Texas O-line talk

[Red Five 40,633]

Hutson climbed over NCAA and Tristen Nickelson!

[PTINS 3,442]

17 minutes ago, Hookem2147 said:

Dunlap's OL breakdown (tldr; Jones and Banks played their best games of the season)

  Reveal hidden contents

Deep Dig OL Grading Scale (each snap by each player is graded as its own independent event)

OL Grades (OU)

LT Kelvin Banks - 72 snaps
1 run-stuff, 1 TFL allowed
2 knockdowns
DEEP DIG GRADE: 80.69

LG Hayden Conner - 72 snaps
1 pressure allowed
1 knockdown
DEEP DIG GRADE: 78.47

C Jake Majors - 72 snaps
3 run-stuffs allowed
2 false-start penalties
1 knockdown
DEEP DIG GRADE: 76.81

RG Cole Hutson - 72 snaps
1 run-stuff, 1 pressure allowed
DEEP DIG GRADE: 76.25

RT Christian Jones - 72 snaps
1 pressure allowed
3 knockdowns, 1 pin
DEEP DIG GRADE: 80.83

RESERVES

LT Neto Umeozulu - 10 snaps
No disruption allowed
DEEP DIG GRADE: N/A

LG Logan Parr - 7 snaps
1 TFL allowed
DEEP DIG GRADE: N/A

LG Malik Agbo - 3 snaps
1 TFL allowed
DEEP DIG GRADE: N/A

C Conner Robertson - 10 snaps
1 TFL allowed
DEEP DIG GRADE: N/A

RG DJ Campbell - 10 snaps
No disruption allowed
1 knockdown
DEEP DIG GRADE: N/A

RT Cam Williams - 10 snaps
No disruption allowed
DEEP DIG GRADE: N/A

OL Grades by Week (2022) - Individual player grades across the season are color coded from RED (WORST) to WHITE (MEDIAN) to BLUE (BEST)

OL Snaps-per-Disruption Allowed (2022)

2022 OL Snaps-per-Disruption Allowed Versus Historical Precedent (Last 9 seasons)

Quick Hits and Thoughts

The Texas offensive line has stacked up two great games since the Texas Tech debacle. In fact, they have been the best two games of the Steve Sarkisian era from a blocking-perspective. As we can tell on the newly color-coded "OL Grades by Week" table above, Kelvin Banks and Christian Jones both had their best games of the season while Cole Hutson played at a very acceptable new baseline he established in the WVU game. That's your two best players and your weakest link all operating above expectation, which will always lead to good things for the offense. If we can assume the offensive line as a whole can continue playing at this cumulative level, the offense in general will not be the reason for any upcoming loss barring unforeseen in-game idiocy from the offensive coaching staff.

It's been two good games, so we can't exactly say we're living though the good old days just yet. Texas has seen stretches of really good blocking like this before in recent history, even if your memory is so scarred by the overwhelming majority of crap you've witnessed that it fails to recall such instances easily.

In 2020, Texas had a two-game stretch of games where the average Deep Dig score of all 5 starting offensive linemen was above 78 in the West Virginia and ISU games, but those games were heavily influenced by out-sized scores of nearly 82 apiece from outgoing OT stud Sam Cosmi. The 2019 start with Louisiana Tech, LSU and Rice (again, buttressed by Cosmi's high scores) had averages of 80.54, 78.18 and 79.14 respectively. In 2017, the season also got off to a hot two-game start from an offensive line perspective, then Connor Williams got hurt. Still, the first two games (Maryland and San Jose State) had Deep Dig averages of 77.1 and 80.1 respectively. (Connor Williams played his highest-graded game as a Texas Longhorn versus SJSU that year before leaving with an injury - a monster 84.56).

There are two main differences we see with how the OL is operating now and how they were operating in achieving these mini-stretches of success in the past, though: First, there is not an upperclassmen stud among the group who came into the season having legitimate NFL aspirations serving as the obvious bellcow and clubhouse leader. This was the case in 2019 and 2020 with Cosmi and 2017 with Williams, where the line's average grades were brought up a good bit due to those players' high scores but the median grades, as a measure of central tendency, showed a less stout surrounding cast. Christian Jones may be thought of as an NFL talent at this point, but he sure wasn't on many radars coming into the season. Everyone knows NOW that Kelvin Banks is a stud, but he was just another freshman chalk-full of potential heading into fall camp.

And man, we've seen a lot of OL talent and "potential" squandered in recent years at Texas. Anyone could be excused for not getting their hopes up about a guy the recruiting services swooned over. It hasn't exactly been predictive of big things at Texas in the recent past.

