Top 25 Returning FCS OL

[Monymony]

Appreciate you posting here with all of this information. Genuinely mean that. Thanks for having info and logical arguments for your points.

How do you feel about the coaching future without Housewright? To be honest with you, I didn't think as highly of either your OC or DC as a lot of people seemed to think. It is interesting to me to hear him thought of as someone "hard to overrule," though I absolutely acknowledge you know more than me about everything MSU related.

I've heard from a number of people that Mellott is going to be passing a lot more and passing well. Did you guys see good evidence of that in the spring? I find it hard to believe he will improve in that realm THAT much, but I keep hearing it from Bobcat friends.

Hard to determine if Housewright created the strong running offense or if he was just at the top of the pyramid. I think he was lousy and the DC was very lousy. The DC didn’t apply as much pressure as I wish he did and I believe he didn’t trust our secondary. I believe the bobcats coaches have now realized that Tommy can’t keep running frequently, he has gotten hurt the last 3 years and we can’t have that happen this year. Based on the final game of the season and how the running offense has struggled against NDSU and SDSU, this leaves me to think that the new OC (former TE coach) will incorporate shorter passes to TE and now with some taller WRs which allows easier passes (in theory). I’d be very surprised if the cats try to stick with constant run as it would only be running backs which would be way more predictable. Only time will tell…

 

[CDAGRIZ]

Based on PFF which seems to be accepted as a pretty accurate system, yes. On their website Wehr is 1 and Alt is 2 and no one seems to disagree that Alt was the best FBS OT. This next NFL draft will truly determine what scouts think but I’d say he’s legit. Very surprised you haven’t heard of him… I believe he grew in Billings and is now a 6 year player.

Do you guys still have Stank and Snork of the defense? I’ve honestly never heard of Wehr, either. I assume it’s a bit difficult to “rank” an OL when he plays against Stetson rather than Michigan.

 

[Wolf777]

Pretty hard to overrule an OC who has established the best offense (based on statistics) in the FCS. Adam Bock is good but I don’t believe that he would’ve changed a whole lot overall. In cat gris almost all of Tommy’s throws were 20+ yards which is exactly what I’m saying the cats will go away from. The cats in week 2 and the playoff game relied on shorter passes with a mix then of deep balls, this was way more successful. Also how are the gris #2 if they allowed Tommy an avg. of 10.7 yards per carry?? Also Julius Davis avg around 7 so this is not just a schematic thing. Point is that the bobcats will move into a more effective and efficient passing scheme and will continue to have the best running offense in the FCS as we still have our top 4 rbs.

Pretty sure half of Tommy’s yards came on one play on a drive that ended up in zero points.

As far as balance, there is no way that the cats would move to a more efficient passing game/scheme and be able to end up with the best rushing offense in the country. I think Six would prefer a balance and having both phases of the offense in the top of the FCS than one at the top and one at the bottom.

BTW did you guys get designated drivers I mean chauffeurs for the coordinators yet or will they just continue to provide company vehicles to guys with suspended licenses and piss poor judgment?

 

[Da Boyz Mom]

I honestly don't know about some of these rankings. It's pretty impossible to compare players who play in very different schemes against different competition. It's like planning a science experiment where you don't account for variables. You're just not going to get a reliable result. It does give us something to argue about in the off-season though so that's great.

 

[Monymony]

Do you guys still have Stank and Snork of the defense? I’ve honestly never heard of Wehr, either. I assume it’s a bit difficult to “rank” an OL when he plays against Stetson rather than Michigan.

If it was based on opponents then all FCS players would be on top. If 3 of our OL transferred to FBS schools and Wehr was better than all of them, then I can only assume that Wehr could’ve transferred to a power 5 school and would’ve played.

 

[Monymony]

Pretty sure half of Tommy’s yards came on one play on a drive that ended up in zero points.

As far as balance, there is no way that the cats would move to a more efficient passing game/scheme and be able to end up with the best rushing offense in the country. I think Six would prefer a balance and having both phases of the offense in the top of the FCS than one at the top and one at the bottom.

