O, no

Well, the running backs aren't going anywhere fast without an O'Line creating a hole. It doesn't matter how fast or how much effort the running back is giving if he is running into a wall of defenders on every freaking play. Dohn was right. The O'line is just not good.

When is someone going to ask why Trevor Theriot the fullback is not getting the ball either out of the I formation or as a lone back. Is he allergic to the ball and why doesn't someone ask why. It is never mentioned or asked. The kid is a monster speedster and 240. Just want to know why.

I'll take a guess and say that perhaps its b/c we were too busy throwing the ball v. Tennesee and we were so completely blown out v. BYU that there was no reason to expose that secret weapon under those circumstances...better to save it for Pac-10 play? But good question...

But VB, did you skip the part where Chow said "Its not just the o-line. There are other things."?

My interpretation is that he was not giving the line a pass but mandating that the RBs take some responsibility too...makes sense.

Well, I agree that the entire offense is anemic, but the OL is critical to any success on the ground. Sure, you can pitch it and try to run to the outside, but sooner or later, you have to run the ball off-tackle and up the middle if you want a sustained running game.

I think the most important factor will be for the offense to DRIVE the ball, even if every possession doesn;t end up in a score. Otherwise, the defense can barely pull out the wedgie on the sideline before they are thrust back in to defend.

I read what Chow said. But I also stand by what I said. Chow was merely "mandating that the RB's take some responsibility" so that they do not become discouraged because they have to run into a brick wall of defenders on every single down. Like I said, you could have Reggie Bush in the backfield, but if you don't have an O'line to open holes for him, he is going to gain NOTHING. Notice how Bush hasn't done anything in the NFL? It is because he doesn't have USC's O-linemen to blow open gaps for him.

The failure of our offense lies solely on the O'Line. Plain and simple. We have plenty of skilled running backs, but they have NOWHERE TO RUN.

i'm pretty sure him saying it's not just the o-line was like saying the receivers were at fault for 2 of craft's 4 picks in the first game.

true, maybe they weren't where they were supposed to be, but if they aren't there then don't throw the ball to the defense.
true, maybe the running backs should wait a little longer for a whole to develop, but they can't wait very long when guys are pouring through the holes in your line to tackle them for a loss.

point is, you never want to completely destroy a player or group's confidence, even if it is clearly their fault. which, in this case, it is clearly our o-line's fault.

See, this is why I like 'StillHatesMichaelFey.' The guy knows a thing or two about football. VB, UB, PB and "Fey" are SMART. If only everyone thought like us.

Call me crazy but I'll take the word of one of the best offensive coordinators college football has ever seen over that of anonymous internet posters...

Because receivers must share the responsibility for some interceptions no matter what anyone thinks.

The QB has enough to worry about trying to get the ball released on time and its up to the receivers to hold up their end.

The situation is similar to a catcher throwing the ball into center field when the infielder forgets to cover the bag on a stolen base attempt. Plenty of blame to go around.

In the end football is a team game and everyone needs to keep practicing and improving every week.

Agreed. But our failure on offense can be attributed MOSTLY to our poor offensive line. Norm Chow knows this, but he isn't going to come out and say that because he has got to keep the confidence of his team high.

And I am not some "anonymous poster." I am VB, THE Video Bruin.

i agree that receivers must share responsibility, but only in certain situations. in fact, i think that is only the case if he obviously breaks the wrong way (post instead of corner, out instead of in) on one of the symmetric routes or if he could have played some defense and knocked the ball down to avoid the interception.

when it comes to plays where the wide out is literally no where in sight, the qb should not just assume he is there with nobody else around him and toss it up (see: craft red zone int vs tenn). while maybe he should have been there, even more so the qb should see that he isn't and take a sack instead of throwing the pick.

I can only account for what the man says. I can't read his mind.

But I guess we'll have to agree to disagree here. Football is still a team game. And the best offensive line in the world can't completely compensate for an unproven QB that isn't on the same page with his receivers or a host of unproven running backs.

Craft made some mistakes- I am not arguing that. But so did the receivers. Everyone will get better.

Blaming the receivers and running backs for the O'line failures is like blaming the Defensive line for the secondary failures. You are talking apples and oranges. While it is indeed a team sport, the running backs, quarterback and receivers cannot "prove themselves" unless they have time to work PROVIDED BY THE OFFENSIVE LINE. The Empire State building is not going to stand without the foundation. The offensive line makes the rest of the offense better. The quarterback, running backs and receivers can't do anything to make the offensive line better.

i agree, there's really nowhere to go but up.

as much as i hate to mention last week's game, i have to say that i thought the majority of craft's decisions were sound. i had never previously noticed his physical limitations, but finally did start to notice that he was just straight missing some throws. i can live with that though, as long as he chooses the right receiver.

It's nice to see the offensive coaches spreading the blame around and actually making adjustments.
We already know that the defense sucked because Verner played poorly. Didn't Walker make that clear?

I think Walker was probably asked a specific question posed by a reporter and he answered it.

He probably could have been a little bit more tactful but I don't think he had a personal agenda to throw ATV under the bus.

And even if he did maybe there was a good reason to. You don't know the whole story. Perhaps ATV has been ignoring instructions all through camp and Walker finally had to put some teeth behind his words...

Who knows?