Fitz calls offensive line "a work in progress"

[lou v]

EVANSTON-Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald called his offensive line "a work in progress" with the opener against Stanford looming. Is that a cause for concern?

Story: NU O-line a work in progress ($)

 

[beetlemania74]

EVANSTON-Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald called his offensive line "a work in progress" with the opener against Stanford looming. Is that a cause for concern?

All of the weaknesses from last season remain causes for concern for me. These include poor play by the OL and WR groups, a lack of a pass rush on defense, terrible punting, and little production from the punt returners. I'll assume that these issues will, to some extent, carry through to this season until proven otherwise.

"A work in progress", nine months after the team's last game and ten days before the next. Fantastic. I know Fitz loves to dabble in "coach speak", but still, this doesn't exactly inspire confidence, particularly with the #21 ranked team in the country coming to town.

 

[villox]

BREAKING: Area Coach Gives Vague Assessment of Team's Readiness

 

[Turk]

All of the weaknesses from last season remain causes for concern for me. These include poor play by the OL and WR groups, a lack of a pass rush on defense, terrible punting, and little production from the punt returners. I'll assume that these issues will, to some extent, carry through to this season until proven otherwise.

"A work in progress", nine months after the team's last game and ten days before the next. Fantastic. I know Fitz loves to dabble in "coach speak", but still, this doesn't exactly inspire confidence, particularly with the #21 ranked team in the country coming to town.

He hasnt addressed the OL in 6 years so why surprised?

 

[beetlemania74]

He hasnt addressed the OL in 6 years so why surprised?

Actually, I'm not really surprised, just disappointed. I'll be surprised (and very happy) if our o-line starts consistently driving guys off the LOS and markedly improves in their pass protection. Similarly if our punter can finish in the top half of the conference in yards/punt and our punt returner doesn't keep running away from the ball.

 

[NJCat83588]

EVANSTON-Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald called his offensive line "a work in progress" with the opener against Stanford looming. Is that a cause for concern?

Story: NU O-line a work in progress ($)

At least he is bring realistic. With 3 guys playing new positions and one starter out (Frazier) it would be hard to call it anything else.

 

[purple11]

EVANSTON-Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald called his offensive line "a work in progress" with the opener against Stanford looming. Is that a cause for concern?

Story: NU O-line a work in progress ($)

All of the weaknesses from last season remain causes for concern for me. These include poor play by the OL and WR groups, a lack of a pass rush on defense, terrible punting, and little production from the punt returners. I'll assume that these issues will, to some extent, carry through to this season until proven otherwise.

"A work in progress", nine months after the team's last game and ten days before the next. Fantastic. I know Fitz loves to dabble in "coach speak", but still, this doesn't exactly inspire confidence, particularly with the #21 ranked team in the country coming to town.

We need Frazier back asap - having 2 veterans starting the season on the line would have been a huge boost to the OL.

Sad to hear about J. Taylor, Szott has an opportunity to step in behind Vitale.

Excited to see some of the freshman in action.

Go Cats !

 

[shakes3858]

All of the weaknesses from last season remain causes for concern for me. These include poor play by the OL and WR groups, a lack of a pass rush on defense, terrible punting, and little production from the punt returners. I'll assume that these issues will, to some extent, carry through to this season until proven otherwise.

"A work in progress", nine months after the team's last game and ten days before the next. Fantastic. I know Fitz loves to dabble in "coach speak", but still, this doesn't exactly inspire confidence, particularly with the #21 ranked team in the country coming to town.

Of course they remain cause for concern. You haven't seen anyone play. Did you think we were going to address some WR issues in free agency? Did you expect Fitz to get an Olineman in the first round of the draft? Or was some 5th year Olineman going to leave Alabama to come to NU?

 

[beetlemania74]

Of course they remain cause for concern. You haven't seen anyone play. Did you think we were going to address some WR issues in free agency? Did you expect Fitz to get an Olineman in the first round of the draft? Or was some 5th year Olineman going to leave Alabama to come to NU?

