Mosier locking down LT
- Thread starter ScrewDuke1
- Start date
oh well, if so then I hope Landon Young redshirts. let Leavitt & the other guys Schlarman mentioned handle the backup tackle work for the season. and no reason to worry about harming the relationship with Landon's former HS teammate by sitting Young since that boat has apparently sailed.
Schlarman said he always worries about inside guys handling speed from the edge but that Mosier is taking that in stride from Ware, Walker, Allen, etc.
Very interested with the line. I'm ready to see how much they've improved.
Very interested with the line. I'm ready to see how much they've improved.
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O-line is a position(s) where heralded JUCOs don't always produce and unheralded FR often come into their own in their later years.
Peace
Peace
Well, that's disappointing. Mosier does not have the foot speed to keep most SEC DE's off of Barker's back side. He is more of a road grading OG like GAA not a pass protecting OT.
Except what you're saying is conflicting with what Schlarman just said not long ago today. People are capable of improving their body, speed, and quickness, ya know.
Bottomline is this...
1. Mosier was woefully outclassed with very good DE last year (Mizzou and EKU games were particularly hard on him). He was a good bit of a dropoff when spotting Swindle and Meadows at times at the tackle spots.
2. Mosier may have improved...and we all hope he indeed has benefited from another year....but it won't be legit until he shows it off vs. UF in week #2.
3. Leavitt was a major dissapointment this spring and it appears he hasn't made much of a move in early reports from August drills. Tate was recruited to be the starting tackle...not a backup.
4. In the end...I hope we at least get to RS one of Young or Leavitt if Meadows and Mosier take the starting spots and build for down the road.
1. Very good defensive ends outclass players regularly. That's why people say they're very good. Charles Harris and Noah Spence? Charles Harris could very well be the best defensive lineman in the SEC next season, definitely a candidate, and Noah Spence as a true freshman at Ohio State was the B1G defensive player of the year, and has always been an elite defensive end from the moment he got into college. An inexperienced Mosier being outclassed by those guys is incredibly silly when there are elite offensive tackles that struggle with those guys. Perhaps you're sold on the idea that players step on campus and are completely guaranteed to never improve, but I don't share that opinion.
2. We don't know if it'll be legit or not, we're just not going to deem it legit until then. He could absolutely be improved, actually I would at least give it a 90% chance that he did based on the reports. I have no reason to believe that coaches would single him out as a very good performer on the line if he's not performing to that level.
3. All JUCO players are recruited to start, just ask Nick Saban. That said, to actually expect it, especially with a seamless transition, is naive. Za'Darius Smith, Melvin Lewis, and especially CJ Johnson are all shining examples that JUCO players will need an adjustment year when you start to compete against the best trenches in college football in the SEC.
4. If Young is good enough to play second string and even slightly contest for a starting left tackle spot, then that's phenomenal. You can't redshirt promising depth options. Young already has phenomenal athleticism and very good strength as a true freshman. He'll continue to improve his body (already lost 10 pounds of fat and gained some solid muscle in the process since he arrived on campus), work on technique, etc.
If he can get in game reps while also contributing positively, and giving other tackle options a breather, then it can only benefit our team.
Also, as it pertains to Mosier, he was absolutely not even hyped a little bit last season. The offensive line didn't draw any praise from the staff leading into the season, and what happened was the interior offensive line ended up being a pleasant surprise. Going into this season, the staff is giving him a ton of praise, and giving the entire line praise in general. There are plenty of differences for every team in the nation between last year and this year, and Kentucky is no exception.
The football board is worse than the basketball board. Most of the guys on this board will jump ship as soon as we lose 2 games.
I wish I could lose 10 pounds of fat in a week and turn it into solid muscle that fast. Actually I wish I could lose 50 lbs
I'll take your word for it. I don't waste my time going over there.
Really sounds like the team has taken the past 2 years late season slides to heart and working to make sure it doesn't happen again. Sensing a fresh, new attitude with this group. Stoops is finally getting the culture changed around here. Wins won't be far behind. Hoping for a really special year from our team. They deserve it, the fans deserve it, and the coaching staff deserves it. Let's just keep the injury bug away.
Folks need to get off the RS Young train. It's not going to happen. KY will be lucky if he stays 4 years. If he stays healthy, he has the ability to leave for the NFL early. KY needs the depth at tackle. He is going to play a lot of snaps this season.
Having someone emerge to lock down LT should be a good thing but some of y'all make it sound so depressing.
Is Mo the best athlete ever? No. But technique can make up for a lot. Not to mention that the offense has been working quite a bit from 2 TE sets. There's a very real possibility that the OTs will have some help.
Is Mo the best athlete ever? No. But technique can make up for a lot. Not to mention that the offense has been working quite a bit from 2 TE sets. There's a very real possibility that the OTs will have some help.
I agree that Young won't redshirt but Mosier is manning LT until Young gets acclimated. He's the best option so far with regards to technique and experience, but Young will eventually start over him. Too much talent.
Redshirt Landon. 18 yr old from Lex vs 22 and 23 yr old NFL to be Dends. I'll take a 5th yr All SEC Young vs a Fr LT
EXACTLY, he could get blown by a whole bunch in SEC games. Do not understand all the accolades he gets on this board, and from the coaches. I hope he proves me wrong, but not looking for that !
