OK, i have a question I want to pose to the board.
Each year, when recruiting classes are announced, people here gush about the size, strength, and film of the players, including the O-linemen. We always seem happy (for the most part, maybe could use more quantity) with the classes brought in by Bobby as they are announced, yet we ALWAYS seem disappointed by the performance on the field. Every year we say “this team goes only so far as the O-line can take it”…We pray for drop downs, but then when we get them (Pillans, Forbes, Mayginnes, etc.) they don’t seem to perform up to the level we expect/need to get over the hump or give our offense a fighting chance. We gush about NDSU’s O-line, but what is it that makes them so special and able to work together as such a unit?
So, here’s my question: Is it a recruiting issue? An identification of talent issue? A strength coach issue? A position coach development issue? A coaching philosophy/system issue? All of the above?
I mean, could these guys be great if they had a great O-line coach? Or is the talent just not there and we (and the coaches/recruiters) aren’t able to identify what’s needed in the initial phases of recruitment and pursuit of various players? Or are they just bad O-line recruiters? Because its certainly not a SIZE issue…they are large humans….
Each year, when recruiting classes are announced, people here gush about the size, strength, and film of the players, including the O-linemen. We always seem happy (for the most part, maybe could use more quantity) with the classes brought in by Bobby as they are announced, yet we ALWAYS seem disappointed by the performance on the field. Every year we say “this team goes only so far as the O-line can take it”…We pray for drop downs, but then when we get them (Pillans, Forbes, Mayginnes, etc.) they don’t seem to perform up to the level we expect/need to get over the hump or give our offense a fighting chance. We gush about NDSU’s O-line, but what is it that makes them so special and able to work together as such a unit?
So, here’s my question: Is it a recruiting issue? An identification of talent issue? A strength coach issue? A position coach development issue? A coaching philosophy/system issue? All of the above?
I mean, could these guys be great if they had a great O-line coach? Or is the talent just not there and we (and the coaches/recruiters) aren’t able to identify what’s needed in the initial phases of recruitment and pursuit of various players? Or are they just bad O-line recruiters? Because its certainly not a SIZE issue…they are large humans….