No, but here's my "best case scenario" hope:

- WRs get an influx of talent from some speedy true freshmen who step in and contribute immediately. The older guys play with a chip on their shoulder, run crisper routes, and stop dropping so many balls. Shuler stays healthy.

- We have a lot of young guys on the OL, and they use the offseason to get stronger and to gel more as a cohesive unit. Whether it's through the new nutritionist, or just through a new and refined approach in the weight room, they become more efficient run and pass blockers.

- Our new punter is better than the last one.

- Our d-line gets a better push, and generates more than 17 sacks on the season as a result...

- We quit running away from the ball on punt returns. Running up and fair-catching the ball is fine - you can't always make a big play on every punt - but don't let it bounce 20 more yards down the field.

Incremental improvements in the areas where we were bad last year. Fewer injuries. Win the turnover margin battle. Expect victory.

 

[Deeringfish]

- We quit running away from the ball on punt returns. Running up and fair-catching the ball is fine - you can't always make a big play on every punt - but don't let it bounce 20 more yards down the field.

Man this one especially. Someone needs to explain to me what went on last year.

 

[TheC]

Man this one especially. Someone needs to explain to me what went on last year.

Last couple of years really. Anyone not named Venric Marc wasn't allowed to catch a punted football. Maybe instead of having all the linemen catch punts at Kenosha, they should have the actual punt returners work on it.

 

[DaCat]

OL seems much bigger, and hopefully stronger, this year. I think Mogus and Park will nail down the left side at 6-5 305 and 6-4 305 respectively. We all knew North was being groomed to replace Vitabile at center and now is his moment to shine. Mertz at 6-8 310 just needs to stay healthy. Olson at 6-6 295 will be backed by promising soph Blake Hance 6-5 300. Unfortunately it may take this unit a little time to mesh, but it sounds like they have been taking reps together since the start of Kenosha.

 

[gocatsgo2003]

OL seems much bigger, and hopefully stronger, this year. I think Mogus and Park will nail down the left side at 6-5 305 and 6-4 305 respectively. We all knew North was being groomed to replace Vitabile at center and now is his moment to shine. Mertz at 6-8 310 just needs to stay healthy. Olson at 6-6 295 will be backed by promising soph Blake Hance 6-5 300. Unfortunately it may take this unit a little time to mesh, but it sounds like they have been taking reps together since the start of Kenosha.

All of those sizes are decidedly average for BCS football.

 

[pawildcat]

All of those sizes are decidedly average for BCS football.

I'm less worried about the weight and more worried about how they MOVE the weight.

 

[DaCat]

All of those sizes are decidedly average for BCS football.

Agreed. The point is we were below average.

 

[gocatsgo2003]

Agreed. The point is we were below average.

... And still are, really.

 

[DaCat]

That brings up the same old interesting point. What should our linemen be at for the type of offense and blocking schemes we run? Are they where they should be at?

 

[gocatsgo2003]

That brings up the same old interesting point. What should our linemen be at for the type of offense and blocking schemes we run? Are they where they should be at?

I think the better question is whether we will try to force our offense to be something it isn't. Fitz/McCall tried the straight ahead power game early last year to very poor results, then did a nearly complete 180 to a zone-based scheme later in the year to take advantage of Jackson's natural ability to set up and read blocks.

 

[footballfan 76]

Wish someone was at practice today to see the mock game. I know it's not the same but just to see how they perform in a game situation. Oline has added weight but added muscle and dropped body fat!

 

[hdhntr1]

Last couple of years really. Anyone not named Venric Marc wasn't allowed to catch a punted football. Maybe instead of having all the linemen catch punts at Kenosha, they should have the actual punt returners work on it.

