Most of us agree that the OL play has been suspect all year, but last night was just plain awful. We’ve made some major upgrades via the transfer portal and bigger NIL paychecks, but yet we can’t run block or protect the QB in the least. Conner spent all last night running for his life. This type of OL play should be unacceptable. Don’t you think a lot of the problem comes down to coaching? CWF needs to have a real frank conversation with OL Coach Naghavi.
4 Likes
I blame our lackluster NIL moreso than coaching when it comes to the offensive line.
10 Likes
We’re 4-1 in year 2 of Fritz with our only loss of the season coming against probably one of the top 20 teams in college football. You have to have deep NIL pockets to overhaul the talent on the roster immediately especially for a group of talented P4 big boys up front. We don’t have those deep pockets yet but Willie and the staff seems to be doing a pretty damn good job of using what we have.
21 Likes
I think it’s worth bringing up. Remember, he was here 2 seasons under Holgorsen & this will be season 2 with CWF in Houston.
He hasn’t been able to recruit stars, and so far hasn’t been able to retain or develop them (I understand NIL plays into this). The last true OL “star” was either Patrick Paul (Applewhite recruit) or Freeman.
“Pancake” Hunter has shown good things, but other positions at the OL have not been as solid.
4 Likes
Aren’t we still heavily injured at O-Line?
2 Likes
I will say this though. If the defensive line is going to blow right past our blockers we might as well try to draw up some better inside screen plays and invite them right on in and dump it over their head
7 Likes
I think he was only here one year with dana. And was the o line coach at tulane when they won the sugar bowl.
3 Likes
We still need some time to build. TT, Baylor, OSU, and other Big 12 and PAC12 teams had 30 years to establish pipelines and recruiting channels to the best HS players. And while NIL can really jump you to the front of the line, it can also turn into wasted money.
Year two under Naghavi is better than year one. We will continue to improve.
10 Likes
The OL is crucial to any team success. If there is one area that HCWF has had to improve our OL needing of improvement is an under statement.
Unfortunately we suffered major injuries with our OL. Against a teetech quality DL a mediocre OL is going to be pointed out.
We had quick passes and quick runs against Colorado…This was against Colorado but I did expect that we would at least try to counter teetech DL with that approach. I do not believe we did and that was a major disappointment for me.
1 Like
That’s how bad our offensive line play was… It looked like we were running screen passes all night long. Tech’s D-line is for real. They are an elite team that we couldn’t block (overmatched).
The issue is talent. Coaching can’t turn Merryman into a decent OL.
4 Likes
Imagine if coach Fritz would of been able to bring in Mensah & Brazzell from Tulane lol.
Modern era, we never have a good OL. It’s just never been a strength of our program. I think before Naghavi CDH changed OL coaches every year. Naghavi is not going anywhere, he’s a Katy legacy.
If our offense is based off the assumption that our OL is going to move B12 DLs around, get a new offensive philosophy.
3 Likes
Doesn’t help 2 starters are out.
6 Likes
Bottom line we don’t have the size, speed, depth, and money right now against an elite front. I hope Tilman and the organization can find more ways to get more NIL money.
We’re still 4-1 and need to take care of Oklahoma St next week. We’ve got a great start and can build.
4 Likes
I recently heard a commentator say, 90% of being an elite coach is having elite players.
7 Likes
I have trouble believing we will ever have the resources ($$$$$$$) to compete at a high level. I believe that is why our DC from last year is at TT this year. He was bought for an additional $500K and probably also realized that TT was clearly more invested in their program.
Also, remember that TT never won a SWC title in the 45 or so years in the SWC and have never won a Big12 title in 30 years.
They did tie for a SWC title in 1976, but we beat them in Lubbock that year and went to the Cotton Bowl.
2 Likes
OL was perhaps our worst position group when Fritz got here and it’s also the position group where talent develops slowest. Barring a Texas Tech-style cash infusion, it’ll take some time before that unit is good.
6 Likes
When it comes to OL, I think we got the best of what we could afford AND that fit our culture criteria as well as our starts/production criteria.
From what I saw during the portal windows, we contacted many that went to other programs - sometimes it seemed we cut the line of communication for one reason or another OR they took a bigger offer.
You get what you get and don’t throw a fit
OR
contact your local billionaire(s) and see if you can convince them to fund UH NIL.
2 Likes
Against Tech? No he wasn’t a problem that was a Jimmy and Joe’s problem not an X’s and O’s issue. That being said I’m not sure he’s part of the solution either.
2 Likes