How much does an OL coach matter?

[Jaxcat]

With Wolford gone and, imo, having underperformed both stints at UK, I wonder how much an OL (or, really, any position) coach matters?

My wild guess is an OL coach can make a positive difference of 1, maybe 1-1/2, levels (from below avg talent to avg or slightly above avg performance, above average talent to good or excellent performance, for example). On the downside, I think an OL coach could detract as much as 2 levels. At AL, you know Wolford had outstanding talent. But, even with Milroe at QB with his legs and escapability, they struggled to be consistent. I would argue that AL OL was maybe average to slightly above average. Our OL this year probably has average to slightly above average talent across the board and they were above average in a few games and well below average in others. Overall, I'd say they were average to slightly below average.

Schlarman, OTOH, was great at getting average to slightly above average talent to perform well above their presumed talent level, some years pushing the OL up almost 2 full levels. His tenure had several players like Bunchie Stallings - kids who weren't highly regarded who turned into All-SEC or near All-SEC after Schlarman coached them up.

My hope is that Stein can hire a guy that can elevate our OL play a level or more. I don't believe we'll need the same type of player, which may help us in recruiting as we may be looking at players that many of the elite teams won't be. But, it's hard to imagine that we'll have excellent or better OL talent consistently, so an OL coach, like Schlarman, who can really maximize the talent is necessary.

Other positions, especially skill positions, I believe we'll have a better chance of having good-to-excellent talent as the offensive scheme will be attractive to WRs, QBs, TEs and RBs.

[Old School]

Schlarman was remarkable. He took unheralded recruits and turned them into legit SEC players. He also had most well regarded players play very well also. I think that as an undersized player who excelled, he was particularly good at teaching technique.

Losing Schlarman was a huge, huge blow to the program - maybe the biggest loss it sustained under Stoops.

[Matt Dillon]

Schlarman was remarkable. He took unheralded recruits and turned them into legit SEC players. He also had most well regarded players play very well also. I think that as an undersized player who excelled, he was particularly good at teaching technique.

Losing Schlarman was a huge, huge blow to the program - maybe the biggest loss it sustained under Stoops.

Absolutely.

[Jaxcat]

Schlarman was remarkable. He took unheralded recruits and turned them into legit SEC players. He also had most well regarded players play very well also. I think that as an undersized player who excelled, he was particularly good at teaching technique.

Losing Schlarman was a huge, huge blow to the program - maybe the biggest loss it sustained under Stoops.

He consistently got more out of his group than any other position coach at UK. As you stated, plenty of 'who is THAT?' guys that he coached into smart, physical, disciplined blocking machines. We weren't always so great at pass pro but our OL under his leadership consistently was very, very solid. And he LOVED UK and it showed. His players all loved him and playing for him, too. Wish we could've cloned him.

[Pobilly]

Football is the one sport where every position coach is the difference in winning and losing games. Just go back and look at Stoops without a special teams coach. Every position coach that is on board with the Head Coach, OC or DC and knows their job is more important than you think. On a well oiled machine each position coach can know a play, coach that play to their guys, they call come together and run the play and it works in practice. Then it is repetition from there. Same for defense or special teams. You get a team where they all trust one another and it can be a very special year, does not mean Ws and Ls.

[StubbornPenny]

Just look at that play where Louisville rushed 3 versus our 5 and both guards stepped up to block nobody. That’s how important.

[40bill]

I think the idea behind wolford was he is a fine recruiter....but his line underperformed both at Kentucky and Alabama. I have little doubt that will continue.
Coaches like Schlarman are pretty rare...they usually get moved on to Sunday pretty quick. I think it's essential we get a solid, if not spectacular Oline coach.

[Trueblujr]

With Wolford gone and, imo, having underperformed both stints at UK, I wonder how much an OL (or, really, any position) coach matters?

My wild guess is an OL coach can make a positive difference of 1, maybe 1-1/2, levels (from below avg talent to avg or slightly above avg performance, above average talent to good or excellent performance, for example). On the downside, I think an OL coach could detract as much as 2 levels. At AL, you know Wolford had outstanding talent. But, even with Milroe at QB with his legs and escapability, they struggled to be consistent. I would argue that AL OL was maybe average to slightly above average. Our OL this year probably has average to slightly above average talent across the board and they were above average in a few games and well below average in others. Overall, I'd say they were average to slightly below average.

Schlarman, OTOH, was great at getting average to slightly above average talent to perform well above their presumed talent level, some years pushing the OL up almost 2 full levels. His tenure had several players like Bunchie Stallings - kids who weren't highly regarded who turned into All-SEC or near All-SEC after Schlarman coached them up.

My hope is that Stein can hire a guy that can elevate our OL play a level or more. I don't believe we'll need the same type of player, which may help us in recruiting as we may be looking at players that many of the elite teams won't be. But, it's hard to imagine that we'll have excellent or better OL talent consistently, so an OL coach, like Schlarman, who can really maximize the talent is necessary.

Other positions, especially skill positions, I believe we'll have a better chance of having good-to-excellent talent as the offensive scheme will be attractive to WRs, QBs, TEs and RBs.

I think with Schlarman, the OL had an identity. it was built for the ground attack we had with Boom Williams, Benny Snell, up to Chris Rodriguez before he passed away. There was consistency in coaching and scheme. Once Schlarman passed all of that went out the window. We brought in new offensive coaches, tinkered with the system that was working, had staff and roster turnover trying to fit guys into systems they weren't geared for. All of it was a recipe for disaster. I'm glad we have an offensive minded coach now that will bring some of that consistency back to that side of the ball.

[Jaxcat]

Just look at that play where Louisville rushed 3 versus our 5 and both guards stepped up to block nobody. That’s how important.

Please, don't remind me. It wasn't just the UofL game, either. And the play you're referring to, IIRC, we never even put a hat on the defender. He just came streaking in to hit the QB without having to even step sideways. The Vandy game had several plays that they stunted or mixed up a blitz package and we just left huge holes in the pocket for them to cruise in to hit Boley. How Florida didn't know/figure that out is beyond me and maybe a good indication of why they fired their coach.

But, as I theorized in the OP, Wolford seemed to bring our OL talent down a level (or two), while Schlarman seemed to bring our talent up a level or two. So, yes, coaching does matter. However, the best OL coach with a subpar MAC-level of talent is only going to boost them up so far, which was sort of my original point although I probably didn't state it as clearly as I had it in my mind. We need good talent that can be coached up to be above average consistently.

[Helix]

I think with Schlarman, the OL had an identity. it was built for the ground attack we had with Boom Williams, Benny Snell, up to Chris Rodriguez before he passed away. There was consistency in coaching and scheme. Once Schlarman passed all of that went out the window. We brought in new offensive coaches, tinkered with the system that was working, had staff and roster turnover trying to fit guys into systems they weren't geared for. All of it was a recipe for disaster. I'm glad we have an offensive minded coach now that will bring some of that consistency back to that side of the ball.

Hands up, I hate outside zone runs. We obviously had some success with Cohen, who is obviously an incredible coach, but not consistently running between the tackles was a mistake. We had a hard won identity and a road-grader skill set that was frittered away in the name of pro-style play after Gran was dismissed. I could never understand why.