Only 3 things speak to the truth. Small children, drunk people, yoga pants.
Under the radar players
- Thread starter leodisflowers
- Start date
Line 1, yes. Again, with the shitshow under Floss what good lineman would give NU a second look? Not one, and not Donovan's fault.
Line 2, Corc was forced into other positions on the line which were not his natural positions, due to injuries. Not Donovan's fault.
Line 3, you can call it an outlier, or more rationally, if DR stays upright due to the line it's because the line is improved under Donovan.
Line 4, if DR has to run for his life (see AM under Austin) all season, point to you. If he generally has time, point to Donovan.
Like I said, let's revisit this after Donovan has three years with his recruits. The lines for the last few years have been shit but if the line gets better.....well, that context thing.
I'm adding 18 y/o Swedish coeds who have bad judgement and know only one word of English: Okay!
last year Uncle Donnie's line produced the worst sack/attempt ratio in the country.
the only time Satt has had a QB of DR's caliber he was sacked at a top 20 rate.
allow me to adjust my statement: it's not only very likely DR is running for his life this year, it would be an actual miracle if he's not
especially since we don't have a consistent running game to take any heat off him
Well, yes. Context: he inherited players he didn't recruit who had abysmal conditioning. I'm not defending the line's performance last year because it was (almost) indefensible. But-----context------we also had QBs who couldn't make a pass to save their lives. Makes a team one-dimensionable and dead simple to figure out. That is not HH's fault but he was not a threat to pass and everyone knew it and so loaded the box ALL SEASON LONG. That'll play hell with your offensive stats.
you keep saying he inherited bad players. I don't disagree.
yet, he still cannot replace them after 3 recruiting cycles (context)
army and air force were each sacked less often per pass attempt than we were, and they're the most one-dimensional teams on the planet (more context)
can anyone even list who's up next at each tackle spot? Gottula seems to be one, then it's a big question mark - especially at LT. Brix is a popular name, but he has basically zero pass pro experience. who else?
Agreed he's had three recruiting cycles but I'm doing something you don't want to do: give him a mulligan on that first cycle. I won't regurgitate why I'm not faulting him on that first cycle, and I grant that another contributing factor in that first cycle was: who the hell is Donovan Raiola? Floss picking him out of relative obscurity caused good lineman to look at him and say "pass". I have zero beefs with that because it's a good argument but I'm also not holding that against Donovan. It was what it was. Again, adding context, Donovan wasn't responsible for the shitshow that made good linemen look elsewhere.
RE: Army and AF, neither team dealt with a new Oline coach and chances are both teams were better conditioned that NU. Also, not gonna research this but I'm guessing that neither of those teams had to deal with a lack of QBs who could actually complete a pass. That inability made it easy for every opponent NU faced to load the box because they knew our QBs had to run. Sacks become pretty simple, and context explains that.
As for Guttula, he would never start under Uncle Milt because back then our lines weren't replaced, they reloaded. But one indisputable difference between then and now? Milt had a culture in place for years, and that's why I'm giving Donovan three years of his recruits to get it done. It's just intellectually lazy to say a line (or team) culture can be fully flipped in one year.
Uncle Donnie was not a "new OL coach" last year. he was a 2nd year OL coach. he was hired in Dec of 2021.
Army completed just 50.6% of its passes last year. Air Force 52.4%. We completed 52.1%.
the transfer portal has existed during each of Uncle Donnie's 3 recruiting cycles here. we have had immediate playing time available to pitch during each of his 3 seasons here.
again, this is not a one year flip. it's his 3rd season running that room.
I honestly don't know which of his high school recruits will even play next year, much less this year, so I'm not sure what you'll be able to judge.
we will have to hit the portal hard, especially at tackle.
These are reasons, not excuses: he had never been an Oline coach at a single high profile job; I would be surprised if the service academies had to deal with overcoming poor culture, poorly conditioned linemen or trying to overcome a stupid number of injuries to starting linemen.
Our center came from the portal.
He has had TWO seasons, and under him Benhart went from being a thud to potential stud.
