Spring Ball Thread

The Houston move is at least intriguing. He would add immediate athleticism and intelligence to the group. We’ll see how that transfers to him being viable or better. At the very least, Yanni can come back to that position with some experience and another year of physical development. How he watches and understands tape is going to be vastly different to how he did this time last year.

I think Brandel is the future at LT. He also gets to move back there after learning what it takes (though not quite having it) to succeed there.

Lavaka has earned his LG spot. He can concentrate on fitness and technique. And if his learning curve is as sharp as it was from high school (when he really sucked) to now, he’ll be an All Pro OG by his junior year. Lauina did provide serviceable back-up efforts late in the season when Gus went down. So that position seems to be solid two deep for now.

C could be Yanni or Houston, as mentioned above. Woods could also throw leftover interior linemen at the positiion. Or maybe he’s thinking he can build a C from Cordasco, who has great drive and combat but is just raw. I also wouldn’t count Moore out if the staff thinks we now have depth enough at OT. I would count him out because I think we don’t have said depth. But maybe the idea is less about depth and more about putting the best players on the field and letting the depth work itself out.

I expect Delp to step forward at RG. He now has the tools to be successful there. If he’s surpassed by someone like Fifita, the hope is that’s because the soph is just better than the junior there.

And at RT will, or should be, the better of Hopkins and Moore.

Sattelmaier – I honestly don’t know what to think of this pick-up. I don’t think he’s soft. But I don’t think he’s a good OT by any stretch. The second play on his highlight reel is a hold because he gets beat. And Woods talks of him as finishing a play while showing him standing around not finishing a play. He is a big body and has some skills. He’s not an answer on the left side unless that means we’re just hoping Brandel stays healthy.

Cordasco – His tape suggests he’s physically mature, active and athletic. But he’s so raw. Interviews with him show that he overestimates his athleticism. But he could be a great pulling or drive blocking OG. Woods talked about him adding immediate help at OT. So I’m thinking Hopkins will be what he’s been for three years, the back-up at LT. And Moore and Cordasco fight it out for RT.

Hopefully redshirting:
Lutu-Clarke – Woods says he’s destined for interior lineman. I’m fine with that. If we go out and find better OTs than him, we’re swimming in gravy. And we get an interior technician with great size who will get incrementally better from year to year.

Mackay – He is the best athlete of the OL group this year. And he was first team all-state at Brandel’s old job. He has everything we want in terms of size, strength, agility and attitude. He just needs a year to book the system and develop more consistent technique. I know he’s hard to locate on tape. But if you look for where there seems to be an inordinate amount of activity, he’s usually the instigator. He certainly plays through the whistle. There was even one clip where he drove some poor kid out of frame, and everyone standing around after a play turned to look in their direction as if someone didn’t like being pushed out of frame. I also like that he hunts for and chases blocks on the second level. I always giggle when TV announcers talk about some OL who breaks into the second level and stands there looking for someone to hit as a good or great play. Mackay gets there, identifies a new target, then proceeds to run after that guy. Some of his victims’ reactions are kinda funny.

Wellsfry – Maybe I need a better video on this kid. I see him as equal to Sattelmaier, but with some technique… and no delusions about being a T. So by the time he’s a junior, he will be miles ahead of what Sattelmaier is now. He looks like he doesn’t have the strength to do what he wants to do. I also wouldn’t say he has any outstanding athleticism. But he does have a natural feel for the game. A year of strength training would make him look like a real OG. But I am worried about the tape I watched (Hudl). He would often be standing around as the play was still happening. On one play he was watching the ball and oblivious to action on his right… until it almost rolled up on him.