The issue with Lambert hasn't been his size or strength, its his motor.....it doesnt run on every play (Gaines Adams had the same problem until his final year). He was slow on his feet against FSU when Hairston was out, and got mauled. Unfortunately this year Walker's motor hasn't been running as well, and the job that was locked up for Nebraska has been a toss-up since Spring practice.
Lambert said the following about his outlook going into this year:
"I've got to play more with that meanness streak going through me. Coach Pearman told me that I've got every tool I need, physically. I just have to get into a different mental mindset. He's really working with me to hone in on the mindset that I need to be the type of physical lineman we have to have.
"I think I'm just realizing that this is it. This could be the end. This could be the last season of football for me. I want to do better. I want to go out better. I think that's probably motivated me more."
Coach Swinney has this to say about the battle between the two after Friday practice:
"The last two or three days Cory Lambert has stepped up and made a little bit of a move. He had a decent scrimmage the other day and has had a couple of good practices. He had a pretty good day today. Coach Pearman seems to be really pushing him and getting a lot out of him. That's good to see. And Landon is working hard, too, but Cory has been more consistent."
"He's being more aggressive and isn't making as many busts. He seems to be more in to it. He's got as much physical ability as anyone. That's not the issue. He's a great kid and a nice guy but it's that work ethic every day that you have to have to be a great player and that's where he was inconsistent," noted the head coach. "He's being more consistent now with his motor and work ethic."
But an interview with Danny Pearman was probably the most telling of any thus far in camp. Reading this for the first time, I thought immediately of Danny Ford.
What's your evaluation of the tackles at this point?
Pearman. "So far Chris Hairston is our bell cow at left tackle. He's had a pretty good camp. He's in a little bit better shape than what he was last year, I guess. He's been solid. On the right side, it's been inconsistent and day-to-day. One guy shines, one guy's down. The next day it's a different guy shining. But the last two scrimmages, Cory Lambert has done a little better than Landon Walker.
"I feel both those guys will compete and play the right tackle position for us, and both of them deserve to play some right tackle. So it may be a week-to-week thing: If one guy starts and he doesn't perform, the next guy will play. But we've had a good camp with both of them. We just need to find a consistent player there.
"We've obviously moved Phillip Price to left tackle. He's got a lot of reps this camp. That's not to say he's ready to play at the highest level yet, but he also is over there getting a lot of work. We've also used Jamarcus Grant outside. Those are the main five guys that we've worked."
What's the issue with Landon and Cory? Is it motivation?
Pearman. "I wouldn't say it's an issue. They're just not playing up to what we consider winning football at that spot. They have to constantly be pushed. In their mind, I think a lot of times they think they're doing their job. But you've just got to make sure they do it every play."
"Cory has repped some (at LT). Jamarcus has repped some out there as a backup left tackle. But Hairston is the left tackle. And we'd spell him right now with Cory or Jamarcus if we had to play tomorrow."
How do you go about instilling toughness on the offensive line?
Pearman. "You instill toughness Monday through Friday. Saturday should be easy if you've done your job through the week. Toughness comes with reps. Toughness comes with attitude. Toughness comes with doing things that aren't easy, and in practice when it's not easy. Toughness comes with blocking the man right up over the top of you - doing it over and over and over and being confident you can do it.
"That becomes hard. You put kids in hard situations in practice so that they can be successful on Saturday."
How tough was the line when you got here last December?
Pearman. "I don't know. I just know the work we're trying to put in now. I think the worst thing you can do as a new coach is to come in and talk about the old regime. I think you serve two purposes that are wrong. It's not fair to the last guys, because you weren't here. The only thing you can do is grab the baton and do your job while you're here.
"I think what we've tried to do is build on these guys and work them hard this camp. Hopefully we can reap some benefits from it. Hopefully we will be a tougher collective body."
Has the offensive line come a long way in the area of toughness since the start of spring ball?
Pearman. "It'll be seen September 5th. I don't think you can say that yet. It'll have to be a game-type situation before we say, 'Hey, that's a tough group up front.'"