BTW did you guys get designated drivers I mean chauffeurs for the coordinators yet or will they just continue to provide company vehicles to guys with suspended licenses and piss poor judgment?

Tommy averaged 10.7 yards against the “best FCS defense”. The thing you aren’t recognizing is that when the cats start to throw it more it will make defense harder as now you can’t just expect run all the time. This will actually improve the running game and allow the pass to open up. The coordinators were celebrating the ass whooping they put onto the gris in 2022 so I believe a little celebration was necessary.

 

[ElrodGrizzly]

Hard to determine if Housewright created the strong running offense or if he was just at the top of the pyramid. I think he was lousy and the DC was very lousy. The DC didn’t apply as much pressure as I wish he did and I believe he didn’t trust our secondary. I believe the bobcats coaches have now realized that Tommy can’t keep running frequently, he has gotten hurt the last 3 years and we can’t have that happen this year. Based on the final game of the season and how the running offense has struggled against NDSU and SDSU, this leaves me to think that the new OC (former TE coach) will incorporate shorter passes to TE and now with some taller WRs which allows easier passes (in theory). I’d be very surprised if the cats try to stick with constant run as it would only be running backs which would be way more predictable. Only time will tell…

Thank you for that. I agree with practically all of that, to be honest with you. I would actually be pretty concerned if those changes were made, if I am honest. Those would seem, to me, to be really strong changes.

Do you think Tommy can throw the full route tree to make that happen? I don't worry about his processing, more just his ability to make the throw itself.

And does the line, in your opinion, have the skillset to pass protect as they do at running the ball (which I acknowledge they are great at)?

 

[Monymony]

I honestly don't know about some of these rankings. It's pretty impossible to compare players who play in very different schemes against different competition. It's like planning a science experiment where you don't account for variables. You're just not going to get a reliable result. It does give us something to argue about in the off-season though so that's great.

Agreed, but every NFL team and over 100 college teams use PFF which makes me think it has some accuracy.

 

[ElrodGrizzly]

Tommy averaged 10.7 yards against the “best FCS defense”. The thing you aren’t recognizing is that when the cats start to throw it more it will make defense harder as now you can’t just expect run all the time. This will actually improve the running game and allow the pass to open up. The coordinators were celebrating the ass whooping they put onto the gris in 2022 so I believe a little celebration was necessary.

Everybody is fine with celebrating. It is the drunken speeding down main street that was a problem. Nobody is pretending the Griz coaches don't drink. We just get them a ride.

 

[Monymony]

Thank you for that. I agree with practically all of that, to be honest with you. I would actually be pretty concerned if those changes were made, if I am honest. Those would seem, to me, to be really strong changes.

Do you think Tommy can throw the full route tree to make that happen? I don't worry about his processing, more just his ability to make the throw itself.

And does the line, in your opinion, have the skillset to pass protect as they do at running the ball (which I acknowledge they are great at)?

I believe Tommy can make the throws especially with the off season development. He is only going to build chemistry with his relatively new receivers and get better. I’d be surprised if the OL can’t pass block and to be honest I believe Tommy’s legs make it easier as teams have to spy on him.

 

[Monymony]

Everybody is fine with celebrating. It is the drunken speeding down main street that was a problem. Nobody is pretending the Griz coaches don't drink. We just get them a ride.

Lol I don’t agree with the drinking and driving nor did I like the coordinators. I am not upset at their poor decisions that got them out.

 

[Da Boyz Mom]

Tommy averaged 10.7 yards against the “best FCS defense”. The thing you aren’t recognizing is that when the cats start to throw it more it will make defense harder as now you can’t just expect run all the time. This will actually improve the running game and allow the pass to open up. The coordinators were celebrating the ass whooping they put onto the gris in 2022 so I believe a little celebration was necessary.

Sorry but your last sentence is ridiculous. Celebrating is one thing, getting behind the wheel while impaired is categorically indefensible.

 

[ElrodGrizzly]

Lol I don’t agree with the drinking and driving nor did I like the coordinators. I am not upset at their poor decisions that got them out.

