We Are Better-- Olu Fashanu
- Thread starter Nittany Security
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This should help put a certain wide receiver in the rear view mirror.
Line of scrimmage is everything in the Big Ten. What kept PSU out of the playoff the last three seasons, the back-breaking losses, happened because OL was good but not great, and DL didn't have enough depth to go four quarters. If they can keep recruiting OL and DL like they have the last two seasons, that is the thing that can get Franklin's program to the next level.
Line of scrimmage is everything in the Big Ten. What kept PSU out of the playoff the last three seasons, the back-breaking losses, happened because OL was good but not great, and DL didn't have enough depth to go four quarters. If they can keep recruiting OL and DL like they have the last two seasons, that is the thing that can get Franklin's program to the next level.
This is mostly true. I'd add speed on defense as well. We have had good players but were missing those sideline to sideline guys (who were also great football players) who could make up for a missed tackle here and there. We have been one big play short so many times the last three seasons (Pitt, USC, OSU, MSU, OSU, MSU, Kentucky). Adding the size and ability up front and the speed to the back seven on D will hopefully put us well over the top in most of those games going forward.
Thank you. I corrected it. Recited from memory, but should have known as it made no sense the way I wrote it. My wireless is buggy today and didn’t want to back track to google
Took the weights for the 2020 O-Lineman commits from the Rivals Commit list from this site. Can't vouch for it beyond that.
https://bwi.rivals.com/commitments/football/2020
Over the past several months 24/7 had him at 290lbs. Now I'm seeing 320-330 listed.
If The Opening verified that he weighed 325 on May 5, 2019, then I’m inclined to believe that 325 is accurate. He might weigh more or less today, but those numbers are usually accurate given that it’s more or less the gold standard of high school combines out there. He doesn’t look too heavy in the video highlights of the event, but I’m sure that (like most high school OL) there’s going to be some needed redistribution of his weight once he gets into our S&C program.
Would be nice to tuck Fryar into this class.
In general I agree. My theory on Alabama's dominance over the last 10 years is that they always had the ability to control a game, or control the momentum of any game because of the OL. Over the last 10 years they've had great "skill" position players. But if you watched Bama over the last 10 years, you notice that every time they got into "trouble", or any time the other team got some momentum, Bama's answer was to turn the game over to their OL, and just crush the other team's morale by going on some ridiculous 10 play drive of all run plays. The 2 teams who have caused Bama problems over the last few years -- Clemson & Georgia -- have had DLs who have the skill & ability to off-set the Bama OL. Most teams simply do not have the NFL type talent along their DLs like Clemson & Georgia, so Bama just crushes them up front with the OL.
If you control the line of scrimmages, you have a chance to win every game.
I made a point of not opening the F to OSU thread and nice to be able to discuss this terrific commitment today.
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anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
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Caleb Williams is his QB now (and maybe in the future as well!)
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anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
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That's a great point. While it doesn't always work out that way, our roster has a fair share of guys that committed while an older player from their high school was on PSU's team.
True, and also there’s a difference between an OK older player and a stud like Fashanu. Think Nana and Devyn Ford, in terms of a really good OL and a skill player who relies on that person.
OTOH there have been plenty of cases of more talented teammmates going elsewhere, like back in the day we took (I think) 2* OL Quinn Barham who went to the same school as 5* Greg Little whom we also recruited but went elsewhere.
Also this doesn’t really apply to places like DeMatha where they have multiple stud recruits every year
We need to hear from Wolve that Jimmah didn't want him, or he'd already be matriculating at Michigan.
...which ironically would not even include the OT from Archbishop Carroll in D.C. who at least at one time expressed interest...must be difficult to maintain contact with such a talented target when the current perception is that all positional spots are already taken.
I do not get into EXACT stars because it's in-exact. There is no way you can tell me there is a shred of integrity in a system that rates a WR from PA who plays 2-A level competition in PA vs. a kid playing against 6A competition in TX or FL..... no way. So I think it's hogwash to say this kids better because he's 5* than this kid because he's 4*.
But I do get into GENERAL star ranking. For example, if a guy is rated 4* or 5*, then I give credit that he must be a pretty darn good prospect. If a school signs a class full of nothing but 4* and 5* prospects, then I say that's excellent because 'law of averages' say that those guys have the best chance of 'hitting' as prospects.
........ All that being said. Last Friday we lost out on what appears to be an excellent WR prospect. Today, we won on the commit of what appears to be an excellent OL prospect..... Generally speaking, if you asked me if I'd rather have a good OL prospect or a good WR prospect, I'd take the OL prospect because I believe you win at the line of scrimmages.
