Games feature Alabama vs. Arkansas, Tennessee vs. Texas A&M, LSU vs. Florida and Washington vs. Oregon
NEW YORK, New York – October 5, 2016— In its continuing effort to help educate fans on how important the offensive line is to winning football, the Joe Moore Award will feature games on a weekly basis that feature O-Line units that have shown potential to win the award in its “Big Ugly Spotlight”. The list for Week Five features Alabama vs. Arkansas, Tennessee vs. Texas A&M, LSU vs. Florida and Washington vs. Oregon.
On a weekly basis, the Joe Moore Award will provide analysis for the upcoming weekend’s featured games. Stay tuned for Joe Moore Honor Roll, which will recognize outstanding offensive line play, culminating with the announcement of the 2016 winner of the Joe Moore Award after the conclusion of the regular season.
This week’s “Power Breakdown” will feature the SEC matchup of Alabama/Arkansas, with in-depth analysis provided by the team at The Scouting Academy, an online-based instructional curriculum whose instructors bring over 350 years of NFL front office and coaching experience.
WEEK 6 “BIG UGLY SPOTLIGHT” LIST FOR GAMES ON OCTOBER 8
“POWER BREAKDOWN” – ALABAMA (#1) @ ARKANSAS (#16) – 7:00pm ET on ESPN
The Razorbacks come into this game hoping to prove they deserve a place among the elite programs in the SEC and their big, physical offensive line would play a major role in an upset of top-ranked Alabama. Meanwhile, the Crimson Tide just keep rolling behind an elite defense, a true freshman quarterback and an offensive line that is improving every week and beginning to make a case to repeat as Joe Moore Award winners.
Alabama Crimson Tide Offensive Line Unit Breakdown, via The Scouting Academy
ALABAMA O-LINE OVERVIEW:
Alabama’s talented offensive line has the ability to line up against virtually anyone and consistently provide opportunities for its skill players to make plays, so, if they execute and do not turn the ball over, the Crimson Tide are very hard to beat. As they prefer to play things straight in their base alignment, the primary challenge of Arkansas’ defense will be to stay disciplined, maintain gap integrity, and force the still somewhat inexperienced freshman QB Hurts to make good decisions, consistently.
ALABAMA O-LINE BREAKDOWN:
Alabama utilizes the dual-threat capabilities of Freshman QB Jalen Hurts through the use of a Zone Read run scheme and play action passing. Primarily operating out of 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE), Offensive Coordinator Lane Kiffin is able to keep defenses off balance due to the versatility of TE O.J. Howard, who can align as an inline Y (e.g. next to an OT), or split wide (like a WR). Hurts has the luxury of operating behind an excellent offensive line, headlined by two tackles that have shown spurts of potential to be outstanding players over their careers. Junior LT Cam Robinson has won post-season honors in each of his two seasons since winning the starting job as a freshman, but may be over-shadowed by true freshman newcomer Jonah Williams on the right side, who started his first college game in the opener against USC and has won the Crimson Tide’s “Lineman of the Week” in all but one game this season. Alabama also has good quality in the interior of the line, with guards Ross Pierschbacher, Alphonse Taylor and Center Bradley Bozeman all showing good strength, toughness, and mental processing to work together. As a unit, they effectively control the middle of the line utilizing ZBS (Zone Based System) run concepts, as well as “anchor” (lower body strength) to provide good pocket depth in pass protection.
ARKANSAS DEFENSIVE OVERVIEW:
Arkansas aligns in a base 4-3. The ends play in a 5T (off the shoulder of the tackles), one DT will play a 3T (outside shoulder of the Guard) to the boundary side, and the other DT will align in a 1T (outside shoulder of OC) to the field side. The Razorbacks have very good depth across the front, with nine different players seeing at least some action so far in 2016. Arkansas relies primarily upon its front four to provide pressure, choosing to drop LBs and nickel DBs into coverage in passing situations. The best edge rusher of the group is Deatrich Wise, who was on multiple award watch lists heading into the season. Arkansas has been feeding reps to true freshman McTelvin Agim, who looks to have the highest ceiling of the group, showing good traits as an interior pass rusher.
Alabama Crimson Tide Offensive Line Unit Game Notes
- With a 5-0 start and early expectations for a championship run, Alabama is 13th in the nation with an average of 44.0 points per game and they are making a case to repeat as Joe Moore Award winners.
- The O-line unit has protected true freshman QB Jalen Hurts, who has thrown only one interception all season.
- Alabama ranks 4th in the SEC in rushing yards per game (231.6) and fourth in the conference in yards per rush attempt (5.39).
- Alabama has averaged 252.8 passing yards per game, allowing ten sacks and 27 tackles for loss through five games.
- Alabama’s offensive line has paved the way for 14 rushing plays of 20+ yards and has protected the quarterbacks long enough to allow 41 plays of 10+ yards through the air.
- In Saturday’s 34-6 win over Kentucky, the Alabama O-Line:
– Created enough lanes for the Tide to rush for 173 yards and one touchdown
– Protected the QB’s long enough to throw for 315 yards and two touchdowns, with 173 yards coming in the pivotal 3rd quarter.
