to be developed.  Alabama's DL is already NFL ready.

Thornton will be fine, Lane knew he needed a teacher at the position right now and that is what Thornton is.Thornton learned from one of the best in Kyle Flood.  But his biggest teacher/mentor was his grandfather Billy Shaw.  If you do not know who Billy Shaw is, here is a link to read up.  So I am not worried about Thornton.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Shaw


https://christianindex.org/meet-pro-football-hall-fames-billy-shaw/

 

Last edited by Rock1Aggie (10/04/2021 11:16 am)

Rebel58 wrote:

Yeah, no one looks good against Bama, but it's not limited to that.  They had issues before that.  And its' not just lack of talent either.   Just my opinion. 

Could you point out some examples of "it's not just a lack of talent either"?  I would like to go look at that.  As a 20+ year OL coach in both HS and college, I MIGHT be able to help point out that it is or isn't a talent issue.  Honestly I am not trying to be a smart aleck, just hoping my exp could help in just maybe showing that it is not the coaching.
Now you may point out something I have missed that it is some coaching decisions by Thornton, but I would like to look at it. I think it makes for good discussions on message boards

Thanks

The things that I noticed was inability to pick up blitzes. I am trying to remember instances, but there was one time where one of our OL not only didn't pick up the blitz, but didn't even block anyone (it wasn't on the screen). That could very well be a talent issue and guy making a mistake. I'll need to go back and rewatch the game though. 

Rebel58 wrote:

I don't need you to convince me what you say is correct.  My son played OL and is an OL coach.  I'll leave it that.   Lets see how it plays out.  Maybe it will all be good. 

OK , great. And I hope you don't think I was trying to be some smart arse know it all.  Just wanted to know what you might have seen that I haven't, as I of course I haven't watched all of OM's  snaps.


I think the OL is continuing to improve and yesterday was another big step.