But I do get into GENERAL star ranking. For example, if a guy is rated 4* or 5*, then I give credit that he must be a pretty darn good prospect. If a school signs a class full of nothing but 4* and 5* prospects, then I say that's excellent because 'law of averages' say that those guys have the best chance of 'hitting' as prospects.
........ All that being said. Last Friday we lost out on what appears to be an excellent WR prospect. Today, we won on the commit of what appears to be an excellent OL prospect..... Generally speaking, if you asked me if I'd rather have a good OL prospect or a good WR prospect, I'd take the OL prospect because I believe you win at the line of scrimmages.
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Ohio State did that too -- under Tressel and Meyer. If your skill players are struggling, you just secure the chin straps and pound people. Penn State has begun to be able to do that -- the Fiesta Bowl win and last year's Iowa and Wisconsin games were all won at the LOS. Ohio State and MSU games the last two years have been lost at the LOS.
Last year, there were some preseason predictions that the OL would be the best PSU had in a long time. They played well at times but overall they weren't among the best OL in the B10 -- they still have a lot of room for improvement. The recruiting success indicates the players think Limegrover is going to get them there.
DL seems to be almost on a parallel path. Franklin and Spencer are gradually recruiting more and more elite prospects and over time the improvement in athletes is showing up on the field -- DL is really the last frontier. DT really might take a big step forward this year.
I agree with you 100%. Case in point, Lamont Wade 5 star who played at a smaller school and struggles for playing time and even considers portal to gain playing time. Bring in the HOGS.
Just asking,.....what where Paul P., Sean Lee, and Jack Ham rated??
Anybody previously mentioned a 5-star?
A 4-star perhaps?
Not a lowly 3-star! No! Say it ain't so???
Educated me.
Anybody previously mentioned a 5-star?
A 4-star perhaps?
Not a lowly 3-star! No! Say it ain't so???
Educated me.
Of course you have guys who were lowly recruited prospects who hit it big. No doubt you can rattle off the likes of Jack Ham, or Shane Conlan or even a Deon Butler who was a walk-on. That's like pointing out that every year Undrafted Free Agents make NFL rosters, and there are stars in the NFL who were Undrafted Free Agents, while there have been 1st round busts. You can point out that Tom Brady was a late round pick, the 199th player picked in his draft, and became the GOAT. While a guy like Mark Sanchez was the 5th overall pick and a bust ................
All that being said, the law of averages says that more 1st round picks make NFL rosters and stay on NFL rosters. Followed by 2nd round picks and so on. There is a reason NFL teams value 1st round picks. Heck, by using the logic that highly rated players do not matter at all, NFL teams would trade all their high end picks and just go with Undrafted Free Agents.
For every 1 Deon Butler example -- a walk on who turned out to be great -- There are probably 100 examples of walk-ons who never saw the field. For every 1 Jack Ham example -- a lowly rated prospect who turned out to be great -- There are probably 100 examples of 2* guys who were pretty bad players and we bitched about.
Recruiting is like NFL picks. Law of Averages. Not every pick or every recruit is going to "hit". Use the Bama Plan. Load up on 4*/5* players and Law Of Averages say that you have a good shot of having a loaded roster. Bama signs 25 studs every year. I'm sure 5-10 of them are busts who never play for Bama, that still leaves them 15-20 studs who contribute.... you do that every year and you have a 3-deep roster full of studs.
Part of the 'stars' are based off of their SPARQ rating. The recruits go to events and perform various runs, lift, throws, etc and generate a cumulative score. Combine some 1 v 1 drills at regional events and then add HS stats and film. All of those things lead to their star and rating. So while wade and other kids from small schools in PA have monster stats, they also are compared to others based on their test numbers, giving some 'normality' to each individual recruit.
None of it measures heart, work ethic, instincts etc, which is why some 5 stars fail and some 2 stars thrive.
None of it measures heart, work ethic, instincts etc, which is why some 5 stars fail and some 2 stars thrive.
Yes. But not all the players go to camps. Some players just can not make it to camps for various reasons. And who exactly is setting their SPARQ rating??? Guys like Mike Ferrell?? Ex-HS Coaches who now run the camps?? Execs from Addidas or UA who run the camps?? The guys running these camps, and the guys doing the evaluations are not exactly NFL Scouts......... If they were NFL Scouts....... well, then they'd be working for NFL teams and not working the 3-cone drills at some HS Skills camp.
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