My thoughts on the OL

[dotcomdawg]

I think we can trace a lot of our problems this year, last year, and a couple of other years in the Mullen era on the lack of a good offensive line. That, more than anything else, has been the worst position group on our teams.

We are never going to beat Alabama, LSU, and Ole Miss (using their current tactics) for the south's best offensive linemen.

I think we need to look north for offensive linemen. Big 10 country is famous for producing offensive linemen for years and years. Watch some of the Big 10 teams play. Their offensive lines are big, strong, and smart.

NFL rosters are littered with cornfed boys with Polish surnames who came from Ohio, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Indiana and the like. We won't beat out Michigan, Ohio State, and likely Michigan State and Wisconsin for those top prospects. But we can dangle the carrot of playing in the SEC to the ones who remain.

I say find a new offensive line coach who has coached and recruited in the Big 10 and set them loose to bring two or three big offensive linemen down south to Mississippi every year.

 

[57stratdawg]

We need to take advantage of our opportunities when they are there though. Scott Lashley cannot happen.

 

[aTotal360]

I agree, but Mullen's not going to change one bit and people will bring up Gabe Jackson like it's the norm.

 

[Vice]

Going out on a limb here, but whether Merlinz stays or goes, I get a strange feeling Hev is gone after this season. I've just seen some things this year that look very uncomfortable on the sidelines. Whether is was the scene when Mullen pushed him aside and grabbed the marker to start coaching the line, or just the times I see Hev spaced out on the sidelines when Mullen is being Mullen. Just acts like he's totally uninterested at times.

Lashley was a major major miss. And I imagine the film room was extremely uncomfortable after watching that UMass tape. I haven't seen Oline play like 2015 and 2016 at MSU in a very very long time. Something has to give eventually and I think if Mullen stays, there's going to be a shakeup with some of the longtime assistants.

 

[RightOfCenter]

Was it last year that some list was released of people who interviewed for a job and Hev was on it?

 

[aTotal360]

Not sure when, but I vaguely remember his name floated around for a USCw job.

 

[thf24]

We need to take advantage of our opportunities when they are there though. Scott Lashley cannot happen.

What could we have done differently? Maybe there's something behind the scenes I don't know about, but looking at things at face value, I don't think we can get reasonably upset at losing a prospect to Bama at this point in time. They just offer insurmountably more than we can (without us resorting to the OM method) while sharing a backyard. That's not poor ole miss'ippi state mentality, it's simply fact. That's not saying we're never going to get guys that Bama wants, because we do; I just don't think it's rational to get pissed and decry our recruiting efforts when we lose a target to them.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

I believe it was the ULM head coaching job.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

I think that one was typical Football Scoop garbage.

 

[missouridawg]

I believe it was the ULM head coaching job.

And I think the timing of this was right around the time we took Michael Story from their backyard.

 

[BiscuitEater]

And I think the timing of this was right around the time we took Michael Story from their backyard.

Michael Story is from Ripley Mississippi. How is that even close to 'ULM's backyard'?

 

[missouridawg]

Michael Story is from Ripley Mississippi. How is that even close to 'ULM's backyard'?

We took Story from OMs backyard. And football scoop released the Hevesy to ULM nugget right about the time we got him... I'm insinuating that football scoop did this to allow OM to wedge into our recruitment of Story by creating uncertainty in his position coach.h

 

[Junction John]

It's basically right next door. Duh.**

View attachment 5137

 

[patdog]

Mizzou, that's exactly what they did. That site is so predictable with their "rumors" about MSU.

 

[sandwolf.sixpack]

What could we have done differently? Maybe there's something behind the scenes I don't know about, but looking at things at face value, I don't think we can get reasonably upset at losing a prospect to Bama at this point in time. They just offer insurmountably more than we can (without us resorting to the OM method) while sharing a backyard. That's not poor ole miss'ippi state mentality, it's simply fact. That's not saying we're never going to get guys that Bama wants, because we do; I just don't think it's rational to get pissed and decry our recruiting efforts when we lose a target to them.

