First, sounds like there is some scuttlebutt that the depth chart is wrong, and that's just fine by me. In several cases I certainly think so. That said, this post is assuming its correct as I have nothing else to go on since I haven't had a chance to listen to the presser yet.
I think the OL will have two starting RSFs at the bookends by mid-season or sooner. I'm worried at center. The various attempts to downplay the importance of experience along the OL is really annoying. I think some people think you basically figure out who to block and stand in front of your man and done. OL is actually a very, very nuanced position and no amount of practice and/or time in a college weight room substitutes for starting game-in, game-out.
Practices are not 3 hours long, nor do they allow you to get into anything amounting a flow or rhythm. Not only this, but things like technique are one thing while you're repping in practice, its a far, far different thing when you're expected to maintain this while getting beat on every play. Also, practice can't even begin to prepare one for the exhaustion that comes from taking this beating for 3 hours. When you're tired, the first thing that goes is technique, and along the OL when that goes, you're done. Guys start getting their hands on you, you start to bend at the hips rather than the knees, which causes you to get owned. Finally, the OL is supposed to function as one cohesive unit. Guys need to know what the other person is like to do in a, b, c, d, etc through triple z. no way to know that until the real bullets start flying. Playing in a game is paramount here. Its simply going to be a week in progress until its not. I'm not calling it OL Armageddon here, as its clearly not. I feel we have above average talent at each position, and that we have one of the top young OL coaches in the nation in Frye. People are watching him this year, and if he gets this group to ++ this year the big boys will be calling him with offers of big $ (for an OLC). If he gets an offer from a B1G program, this'll be our last year with him.
Y/TE - Good to see good ole nepotism alive and well on the Heights. Louie doesn't belong atop any P5 depth chart.
FB - Richard Wilson is going to really surprise people this year. I feel he's a much tougher inside runner than anyone on the roster. This kid runs like a violent, violent man. Inside pivots and FB dives should be a weapon waiting to fire. I would not want to be a backer dealing with him in the 1 gap.
WR - I'm loving this group. Thrilled to see Thad supplant Callinan as I just don't trust his hand and have yet to see any real YAC from him, and this group looks to be a big YAC group. Have we ever been able to say that before? Dudeck at the Y is a pretty big bummer. Really hoped our sheer skill would preclude any large number of snaps for him. Like the way he plays, just so happens he should be doing it for Harvard against Yale, not for us against FSU. I fully expect Robinson to steal those snaps early and often.
DL: Our DL is nasty. If Landry, Allen, and Smith play to the level I think there's going to be scary good.
LB: Thank God Juice is inside. Should have ALWAYS been inside. How anyone could look at him and see anything but Mike is beyond me. He should be a tackle to tackle run stopper. He'll still have to cover some space in the Tampa 2 looks, but he's much better on the back pedal than on the crossover, so that should be fine. This will play to his strengths. Running the ball against us is really going to suck.
That said, we are razor thin a Sam. Based on this, for me, Milano would be the least advantageous player to take an extended injury. He's a smart kid, gritty. Between he and Juice we're not going to spend much time being confused out there. These guys will get us lined up right and Juice knows more than enough to audible into or out of blitzes that are called/uncalled for.
Pretty shocked Schwab beat out Strizak. Based on last year, I certainly don't prefer it. Guessing that should actually be an 'or' between them with Schwab on passing downs and Strizak on run downs. Strizac may be a better run stuffer than Juice. Maybe Schwab got WAY better at point of contact stuff over the off season? We shall see and he mightily struggled in that area last year.
DBs: Kam is going to have a break out year. I think most of us expect that. I'd like to see McClary and Johnson swap and think that has a chance of happening at some point depending on McClary's understanding of our scheme. With the scheme Brownie runs, SS is such an important strategic position, I think the experience of Johnson forced out hands here. If not McClary guessing Lezzer takes over there at some point. I like JJ, but he's a bit stiff in the hips and that's a big concern back there.