Not so fast my friend, yesterday's interview with Wills by Kyle Tucker has me thinking we are still in the race. Hang in there.
That's true but he was woefully poor in pass protection last year. In fact our whole line was. People kept hyping Swindle saying he would be better with experience. But bottom line, he didn't have the foot speed to be effective in pass protection and that's why he had so many false starts. I hope you're right and I'm wrong.
Once again. For an OT, speed without technique will lose quite a bit. Technique without speed will win much of the time. Both together will win almost every time.
If Mo can show good technique and fair speed he can do ok. Especially with a TE on his left and a stud LG on his right. Then add in a reliance on the rushing game, a mobile QB, and short passes and he could actually do very well.
We all wish we had Orlando Pace in his prime lining up for us this yr but he's not on the roster. Having a guy step up and "lock up" the starting role should be a good thing.
If Mo can show good technique and fair speed he can do ok. Especially with a TE on his left and a stud LG on his right. Then add in a reliance on the rushing game, a mobile QB, and short passes and he could actually do very well.
We all wish we had Orlando Pace in his prime lining up for us this yr but he's not on the roster. Having a guy step up and "lock up" the starting role should be a good thing.
Two problems here. One, we don't have a stud LG next to him. And second, Barker is not a mobile QB. He is not a statue like Maxwell Smith or Andre Woodson but he does not have wheels like Towles did.
Again, I hope I'm wrong and Mosier kills it but the OL has been hot garbage the last three years and in year 4 we are forced to start a walk on at LT. It doesn't give me much hope.
Mosier is a FORMER walk on. He was given a scholarship last year.
Every college team has at least a handful of guys that began their careers as walk-ons, and every year, some of them are selected in the NFL draft. And some end up stars in the NFL.
link
The top 10 NFL former walkons as of spring of 2015:
10. Logan Mankins OG
9. Stephen Gostkowski K
8. Rashad Johnson SS
7. Ziggy Ansah DE
6. TJ Ward SS
5. Ricky Wagner OT
4. Clay Matthews LB
3. Jordy Nelson WR
2. Antonio Brown WR
1. JJ Watt DE
Every college team has at least a handful of guys that began their careers as walk-ons, and every year, some of them are selected in the NFL draft. And some end up stars in the NFL.
link
The top 10 NFL former walkons as of spring of 2015:
10. Logan Mankins OG
9. Stephen Gostkowski K
8. Rashad Johnson SS
7. Ziggy Ansah DE
6. TJ Ward SS
5. Ricky Wagner OT
4. Clay Matthews LB
3. Jordy Nelson WR
2. Antonio Brown WR
1. JJ Watt DE
Barker is quite mobile actually. And nowhere are coaches saying they are 'forced' to play a walk on. He's winning the job. And coaches don't seem concerned about it either.
Don't need wheels to avoid sacks. Just pocket awareness to step up or to the side to give yourself another second. We might not make as much from busted plays, but I think we have less sacks. I predict barker handles pressure better. Though that's only based on what I hear about his personality through the media.
Plus I think we'll see running backs help on rushing ends more. And new offense utilizes running backs and cj Conrad better as safety valves.
They're not all silver bullets, but combined I think the offense is better set up to make the offensive line look good.
Our interior OL personnel is actually quite good. But, yes, you're right that we don't have an veteran at LG that played last yr......but the position should be quite decent next yr.
Like others have said, Barker can move. He doesn't have the straight line speed of Towles but he's quicker and more agile. Certainly mobile enough to escape danger and/or scramble if he has the awareness to do so.
You're right that the OL has been hot garbage the last 3 yrs but it has improved every yr.
Once again we have good interior OL personnel. We have a good number of RBs. We have 2 decent emerging TEs. We have a proven QB coach coupled with a talented (inexperienced) QB. We have a proven OC who knows how to adjust the offense to mask deficiencies.
We certainly are nowhere where we want to be but we're better than last yr. Mo's gonna struggle at times next yr, but my goodness people......Someone earning and locking down a starting role is best case scenario.
Yeah, I am not quite understanding that thinking, no one, not even Bama redshirts 5*, unless they are injured. One thing that will assure, it's not likely you sign another one anytime soon. But the truth is many 5* OL come in and start as true frosh and do very well. UF has had a few, Bama's last 2 LT both came in as 5* OT prospects, started their first game and played 3 years before bolting for the NFL, Tunsil at OM did the same. No offense, but UK doesn't have the OL depth chart of Bama or OM, how are people thinking he RSs? He is either good enough to play early or the recruiting services missed on his evaluation.
I'm optimistic every year but not this one. Reverse psychology. It's like battered wife syndrome. I keep coming back knowing deep down it's not going to get better.
Do you have a crystal ball? How did our season turn out? I mean you really don't think the kid can improve in the off season? Maybe your right OR maybe he will turn some heads this season, Jesus give them a chance before you bad mouth someone.
Junior LG Nick Haynes started 9 games there last year and has played in 23 in his UK career.
Finally a voice of reason, I was wondering why the hell redshirt Young. He will not be in college 5 years
That's what was said about Matt Elam. There is no reason for Mr. Young to leave early unless he was so exceptional a player by his junior year.