Open football thread
- Thread starter GoRMU
- Start date
- So we know there were some loses on the roster, do we know who they are exactly?
- Youngstown St is a top 25 team in Athlons preseason rankings, with an all American DE, will this young line be able to hold up early in the season with YSU and give a game like last year?
- Young OL any word on possibilities yet? Will the freshman be pushing for at least two starting positions?
- Can the Defense be as good or better than last year?
- Is anyone else excited about this Mike Miller pro style, down hill running, spread pass, multiple formations and shifts offense?
I believe tank waters is gone, along with grant Lanza, and possibly kimani smith. I think the five starters on offense will be Blake Chambliss, connor mundy, Ian bjuro, Matt fennel, and drew garbenis or Anthony Lucian. Im hoping this line can play close to as well as last season. And if not I think miller is smart enough to make adjustments accordingly. With farison, this defense will always be towards the top of the NCAA
@Sallycham i would've thought the same thing about mike but he didn't have a good spring. And they were playing Lucian at left tackle with mike as his backup. Blake at guard, Ian bjuro will battle connor mundy for center, I think garbenis played guard or tackle on the right side, and I feel they're counting on Matt fennell to come in and be a horse. Im also sure max Potokar from st eds is gonna compete as well. I think the d line will be fine, they have Zamiska, Ryan Lewis, Austin trgovich, and Amir fenwick all coming back plus the addition of Chris Stanford. It hurts to lose Forrest but if everybody grows a little they will be able to replace him
So looking at Potokar, Fennell and Mundy highlights here is my personal opinion.
First all three show that they love to finish blocks in their highlights. Keeping in mind these are highlights it's always hard to make a true assessment but here I go.
Potokar looks strong and relies on it tremendously, his first steps look strong but he will have to learn balance at the next level even in his highlights he looks a bit high with little bend again relying on his strenghth when he gets over his feet to keep hold and drive opponent off the ball. All in all good punch, good first step, obviously knows how to play for a winner and what that takes. Will need to gain balance which comes from good core conditioning and better technique could be a nice big guard don't think he's ready with footwork and technique for tackle at this level.
Fennell has started 3 years for a great program in PA so him and Potokar have the pedigree. Both know what it takes to win and the work involved. Fennell looks faster and understands the nuances of the position better than the others. Footwork looks like the key to his game. Understands double teams and slides really well when needed. His hands tend to slide outside but he recovers his hands well again showing an understanding of how to play the position. Reads to the second level well on pulls and even showed how to feel with his inside hand to openings for read traps. His highlight shows that he could very well play tackle at this level with his footwork and easy pass pro set . He had a seal block on a pull that showed NFL level quick feet (opponent was in black and yellow) I think his weakness is his punch and upper body strenghth. From what I hear he is killing it in the weight room gaining size and speed. If he gets stronger his footwork should put him ahead of others and make Richardson excited.
Mundy also comes from a good program. He looks the rawest of the three again good size and strenghth that put him above his opponents in high school. He too looks to play high and out over his feet which will set him up for a lot of weight transfer moves from DL. Punch looks the best and again like his soon to be teammates loves to finish his blocks. Doesn't seem to be able to transfer from double teams as well as the other two but still understands the skill set. I think he too is an inside guy while Richardson coaches up the skill set needed for this level.
So in my opinion Fennell may get the nod outside if he has a good camp. Potokar could get the look inside. So Lucian at center, Chamblis Guard next to Fennell at Tackle on the left side ( Chamblis can help bring Fennell along) and Potokar next to Ian or Garbenis on the right. That's my shot at being the OL Coach.
First all three show that they love to finish blocks in their highlights. Keeping in mind these are highlights it's always hard to make a true assessment but here I go.
Potokar looks strong and relies on it tremendously, his first steps look strong but he will have to learn balance at the next level even in his highlights he looks a bit high with little bend again relying on his strenghth when he gets over his feet to keep hold and drive opponent off the ball. All in all good punch, good first step, obviously knows how to play for a winner and what that takes. Will need to gain balance which comes from good core conditioning and better technique could be a nice big guard don't think he's ready with footwork and technique for tackle at this level.