Are you familiar with Lashley's background? The kid is so close to Johnie Cooks that he refers to him as his uncle, he is from Westpoint, grew up a 17ing State fan and was considered a lock for us from day one.....and on top of all of that, he plays offensive tackle which is consistently one of our weakest positions, providing him with a great opportunity to start early in his career. We just can't lose guys like that when we are splitting in state talent with OM and we have such little success signing sought after recruits from outside of MS. Pretty much every other program in the SEC would have had him committed and helping them recruit by the end of the summer. That was a huge recruiting failure, and it is completely rational to get pissed and decry our recruiting efforts in situations like this one.

 

[thf24]

Are you familiar with Lashley's background? The kid is so close to Johnie Cooks that he refers to him as his uncle, he is from Westpoint, grew up a 17ing State fan and was considered a lock for us from day one.....and on top of all of that, he plays offensive tackle which is consistently one of our weakest positions, providing him with a great opportunity to start early in his career. We just can't lose guys like that when we are splitting in state talent with OM and we have such little success signing sought after recruits from outside of MS. Pretty much every other program in the SEC would have had him committed and helping them recruit by the end of the summer. That was a huge recruiting failure, and it is completely rational to get pissed and decry our recruiting efforts in this situations like this one.

All that versus playing for Nick Saban and the most successful program in the history of college football, in a top tier stadium, working out in top tier facilities, with a high chance of playing for a national championship every year, yet still being able to drive home on a Sunday afternoon for dinner. Sometimes the personal connections are enough to overcome all that, sometimes they're not. Would it be for you? Can't honestly say it would be a clear choice for me at age 18. Sometimes kids are going to pick the glory route no matter what you have going for you and how hard you work. Not saying our staff didn't screw up at some point, but they're not failures because they can't overcome everything going against them when Bama is involved.

 

[stinkfoot]

I know he is a FR, but he is not listed on their depth chart on oline....

All that versus playing for Nick Saban and the most successful program in the history of college football, in a top tier stadium, working out in top tier facilities, with a high chance of playing for a national championship every year, yet still being able to drive home on a Sunday afternoon for dinner. Sometimes the personal connections are enough to overcome all that, sometimes they're not. Would it be for you? Can't honestly say it would be a clear choice for me at age 18. Sometimes kids are going to pick the glory route no matter what you have going for you and how hard you work. Not saying our staff didn't screw up at some point, but they're not failures because they can't overcome everything going against them when Bama is involved.

despite the fact that some FR are. Its certainly possible he never starts for Bama in his career. They recruit that much talent. I think you need to really push the early playing time when recruiting against Bama and that tends to hurt Mullen who has the reputation (somewhat undeserved) of not playing guys early.

 

[HD6]

When you saying playing for Nick Saban, do you mean practicing for Nick Saban? He's not going to play over there. He's a right tackle, and they are starting a true freshman right tackle this year. They have the nation's top high school and junior college offensive tackle committed for next year.

 

[CookieMonster.sixpack]

Not saying our staff didn't screw up at some point, but they're not failures because they can't overcome everything going against them when Bama is involved.

There is a coin flip's chance he never plays a down at Bama. Maybe he knew that and went there anyway. But there's not much room for optimism when two of the top recruits in the state, who live in the shadow of Davis-Wade, go to our division rivals. How in the world will we ever improve with that happening?

I'm tired of excuses. Our reality is that we will consistently face elite defensive lines. That's the hallmark of the conference. OL ought to be a point of emphasis. We cannot succeed with our current OL recruiting. It's a non-starter. Wake me up when Hevesy puts one of his recruits in the league. 8 years on, we're still waiting for the first one.

 

[treeddeep]

We should push early playing time? That would be a lie.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

There is a coin flip's chance he never plays a down at Bama. Maybe he knew that and went there anyway. But there's not much room for optimism when two of the top recruits in the state, who live in the shadow of Davis-Wade, go to our division rivals. How in the world will we ever improve with that happening?

I'm tired of excuses.....