Arkansas Razorbacks Offensive Line Unit Breakdown, via The Scouting Academy
ARKANSAS O-LINE OVERVIEW:
Arkansas can win this game if their offensive line can mentally process and defend Alabama’s twist and blitz scheme and compete the entire game with the Crimson Tide’s 8-man defensive line rotation. No easy task. The Razorbacks have to establish their power running game and keep Alabama off balance and contain their rush with WR screens, play action passes and rollouts.
ARKANSAS O-LINE BREAKDOWN:
The Arkansas Razorbacks run a pro-style offense, running the ball to open up the pass. Their running game is based mainly in a Power blocking scheme with Pin and Pull plays, Buck Sweeps, and Draw plays. This, combined with rollouts, WR screens, play action passes and drop back passes, help the Razorbacks keep the defense off balance. They use mainly a 6-man protection scheme on 3rd downs to give their QB and offensive line extra time to throw the ball down the field. LT #70 Dan Skipper is a towering force on the Razorback’s line, standing 6’10”, with a good ability to power block and push people off the ball in their running scheme. RT #60 Brian Wallace is one of their better pass blockers and displays a solid kick, slide-step and a good ability to anchor the pocket.
ALABAMA DEFENSIVE OVERVIEW:
The Alabama Crimson Tide run a 3-4 defense that rotates up to eight different players on the defensive line and OLB positions. Alabama’s defense relies on twists and blitzes from the LBs and DBs to stop the run and put pressure on the QB. The entire defensive line displays good extension in their arms to keep blockers off of them, with very good play strength to hold the point of attack. #54 LDE Dalvin Tomlinson shows good ability to “stun” blockers at the point of attack, reset the line of scrimmage, shed blockers and tackle ball carriers. #56 OLB Tim Williams shows a very good ability to get off the ball with a pass rush plan that keeps offensive tackles off balance the entire game.
Arkansas Razorbacks Offensive Line Unit Game Notes
- The “Trench Hogs” have helped Arkansas to a 4-1 start and have earned the attention of the Joe Moore Award voting committee.
- They have protected the QB well, allowing only 7 sacks on the season yielding only two interceptions.
- In the last four games, QB Austin Allen has thrown 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
- They get yards when they need them, ranking 2nd in the SEC in third down conversions (49%).
- With a successful balanced attack implemented, the Razorbacks average 443.4 total yards per game and 6.43 yards per play.
- Arkansas is the only SEC team with two SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week designees this season.
- Senior Dan Skipper will make his 40th consecutive start on Saturday.
- Skipper has two blocked field goals this year and seven for his career, which is just two off the NCAA record. He was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week this week and has already won SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week this year.
- In Saturday’s 52-10 win over Alcorn State, the Arkansas O-Line: Created enough lanes for the Tide to rush for 353 yards and three touchdowns
- Arkansas averaged 9.3 yards per rush
– Protected the QB’s long enough to throw for 206 yards and three touchdowns
–Allowed zero sacks, one tackle for loss and one QB hit
TENNESSEE (#9) @ TEXAS A&M (#8) – 3:30pm ET ON CBS
With the exception of an overtime win against UCLA in the season opener, Texas A&M has won by big margins on their way to a perfect record. Meanwhile, Tennessee has made it to 5-0 with several close games, including their stunning last play win over Georgia last week. Either way, they both go into this huge SEC game undefeated and only one team will stay that way.
Tennessee Volunteers Offensive Line Unit Game Notes
- You can’t start the season 5-0 without a solid O-line unit, and the Volunteers did just that after their stunning last play win over Georgia.
- Tennessee has averaged 207 passing yards per game with an efficiency rating of 145.39.
- With a successful balanced attack implemented, the Vols average 381.6 total yards per game and 5.47 yards per play.
- In Saturday’s 34-31 win over Georgia, the Tennessee O-Line:
– Created enough lanes for the Vols to rush for 127 yards and one touchdown.
– Protected the QB’s long enough to throw for 230 yards and three touchdowns.
– Allowed two sacks, five tackles for loss and zero QB hits.
Texas A&M Aggies Offensive Line Unit Game Notes
- The Texas A&M rushing attack has helped them surge to a 5-0 start to the season and has drawn attention to the Aggie O-line from the Joe Moore Award team.
- Texas A&M tops the SEC in total offense, averaging 521 yards per game, while averaging 39.2 PPG in their first five games.
- The Aggies have averaged more than 258 rushing yards per game, which ranks them 13th in the nation and 2nd in the SEC.
- The O-line unit has only allowed only five sacks through five games (t22 nationally).
- They are 3rd in the SEC in total passing offense, averaging more than 262 yards per game through the air.
- In Saturday’s 24-13 win over South Carolina, the Aggie O-Line:
– Created enough lanes for A&M to rush for 216 yards and three touchdowns.
– Protected the QB’s well enough to throw for 230 yards and three touchdowns
– Allowed only one sack for a loss of 2 yards.
