Also I don’t like this notion so far in this thread Latu is either this or that. The fucking best thing about having a genius like Coach K to run multiple fronts and a genius like Jimmy to run multiple formations in the back end, is so that you can have insane versatility and the great thing about recruiting lately is our emphasis on that.
Kyler Gordon - so strong his best position is nickel so he can help stop the run, but has enough length and explosiveness to play safety
Trent McDuffie and Elijah Molden - they’re best suited for slot matchups that Julian Edelman is showing to everyone how hard it is to guard because of their insane quickness but also being a tad undersized. But because they are such good athletes and so technically sound they will see time at outside corner
Faatui Tuitele and Sama Paama - can play anywhere from a zero to a 7
Laiatu Latu - so explosive and coordinated he played WR. Can get down to 260 and put on healthy mass from there to play anywhere from a 3 Teq to wide 9. Rugby prowess and 4.28 shuttle show he can be athletic enough on the edge to play in space with backs while his 6’5 frame and sheer power will make him a better bullrusher than Benning. Where Benning is coming up just short inches short at so many sacks and pressure plays, Latu’s frame will get him there.
So pretty soon here when we start getting into what Jordan Botelho projects as, let’s keep in mind that he most likely will be asked to do multiple things and be versatile. I think that’s part of why Pete is so good at developing guys because they have to actually learn so much.
Latu has a lot of baby fat right now and he’s still explosive as fuck.
Sure, but there's no doubt that a 270 pound high schooler has a lot of work to do if he's going to become a truly elite edge rusher instead of the 5T kind of player that his body type seems more suited for at the moment. A 270 pounder is never going to move like Kikaha did.
IMO you can see he's a bit slow to get going on his first step off of the dline but I think that's more coaching/scheme, awareness, or him taking time to diagnose(which can all be improved). If you look at his acceleration and change of direction on offense he's much quicker. Fuck me on his rugby highlights too.
The athleticism is there. It just needs connection to his play.
This.
I love Latu's film, but it was super strange to watch. Like you, I thought his first step looked slow, or at least not sudden, but by his third step he is fucking flying past guys half his size and his top end speed is great. Every clip was a half second of meh followed by an oh shit he is incredible. With his frame and athleticism, I think Socha is going to turn him into an absolute beast.
If you are seriously comparing Latu and Benning kill yourself.
Benning was also a four star SDE. He also played tight end in high school and had some impressive offensive highlights. Just pointing that out.
If you don't see any similarities there at all, OR think I'm saying they're 100% the same player, you should light yourself on fire.
Good prospects don't always pan out. That's why we need to get more of them. Benning was a good prospect. You're being revisionary or have a recency bias if you think otherwise.
If you are seriously comparing Latu and Benning kill yourself.
Benning was also a four star SDE. He also played tight end in high school and had some impressive offensive highlights. Just pointing that out.
If you don't see any similarities there at all, OR think I'm saying they're 100% the same player, you should light yourself on fire.
Good prospects don't always pan out. That's why we need to get more of them. Benning was a good prospect. You're being revisionary or have a recency bias if you think otherwise.
And I don’t get all the Benning disrespect in the world anyways. Just because someone isn’t a good pass rusher doesn’t mean they aren’t a good player of course it’s important and there’s more to be desired there but hes started the last two years on the edge for a top 5-10 defense in the country. At 6’3 278, Benning is way better against the run than Levi is who is bigger and being anointed by everyone as a future first round pick. With Tryon, Ngata, and ZTF all emerging, Ryan bowman still needed a position to play, and the lack of depth at DT, I wouldn’t be surprised if you saw Benning a lot inside because he looked good there or in 5 > technique.
i'm rooting for benning to bust out this coming year ... I think he's a "tweener" in that he kinda fits the position that the coaches want him to play.
He's athletic ... but perhaps not explosive like kikaha was to be able to make the plays above and beyond the containment the coaches want.
so, all in all, he's kinda unexciting but I respect him for doing what the coaches want.
Comments
Kyler Gordon - so strong his best position is nickel so he can help stop the run, but has enough length and explosiveness to play safety
Trent McDuffie and Elijah Molden - they’re best suited for slot matchups that Julian Edelman is showing to everyone how hard it is to guard because of their insane quickness but also being a tad undersized. But because they are such good athletes and so technically sound they will see time at outside corner
Asa Turner - suck a dick @AF9705
Faatui Tuitele and Sama Paama - can play anywhere from a zero to a 7
Laiatu Latu - so explosive and coordinated he played WR. Can get down to 260 and put on healthy mass from there to play anywhere from a 3 Teq to wide 9. Rugby prowess and 4.28 shuttle show he can be athletic enough on the edge to play in space with backs while his 6’5 frame and sheer power will make him a better bullrusher than Benning. Where Benning is coming up just short inches short at so many sacks and pressure plays, Latu’s frame will get him there.
So pretty soon here when we start getting into what Jordan Botelho projects as, let’s keep in mind that he most likely will be asked to do multiple things and be versatile. I think that’s part of why Pete is so good at developing guys because they have to actually learn so much.
I love Latu's film, but it was super strange to watch. Like you, I thought his first step looked slow, or at least not sudden, but by his third step he is fucking flying past guys half his size and his top end speed is great. Every clip was a half second of meh followed by an oh shit he is incredible. With his frame and athleticism, I think Socha is going to turn him into an absolute beast.
Myles Garrett, aka Looks Like Tarzan - Plays Like Jane, already hurt at Browns mini-camp
Fucking OUCH!!!
If you don't see any similarities there at all, OR think I'm saying they're 100% the same player, you should light yourself on fire.
Good prospects don't always pan out. That's why we need to get more of them. Benning was a good prospect. You're being revisionary or have a recency bias if you think otherwise.
He's athletic ... but perhaps not explosive like kikaha was to be able to make the plays above and beyond the containment the coaches want.
so, all in all, he's kinda unexciting but I respect him for doing what the coaches want.