Ive said it before, i dont think the prior S&C staffs did well with linemen. Lets hope the new additions improve that.
What's between the ears can be a big differentiator, at this level everyone has requisite natural ability. You can't just show up, do the minimum, and let genetics carry you like in high school. Some recruits have a head start on others talent-wise, but after several years in a program it is the guys putting in the work that are going to rise to the top. Tiller and Spack were notorious for taking lesser talented guys and developing them. Haven't seen as much of that since. I don't know if that has more to do with the day-to-day operations of the program or if it is a matter of recruiting guys who have that 'x factor'. Probably a combination of both. My biggest concern of these highly rated recruits of last few classes is did we get enough guys who bring that mindset along with the advertised talent. Based on some of the departures we can be sure that some did not.
Id be curious to know if Brohm does the personality test thing like Painter does.
I would agree in general, but that % should vary depending on the starting point for each guy. The 3 or 4 star guy presumably was stronger to begin with or maybe had a better frame than the 2 star guy.
I dont think that is the correct assumption. Hartwig was a 4 star and strength is an issue with him.
If we were recruiting only 6’-6”, 320 lb four star OL, this wouldn’t be an issue.
100% agree with this. Maturity as a football player can and usually takes longer to get stronger in the trenches. Lawrence was the overall biggest guy on Snider's D-line but Zach McDowell was by far the strongest and Lawrence paid dividends from it.
I would argue that Gus had the frame though. That is where S&C comes in. How much strength has he added since day 1 on campus?
I thought the part where he credited his high school S&C program for his strength/gains was interesting. Makes you wonder what kind of ROI we are seeing on all this new multi million dollar training equipment and facilities.
No info on that. THey have said he still has strength issues.
Guy has been on campus a month and a half. Why would he credit the current staff for the strength he gained up to the point of enrollment?
You missed my point. A guy who was essentially self made out of a Joliet high school gym comes in as the strongest lineman over guys who have been working with fancy equipment and trainers. That is the question of ROI. Seems like a recruiting tool and nothing more.
Ah i see. Again, i think that has to do with age. He is 23. Hartwig is 19. Holstege is 20. Jornigan is 20. etc.
They have been recruited over.
And now we’ve come full circle. What does it say about our development of OL when 3 star frosh and soph, who by the arguments above haven’t had enough time in the weight room, and 2 star transfers are ahead of 3 star juniors and seniors? I realize some of that is injury, but not all.
You have to remember, it takes 6 years to develop an OL. The first 3 to not develop anyone, and then 3 more to start developing. Just the way it works.
Seriously speaking, perhaps a reason to stick with a coach through a contract to allow them to develop players in the most critical position?
I agree that star rankings aren't the end all. But let me ask you a question.. how did you feel about the OL recruits in our 2017 and 2018 classes at the time? Based on not only their recruiting rankings, but by other offers, etc. What were your expectations for their development? Were you under the impression they would be nothing more than backups on an average Oline by their junior and senior years or that there would be 2-3 starters from that group on a solid Oline that could control a line of scrimmage?
It’s definitely a concern that we haven’t solidified up front and gotten old in that respect. I just don’t think the fact that Tyler Witt could be our best o-linemen is concerning, or that certain 2 stars are playing over 3 stars etc.
Those things on their own aren't concerning. If those 2 stars were all conference candidates and the Oline was rock solid, the relative significance of Witt being our strongest lineman or the fact that SOME 3 or 4 stars have not physically developed as hoped would take on an entirely different context. But the bar ain't that high right now. We've got a 'throw the ball on 4th and inches' Oline, unless things have changed dramatically in the past few months.
Lol, wut. Ive seen strongest mentioned with Witt, not best. Word is Craig is the best when healthy.
