There are obvious issues with the OL strength and technique. That's frustrating. But weak effort is inexcusable. I watched many plays where either the play was broken, slow developing, or a lineman got beat, and I would see the player just stand there. Not looking for someone else to hit. Or dropping back to make up for mistake. Just sort of "oops" standing there.

On one play I watched as a lineman stood about 2 yards from an ASU linebacker, the play was still alive and he just sort of walked next to him. Could you imagine Auzenne doing that and not just blasting the guy if the whistle hadn't blown yet? Very soft.

blungld;841964887 said:

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There are obvious issues with the OL strength and technique. That's frustrating. But weak effort is inexcusable. I watched many plays where either the play was broken, slow developing, or a lineman got beat, and I would see the player just stand there. Not looking for someone else to hit. Or dropping back to make up for mistake. Just sort of "oops" standing there.

On one play I watched as a lineman stood about 2 yards from an ASU linebacker, the play was still alive and he just sort of walked next to him. Could you imagine Auzenne doing that and not just blasting the guy if the whistle hadn't blown yet? Very soft.

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The OL is so soft and unaggressive it's Juco level. It's actually beyond shocking.

blungld;841964887 said:

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There are obvious issues with the OL strength and technique. That's frustrating. But weak effort is inexcusable. I watched many plays where either the play was broken, slow developing, or a lineman got beat, and I would see the player just stand there. Not looking for someone else to hit. Or dropping back to make up for mistake. Just sort of "oops" standing there.

On one play I watched as a lineman stood about 2 yards from an ASU linebacker, the play was still alive and he just sort of walked next to him. Could you imagine Auzenne doing that and not just blasting the guy if the whistle hadn't blown yet? Very soft.

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We are not encouraged to mention names here but one in particular on this current line maybe the worst OL I have seen in many many years. I am actually embarassed for him.

Letsroll;841965144 said:

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We are not encouraged to mention names here but one in particular on this current line maybe the worst OL I have seen in many many years. I am actually embarassed for him.

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How do you stay motivated when the guy for whom you are supposed to be busting your ass fails to perform the simplest of college level play at his position, time after time, then gets all arrogant and accusatory on the sideline?

Granted, the OL is underperforming. Against ASU, they were a sieve. They are a patchwork, cobbled together group that has resulted from at least a few years of no recruiting or succession planning. Maybe most of them were oversold in the first place (a delicate situation for a HC, once each recruiting class is signed). But, they played pretty well against tOSU. And, in coach-speak, if they've done it before, they can do it again.

I think we are looking at a dispirited OL and offense. Maybe team.

maybe he can contribute some energy and angst to his fellow OL's. Cal could use some attitude...............

dinan3;841965299 said:

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maybe [Galas] can contribute some energy and angst to his fellow OL's. Cal could use some attitude...............

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Oh, Cal definitely has "attitude" of the wrong kind.

Galas won't be back for several more games and to try to project him as a possible "savior" is a bit much. He could play at his highest level but he's only one guy.

MSG's knee may be affecting his mobility as he was easily bypassed by defenders who had almost a direct shot at ZM. Another young OL bit on the most obvious fakes by DL resulting in more direct paths at ZM. ZM can't do much when a DL or two is in his face almost immediately. ZM's frustration (and pain) at being embarrassed and pounded is obvious. Replacing ZM would result in no positive change and could even be worse because of the experience and skill level of the backup QB(s).

Only the coaches can break the "blame game" wherein the OL loses "motivation" blaming the QB and the QB blames the porous OL for his lack of effort and concentration.

Toss in WRs, getting open and uselessly waving their arms (very discouraging especially for the talented freshmen), and the entire offense can only be judged as ineffective, to be most polite. A talented, touted RB is kept almost totally off the field, even after showing brilliance.

Blend in the lack of imagination in play-calling (despite the size of the "playbook") and the resulting offense is disgustingly offensive.

The impact on defense is obvious.
Few first downs by the offense brings them back onto the field too soon, testing the defense's endurance and depth. Other teams sustain long drives, sometimes using effective hurry-up offenses (as opposed to the JT's 'hurry-up' silliness) and defensive substitutions are reduced, keeping out-of-gas players on the field.

And, no bye week to allow players to recover or recuperate, mentally and physically, certainly diminishes the hope for even one more win.

