Re: All These Hires And That One Is Still The Glaring Issue ---

Not referring to you tigerfankenb, because you did not beg for Dabo to replace R.Caldwell with B.Thomas.

You cited B.Thomas as a good player ... anyone who watched Clemson and watched B.Thomas' performance at LT would agree.

There are lots of people who want Thomas Austin to immediately replace R.Caldwell. T.Austin might be a fine O-Line coach someday, but he doesn't have the experience or the successful track record of working with under-rated O-Linemen and turning them into star players.

Many of us who post on TNet forget that Clemson's O-Line roster is typically ~ 15 players, whereas other schools commonly have ~ 17 to 18 O-Linemen. R.Caldwell has fewer numbers with which to work, and in 2021 season it bit us in the rear end.

But you're surely aware of the seemingly innumerable TNet idiots who revel in revealing their ignorance about football in general and O-Line in particular with their stupid posts about blaming all problems on the offense to R.Caldwell.

As Mark Twain said, it is easier to fool someone than it is to convince him that he is a fool.

augusta courter

CU Guru [1154]

TigerPulse: 100%

Posts: 768

Joined: 12/6/04

I am an O-Line fan and know some about it. People under-

Dec 25, 2021, 4:53 PM

estimate how much time it takes with the same three to four of the guys to start for multiple games if not a year or two in a row to have a solid O-Line. The combo blocks require knowing exactly what your buddy is doing. Same thing with pass blocking - you have to have great communication on blitzing or stunting defenders - it takes time to work that out. Our guys are very talented except at one position - they just need time.

Secondly, our offense does not make it easy on the O-Line. Is a RPO a pass or a run? It's either. You block it like a run play, but you can't get too far upfield or it's a penalty. SO...run blocking is not the old school run blocking. It also requires a running back that can plant and cut back with vision. Keep in mind the OL is not creating a hole where there is one point of attack ; they are trying to create lanes to cut through. We have one RB who has good vision and cut back ability. You saw at the end of the year when we felt more confident in what we were doing, our OL played very well...

Caldwell is a good coach.

What I think the OL collectively lacks is a little bit of nastiness. I always want them to bury the defenders if able. We are generally content to win the play and move on. Hopefully we'll get to that point once we get some continuity and maturity.

flag link

military_tech

thumb_down

thumb_up

O-Line Coaches

Re: O-Line Coaches

Re: O-Line Coaches