The only comparable stretch in the history of the Deep Dig where we look at the cumulative scoring by median (meaning, one big contribution can't mask sub-par scoring as easily) was the one to start the 2019 season. Texas in those games put up 45 points (defeating Louisiana Tech with a ridiculous 80.29 median score among starting OLs), 38 points (losing to eventual national champion LSU by just a TD with a 77.85 median score among starting OLs) and 48 points (defeating Rice with a 78.76 median score among starting OLs).

Considering that the 2019 LSU team is argued over as one of the best college football teams of all time, that three-game stretch doesn't seem as easy as the La Tech and Rice games would lead you to believe it was. But regardless of competition level, it was and is the only comparable stretch of consecutive games that compare to the median scoring over the last two for Texas (78.47 and 77.63 respectively). This finding is reflective of the fact that Texas is getting better play across the board. It's not one guy and his talent lifting all boats. For this reason, the trend feels more sustainable in a way it couldn't have been in the past.

People say you don't realize the good old days until they're gone. You get married, you have kids, it's a whirlwind to get them to school on time and keep the bills paid but you make it happen and next thing you know the house is empty. All of the sudden you realize the time that has just passed -- those were the good old days. You just didn't realize it because life was happening.

Sometimes you have to remind yourself you are actually living in the good old days. With the Texas offensive line, we aren't there yet. We've seen little stretches like this before. But there are signs pointing toward where this thing could possibly be headed if things stay on track. And if these things come to fruition, the coming days will be the good ones.

 

Thanks for posting.

[Coach pop a bitch 5,459]

 

[Magus Ossis 2,783]

14 hours ago, Coach pop a bitch said:

 

Can't think of many better ways to spend that NIL $.

[HtownHorn 14,468]

Ewers going to need another NIL deal after dinner with the OL.

[LTtxfan 48,962]

 

[Mother mopar 3,300]

 

This was posted 3 post up bud.... you're slipping.

[HenryJames 65,887]

“Our oline is going to struggle with a true freshman at left tackle.”

 

[Codaxx 5,592]

2 minutes ago, HenryJames said:

“Our oline is going to struggle with a true freshman at left tackle.”

 

This was the most pleasant surprise in the game. OL struggled early in the run game, but they were strong in the second half. Give Sark some credit for using unbalanced sets to help open it up and the OL for getting it done. Running for 200 yards against ISU was something I did not see coming. 

[HenryJames 65,887]

3 minutes ago, Codaxx said:

Running for 200 yards against ISU was something I did not see coming. 

Neither did ISU.

[tonedeaf 56]

I thought the O-line played well.  Now pass defense??????

[bluto 4,883]

18 minutes ago, Codaxx said:

This was the most pleasant surprise in the game. OL struggled early in the run game, but they were strong in the second half. Give Sark some credit for using unbalanced sets to help open it up and the OL for getting it done. Running for 200 yards against ISU was something I did not see coming. 

Is the unbalanced sets what created that fourth quarter bully drive?

[South Austin 52,129]

I thought our offensive line was the strength of the team against Iowa State. It made up for subpar offensive execution and pass defense. This line is going to be pretty fucking good over the next few years.

[Codaxx 5,592]

9 minutes ago, tonedeaf said:

I thought the O-line played well.  Now pass defense??????

My bad I thought this was the o-line thread 

[Codaxx 5,592]

7 minutes ago, bluto said:

Is the unbalanced sets what created that fourth quarter bully drive?

I honestly didn’t track it, but I believe the example above is a 4Q run and unbalanced set

[LTtxfan 48,962]

Texas O-line after another win...  🤘

[South Austin 52,129]

7 minutes ago, LTtxfan said:

Texas O-line after another win...  🤘

Our O-line didn’t even have to use their AK’s.

[victory88 5,654]

Rushing close to 200 yards against isu is pretty good.  They bullied them on that 4th quarter drive.  Isu knew we were going to run it every down and still couldn’t stop it.  It’s nice to finally have a head coach and OL coach that know how to develop players.

[Tony Two K 595]

Who was number 92 that played in our heavy set? That didn’t have an answer for that lineup.

[hookem48 4,631]

3 minutes ago, Tony Two K said:

Who was number 92 that played in our heavy set? That didn’t have an answer for that lineup.

Karic and he had one of the best tackles on Bijan the whole game.

[Hookem2147 20,927]

 

[Coach pop a bitch 5,459]

Games are 4 quarter marathons. Loved how this oline was able to break isu will towards the end of the game. The last 2 drives were all run. Loved seeing the game closed out with 3 straight runs for the first down. 

[Coach pop a bitch 5,459]

 

[SDG 3,319]

Jones plays the other football.

 

[HtownHorn 14,468]

On 10/16/2022 at 11:55 AM, hookem48 said:

Karic and he had one of the best tackles on Bijan the whole game.

