Line paving the road for offensive success
10/30/2015 4:50:00 PM | Football
SAM HOUSTON VS. A&M-COMMERCE
GAME DAY INFORMATION
Sam Houston State's offense has operated like a well-oiled machine as the Bearkats have rolled to five consecutive victories.
Quarterback Jared Johnson, running backs Cory Avery and Jalen Overstreet and receiver LaDarius Brown have gotten plenty of recognition for their remarkable statistical performances in recent weeks, but none of those numbers would be all that remarkable if it wasn't for the dominant play of the Bearkats' offensive line.
In its last three games, eighth-ranked Sam Houston has rushed for 834 yards on 161 carries, an average of 5.2 yards per rush, and in its last four games has allowed only four sacks, three of which came in the Bearkats' win over Incarnate Word. The Bearkats' offensive line has stepped up and simply manhandled opponents.
“The leadership, people are stepping up and taking control of communicating,” Sam Houston junior offensive lineman Bridge Blount said. “We're just dominating up front. We're more physical. We play harder, more angry. We all fight for the biggest hit and I think that's what it needs to be.”
Sam Houston's physicality was especially impressive in last week's 37-7 victory over Nicholls considering the downpour the two teams were forced to play in and how the Colonels had no answer for Overstreet, who ran for 202 yards.
The Colonels knew that the Bearkats were going to run the ball for the majority of the game and yet Blount and company continued to impose their will, run after run.
“When it's a situation like that, it comes down to who is going to out-man who,” Sam Houston offensive lineman Donald Jackson III said. “It was a really good feeling to me, knowing that (the game) is going to be on our backs the entire time. At the end of the game, it's is in your hands. Knowing that we got the yards we got, that's on us.”
The 298 rushing yards that the Bearkats ran for against Nicholls are a good sign for the team down the road.
As fall weather sets in, the Kats have less to worry about since the team has proven they are capable of pounding the rock in adverse weather conditions.
“Now we're coming up on the hardest part of our schedule,” Blount said. “There is always going to be some condition because it's starting to get cold and we're going to do a lot of traveling. I think if we stay healthy and stay physical, we won't have a problem.”
It helps that the Bearkats have a stable of running backs who can take advantage of the offensive line's run blocking.
Avery and Overstreet have seized the opportunities the coaches have given them. Avery has rushed for 229 yards on just 18 carries and three touchdowns in the last three games and Overstreet ran for 202 yards on 28 carries and a touchdown against Nicholls.
“All you've got to do is do your job and next thing you know, you'll see them 20 yards down the field, so I guess it takes a little pressure off your back,” Jackson said. “They are going to extend (plays) tremendously. With Jalen (Overstreet) being the speed back that he is and Cory (Avery) being really shifty and being able to lower his shoulder, that's a great balance.”
The Bearkats are heading into the toughest stretch of their season. On Nov. 7, Sam Houston travels to Lake Charles, Louisiana, to take on 7th-ranked McNeese State, which currently sits atop the Southland Conference standings, then plays Northwestern State in Huntsville on Nov. 14 before hitting the road to battle Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas, the next week.
Sam Houston's matchup with Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday gives the offensive line one last tune-up before the Bearkats' mettle will be tested.
“A&M-Commerce, they probably have the best two interior defensive tackles that we've played so far this year,” Blount said. “That is a really good test of our ability, strength, physicality and how mentally tough we are. Hopefully, we'll show up to play and it will reflect how (we play) the rest of the season against McNeese, Central Arkansas and in the playoffs.”
Kickoff Saturday is at 6 p.m. The game will be televised by Fox College Sports Central.
