to work with. I just reviewed the 2005 roster and had my memory jogged concerning the talent with which Vince had to work. His offensive line was above-average in run and pass blocking and he had the benefit of having runners/receivers named Thomas, Sweed, Pittman, Cosby, Taylor, Charles and Young. 2005 roster Colt, on the other hand, has an offensive line that can only be described as suspect in both run and pass blocking, and Shipley is the only outstanding skill player Colt has to work with. I guess what I'm getting at is this: Colt has done an absolutely amazing job considering, imo, that this years team only has one player who would start for the 2005 team. Am I wrong?
There will be more players from our offense than just colt and shipley playing in the nfl when all is said and done. But yes, the oline doesn't seem to be the same calibur
Lacking a go-to TE has a big effect on the OL IMO, though I think the 2005 OL was head and shoulders above this one talent-wise.
Sweed, Pittman, and Cosby in 2005 weren't any better than Williams, Buckner, and Kirkendoll are in 2009.
Running the zone-read with VY and JC takes a HUGE burden off of the OL. Defenses were terrified to collapse the pocket, so they tried to hold back and force VY to throw. This is to say, comparing the two OLs is apples and oranges. Furthermore, it presumes the problem is with the personnel we are fielding rather than the schemes we are asking them to run. This may very well be true (though I believe the schemes need some scrutiny as well), but you put these guys on the 2005 team, and I think your reaction to them would be very different.
I think the lack of a true tight end has hurt the most. The O can't be as effective without a guy that can catch and block the way David Thomas did.
Well 4 of the 5 of the 2005 oline are in the NFL. The 5th was a senior and had all-american consideration (Will Allen). Our current line I don't think is in the same league, to say it mildly, but that is more a testament to one of the best olines ever in college football. In terms of WRs, the current group has more speed for sure. I think there is a lot more pro potential with the current group--though at times there is inconsistency. David Thomas does help even things out though. The 2005 RBs were more talented and probably better, but if memory serves they had more fumble issues too. Tre Newton could easily end up being a better Selvin Young--but Tre is a freshman. I had not remembered it, but the 05 only failed to score 40 points one time. That was at OSU. And 25 points against that defense (lots of NFLers all over that defense), on the road, in the early season, was more than respectable. Overall the offense of 2009 is not in the same league of 2005. Mainly because that oline was so great, and of course the peerless Vince Young. That said I think the 2009 defense might be better. I am not entirely sure why, I don't think their talent is better (heck that 2005 secondary is a quality NFL secondary on one team, including the nickle, and the DL was loaded), maybe it is just a matter of discipline (particularly in the LBS?), focus and a credit to Boom.
VY had a Tight End that was his bailout guy. Receivers Even RB's Even VY had a slightly better O-Line but only slightly. Colt has a much better front 7. no comparison, out lb's were terrible. I would say the defensive backfield was about even.
The 2005 O-Line was the second best in the nation behind USC. They were dominant, physical, and just flat out mean in both pass and run blocking. The line we have now is absolutely horrible. Odd to think that Shipley, Quan, and Sweed are all NFL receivers and played with Vince, but none had developed into great players yet.
Another vote on biggest difference being OL. 4 currently playing in NFL and 5th who could have but chose not to. Add to that an all everything Tight End and that line was incredible, this years not so much.
You didn't mean that.... right? ___________________________________ I say that bc that line was geared more towards running the ball with vy. If VY got in trouble with a rush during a pass, which was often, he minimized it by his scrambling ability. lines in turn played more to contain than put pressure on vy. We currently dont try to run and i dont think its because we cant. our line is partly softer because lines that pass block only are softer.
Dude the RBs were no where near even. I'll take Jamaal Charles, Selvin Young, and Ramonce in a heartbeat over our current stable. But that's not the major problem with the O. It's the running scheme and a weaker Oline. The scheme needs to be altered to fit our current personnel.
I think we should rest the debate of the 2005 versus 2009 offense. Shipley is the only 09er who likely starts in the 11 spots. Williams and Tre might get some playing time. Again that team scored 40+ every game except tOSU where they scored 25. And that tOSU defense was better than NU or OU's. I think a more interesting question is why the 09 defense seems better. The 05 secondary was one of the best ever in college football (5 solid NFLers), and the DL was pretty fine too (3 current NFLers and 1 former NFLer/Lombardi winner). All I can think of are our 09 LBs must be much better, we play much better as a team (discipline, focus) and in scheme. Other thoughts?