That was Hutson. Karic was the one who was standing in the hole facing Bijan when Robinson ran right into him. Turning what likely would have been an explosive play into a modest 4-yard gain. The Karic play happened on the last TD drive at about the ISU 30-yard line. That play was well blocked by everyone except Karic.

Edited October 18, 2022 by HtownHorn

[hookem48 4,631]

4 hours ago, HtownHorn said:

That was Hutson. Karic was the one who was standing in the hole facing Bijan when Robinson ran right into him. Turning what likely would have been an explosive play into a modest 4-yard gain. The Karic play happened on the last TD drive at about the ISU 30-yard line. That play was well blocked by everyone except Karic.

yea that's the play I was talking about, maybe not a tackle but might as well have been. lol

[Had Enough 2,056]

https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa/sp/overallol/2022


Advanced line stats for 2022. I had checked a time or two earlier this season but didn’t see they were available at that time.

For those who like to make assumptions on how those are defined under This table explained.

[Bodacious Bevo 3,576]

5 minutes ago, Had Enough said:

https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa/sp/overallol/2022


Advanced line stats for 2022. I had checked a time or two earlier this season but didn’t see they were available at that time.

For those who like to make assumptions on how those are defined under This table explained.

For those that just want the stats. Sorry that the header doesn't line up. I added alternating boldness in the hopes that'll help with readability. A&M included just because they're one line below us.

Offense	Avg. Line Yards	Rk	Std. Downs Line Yards	Rk	Pass. Downs Line Yards	Rk	Opp. Rate	Rk	Power Success Rate	Rk	Stuff Rate	Rk	Sack Rate	Rk	Std. Downs Sack Rate	Rk	Pass. Downs Sack Rate	Rk

Texas	2.73	59	2.72	51	3.11	44	51.8%	25	66.7%	79	15.2%	32	3.3%	22	3.5%	46	6.1%	46
Texas A&M	2.64	79	2.57	83	3.10	45	51.4%	31	66.7%	79	19.4%	94	8.3%	108	9.1%	121	5.8%	41

I think the backs are still carrying the line's water. Our stuff rate is 15% but we are definitely getting hit in the backfield on more than 15% of carries (though that's improving).

[sith_horn 2,369]

On 10/16/2022 at 4:49 PM, Tony Two K said:

Who was number 92 that played in our heavy set? That didn’t have an answer for that lineup.

 

[Hookem2147 20,927]

4 hours ago, Bodacious Bevo said:

I think the backs are still carrying the line's water.

The power success rate and stuff rate might be benefiting from our RB's, but stats like line yards were created to take the RB out of the equation. How many yards was a play blocked for, etc. From their definition of line yards:

the line gets credit for rushing yardage between 0-3 yards (instead of 0-4) and 50% credit for yards 4-8 (instead of 5-10). Anything over 8 yards is quantified as a highlight opportunity, and credit goes to the runner. As with the pro definition, lost yardage still counts for 125%. (Garbage time is filtered out for all line yardage averages.)

[Burt Macklin 18,996]

5 hours ago, Hookem2147 said:

The power success rate and stuff rate might be benefiting from our RB's, but stats like line yards were created to take the RB out of the equation. How many yards was a play blocked for, etc. From their definition of line yards:

the line gets credit for rushing yardage between 0-3 yards (instead of 0-4) and 50% credit for yards 4-8 (instead of 5-10). Anything over 8 yards is quantified as a highlight opportunity, and credit goes to the runner. As with the pro definition, lost yardage still counts for 125%. (Garbage time is filtered out for all line yardage averages.)

Youre just flat out wrong on this. An elite RB will still inflate the numbers for an OL in these metrics. Good vision and elite agility will result in more line yards for an OL. 

Edited October 20, 2022 by Burt Macklin

[Codaxx 5,592]

19 hours ago, Bodacious Bevo said:

For those that just want the stats. Sorry that the header doesn't line up. I added alternating boldness in the hopes that'll help with readability. A&M included just because they're one line below us.

Offense	Avg. Line Yards	Rk	Std. Downs Line Yards	Rk	Pass. Downs Line Yards	Rk	Opp. Rate	Rk	Power Success Rate	Rk	Stuff Rate	Rk	Sack Rate	Rk	Std. Downs Sack Rate	Rk	Pass. Downs Sack Rate	Rk

Texas	2.73	59	2.72	51	3.11	44	51.8%	25	66.7%	79	15.2%	32	3.3%	22	3.5%	46	6.1%	46
Texas A&M	2.64	79	2.57	83	3.10	45	51.4%	31	66.7%	79	19.4%	94	8.3%	108	9.1%	121	5.8%	41

I think the backs are still carrying the line's water. Our stuff rate is 15% but we are definitely getting hit in the backfield on more than 15% of carries (though that's improving).

