Offensive line resurgence

[bileever]

It was hard to believe we were watching the same O-line yesterday. I know people will talk about the right side because of Charbonnet's 51-yard run, but I thought that the biggest improvement was the push from the left side. We've been on Laken Tomlinson's case all year, but who was that playing left guard yesterday? He was actually pushing the Card's defensive tackles backwards. They even had him pulling on a few plays, and he was blocking up on the second level a few times. And did you see that it was Tomlinson blocking downfield on the long Charbonnet screen play? I think it is the first time I've heard announcers mention his name during a broadcast after a good block this year.

Charles Cross looked pretty good, too, not just in pass protect but he was decent on run plays for a change.

Anyway, I don't think I've seen Tomlinson play that way all season. Anyone know how he graded out yesterday?

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Great post. I kept asking my friend "who are these guys?"

Creative play calling. Short yardage success (finally) and actually opening huge holes for the RB's. Also, Geno didn't get sacked once.

 

[toffee]

I have been hard on Cross, but he was the one OL guy who was often on an island without help. He hasn't been perfect but his presence allowed the TE etc to help the rest of the guys.

 

[bileever]

I have been hard on Cross, but he was the one OL guy who was often on an island without help. He hasn't been perfect but his presence allowed the TE etc to help the rest of the guys.

Yes, all year we've watched the left side get pushed backwards on run plays, but it didn't happen yesterday. Also, you're right, I saw some great blocking by TEs on run plays. Was that Pharaoh Brown mainly on those plays?

 

[DTiempo81]

Yes, all year we've watched the left side get pushed backwards on run plays, but it didn't happen yesterday.

They ran counters all game yesterday, I believe more than they had all season combined. Really stifled AZ run pressures.

 

[toffee]

Yes, all year we've watched the left side get pushed backwards on run plays, but it didn't happen yesterday. Also, you're right, I saw some great blocking by TEs on run plays. Was that Pharaoh Brown mainly on those plays?

According to PFF, none OL player run blocking snaps counts:

Geno: 31 (60)
JSN: 30 (66.4)
DK: 23 (56.9)
AJ: 19 (62.3)
Lockett: 14 (47.3)
Fant: 13 (63.7)
Bobo: 12 (60.1)
Pharoah: 12 (64.7)
Charbonette: 4 (58.2)
McIntosh: 1 (60)
Brady: 1 (60)

I suspect the LOS help mainly came from AJ as he got the most snaps and gotten the highest rating, with some from Fant, Pharoah??

 

[nanomoz]

The improvement on the right side was immediate with Lucas. The awareness in the middle seems to have improved with Olu. And it's had another uptick with Laumea.

I did notice Tomlinson upfield a few times. But I mostly focused on Laumea and Olu.

 

[sutz]

The O-line is pretty young. IIRC 4 of them are on their rookie contracts, right? Hope they can stay together for a while. Continuity is key for that group like no other on the field. Loving what they did in Az, hoping the build on that.

 

[bileever]

The offensive line was ranked 13th this week by PFF (moving its overall ranking up from 30th to 29th) after posting a 86.7 pass blocking grade.

 

[chris98251]

Would not call it a resurgence, more like we found it, our O line has been MIA overall for years, well I would go as far to say since Unger was traded, one that played both aspects of the game decently, one that was more than just an obstacle course for defenders to run around to get to our QB whomever he was, one that actually opened running lanes and pulled to get down field for them also.

 

[Appyhawk]

Sure would be nice if the same tactic would work as well against our other foes as it did vs the Cards last Sunday. But I doubt that will be the case. Here's hoping Grubb has some other tricks up his sleeve.

 

[hawkfan68]

The OL put together their best game of this season thus far. Since Laumea has started and some resemblance of stability is starting to show. It was a great game for them but the Cards DL is probably one of the weakest they faced all year. LJ Collier is a starter on their DL. Need anymore evidence that it’s not their strength?

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Brock and Salk were saying this morning that before the Bye, the Hawks were #3 in the league in running from the Shotgun. Now, they are sitting at #27 in the league.
That's one hell of an adjustment.

 

[chrispy]

The success of ZCharbonnet as RB1 and the step change in OL competency could have been correlation or causation.

Obviously, if the OL is suddenly better, so is the run game. If, however, the OL was frustrated with KWalker dancing behind the line and not consistently following blocks, the OL may have been trying to prove they're better than they're being given credit. How does LTomlinson go from whipping boy to down field blocking hero? Perhaps he was tired of creating holes that KWalker didn't like...??? We'll find out Sunday: who's getting more RB snaps and how are they trusting their blocks?

 

[toffee]

The success of ZCharbonnet as RB1 and the step change in OL competency could have been correlation or causation.

Obviously, if the OL is suddenly better, so is the run game. If, however, the OL was frustrated with KWalker dancing behind the line and not consistently following blocks, the OL may have been trying to prove they're better than they're being given credit. How does LTomlinson go from whipping boy to down field blocking hero? Perhaps he was tired of creating holes that KWalker didn't like...??? We'll find out Sunday: who's getting more RB snaps and how are they trusting their blocks?

On some of Charb's runs, the OL pushed the DL a few yards down field, that will help RBs. The question would be how did the OL became so potent? Or just a weak Cardinal front 7? We will find out this Sunday.

 

[Seahawker]

 

[irfuben32]

The OL put together their best game of this season thus far. Since Laumea has started and some resemblance of stability is starting to show. It was a great game for them but the Cards DL is probably one of the weakest they faced all year. LJ Collier is a starter on their DL. Need anymore evidence that it’s not their strength?

that same D-Line was giving us problems a few weeks ago

 

[Ozzy]

This is good news. I don’t think they’re as bad as some keep trying to convince us they are

 

[12AngryHawks]

View attachment 68565

Being #3 is great, but of course the f'n Rams have us beat there too. My disdain for that team burns with the fire of a trillion white hot burning suns.

 

[nanomoz]

I think they found their right guard and center. And if Lucas's knee can hold up . . .