Field of Nation’s Top College O-Lines Narrowed Down to Four Units
NEW YORK, New York - December 10, 2019 - The Joe Moore Award for the Most Outstanding Offensive Line Unit in College Football today revealed the selection of four finalists for this year’s national honor, announced The Foundation for Teamwork, which has presented the unique award since 2015.
Finalists in the running to be named the top collegiate O-line in the country include (in alphabetical order) *No. 13 Alabama, *No. 1 LSU, *No. 2 Ohio State, and *No. 6 Oregon.
For games played through December 7th, this year’s finalists have a combined record of 47-4 and average 512.3 total yards per game (compared to the national average of 404.1 total ypg) and 198.2 rushing yards per game (compared to the national average of 170.5 rushing ypg).
The Joe Moore Award is named after Joe Moore, widely regarded as one of the best offensive line coaches in college football history. It is the only major college football award to honor a group or a unit.
The award’s voting committee will announce the recipient of the 2019 Joe Moore Award after a surprise visit to the winning university’s campus in mid to late December.
“Each of our O-line finalists displayed some unique qualities that really helped them stand out as elite units, but what they share in common is physicality in the run game and being at their best when it was needed most,” said Cole Cubelic, Chairman of the Joe Moore Award Voting Committee. “Coach Moore would be proud to know that there is still a commitment to physical football in the modern era, and we appreciate the efforts of the O-line coaches to preserve this fundamental aspect of the sport.”
"O-line play across the country was much improved this season, and this year's finalists are an incredible testament to the principles of toughness and teamwork that the Joe Moore Award is all about,” said Aaron Taylor, CBS college football analyst and co-founder of the Joe Moore Award. “Once again, the voting was extremely close down the stretch, but the committee felt that the 2019 Finalists separated themselves through the way they set the tone for their teams and routinely displayed the six award criteria."
Finalist Criteria and Selection Process
The Joe Moore Award voting committee judges solely on the following six criteria, which represent the collective benchmarks for the O-line position as determined by the committee and its combined 800+ years of playing and coaching experience: Toughness, Effort, Teamwork, Consistency, Technique, and Finishing.
Evaluations for the finalists were made through weekly review of actual game film and offensive line coach-provided highlights and cut-ups on the DragonFly Division I Network. In addition, Stats Perform, the industry’s leader in sports data analytics, provides advanced O-line data and analytics to give context and clarity, and to help streamline the film evaluation process.
2019 Joe Moore Award Finalists at a Glance (in alphabetical order)
Alabama Crimson Tide (10-2)
The Alabama offensive line, that has surrendered only 12 sacks in 381 pass attempts this season (just one every 31.8 pass attempts), ranks fifth nationally in fewest sacks allowed (1.0 per game).
The offensive front has opened holes and provided time for an Alabama offense, that ranks 2nd nationally in scoring (48.3 ppg), 3rd in passing (343.5 ypg) and 7th in total offense (513.3 ypg).
The ground game has also proven efficient with its top two running backs (Najee Harris and Brian Robinson Jr.) accounting for 5.5 yards per rush (1,513 yards and 16 touchdowns), with Harris ranking 31st nationally at 5.9 ypc.
According to Championship Analytics (CAI), Alabama is one of the nation’s top teams as it relates to five-plus-yard runs, leading the SEC and ranking sixth nationally with 45.4 percent of the team’s rushing attempts resulting in a gain of five or more yards.
What the Committee is Saying: The team may not be headliners this year, but that O-line is still putting in work. They play with repeatable, consistent footwork and hand technique, and they stepped it up against a talented Auburn front when their team needed it most.
What the Committee is Saying, Part 2: "Fun group to watch. Physical. Tenacious. Sneaky athletic. Regularly get defenders on the ground. Sort through the trash and pass games (stunts) off well. QB has zero fear in pocket and trusts his guys. Contact power is evident right away. Run lots of gap scheme and “duo” (physical plays that feature double teams) in addition to zone and perimeter schemes. Will punish/finish if given the chance. RT is special. Technical freak with some power. Wins with feet and hands every snap. RG is a beast when he gets his hands on you. Center does a nice job inside. Auburn and LSU tapes were impressive.”
