Went back and watched the game again and did some quick grades on the OL. The grading system is what I've used at the high school level and I've added some tweaks over the years from scouting services like PFF and Football Outsiders.
Basically if you do your job you get a point. If you do a great job you get 2 points. If you don't get your job done you get a 0. If you really mess up you get -1. High 60's to low 70's is roughly average. I didn't take great notes while I was grading so I don't have much for specifics this week; I'll fix that next week. Anyway, here's what I came up with:
Kugler: 81.1 (80.5 run/81.8 pass)
Did well: started out on fire, especially in the run game. Was a technician with leverage and footwork early on. C's a tough position to play because it's the closest position to the ball, making your first step and initial contact crucial. Kugler showed an explosive first step and, though he wasn't overpowering, he used good technique to turn the defender.
Struggled: wasn't nearly as consistent after the first quarter. Started to reach rather than move his feet.
Bredeson: 79.7 (85.3 run/72.7 pass)
Did well: Bredeson was their best run blocker on the day. Trapped well and consistently reached the second level. Controlled point of attack.
Struggled: Had some issues picking up stunts in pass pro.
Cole: 71.6 (70.7 run/72.7 pass)
Did well: very solid start to the game. Isn't overpowering but showed some athleticism, especially at the second level in space.
Struggled: combination of he and Bredeson struggled picking up stunts in pass pro. Had a disastrous stretch in the second quarter where he picked up 3 negative grades.
Onwenu: 67.6 (58.9 run/78.1 pass)
Did well: showed good athleticism, especially in pass protection where he handled stunts and twists well.
Struggled: looked to wear down later in the game, especially the 4th quarter. Not quite the road grader in the run game that I was hoping to see.
Ulizio: 59.5 (63.4 run/54.5 pass)
Did well: had his moments in the run game and played better in the second half.
Struggled: needs to keep his feet moving. Got caught with a narrow base a couple times in pass pro and the result was immediate pressure on the QB. Needs to help his TE's more when he's blocking down.
Overall...better than I thought actually. I fear that Cole may be maxed out as an average LT. Bredeson played well but he can plays better than he did yesterday. I was pretty impressed with Kugler actually.
In some ways the OL played better than the numbers would indicate. In other ways they didn't.
What didn't help them was our FB's and TE's. I don't like to pile on college kids, but I don't understand why Hill splits reps with Poggi. It's not even close. One makes plays while the other one misses assignments repeatedly.
With our TE's, Wheatley had some really nice blocks in the run game where he crushed down the edge. Other plays where he was too slow to block down and gave up penetration. McKeon had his moments as a blocker. Bunting didn't help himself with his performance.
Gentry...they better start throwing the ball to Gentry in the red zone because there's no other reason to have him on the field. The game looked too fast for him because guys where shooting his gap into the backfield and it looked like he had no idea what was happening. That was his first real live action so I'm sure he'll get better but man, he's got a ways to go.
Give the coaching staff credit; we struggled with stunts on the OL so we attacked them with run plays on 3rd down. A bit unconventional but the defense takes themselves out of position to defend the edge when the DE crashes; running right at the stunt exploited it. If we're going to struggle to pick it up, then figure out a way too attack it.
It's only one game but I kinda get the feeling that our ceiling is going to be established by the development of Bredeson, Ulizio and Onwenu. They all have a ways to go. If Bredeson plateaud right now he'd probably be a fringe All B10 lineman; we need him to develop into a first teamer. Onwenu actually looked better in his first start than Grant Newsome did last year. He was okay yesterday against a good team. Ulizio had the toughest day and he's going to have to improve quickly because he looked overmatched at times. Next week will be huge for the OL.
Basically if you do your job you get a point. If you do a great job you get 2 points. If you don't get your job done you get a 0. If you really mess up you get -1. High 60's to low 70's is roughly average. I didn't take great notes while I was grading so I don't have much for specifics this week; I'll fix that next week. Anyway, here's what I came up with:
Kugler: 81.1 (80.5 run/81.8 pass)
Did well: started out on fire, especially in the run game. Was a technician with leverage and footwork early on. C's a tough position to play because it's the closest position to the ball, making your first step and initial contact crucial. Kugler showed an explosive first step and, though he wasn't overpowering, he used good technique to turn the defender.
Struggled: wasn't nearly as consistent after the first quarter. Started to reach rather than move his feet.
Bredeson: 79.7 (85.3 run/72.7 pass)
Did well: Bredeson was their best run blocker on the day. Trapped well and consistently reached the second level. Controlled point of attack.
Struggled: Had some issues picking up stunts in pass pro.
Cole: 71.6 (70.7 run/72.7 pass)
Did well: very solid start to the game. Isn't overpowering but showed some athleticism, especially at the second level in space.
Struggled: combination of he and Bredeson struggled picking up stunts in pass pro. Had a disastrous stretch in the second quarter where he picked up 3 negative grades.
Onwenu: 67.6 (58.9 run/78.1 pass)
Did well: showed good athleticism, especially in pass protection where he handled stunts and twists well.
Struggled: looked to wear down later in the game, especially the 4th quarter. Not quite the road grader in the run game that I was hoping to see.
Ulizio: 59.5 (63.4 run/54.5 pass)
Did well: had his moments in the run game and played better in the second half.
Struggled: needs to keep his feet moving. Got caught with a narrow base a couple times in pass pro and the result was immediate pressure on the QB. Needs to help his TE's more when he's blocking down.
Overall...better than I thought actually. I fear that Cole may be maxed out as an average LT. Bredeson played well but he can plays better than he did yesterday. I was pretty impressed with Kugler actually.
In some ways the OL played better than the numbers would indicate. In other ways they didn't.
What didn't help them was our FB's and TE's. I don't like to pile on college kids, but I don't understand why Hill splits reps with Poggi. It's not even close. One makes plays while the other one misses assignments repeatedly.
With our TE's, Wheatley had some really nice blocks in the run game where he crushed down the edge. Other plays where he was too slow to block down and gave up penetration. McKeon had his moments as a blocker. Bunting didn't help himself with his performance.
Gentry...they better start throwing the ball to Gentry in the red zone because there's no other reason to have him on the field. The game looked too fast for him because guys where shooting his gap into the backfield and it looked like he had no idea what was happening. That was his first real live action so I'm sure he'll get better but man, he's got a ways to go.
Give the coaching staff credit; we struggled with stunts on the OL so we attacked them with run plays on 3rd down. A bit unconventional but the defense takes themselves out of position to defend the edge when the DE crashes; running right at the stunt exploited it. If we're going to struggle to pick it up, then figure out a way too attack it.
It's only one game but I kinda get the feeling that our ceiling is going to be established by the development of Bredeson, Ulizio and Onwenu. They all have a ways to go. If Bredeson plateaud right now he'd probably be a fringe All B10 lineman; we need him to develop into a first teamer. Onwenu actually looked better in his first start than Grant Newsome did last year. He was okay yesterday against a good team. Ulizio had the toughest day and he's going to have to improve quickly because he looked overmatched at times. Next week will be huge for the OL.