Fennell has started 3 years for a great program in PA so him and Potokar have the pedigree. Both know what it takes to win and the work involved. Fennell looks faster and understands the nuances of the position better than the others. Footwork looks like the key to his game. Understands double teams and slides really well when needed. His hands tend to slide outside but he recovers his hands well again showing an understanding of how to play the position. Reads to the second level well on pulls and even showed how to feel with his inside hand to openings for read traps. His highlight shows that he could very well play tackle at this level with his footwork and easy pass pro set . He had a seal block on a pull that showed NFL level quick feet (opponent was in black and yellow) I think his weakness is his punch and upper body strenghth. From what I hear he is killing it in the weight room gaining size and speed. If he gets stronger his footwork should put him ahead of others and make Richardson excited.
Mundy also comes from a good program. He looks the rawest of the three again good size and strenghth that put him above his opponents in high school. He too looks to play high and out over his feet which will set him up for a lot of weight transfer moves from DL. Punch looks the best and again like his soon to be teammates loves to finish his blocks. Doesn't seem to be able to transfer from double teams as well as the other two but still understands the skill set. I think he too is an inside guy while Richardson coaches up the skill set needed for this level.
So in my opinion Fennell may get the nod outside if he has a good camp. Potokar could get the look inside. So Lucian at center, Chamblis Guard next to Fennell at Tackle on the left side ( Chamblis can help bring Fennell along) and Potokar next to Ian or Garbenis on the right. That's my shot at being the OL Coach.
I agree with your analysis on all 3, I think fennell comes in and starts. The staff had big expectations for him. Coach miller brings a total different perspective to this team. when hicks ran the offense, they never accounted for everybody on the other side of the ball. With miller, each and every guy is accounted for and each player has his own responsibility. It's all going to come down to play calling and execution
Couldn't agree more about the Coach and scheme analysis. Hicks just ran plays never had a plan in my view. Miller is a coach he has a scheme, set to a plan and demands execution. Sallycham mentioned it before Miller demands respect not only from his past experience but the knowledge he shares with the kids. I heard he made a player draw the play on the board 6 times this year because he didn't feel like the player had the receiver up on the ball when drawing it on the white board. It's that kind of detail that lets them think and learn now so the can react and play on Saturdays. Banny has a great staff in place as he prepares his final few charges at the NEC Crown. They recruited well,the prospect camp is a huge step. It should be exciting the next few years. Could you imagine if we are right in this thread and we are building off of talent like Stanford, Fennell, Dreher, Potokar, Buss, Lamica, Vechio, and many others returning. This really could be exciting.
Just had dinner with one of the long time high school football recruiting gurus in our area and he was confirming what Banny said on the signing day video a lot of the skills guys had some late recruiting but he said Stanford and Fennell had late inquiries to feel out commitment to RMU from Air Force, YSU, James Madison, Old Dominion made contact again as well as Syracuse and a few others had some late inquiry to gauge commitment. I talk a lot about this class because it's what got my interest peaked but again RMU may have landed some big talent.
Wyoming has Gardner Webb on schedule for 2017 and Wofford for 2018 so that looks doubtful. Air Force will play 2 FCS this year and the schedule is open for 2017 and beyond. The President is Alum and a Campbell award winner he may have some pull. If Banny says their ready...I say pack your bags for a trip to beautiful Colorado Springs for an awesome weekend in early September in the next year or so.
RMU did land a great recruiting class, some will say their best ever. But now comes the challenges. Taking these athletes and plugging them into a system that makes them success and the program.
What these athletes did in high school doesn't factor into RMU's success in the NEC. Many of them will be asked to learn fast and contribute early in their careers.
What these athletes did in high school doesn't factor into RMU's success in the NEC. Many of them will be asked to learn fast and contribute early in their careers.
