Watching the Army All American Game

Dennis_DeYoung said:

Draco is good, but he’s gotten destroyed all week.

He’s taking a step up in competition ... not surprising.

He was always going to RS and ideally isn’t in the depth until he’s s RS Soph

Draco was always a definite redshirt. Probably three years away from being really good. When he's a 290lbs redshirt junior he could be a real beast, especially if he can keep honing that swim move and combine it with a proper swipe, because he has get-off, lateral quickness, and arms like a gorilla.

I think it will be interesting to see how Jaylen Johnson and Levi Onwuzurike are used going forward, because Bynum has their body type and agility, and we've been playing with two nose tackles in Gaines and Vea who are of different mold than those guys.

It makes sense that Vea and Gaines played together because they're so good, but I wonder how much lining up with two nose tackles was a part of the scheme for containing the QB, or how much it was just utilizing Vea and Gaines's skill-sets in the best way.

If the latter, which is what makes the most sense assuming that Kwat knows what he's doing (which we have little reason not to do), we might see more traditional fronts this year. What I mean by that is we'll line up more with typical 0T/1T NT and a 3T, but still flank them with stand-up rush backers.

When we play teams like the Coog who don't use tight ends, Vea and Gaines basically rotate who plays NT and who plays 3T. When we play teams like Stanford however, we often don't line either of them up outside a guard. Often they'll both line up as 2-gapping 2-techs. We can't do that anymore. At least not as effectively. That's why I say it will be interesting.

Basically, the way we use Jaylen and Levi will be the way we use Draco. It will probably in more of a 1-gapping upfield role. Draco could be really good in that role for the reasons mentioned above. As could Levi, of course.

The reason I think this will happen is also partly that Gaines and Taki are the only true NT types on the roster now (plus Bowman, but bleugh). Liu could play either, but I'm guessing need will push him to NT.

Sorry about the novel. Not intending to step on your toes, Teq. I just really love line play.

Amon Ra has punted 2 balls into the crowd...

EsophagealFeces said:

ImHuskyYouFat said:

Amon Ra has punted 2 balls into the crowd...

That kid is a fucking asshat. Makes me think Lavar Ball might be his second dad.

He'll fit in perfectly at USC