Again we’re looking at massive replacements on the DL starting in 2011. Next season should see adequate depth and marginal talent, but at the end of the season the Beavers will graduate 6 seniors and all 4 starting defensive linemen.
LaGrone-Sr*, Olander-Sr*, Paea-Sr*, Miller-Sr*, Hunt-Sr, Hull-Sr, Frahm-Jr, Henry-Fr, Rosa-Fr, Masanini-So
That means in 2011, our starting DEs will be Frahm (God help us) and Henry. Masaini at DT looks promising, but who plays next to him? Note the lack of two quality starting DEs and the lack of depth at DL. Doesn’t it always seem there’s one glaring hole on Riley’s teams? Does he not have a recruiting/depth chart that says “need x number of position y”? I mean, NCAA football 2005 had that feature, you’d think a coach would.
I went to the roster and counted 5 other Freshman defensive linemen (not including Seumalo (figuring he will not see line action, special teamer only). My guess is that at least one or two of those will begin to work their way into the rotation in 2010 and be part of the future. Plus we have significant depth at the offensive line and often some of those guys convert over to defense if they cannot work into the offensive two deep. I will not profess to know the talent of the freshmen, but with solid coaching (past history) these guys will roll through. Seems the staff has been using NCAA football 05 after all.
No. OL does not move to DL. TE or LB can move to DE with some work, but the OL and DL are two completely different techniques and skill sets… speed being one of the biggest assets to consider.
There will probably be some walk-ons to consider. I’ve heard good things about Black, and Horton was good but undersized in HS. And Gwacham will be enrolling in January. I’m excited to see his potential translate to good–or better–play.
Molesi will mission, so he’s two years out. Iona looks solid, and he could move to DE if he had to. Thompson is still out there, and maybe Taula discovers the error of Arizona’s ways before it’s too late.
Then there’s always Owa….
Yeah, but to be fair I think Braun and Thomas did play both sides in HS and were discussed in the DT mix when they signed. Those two might be able to move. Even so…it’s not a winning strategy. It would be nice to get some refined DT. Granted, toughest position to recruit, but still…we’ve taken Paea for granted and when he’s going we’re going to realize the cupboard is pretty bare.
It’s not too late for the redshirts who projected both ways to move–Braun was really good at both. But once they concentrate on weight and footwork there’s no going back. Besides… Braun, Enger and Thomas project as upper level O-linemen. If all else fails we can just outscore the opposition.
Also to be fair… I was told that Thomas brings some serious grappling skills as a possible DT.
I think working project athletes into DE positions is fine. The only problem is that the pipeline is still somewhat empty. We’ve had a lot of success developing DE’s, and the athletes slated for development are getting better.
It’s the DT position I’m really worried about. You really have to recruit specifically to that position. If we’re going to only have one per class, then each one has to be a baller. In 2011 we won’t have that condition unless we get a Thompson or Taula. Forget Heimuli for this conversation. On the off chance that he does come here, he will also mission.
I don’t think outscoring the opposition is a good option. Look at our team this year, touted as one the best offensives we have had in a while and we only won 8. Worst season in 4 yrs in terms of wins. The last three yrs we had way better D’s. I want a solid D built around great D lineman. I think that base will help us win a lot of games.
It was half tongue in cheek. If you think this offense was good, you’re going to fall over laughing when you see it two and three years down the road. The hosses are coming, and you and I could probably gain a K each running behind them.
That said, I would really like to have a monster defense to go along with it. We’re going to be deep at LB and DB, but the point of this post is that the D-line depth runs shallow after next year. Either we get some good frosh in now, or we start evaluating JUCO talent for next year’s class.
I don’t disagree with offensive improvement over the years but the offensive is so conservative we have to score on every drive to win games.
I don’t know that Riley likes to go to JUCO but I sure wish we would get some great D lineman. D line is a place I would love to see the most depth possible because that position can dictate the way a game is played.
Paea was JUCO.
Judging from that year’s JUCO draw, Seumalo has a good eye and recruits well from JUCO DL ranks.
Now if more than half of them actually enroll we’ll be in business.
I wish I could believe that. There’s a lot of redshirt freshmen, but they didn’t come in very big (seems like several were at 250 lbs). They’ll need to bulk up, which I’m sure they’re doing, and then they’ll need game experience.
Not to be too negative, but OSU’s line hardly consists of road graders. I just think this team needs to get some meanness to it -not cheap or dirty play, but confident, mean play. Hell, even Cavanaugh says some of his lineman need to stop being so nice.
As discussed elsewhere on this site, this team lacks a killer instinct.
Critic, is it the team or program that lacks killer instinct? I think it’s the program. Doesn’t matter who the players are, the Beavers have always been the way they are under Riley. Starts at the top.
Even in games the Beavs lead, there’s a “gee, golly this is neat, wonder if we’ll hang on” feel to them.
Oh… and maybe Kuli and Kaiwi will join the team too.
on espn owamagbe blahblahblah was just quoted as having the beavs in his top 4 ahead of florida and a few other big name schools and he moved his decision back to signing day
Looking at UO’s roster, they seem to be in worse shape. But they are trying to correct the problem now. They’ll get a couple blue chippers and a JUCO DL in this class.
And his name is Odighizuwa. For a fan base that learned before the world did to spell and pronounce Houshmandzadeh, we seem to have lost some passion for our in-state football.
I will admit that Tuimaleali’ifano takes a little practice. Say it with me now…
Too-ee-ma-lay-ah-lee-ee-fa-no