The offensive line is tasked with knowing a team’s protection schemes, adjusting to an audible on the fly and the issue of blocking a 300-pound man, making it one of the most demanding position groups in football.
Judging from the adjusted sack ranking from footballstudyhall.com, LSU’s offensive line wasn’t good in pass protection last year. They ranked 92nd in the NCAA in adjusted sack rate and the success they had in the running game was down from previous years.
Starting left tackle Chris Faulk was lost for most of the season, as well as senior guard Josh Williford and senior tackle Alex Hurst.
While injuries played a factor, it wasn’t the only reason for the decrease in performance. The offensive line also had to share its coach with the rest of the offense, contributing to a decline in play.
Offensive line coach Greg Studrawa’s first season at LSU was in 2007, when he took what was a good offensive line the previous year — 23rd in adjusted line yards — and turned it into an elite unit ranking third in adjusted line yards in the nation.
Adjusted line yards is a statistic that separates a running back’s ability from the offensive line. A lower adjusted line yards means the running back was making the offensive line look good, while a higher number means an offensive line was doing its job and making the running back look good.
Through the next couple of years, LSU maintained a respectable offensive line, which consistently ranked in the top-half of the Southeastern Conference despite producing little NFL talent.
But the trend was reversed in 2011 when Studrawa was given responsibility over the whole offense. Steve Kragthorpe was originally hired for the job. He installed his offense but eventually had to take a less demanding role due to his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis before the 2011-12 season.
But with the addition of new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron this season, Studrawa will be able to return to his old duties.
According to junior tackle La’el Collins, having Studrawa exclusively to the offensive line during fall practice should help during this season.
“It helps us by far. You can’t even explain the difference in the way practices have been going. His time with us is the biggest key,” Collins said. “It’s like raising a kid. You want to have your father there to help you along the way and help you understand things and to just pay more attention to you.
The added attention during fall practice should also return LSU to an elite level in the run blocking game. Since 2011, LSU on average has ranked 31st in the nation in opportunity rate — a metric that measures the percentage of rushes where the offensive line produces five yards for the running back — while last year’s unit ranked 78th.
Also, Studrawa will be back on the sidelines this season after spending last year in the press box.
Sophomore guard Trai Turner said having Studrawa back helps the offensive line make adjustments during the game.
Collins agreed with Turner’s assessment of Studrawa’s coaching style.
“We look at him as a dad and coach, and for him to be right down there with us on the field speaks volumes, because we need that guy to be in our ear on the sidelines if we make a mistake instead of just talking to him on the phone,” Collins said. “We need to feel him right there in our face, that’s the kind of coaching we need.”