Most disgusting is a head coach who appears uninvolved and disinterested as he watches the games, his only satisfaction being collectiong his $2.8 million dollars.

Rushinbear;841965296 said:

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How do you stay motivated when the guy for whom you are supposed to be busting your ass fails to perform the simplest of college level play at his position, time after time, then gets all arrogant and accusatory on the sideline?

Granted, the OL is underperforming. Against ASU, they were a sieve. They are a patchwork, cobbled together group that has resulted from at least a few years of no recruiting or succession planning. Maybe most of them were oversold in the first place (a delicate situation for a HC, once each recruiting class is signed). But, they played pretty well against tOSU. And, in coach-speak, if they've done it before, they can do it again.

I think we are looking at a dispirited OL and offense. Maybe team.

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You get no argument from me.

its shocking only to the extent that the recruiting situation at this been position gets ignored. Yep, a good recruiting group of O-Line this year, but now go back in time just slightly. The mighty Tosh brought in who?? MSG Army All-American, give you that one, J. Rigsbee, yeah, 4-stars...and?? Oh, Schweinke having the ability to contribute as a true freshman-whoohoo! Williams was supposed to be the great JC find/we had all these posts about he was so great in practice-yeah, let me know when he takes the field. The JC ranks contribute maybe 5 high quality O-linemen a year, then everyone else...
Its 5 positions! That's huge!! 2011 recruiting excuse(just J. Rigsbee and Williams) was well,oh well, next year's class is so strong...saving spots. Well fine, that class is here and many speculate that Tagola turns out to be as good as any O-lineman Cal as had-let him play, because right now, he isn't going to do any worse.

SonOfCalVa;841965301 said:

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Oh, Cal definitely has "attitude" of the wrong kind.

Galas won't be back for several more games and to try to project him as a possible "savior" is a bit much. He could play at his highest level but he's only one guy.

MSG's knee may be affecting his mobility as he was easily bypassed by defenders who had almost a direct shot at ZM. Another young OL bit on the most obvious fakes by DL resulting in more direct paths at ZM. ZM can't do much when a DL or two is in his face almost immediately. ZM's frustration (and pain) at being embarrassed and pounded is obvious. Replacing ZM would result in no positive change and could even be worse because of the experience and skill level of the backup QB(s).

Only the coaches can break the "blame game" wherein the OL loses "motivation" blaming the QB and the QB blames the porous OL for his lack of effort and concentration.

Toss in WRs, getting open and uselessly waving their arms (very discouraging especially for the talented freshmen), and the entire offense can only be judged as ineffective, to be most polite. A talented, touted RB is kept almost totally off the field, even after showing brilliance.

Blend in the lack of imagination in play-calling (despite the size of the "playbook") and the resulting offense is disgustingly offensive.

The impact on defense is obvious.
Few first downs by the offense brings them back onto the field too soon, testing the defense's endurance and depth. Other teams sustain long drives, sometimes using effective hurry-up offenses (as opposed to the JT's 'hurry-up' silliness) and defensive substitutions are reduced, keeping out-of-gas players on the field.

And, no bye week to allow players to recover or recuperate, mentally and physically, certainly diminishes the hope for even one more win.

Most disgusting is a head coach who appears uninvolved and disinterested as he watches the games, his only satisfaction being collectiong his $2.8 million dollars.

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Good post. Our coaches seem unable to to think on the fly, to deal with WR injuries in 2004 or OL and TE injuries (when our talent and depth were already questionable) this year. It is up to the coaches to come up with a creative solution and give the team hope.

I think the most obvious solution is copy what Harbaugh did at Stanford and with the 49ers in his first year at both places. I would play Tagaloa at TE on the right side, really, as an extra lineman, with Rodgers on the left side (or just play Tagaloa at OL and have Stevens as an H-Back split wide). Bring over someone from the DL if need be to increase our size and athleticsm on the line. I would focus on the run game, beginning with Bigelow, but with CJ and Sofele keeping him fresh. I would go true hurry-up (no look at me before every play), to keep our momentum and aggressiveness up and keep the pressure on the defense. Just a base run play with some counters.

Unless third and long, I would have Maynard throw almost exclusively off play-action to Bigelow and then rolling out (what ASU did against us, what Harbaugh did for Luck as a redshirt freshman). Simple run-blocking schemes. No blocking duties for Bigelow.