GoBLUinTX

August 21st, 2014 at 3:39 PM ^

Why are you and the rest of the hecklers appearing as if you hope for the worst from this team?  What is your motivation to always question the postive and never to question the negative? I've been following this board less than a year, but all I can conclude is that many of you have been seriously damaged in the past.

funkywolve

August 21st, 2014 at 10:54 AM ^

we'll be able to figure out with the oline after the App St game.  The production from the running backs last year against CMU was actually pretty good, 38 carries for 155 yards.  If the oline struggles with App St then there will be a lot of concerns.  For the most part though, I'm eyeballing ND as the early litmus test for the oline.

funkywolve

August 21st, 2014 at 11:22 AM ^

to what they did the rest of the year, it was one of their better days.  For the most part agree, but after the first game of the year no one knew CMU was going to allow almost 5 yds/carry.  Since the 4.8 ypc probably is not in reference to what running backs did, if you add in the rushing stats for Gardner and Morris, UM averaged 5.1 YPC against CMU.

MgoRayO3313

August 21st, 2014 at 10:54 AM ^

Honestly, the way I look at it is that it is truly hard to be worse. I was at the Nebraska game last year and that was brutal. As long as the rushing yards are headed further and further in the positive direction I'll be happy. The expectation is to get better as the season progresses.

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Perkis-Size Me

August 21st, 2014 at 10:59 AM ^

I hope for his sake that he's right. I'd rather not see him gang-tackled behind the line of scrimmage on nearly every run. Doesn't exactly do much to inspire a running back's confidence when he know's he's running into a brick wall of defensive linemen on every snap.

maize-blue

August 21st, 2014 at 11:03 AM ^

Success/improvement for the O line this year will be reducing the number of negative plays and sacks. Any positive rushing yards will be a bonus.

mGrowOld

August 21st, 2014 at 11:09 AM ^

Notice he didnt say the Offensive Line would be GOOD - just that it would be better than last year.

Not exactly setting the bar terribly high there Mr Smith.

aiglick

August 21st, 2014 at 11:16 AM ^

If they aren't appreciably better Mr. Smith will just hit the opposing Linemen harder. They'll think twice of messing with this guy. Mess with the best, succumb like the rest.

ADSellers

August 21st, 2014 at 11:50 AM ^

In all fairness to the O-line, Mattison was blitzing the bejesus out of them all night. You wont see blitz after blitz like that during a live game.

Blue Balls Afire

August 21st, 2014 at 12:02 PM ^

Agreed.  And it looked like the offense was running their called-play regardless in order to stress-prep the O-line.  I have to think Nuss and the offensive coaching staff will be smart enough to implement hot-reads, check-downs, audibles, etc., and make adjustments to trends in a real game.

wresler120

August 21st, 2014 at 1:17 PM ^

I don't think it could get any worse. It's concerning that he "thinks" our O-Line will be "better" this year. For us to compete for the B1G our O-Line will have to be much better, and I'm getting the feeling that's not going to be the case. Based on what we saw during the scrimmage and comments where players think our O-Line will be better scares me.