This has been the reality since the dawn of time. No coach has been able to correct. NONE. If you don't want excuses, how about you offer some type of plan? I know you are not a coach or athletic director, so don't deflect, I am not trying to be a swan here. I am just curious - you're so angry, we're underachieving, etc. - what can be done about it?

.......Our reality is that we will consistently face elite defensive lines. That's the hallmark of the conference. OL ought to be a point of emphasis. We cannot succeed with our current OL recruiting. It's a non-starter. Wake me up when Hevesy puts one of his recruits in the league. 8 years on, we're still waiting for the first one.

This is correct. We are going to have to innovate on the offensive line. It is the sole reason for our down years, 9 out of 10 times. This is also why most of our quarterbacks get booed during their senior years, because our lines make them look terrible.

But again - I'd love to hear suggestions. Maybe it's not possible. I've often advocated for loading up on OL talent, and creating 3 full strings of them. It may not work, but we have to do something. We've got to get it more consistent.

 

[boatsandhoes]

so right, even if you are good enough. We're going to need you to wear this red shirt son, then next year we will claim you don't know the playbook.

 

[RightOfCenter]

Slight hijack. If you are Lashley or knott, you have to kick yourself. Both have little chance of playing, ever.

 

[missouridawg]

Slight hijack. If you are Lashley or knott, you have to kick yourself. Both have little chance of playing, ever.

how different would Mullen be viewed if he landed Knott, Lashley, and Raekwon last February? We've got to keep those kids in Ms.

 

[patdog]

Both made poor decisions. Saban has built his program on that though. For every 10 Lashley's or Knott's he signs, maybe a couple will work out and he processes the other 8.

 

[patdog]

My take on everyone bitching about losing Scott Lashley to Alabama is that if Mullen and Hevesy had been doing a good job with the offensive line the last 2-4 years, losing Lashley wouldn't be as big of a deal as it is.

 

[Curby]

Mullen is going to LIVE or DIE with Hevesy. And he's DYING. Hevesy is Mullen's McCorvey.

 

[Curby]

And I'm sure Lashley will play........on extra points and FGs.

 

[thf24]

There is a coin flip's chance he never plays a down at Bama. Maybe he knew that and went there anyway. But there's not much room for optimism when two of the top recruits in the state, who live in the shadow of Davis-Wade, go to our division rivals. How in the world will we ever improve with that happening?

AJ doesn't count in my book. Pretty obvious what happened there. Also, while I'm not by any means pretending we didn't want him anyway, he clearly doesn't fit in with the culture of our team. Not the biggest loss in the grand scheme of things, especially since there's a good chance he won't finish his career at OM anyway. As far as Lashley, yeah he may have effectively elected to sit on the bench his entire career instead of starting in year 2 or 3 for us on top of everything else, but he's not nearly the first to do so. Bama pulls that one over on almost everyone on a regular basis.

I'm not saying our recruiting is fine, but I don't think most of us consider that there are many factors in recruiting under which our staff has no influence, some of which they're already at a disadvantage out of the gate at present.

 

[BossDawg78]

There is a coin flip's chance he never plays a down at Bama. Maybe he knew that and went there anyway. But there's not much room for optimism when two of the top recruits in the state, who live in the shadow of Davis-Wade, go to our division rivals. How in the world will we ever improve with that happening?

I'm tired of excuses. Our reality is that we will consistently face elite defensive lines. That's the hallmark of the conference. OL ought to be a point of emphasis. We cannot succeed with our current OL recruiting. It's a non-starter. Wake me up when Hevesy puts one of his recruits in the league. 8 years on, we're still waiting for the first one.

This. **insert slow clap GIF**

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

fact is that we play guys when they're good enough to play as freshman or if their position is not deep. sadly, 80% of our roster is underdeveloped 3* guys from small ms high schools and they can't contribute early. We are playing a good bit of rFR, Simmons and Spencer are 2nd team guys, Bryant, Peters and McLaurin all played significant snaps as freshman, LLewis, Dear, Mixon, JJohnson, Couch. Maybe the guys who don't play aren't ready yet or maybe they're just not that good. I swear it's like some people on ***** because we're not starting freshman and sophomores at every position

 

[BossDawg78]

Going out on a limb here, but whether Merlinz stays or goes, I get a strange feeling Hev is gone after this season. I've just seen some things this year that look very uncomfortable on the sidelines.