SPT: If these weights are right seems Knoll is still overweight. I personally don't believe he wants to be here, and I'll be shocked if he remains on the roster after this year. He's shaping up to be an all-time bust.
I think the OL will have two starting RSFs at the bookends by mid-season or sooner. I'm worried at center. The various attempts to downplay the importance of experience along the OL is really annoying. I think some people think you basically figure out who to block and stand in front of your man and done. OL is actually a very, very nuanced position and no amount of practice and/or time in a college weight room substitutes for starting game-in, game-out.
Practices are not 3 hours long, nor do they allow you to get into anything amounting a flow or rhythm. Not only this, but things like technique are one thing while you're repping in practice, its a far, far different thing when you're expected to maintain this while getting beat on every play. Also, practice can't even begin to prepare one for the exhaustion that comes from taking this beating for 3 hours. When you're tired, the first thing that goes is technique, and along the OL when that goes, you're done. Guys start getting their hands on you, you start to bend at the hips rather than the knees, which causes you to get owned. Finally, the OL is supposed to function as one cohesive unit. Guys need to know what the other person is like to do in a, b, c, d, etc through triple z. no way to know that until the real bullets start flying. Playing in a game is paramount here. Its simply going to be a week in progress until its not. I'm not calling it OL Armageddon here, as its clearly not. I feel we have above average talent at each position, and that we have one of the top young OL coaches in the nation in Frye. People are watching him this year, and if he gets this group to ++ this year the big boys will be calling him with offers of big $ (for an OLC). If he gets an offer from a B1G program, this'll be our last year with him.
Y/TE - Good to see good ole nepotism alive and well on the Heights. Louie doesn't belong atop any P5 depth chart.
FB - Richard Wilson is going to really surprise people this year. I feel he's a much tougher inside runner than anyone on the roster. This kid runs like a violent, violent man. Inside pivots and FB dives should be a weapon waiting to fire. I would not want to be a backer dealing with him in the 1 gap.
WR - I'm loving this group. Thrilled to see Thad supplant Callinan as I just don't trust his hand and have yet to see any real YAC from him, and this group looks to be a big YAC group. Have we ever been able to say that before? Dudeck at the Y is a pretty big bummer. Really hoped our sheer skill would preclude any large number of snaps for him. Like the way he plays, just so happens he should be doing it for Harvard against Yale, not for us against FSU. I fully expect Robinson to steal those snaps early and often.
DL: Our DL is nasty. If Landry, Allen, and Smith play to the level I think there's going to be scary good.
LB: Thank God Juice is inside. Should have ALWAYS been inside. How anyone could look at him and see anything but Mike is beyond me. He should be a tackle to tackle run stopper. He'll still have to cover some space in the Tampa 2 looks, but he's much better on the back pedal than on the crossover, so that should be fine. This will play to his strengths. Running the ball against us is really going to suck.
That said, we are razor thin a Sam. Based on this, for me, Milano would be the least advantageous player to take an extended injury. He's a smart kid, gritty. Between he and Juice we're not going to spend much time being confused out there. These guys will get us lined up right and Juice knows more than enough to audible into or out of blitzes that are called/uncalled for.
Pretty shocked Schwab beat out Strizak. Based on last year, I certainly don't prefer it. Guessing that should actually be an 'or' between them with Schwab on passing downs and Strizak on run downs. Strizac may be a better run stuffer than Juice. Maybe Schwab got WAY better at point of contact stuff over the off season? We shall see and he mightily struggled in that area last year.
DBs: Kam is going to have a break out year. I think most of us expect that. I'd like to see McClary and Johnson swap and think that has a chance of happening at some point depending on McClary's understanding of our scheme. With the scheme Brownie runs, SS is such an important strategic position, I think the experience of Johnson forced out hands here. If not McClary guessing Lezzer takes over there at some point. I like JJ, but he's a bit stiff in the hips and that's a big concern back there.
SPT: If these weights are right seems Knoll is still overweight. I personally don't believe he wants to be here, and I'll be shocked if he remains on the roster after this year. He's shaping up to be an all-time bust.