I was in favor of retaining Donnie but this is getting stupid ridiculous. We seem to be the only team in America who doesn't value a true LT. Over multiple coaches too. It's baffling. Sign 10 h.s. tackles. Get 3 FCS tackles. Give all concessions to 1890 and pay someone 20 million. It doesn't matter. Just do something to not ever be in this position again.
While I agree with you irt the OL in general, Kong, I think a (hopefully) vastly improved receiving corps can cover some of that up.
NU kind of had the shitty trifecta last year. An OL that couldn't hold a pocket for more that three seconds. QBs that had a hard time throwing to the right colored jersey. Receivers thar couldn't get open (in general).
This is where I'm at with it. Raiola is clearly a better QB. The coaches seem to be excited about 3-4 RBs in TJ,EJ, GE and DD. The WRs appear to be the biggest improvement area in the entire team. Plus the TEs also appear super solid up to 3 deep. Not only that you also have big bodied WRs like Banks, Neyor, Bonner, and the super frosh Nelson who is likely playing WR this year. I'm not taking any of those guys out to play a guy whom while athletic likely isn't a better player than those guys at said positions.
Would it surprise me if he got some short yardage/goal line wildcat run? Not at all but other than that I wouldn't play him unless it was a blowout and then he's at QB or a trick play .
At least that's how I'd do it
Holla
I remember the position switch talk with sims last year, and while HH is more of a football player than sims, I feel the same way about it. I dont think people realize how hard it is to play football at this level, and while its possible and people have switched positions before, its very rare, but its incredibly difficult. I do not expect HH to switch positions and if he does I doubt he becomes a regular. We are loaded at TE. If HH goes to TE and becomes a regular it means our roster management has sucked. Maybe theyll throw him out wide a time or two to set up mike stuntz black 41 reverse. I could see that happening.
HH’s best bet is to be a wildcat QB. Maybe they’ll run him in 3rd and short.
But he will not play regular QB and if he ever does again were in trouble. I appreciate what HH did last year but if we ever want to be more than a 6 win team HH cant be the 2nd string QB let alone in a rotation.
HH’s best bet is to be a wildcat QB. Maybe they’ll run him in 3rd and short.
But he will not play regular QB and if he ever does again were in trouble. I appreciate what HH did last year but if we ever want to be more than a 6 win team HH cant be the 2nd string QB let alone in a rotation.
Also I am very worried about pass protection this season. Kongs stats emphasize how bleak it is.
We need a run game to set up play action.
We need to be able to move raiola out of the pocket.
And we need to have plays where the TE stays in to help, and/or the running back, and let raiola use his arm talent to complete 1 on 1 routes.
Im afraid he’ll transfer after getting clobbered. Other teams in his ear telling him to come to their school and win a NC while standing upright.
We need a run game to set up play action.
We need to be able to move raiola out of the pocket.
And we need to have plays where the TE stays in to help, and/or the running back, and let raiola use his arm talent to complete 1 on 1 routes.
Im afraid he’ll transfer after getting clobbered. Other teams in his ear telling him to come to their school and win a NC while standing upright.
Yep. Good teams wouldn't take out a superstar in the making for some random backup, just for a change of pace.
I wouldn't call us loaded at TE. HH is more valuable as a semi-experienced backup qb right now. If he were to get passed as top backup then move him to TE. Or he may even want to move there next year, assuming he has NFL aspirations.
You think he can be an NFL tight end? Why?
Not trying to argue but I just don't understand it...this isn't high school, it's not easy to switch positions and it's not as simple as "Hey kid you want a chance at the NFL just slide over to TE." If he was an NFL prospect at TE, he would have already been at TE.
No, I don't necessarily think he is an NFL TE. But if he wants to give the NFL a shot, TE is where his chance will be. Having a full season under his belt as a TE/special teams player would be very beneficial.
HH reminds me a little of Tebow. Terrific athlete, but an NFL QB? Nope. Agree that his best shot in the league is at TE. NFL isn't big on wildcat plays but his passing seems to be improved that he could do it. Hope so, I'm pulling for young man.
He completed basically 2 out of every 3 passes for over 9 yards per attempt every season. Those are elite numbers. He had some dudes to throw it to, no doubt.
I think Knighton said we're going to know him like we know Suh. High praise for sure.
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