The overall run blocking hasnt been good, but the trend is better. I was very impressed with the improvement in the ISU game. The last drive sticking out. They still struggled in short yardage, but they were opening legitimate holes vs arguably the best run defense in the Big 12. 

[Magus Ossis 2,783]

9 hours ago, Burt Macklin said:

Youre just flat out wrong on this. An elite RB will still inflate the numbers for an OL in these metrics. Good vision and elite agility will result in more line yards for an OL. 

The first thing I thought when I read that algorithm was that it credits our OL with 75% of the yards between when Bijan faces contact in the backfield and when is tackled 6 yards downfield. Probably reasonable in the aggregate across FB but not necessarily representative of contributions on our team this year.

Edited October 20, 2022 by Magus Ossis

[Strat 149]

If anyone wants to increase their blood pressure.  Go back and watch the 4th and goal TD. Conner gets destroyed (and hurt), thankfully it was a quick play. 

[Bodacious Bevo 3,576]

1 hour ago, Hookem2147 said:

The power success rate and stuff rate might be benefiting from our RB's, but stats like line yards were created to take the RB out of the equation. How many yards was a play blocked for, etc. From their definition of line yards:

the line gets credit for rushing yardage between 0-3 yards (instead of 0-4) and 50% credit for yards 4-8 (instead of 5-10). Anything over 8 yards is quantified as a highlight opportunity, and credit goes to the runner. As with the pro definition, lost yardage still counts for 125%. (Garbage time is filtered out for all line yardage averages.)

I know that's what it's supposed to do, but it's still only a statistical modifer for a base stat. RBs that break more tackles than normal or that break them further back will still impact line yards disproportionally

[Red Five 40,633]

Conner's overall mediocrity is just as surprising as Jones' play at RT. I remember Scipio Tex and Ian Boyd (yeah I know) talking last summer about how Conner was by far our best OL and how we need to be playing him at LT. 

[LTtxfan 48,962]

It's a shame that Junior Angilau got hurt this year.  That dude is a road grader that would have really helped our run attack this season.

[Reynolds Woodcock 4,659]

3 hours ago, Red Five said:

Conner's overall mediocrity is just as surprising as Jones' play at RT. I remember Scipio Tex and Ian Boyd (yeah I know) talking last summer about how Conner was by far our best OL and how we need to be playing him at LT. 

Conner is a true Sophomore who was a 3 star recruit with a .88 composite ranking. Cole Hutson was just a smidge higher in the composite at .89, but of course is a true Freshman. It's kind of the opposite of surprising that those two are our worst lineman, IT bull shit notwithstanding. Agree with you that Jones' level of play is shocking.

[Neonmoon 38,127]

Fuck these pussies 

[LTtxfan 48,962]

Thx for finding this @Nicole44 

Love This !!! 🤘

[hookem48 4,631]

I feel a change coming after the off week

[LTtxfan 48,962]

Just now, hookem48 said:

I feel a change coming after the off week

DJ had more snaps vs okie lite...

[RabidM 2,664]

I hope to hell some other freshman have put themselves in position for playing time.  How much worse can they be vs our current interior line?  Junior wasn't a world beater, but I would kill to get him somewhere in our lineup.  FUCK 

[Codaxx 5,592]

12 hours ago, LTtxfan said:

DJ had more snaps vs okie lite...

I think he may start vs KSU. He went in early. Have to believe that was a premeditated move to get him some snaps and prepare him. Total guess, but I am sticking with it. 

[Red Five 40,633]

I don't remember seeing him. Assuming he came in for Hutson?

[Codaxx 5,592]

1 minute ago, Red Five said:

I don't remember seeing him. Assuming he came in for Hutson?

came in for Conner. I believe it was the 2Q and I thought he ran 2 series, not sure on that. Texas had a 3 freshmen out there. 

Edited October 24, 2022 by Codaxx

[utexas8 1,433]

came in for Conner. I believe it was the 2Q and I thought he ran 2 series, not sure on that. Texas had a 3 freshmen out there. 

Was Conner just pulled for bad performance?

[Codaxx 5,592]

25 minutes ago, utexas8 said:

Was Conner just pulled for bad performance?

not sure the backstory on it. 

[Had Enough 2,056]

came in for Conner. I believe it was the 2Q and I thought he ran 2 series, not sure on that. Texas had a 3 freshmen out there. 

He had at least two series. He was in at RG with Hutson moving to LG.

[futureman 22,414]

I don't care much about what happens the rest of this season as long as people improve.  Quinn in year two under Sark and the young OL developing signals playoff berth in 2023.