S#!t. Both Mullen and Hevesy would be lost without each other.

 

[campshelbydog842003]

Losing kids from the golden triangle is disgraceful. Especially after coming off one of the best 2 year stretches in our program history. Most people would build off of that success, and Mullen completely **** the bed (I heard that he took a few weeks off when he thought that he had the Miami job but don't know if that is true or not). There is just no excuse for losing those kids, and I don't want to hear about Ole Miss paying Brown. We have plenty of high profile guys on our team (not enough to win with but enough to draw this conclusion) and they are not coming here for free. I have a hard time believing that it was money with Brown when we landed a 5 star defensive tackle right down the road.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

Losing kids from the golden triangle is disgraceful. Especially after coming off one of the best 2 year stretches in our program history. Most people would build off of that success, and Mullen completely **** the bed (I heard that he took a few weeks off when he thought that he had the Miami job but don't know if that is true or not). There is just no excuse for losing those kids, and I don't want to hear about Ole Miss paying Brown. We have plenty of high profile guys on our team (not enough to win with but enough to draw this conclusion) and they are not coming here for free. I have a hard time believing that it was money with Brown when we landed a 5 star defensive tackle right down the road.

Some folks just might not want to attend school right where they grew up, especially if they have lots of options. I don't blame them for that, if it's what they want.

It's not a big issue unless we don't replace them. And we did not, in the case of Lashley and Brown.

 

[KurtRambis4]

Yeah, I'm

There is a coin flip's chance he never plays a down at Bama. Maybe he knew that and went there anyway.

sure he went there thinking this...****

 

[CookieMonster.sixpack]

sure he went there thinking this...****

I'm willing to concede that maybe he just wanted to be at Bama and it didn't matter to him that he might not play. Maybe he overestimated his talent. Maybe he underestimated the talent at OL there. Who knows why he decided to go to Bama but we must be some pretty sorry recruiters if we couldn't convince him and his family that staying at State was a better decision.

We will literally NEVER beat them or even compete with them if we can't sign guys like Lashley. That's the recruiting version of a pick-six.

Also I'm tired of people using Ole Miss cheating as an excuse. I have this sneaking feeling in the pit of my stomach that it won't be nearly as bad for them as most of us would like. I'd like us to stop counting on the NCAA to take down our rivals and start getting better at the stuff we can actually control.

Don't get me wrong. I'd love to see them get hammered. I just have no faith in the NCAA post-Cam Newton. They are dead to me after that.

 

[pmdawg]

Bama coaches also told him he could be the next Cam Robinson, possibly better. That's about equivalent to John Calipari saying you're the next John Wall

ETA: but I do agree we need to keep these kids in state. That starts with replacing Hevesy

 

[dotcomdawg]

I have a hard time believing that it was money with Brown when we landed a 5 star defensive tackle right down the road.

It was money. Believe it.

 

[CookieMonster.sixpack]

This has been the reality since the dawn of time. No coach has been able to correct. NONE. If you don't want excuses, how about you offer some type of plan? I know you are not a coach or athletic director, so don't deflect, I am not trying to be a swan here. I am just curious - you're so angry, we're underachieving, etc. - what can be done about it?

I don't know the answer but I'm confident it's not Hevesy. We are already at a disadvantage and sucking on the OL is like trying to win a boxing match with the heavyweight champ while having an arm tied behind your back. Good luck with that.

Also we have not always sucked on the OL. It's been proven under more than one regime that we can get quality OL here and produce NFL caliber OL. We just haven't ever done it under Hevesy.

 

[CookieMonster.sixpack]

It was money. Believe it.

We should pay then. Sincerely, Cam Newton.

If we pay then, we have an SEC Championship at least. Don't think Lashley is that kind of difference maker, but we can't keep using the "cheater-cheater-pumpkin-eater" defense. It's gotten us nowhere and it's tired.