LSU @ FLORIDA (#18) – NOON ET ON ESPN
The Gators offense struggled against Vanderbilt last week and they will have to step up their game against a stiff LSU defense that has not given up more than 20 points in a game all season. The LSU offense found new life in a big win over Missouri, but they too will face a defense in Florida that, minus the game against Tennessee, has given up a mere five points per game.
LSU Tigers Offensive Line Unit Game Notes
- LSU has had a tough start to the season going 3-2, but their convincing win over Missouri showed they could finish the season strong under interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron.
- Even without star RB Leonard Fournette (ankle), the Tigers showed signs of their usual stellar running attack, as Derrius Guice and Darrel Williams combined to rush for 293 yards.
- As a team, LSU rushed for 418 yards and averaged 8 yards per carry.
- Despite the slow start to the season, the Tigers rank 3rd in the SEC in rushing offense, averaging 237 yards per game and an impressive 6.27 yards per carry.
Florida Gators Offensive Line Unit Game Notes
- Florida has started the season strong, going 4-1 to begin the season while averaging 32.3 points per game, led by a consistent O-line unit.
- In tandem with their powerful defense, the Gators lead the SEC in turnover margin at +5 through five games.
- The O-line unit has only allowed only five sacks through five games (t22 nationally).
- The O-line unit opens holes when they need them most, as Florida leads the SEC in 3rd down conversions making the first down 50.62% of the time.
- Florida’s offense is 4th in the SEC in time of possession, controlling the ball for more than 32 minutes per game.
- The Gator offense looked sluggish in their 13-6 win over Vanderbilt and will hope to find their early season success against an LSU team that is ranked 3rd in the SEC in total defense.
WASHINGTON (#5) @ OREGON – 7:30PM ET on FOX
After dominating Stanford last weekend, Washington has steamrolled its way into the college playoff conversation, while Oregon has lost three games in a row, despite averaging more than 40 points per game. That said, Washington has not beaten the Ducks since 2003 and need to win this game to keep their momentum going.
Washington Huskies Offensive Line Unit Game Notes
- Washington is tops in the Pac-12 and 7th in the nation in scoring, averaging 45.4 points per game.
- They are 2nd in the conference in yards per play, averaging 7.04 yards per play.
- With solid pass protection, Washington is ranked 2nd in the country in passing efficiency with a rating of 201.23.
- Washington leads the nation in turnover ratio, having lost the ball only four times (2 fumbles, 2 interceptions), while taking it away 15 times.
- The Huskie O-line has only given up nine sacks on the season and 19 tackles for loss, which leads the Pac-12.
- In Friday’s big win over Stanford, the Huskie O-line:
– Allowed no sacks in protecting QB Jake Browning, who completed 15-of-21 passes for 210 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
– Converted 9 of 12 third downs. Opened holes for 214 yards rushing, 5.2 yards per rush and three rushing touchdowns.
– Dominated time of possession, holding the ball for 32:32.
Oregon Ducks Offensive Line Unit Game Notes
- The Ducks usual explosive offense leads the Pac-12 with a 7.21 yards per play average.
- They lead the Pac-12 in rushing offense, averaging 263.4 yards per game and 6.24 yards per rush
- Oregon leads the Pac-12 with 15 rushing plays of longer than 20 yards.
- Oregon is 3rd in the Pac-12 in 3rd down conversions, having made first down 48.53% of the time.
- In last week’s loss to Washington State, the Duck O-line:
– Opened holes for 214 yards rushing and 4 rushing touchdowns.
– Finished the game with an 8-play, 85-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.
– Gave up 2 sacks and converted 6 of 12 third down attempts.
About the Joe Moore Award
The JOE MOORE AWARD is named after Joe Moore, widely regarded as one of the best offensive line coaches in college football history, and is the only major college football award to honor a unit. The award annually recognizes the nation’s Most Outstanding Offensive Line Unit that best displays toughness, effort, teamwork, physicality, tone setting and finishing. The voting committee is comprised solely of people who played or coached the position, including all of the current offensive line coaches at the Division I/FBS level as well as former players, coaches, colleagues of Coach Moore and select media. The inaugural Joe Moore Award went to Alabama in 2015.
About the Foundation for Teamwork
The Foundation for Teamwork is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to fostering teamwork in all societal endeavors and bring that spirit of collective achievement to athletics, education, and organizations. Find out more at joemooreaward.com and follow the Joe Moore Award on Twitter (@joemooreaward), Instagram (@joemooreaward), and Facebook at www.facebook.com/JoeMooreAward.
About the Scouting Academy
The Scouting Academy is an online-based instructional curriculum designed to better educate students in the player evaluation process of National Football League teams. Established by former NFL scout Dan Hatman, and taught by instructors with over 350 years of NFL front office and coaching experience, The Academy establishes a new standard in education for students seeking to enter the NFL in a player personnel capacity. By utilizing an online platform, The Scouting Academy offers a 16-week comprehensive curriculum that allows students to develop at their own pace.