Mark in CocoaBch Posted September 1, 2009 Posted September 1, 2009 After finally getting to watch Saturdays game (just the first half) I have come to the conclusion all is not lost for this season's offensive perfomance. At least in regards to the offensive line. My eyes saw this... Erik Wood is very good. On almost every run play Wood made contact and stuck to his block. He peeled off initial blocks and found his secondary block making contact. His pass protection on the whole seemed solid. Wood occasionally got pushed back in pass protection, but his fight kept him from being tossed aside in the ole' style Bills fans have become accustomed to. Hangartner knows how to initiate contact and stick to his block as well. He seems to have trouble trying to turn his block the other way when his blocking assignment slants left or right. Actually all our linemen seem to have this problem, thus allowing d-linemen and linebackers to blow up running lanes. Hangartner has solid pass blocking skills...when he picks the correct rusher to block. On one specific play in the 2nd quarter all the linemen picked up their man on a 5 man defensive rush. Hangartner didn't have a d-man in front of him and decided to "help" Wood with his man. Unfortunately Wood didn't need any help with his block and Dominick Rhodes made an initial block on Farrior. Again, unfortunately one initial pop could not deter Farrior from bouncing off it, to get to Edwards. IMO Hangartner just had to position himself squarely in the middle of the pocket and wait for Farrior to bounce right into him. Levitre, when he got to his block, made good initial contact with blocking assignment. Pass blocking seemed adequate, although it definitely does not look polished. He really looks like he is thinking about his assignment AND his technique. In other words, he is looking like a rookie. I saw him on many occasions looking for someone to block and doing absolutely nothing to contribute to the play. Butler did not look as bad as I thought. His point of attack is adequate but, doesn't really seem to stick to his block. He really looks like he's trying to find out where to position himself in all that space he has to cover. He's not stiff and seems to have athletic ability. Being a taller man, he really has to work on anchoring his body while mirroring his opponents pass rush so he doesn't get thrown back by a bull rusher. Given some time I really think he will be a good anchor. Walker is a big man. He is not quick from the point of attack and can be had by a speed rusher. I'm not that high on him being our everyday left tackle. Once he gets his mitts on his block he can sustain. But getting to that point is a chore for this big boy. A tight end or running back helping him with a chip will probably be necessary. Of course that limits our options if done on a regular basis. I'm hoping that Bell will step it up and give Walker a run for his money. The rest of our starters I have reason for optimism. After all, if our boys up front start doing their job, our skill boys can practice their stupid celebration dances after they get in the endzone. Our message board is loaded with massive negativity. I thought a glimmer of hope thread might be needed. Besides I believe it. Feel free to opine. Mark in Cheektowaga
SoulMan Posted September 1, 2009 Posted September 1, 2009 Your analysis is excellent but leaves out the bottom line; and that is there was an O line breakdown on every play. Negativity isn't negativity if it is factual.
Steve In Atlanta 2008 Posted September 1, 2009 Posted September 1, 2009 After finally getting to watch Saturdays game (just the first half) I have come to the conclusion all is not lost for this season's offensive perfomance. At least in regards to the offensive line. My eyes saw this... Erik Wood is very good. On almost every run play Wood made contact and stuck to his block. He peeled off initial blocks and found his secondary block making contact. His pass protection on the whole seemed solid. Wood occasionally got pushed back in pass protection, but his fight kept him from being tossed aside in the ole' style Bills fans have become accustomed to. Hangartner knows how to initiate contact and stick to his block as well. He seems to have trouble trying to turn his block the other way when his blocking assignment slants left or right. Actually all our linemen seem to have this problem, thus allowing d-linemen and linebackers to blow up running lanes. Hangartner has solid pass blocking skills...when he picks the correct rusher to block. On one specific play in the 2nd quarter all the linemen picked up their man on a 5 man defensive rush. Hangartner didn't have a d-man in front of him and decided to "help" Wood with his man. Unfortunately Wood didn't need any help with his block and Dominick Rhodes made an initial block on Farrior. Again, unfortunately one initial pop could not deter Farrior from bouncing off it, to get to Edwards. IMO Hangartner just had to position himself squarely in the middle of the pocket and wait for Farrior to bounce right into him. Levitre, when he got to his block, made good initial contact with blocking assignment. Pass blocking seemed adequate, although it definitely does not look polished. He really looks like he is thinking about his