If that doesnt sound like Danny to you then I don't know what does. We might be jumping on Pearman by week 3 for his coaching ability, but he certainly sounds the part.
To answer your question, I think we are in trouble if either Hairston, Walker, or Lambert get hurt, because it appears obvious that those are the guys who can play. I am pretty confident that Hairston can get it done, but I don't know if Lambert has finally seen the light and started giving 100% effort on every play, or if Walker's effort has fallen off. We could be solid at RT, or we could have two guys who just are not consistent. If the latter, then we are in trouble.
ReplyDeleteAt this point, it looks as though losing JK Jay was a huge blow to the tackle position. IMO< this and kicker are the biggest problems our team has.
I'm worried that if Lambert is beating Walker, its more because Walker isn't that good or somehow forgot his brains on the field in the bowl game.
ReplyDeleteRob....I am worried that you might be right. If so, then I don't see how we are going to have much improvement in the running game, or how we will win more than 7 games. IMO, it is this kind of situation that separates the great teams from the average teams. Our first string may be pretty good, but there is not much depth, so if we have injuries, then we are screwed. Also, a lack of depth allows the starters to be complacent in practice, which ends up meaning that they play complacent. That is probably why Jay was listed as a co-starter at the end of the spring - to light a fire under Lambert and Walker.
ReplyDeleteA great team would have the depth to create competition and allow them to better sustain injuries. I just don't think we have that depth at the offensive line, and that is where the games are won and lost.
I think one of the best hirings Dabo made was Pearman and having him take the tackles and spell Brad Scott is equally good for the team. Scott just couldnt teach toughness, partly bc of the scheme but I think Pearman will get a lot out of those three guys--but it sounds like he doesnt have all that much to work with.
ReplyDeleteI like how he said Hairston came in a little bit better shape--he is a good player not great though. Off Tackle has to be the weakest and thinnest position on the team. Yeah kicker isnt looking great either.
Lambert is a talent pure and simple. He just has never been a game day player. I don't think anyone has ever questioned his work ethic (or said he takes plays off) but more so his agressiveness at the point of attack. The light has just never come on from the standpoint of just being able to go out and react - he seems to be thinking too much out there and when you do that you are going to get hammered Ala FSU last year. Hairston is a NFL first day stud so there are no worries there unless of course he goes down. I think Walker is more of a gamer and kind of slack a practice - he's still young. He had his issues last year which is to be expected from a redshirt freshman but overall his play was good enough. He unlike Lambert plays aggressively consistently and mauls people on running plays.
ReplyDeletePrice seems to have the frame and good things come out of TE conversions to OTs. But it is asking a lot for him to contribute this year though I hope he plays as much as possible in mop up roles. You never know what a guy is going to do until you throw him into the firm be it good or bad.
Jamarcus Grant is another talent like Lambert but is even more pussy footed. The guy can absolutely move for his size but he was a hologram during the Alabama game last year. God help us if he has to go in at LT. I think Lambert and even Walker might be ahead of him there. Grant certainly has the talent to play anywhere on the line but just doesn't have the intangibles.
If Pearman can get these guys (Lambert, Walker, Grant) to play with the heart they have been lacking then he has more than earned his paycheck.
Pearman commented that the biggest problem Grant has is the use of his hands.
ReplyDeletePrice seems too light to play OT in this conference, but we'll see him on the field eventually, so we'll find out.
I certainly hope they are more maulers up front on run plays this year. I like the Pearman hire because Scott couldnt get the job done himself, and if anything two coaches up front shows commitment to fixing the OL.
ReplyDeleteYeah if we dont get a kicker sorted out, we're screwed either way. Kicking will win or lose you at least 2 games a year, especially in this close conference.
ReplyDelete"We did a couple of personnel things over there at left tackle today to make sure we were in good shape. We took (Chris) Hairston out and got Cory some good work at left tackle," said the head coach. "Jamarcus (Grant) also got some work at left tackle. We worked with a couple of different scenarios there."
ReplyDeleteThats from practice today.