I get what you are saying now. I thought you meant you were on board with the rest of it as long as they were celebrating beating the Griz. Totally get now that you mean you are good with it because it got out some coaches you didn't want around.

 

[Wolf777]

Tommy averaged 10.7 yards against the “best FCS defense”. The thing you aren’t recognizing is that when the cats start to throw it more it will make defense harder as now you can’t just expect run all the time. This will actually improve the running game and allow the pass to open up. The coordinators were celebrating the ass whooping they put onto the gris in 2022 so I believe a little celebration was necessary

And all those yards couple with a piss poor passing effort without chambers at full strength ended up with a grand total of 7 points after 60 minutes. What happens with no chambers?

I recognize that a good passing game can help out a good running game and vice versa. I just don’t think the cats have proven capable of an adequate passing game in any capacity other than the 50/50 ball. Against SDSU last year the bulk of your passing yards came on one drive at the end of the game with Chambers at the helm.

 

[uofmman1122]

Pretty hard to overrule an OC who has established the best offense (based on statistics) in the FCS. Adam Bock is good but I don’t believe that he would’ve changed a whole lot overall. In cat gris almost all of Tommy’s throws were 20+ yards which is exactly what I’m saying the cats will go away from. The cats in week 2 and the playoff game relied on shorter passes with a mix then of deep balls, this was way more successful. Also how are the gris #2 if they allowed Tommy an avg. of 10.7 yards per carry?? Also Julius Davis avg around 7 so this is not just a schematic thing. Point is that the bobcats will move into a more effective and efficient passing scheme and will continue to have the best running offense in the FCS as we still have our top 4 rbs.

We forced Mellot to pass in that game and showed what kind of passer he is when the running game isn't working.

 

[Da Boyz Mom]

Agreed, but every NFL team and over 100 college teams use PFF which makes me think it has some accuracy.

I'm sure the PFF has utility in evaluating individual players in order to determine their worth to a specific NFL team. I'm just not sure about using that as criteria to come up with these ranking lists. One's ranking in a list of best players at a position certainly doesn't indicate what the success of that player's position group or team can or will be over the course of a season anyway, which I concede isn't really the point. So I'll stop here. Haha.

 

[Da Boyz Mom]

We forced Mellot to pass in that game and showed what kind of passer he is when the running game isn't working.

Yes but I think he was hindered by the offensive scheme which was nothing but runs or him throwing the deep 50/50 ball. I never understood why their OC didn't put in shorter, higher percentage passes like Pease did for McDowell. If they do happen to get that part of their offense working for them, they could certainly be more consistent, and harder to beat. Which is why I'm hoping that our offense is also more consistent this year so we don't have to lean so hard on the defense and special teams.

 

[uofmman1122]

Yes but I think he was hindered by the offensive scheme which was nothing but runs or him throwing the deep 50/50 ball. I never understood why their OC didn't put in shorter, higher percentage passes like Pease did for McDowell. If they do happen to get that part of their offense working for them, they could certainly be more consistent.

Those throws were there in that game, Tommy decided to not take them because he is not a good passing QB.

 

[Monymony]

Those throws were there in that game, Tommy decided to not take them because he is not a good passing QB.

This very inaccurate. The cats didn’t throw much in that game because they didn’t need to as the run game was actually working. Tommy has an arm.

 

[thirdandlong]

With those transfers, I think we are going to see the true impacts of MSU losing their great o line coach prior to last year. That coupled with the growing pains of trying to convert their offense to a post Mellott era with a new OC might have a huge impact. And without chambers, there is no way for Tommy to survive an entire season with their previous offense. Is there any way that Tommy can turn into a traditional qb that drops back 50% of the time? My guess is they will revert to running him like a battering ram if they lose a couple games and their back is against the wall.

I agree that losing a great O-line coach will have a huge effect on the success of their line........ As far as our woes for the O-line in the past, I think we had much more talented players than it seemed, due to Germer's inability to coach-them-up.