assignment AND his technique. In other words, he is looking like a rookie. I saw him on many occasions looking for someone to block and doing absolutely nothing to contribute to the play. Butler did not look as bad as I thought. His point of attack is adequate but, doesn't really seem to stick to his block. He really looks like he's trying to find out where to position himself in all that space he has to cover. He's not stiff and seems to have athletic ability. Being a taller man, he really has to work on anchoring his body while mirroring his opponents pass rush so he doesn't get thrown back by a bull rusher. Given some time I really think he will be a good anchor. Walker is a big man. He is not quick from the point of attack and can be had by a speed rusher. I'm not that high on him being our everyday left tackle. Once he gets his mitts on his block he can sustain. But getting to that point is a chore for this big boy. A tight end or running back helping him with a chip will probably be necessary. Of course that limits our options if done on a regular basis. I'm hoping that Bell will step it up and give Walker a run for his money. The rest of our starters I have reason for optimism. After all, if our boys up front start doing their job, our skill boys can practice their stupid celebration dances after they get in the endzone. Our message board is loaded with massive negativity. I thought a glimmer of hope thread might be needed. Besides I believe it. Feel free to opine. Mark in Cheektowaga All i know is that the line looks much better than when JP was our starter...
Conch Posted September 1, 2009 Posted September 1, 2009 After finally getting to watch Saturdays game (just the first half) I have come to the conclusion all is not lost for this season's offensive perfomance. At least in regards to the offensive line. My eyes saw this... Erik Wood is very good. On almost every run play Wood made contact and stuck to his block. He peeled off initial blocks and found his secondary block making contact. His pass protection on the whole seemed solid. Wood occasionally got pushed back in pass protection, but his fight kept him from being tossed aside in the ole' style Bills fans have become accustomed to. Hangartner knows how to initiate contact and stick to his block as well. He seems to have trouble trying to turn his block the other way when his blocking assignment slants left or right. Actually all our linemen seem to have this problem, thus allowing d-linemen and linebackers to blow up running lanes. Hangartner has solid pass blocking skills...when he picks the correct rusher to block. On one specific play in the 2nd quarter all the linemen picked up their man on a 5 man defensive rush. Hangartner didn't have a d-man in front of him and decided to "help" Wood with his man. Unfortunately Wood didn't need any help with his block and Dominick Rhodes made an initial block on Farrior. Again, unfortunately one initial pop could not deter Farrior from bouncing off it, to get to Edwards. IMO Hangartner just had to position himself squarely in the middle of the pocket and wait for Farrior to bounce right into him. Levitre, when he got to his block, made good initial contact with blocking assignment. Pass blocking seemed adequate, although it definitely does not look polished. He really looks like he is thinking about his assignment AND his technique. In other words, he is looking like a rookie. I saw him on many occasions looking for someone to block and doing absolutely nothing to contribute to the play. Butler did not look as bad as I thought. His point of attack is adequate but, doesn't really seem to stick to his block. He really looks like he's trying to find out where to position himself in all that space he has to cover. He's not stiff and seems to have athletic ability. Being a taller man, he really has to work on anchoring his body while mirroring his opponents pass rush so he doesn't get thrown back by a bull rusher. Given some time I really think he will be a good anchor. Walker is a big man. He is not quick from the point of attack and can be had by a speed rusher. I'm not that high on him being our everyday left tackle. Once he gets his mitts on his block he can sustain. But getting to that point is a chore for this big boy. A tight end or running back helping him with a chip will probably be necessary. Of course that limits our options if done on a regular basis. I'm hoping that Bell will step it up and give Walker a run for his money. The rest of our starters I have reason for optimism. After all, if our boys up front start doing their job, our skill boys can practice their stupid celebration dances after they get in the endzone. Our message board is loaded with massive negativity. I thought a glimmer of hope thread might be needed. Besides I believe it. Feel free to opine. Mark in Cheektowaga Great news.... But if the line is so good why does TE suck so bad? I have always believed that a poor or mediocre QB can thrive behind a good line but a great QB cannot succeed behind a bad line. If the line is even adequate at this point TE should be throwing the ball all over the place. That is not happening. Also what's the explanation why the running game have only one good rush?
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