Offensive line coach: Kyle Flood
Head coach: Nick Saban
LSU Tigers (13-0)
The Tigers lead FBS in total offense (554.3 total ypg).
LSU is 3rd in FBS, averaging 7.79 yds/play (only trail Oklahoma and Alabama).
500+ yards of total offense in 9 of 12 games, including wins over four teams ranked in the AP Top 10 at the time (at Alabama and Texas, and vs Auburn and Florida).
The Tigers had 481 total yds vs Georgia in SEC CG, 138 more than any other UGA opponent this year.
LSU’s O-line led the way to the most productive offensive season in school history, establishing school records for points (621), points per game (47.8), total offense (7,207), passing yards (5,209), 50-point games (6), and games with at least 40 points (10).
What the Committee is Saying: "There is a tendency to hyper-focus on the rushing attacks and the run-blocking of these units, but LSU forced us to really alter our filters and do a deeper dive. They were solid against the run, but their ability to handle protection duties against SEC rushers with so many receivers out in routes was really impressive and one of the reasons Burrow is going to win the Heisman. It's not THE reason, but it's definitely one of them."
What the Committee is Saying, Part 2: "It's incredible how often and how well they pass block in "empty" protection (no TE or RB help). There are plays all season, including the SEC Championship game where they are blocking 6, 7, 8, 10 seconds while Burrow looks to throw downfield. Great awareness in pass pro and often look for work and pick up delayed rushers. Appear willing to happily serve up some "full slabs" by re-arranging an unsuspecting D-lineman's rib cage in slide protection. Very physical bunch."
What the Committee is Saying, Part 3: "Passing as much as this offense did this year puts a unique strain on the group up front and boy did they respond. Sitting and watching these guys on film, the number of pass protection reps that I wrote 'Teach Tape Worthy' down next to in my notes was remarkable. Pass pro is definitely not passive for these guys."
Offensive line coach: James Cregg
Head coach: Ed Orgeron
Ohio State Buckeyes (13-0)
Ohio State is fifth nationally in rushing and first in the Big Ten Conference at 272.2 yards per game.
The offensive line has been the foundation of an offense that also ranks fifth nationally in passing efficiency and first in scoring at 48.7 points per game.
Running back J.K. Dobbins is on the cusp of not only breaking Eddie George’s school record of 1,927 rushing yards in a season (J.K. has 1,829 yards and is just 99 yards from Eddie’s record), but he’s also seeking to become the first ever Buckeye to rush for 2,000 yards in a season.
The line has paved the way for Dobbins to rush for these staggering totals against the nation’s top rush defenses this season: 172 yards vs. Michigan State’s No. 4 ranked rush defense; 163 yards vs. Wisconsin’s No. 1 ranked rush defense; 157 yards vs. Penn State’s No. 4 rush defense; 211 yards vs. Michigan’s No. 13 rush defense; and Saturday in the Big Ten title game, 172 yards against Wisconsin’s No. 7 ranked rush defense.
Ohio State's offensive line unit totaled 339 Knockdowns in 13 games.
What the Committee is Saying: "They are asked to be athletic and powerful in their scheme and don't have the luxury of just being a downhill group like some of the other Joe Moore Award winners we've had in the past. Their running backs have some massive holes blown open on stretch plays thanks to the hustle and talent up front."
What the Committee is Saying, Part 2: "This group excels at run blocking by creating movement and working well together, up to the second level. Look like angry dancing bears at times in their stretch game. Their physicality shines in the varied run schemes that include everything from midline read option to traditional stretch and split zone. Do a nice job of running off the ball and have very good contact power on one on one base blocks. No hesitation and play with heavy, solid, deliberate feet."
What the Committee is Saying, Part 3: "Ohio State has always had talented players up front, but this year that talent was matched by a desire to bury their opponent on each and every play. An incredibly athletic group who imposed its will while leading one of the nation's top rushing attacks."
Offensive line coach: Greg Studrawa
Head coach: Ryan Day
Oregon Ducks (11-2)
The Ducks lead the nation with 218 combined starts along the offensive line.
