(06-02-2021 09:31 AM)Atlanta Wrote:  

(05-31-2021 03:25 PM)macgar32 Wrote:  

(05-31-2021 01:59 PM)EarthBoundMisfit Wrote:  

(05-31-2021 08:40 AM)DallasTiger Wrote:  Lots of unknowns about our team this year. Impact of transfers.....starting QB a pretty big mystery......new coaches.....best for them to be conservative considering those factors. Transfers made a huge difference at SMU and hopefully we will see the same.

Our OL will be the strongest area on the team next season. Being able to run the football will make a lot of people's jobs easier...Coach Silverfield, OC Kevin Johns, the QB, the WRs, the defense, and DC Mike McEntyre.
I think a good OL could have helped us win 2 more games last season.
Cinci might have still beaten us...but we could have...and SHOULD have beaten SMU and Tulane.
No reason to lose to Tulane...even if they were also running a big chunk of Mike Norvell's offense. (And probably will next season too with Chip Long)

Last year the issue wasn't only the line...The backs were nowhere near as good as they have been the previous 4 years.

Yep. Saw some stats somewhere that showed the significant difference in long runs last season vs the prior seasons with Gainwell, Gibson & Henderson. Some of their runs were just amazing & each of those guys consistently got big yards after initial blocks. We didn't see that last season. Clark & a couple of others are serviceable backs but not in the class of the previous mentioned 3. It made a big difference having to go 10-15 plays for a touchdown vs sudden 6 after 5-6 plays. And with a new QB, there are questions. Hope we have a breakout back waiting to break loose or we may struggle offensively.

I don't think it was the backs. If so...why not try to recruit more backs? We only added 1 to this recruiting class. I think it shows that even though we lost some either to opting out or whatnot...the coaches feel comfortable with the group they have.
Just my opinion...but I think the coaches stressed on the O line, as evidenced by the measures they took to rebuild it.