We are not at practice. Could be PRs muffed ball more than the coach would like in practice. After all, they are often WRs who dropped a lot of passes in games as well. Plus the injuries at the position. Example Shuler would have been a likely PR but he dropped a few good passes and then was hurt. If a dropped pass is bad, a muffed PR is worse

 

[No Chores]

All of those sizes are decidedly average for BCS football.

Well, we might be decidedly average, but we are bigger than Stanford, which bodes well for the opener. I think our OL will be fine now that we have a mobile qb. Trevor fits the pro system, and I'm rooting for him as hard as anybody, but he was not the right guy for our system. I don't really feel like reviewing all of the BIG o-line starters, but I'm willing to bet that we aren't below average. Go to it GCG!

 

[hdhntr1]

Well, we might be decidedly average, but we are bigger than Stanford, which bodes well for the opener. I think our OL will be fine now that we have a mobile qb. Trevor fits the pro system, and I'm rooting for him as hard as anybody, but he was not the right guy for our system. I don't really feel like reviewing all of the BIG o-line starters, but I'm willing to bet that we aren't below average. Go to it GCG![/QUOTE
TS was OK when healthy but unfortunately, that was rare.

 

[hdhntr1]

I thought I had posted this. TS was OK when healthy but unfortunately, that was not often.

 

[No Chores]

I thought I had posted this. TS was OK when healthy but unfortunately, that was not often.

Well, he was healthy for Cal and NIU, and didn't exactly light it up.

 

[gocatsgo2003]

Well, he was healthy for Cal and NIU, and didn't exactly light it up.

There were a TON of drops in those two games. A ton.

 

[No Chores]

There were a TON of drops in those two games. A ton.

Yeah, that's it. Must have been the drops, not Trevor.

 

[EvanstonCat]

Yeah, that's it. Must have been the drops, not Trevor.

Which is more likely? That a QB who was drafted by the Denver Broncos and is tearing it up in the exhibition season woefully underperformed, or that our notoriously underperforming WR unit that is known for terrible hands actually dropped a ton of balls?

 

[gocatsgo2003]

Yeah, that's it. Must have been the drops, not Trevor.

Trevor wasn't perfect, but the wideouts were pretty bad. Do you not recall Shuler flat dropping a wide open deep ball thrown right on the money that would have won the game against NIU?

 

[hdhntr1]

No, but here's my "best case scenario" hope:

- WRs get an influx of talent from some speedy true freshmen who step in and contribute immediately. The older guys play with a chip on their shoulder, run crisper routes, and stop dropping so many balls. Shuler stays healthy.

- We have a lot of young guys on the OL, and they use the offseason to get stronger and to gel more as a cohesive unit. Whether it's through the new nutritionist, or just through a new and refined approach in the weight room, they become more efficient run and pass blockers.

- Our new punter is better than the last one.

- Our d-line gets a better push, and generates more than 17 sacks on the season as a result...

- We quit running away from the ball on punt returns. Running up and fair-catching the ball is fine - you can't always make a big play on every punt - but don't let it bounce 20 more yards down the field.

Incremental improvements in the areas where we were bad last year. Fewer injuries. Win the turnover margin battle. Expect victory.

You want to know why we run away from punts last year? Remember the Michigan game? Michigan's score came because of a muffed punt by Tony Jones that set them up for their only score.

 

[clarificationcat]

Trevor wasn't perfect, but the wideouts were pretty bad. Do you not recall Shuler flat dropping a wide open deep ball thrown right on the money that would have won the game against NIU?

Trevor played poorly against Cal. I am sure the wide receivers and line did him no favors but as a fifth year senior and the leader of the offense he played a below average game against one of the worst defenses in college football. Fitz said after the game that he couldn't remember Trevor ever sailing so many passes. That game and his subsequent injury probably unfairly colored my impression of Trevor for most of the season. I thought the whole offense stunk in the NIU game but I was probably being too harsh on Trevor. If the receivers hold on to a couple of big passes and we win the game, I would remember it differently.