Oregon rushed for 239 yards and three TDs against Utah’s No. 1 rush defense in the Pac-12 Championship game, highlighted by 154 yards in the second half and 117 in the fourth quarter.
Oregon ranks sixth nationally with 5.73 yards per carry in the fourth quarter and 15th with 710 rushing yards.
Oregon leads the Pac-12 in total rushing yards (1,368) in the second half.
Oregon's running backs haven’t been stopped for negative yards over their last 88 carries out of the backfield.
Seniors Shane Lemieux and Calvin Throckmorton have started 51 consecutive games.
Oregon is one of eleven FBS teams with 30 passing TDs and 20 rushing TDs.
Sewell and Throckmorton have played a combined 1,557 snaps at the tackle positions this season without allowing a sack and just three hits on the QB.
What the Committee is Saying: "Each week this unit plays with excellent technique and finish. They strain to finish blocks and take their men further than they want to go. Their double teams are physical and they impose their will on the opponent. In their championship game, Oregon faced one of the best rush defense units in the nation in Utah and dominated them. In pass protection, they recognize stunts and work together to pass off games. Neither tackle has allowed a sack this season. Very well coached unit that loves to get after it and seems to have fun doing it."
What the Committee is saying, Part 2: "From start (Auburn) to finish (Utah), this group proved that they were ready to strap it up and get after the best their schedule had to offer. There aren't really any weak links and their left side just dominated opponents at times."
What the Committee is saying, Part 3: "In addition to being an incredibly physical, tenacious group, Oregon does as good a job as any team in the country of seeing the defense through one set of eyes. 5 as 1 on nearly every play you watch. Physical dominance with great attention to detail."
Offensive line coach: Alex Mirabal and Mario Cristobal
Head coach: Mario Cristobal
Voting Committee
The Joe Moore Award voting committee comprises 13 individuals who are highly knowledgeable about offensive line play, including former linemen, coaches, talent evaluators and media analysts. This group conducts in-depth analysis by reviewing game tape every week of the season to assess both the fundamentals and subtleties of overall O-line performance.
The 2019 voting committee includes Chairman Cole Cubelic (Auburn, SEC Network); Charles Arbuckle (UCLA, Indianapolis Colts); Randy Cross (UCLA, San Francisco 49ers); Gerry DiNardo (Notre Dame, head coach at LSU); Mike Golic, Jr. (Notre Dame, ESPN); Dave Harding (Duke, Blue Devil Network); Pat Hill (head coach at Fresno State, O-line coach at Atlanta Falcons); Barrett Jones (Alabama, St. Louis Rams); Duke Manyweather (Humboldt State, player and coach); Geoff Schwartz (Oregon, Carolina Panthers); Phil Steele (publisher or Phil Steele’s College Football Preview, ESPN); Aaron Taylor (Notre Dame, Green Bay Packers); and Lance Zierlein (NFL draft analyst, NFL.com).
Looking Ahead
The next step will be for a voting body of 200-plus members to select the 2019 recipient of the Joe Moore Award. This voting body includes all of the current offensive line coaches at the Division I/FBS level, as well as former players, coaches, colleagues of Coach Moore, select media members and the Joe Moore Award voting committee.
In addition to reviewing game tape every week of the season, the Joe Moore Award voting committee will go through each of the finalists’ season-long highlight reels and multiple back-to-back quarters of game film.
Past Award Recipients
Past recipients of the Joe Moore Award include the offensive lines of Alabama (2015), Iowa (2016), Notre Dame (2017), and Oklahoma (2018).
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, most notably for his work at Notre Dame and the University of Pittsburgh. Coach Moore sent 52 players on to the NFL, including Bill Fralic, Mark May, Russ Grimm, Jimbo Covert and others. The Joe Moore Award trophy, crafted by legendary sports sculptor Jerry McKenna, is the largest trophy in college football, standing at a height of 7 feet and weighing in at 800 pounds. The perpetual trophy is made available for display by the winning university until the conclusion of the following college football season.
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 (facebook.com/JoeMooreAward).
* College Football Playoff Poll as of December 8, 2019.
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