Are we even recuiting a center?
- Thread starter King Kong
- Start date
I'm done watching a freshman struggle in the O line for a whole season. Get him experience as a back up when you can. IF you can find a physically ready to compete JUCO, you play for now not 2 years from now. JMHO.
Sounds to me like the situation is so hopeless that we should probably just drop football as a sport at NU.
Nope, just don't think that the Jurgens is going to go from 4th string TE to difference making C in 8 months
You may be correct, but the original thread title was "are we even recruiting a center". Converting a kid who already has some knowledge of the offense and time in the weight room probably works better than trying to plug in a "freshman true center". I think we probably have some options already on the roster like Raridon and little F who could play center. I just question the necessity of having to recruit an interior lineman specifically because he played center in high school.
Frost said Jurgens is already the best blocker on the team. With another year in the weight room and learning the offense, he should be as good or better than any JUCO they would bring in.
Does the fact that he is heading for surgery and out for the season change your opinion on Jurgens?
Really? Well thud. Bummer for the kid. I guess he will be redshirting. Can he medical redshirt before using the typical redshirt? Or is that something they can come back in down the road if needed for the 6th year?
A. Jurgens is practicing NOW. Neither Farmer or Conrad were able to practice with Frost at this time last year -- CAN YOU CALCULATE DATES?
B. Nobody said they were stupid, but they have a couple of years of muscle memory to overcome in terms of training, coaching and playing time -- as I've said all along, there are switching costs and some of those costs are players who get hurt due to the multiple changes.
C. Yes, they were recruited by Pelini, but I don't think anyone anticipated Farmer playing Center - I only remember him being recruited to play guard. Cole Conrad was recruited as a walk-on.
So on the O-line you have to memorize the play, and know which MF to block, either across from you, to the left, or to the right. Oh wait, then there is that special play when you have to pull and go hit someone in another gap. Or back up into a semi circle and block whomever is in your face and do it all without holding. Seems really complicated and must require a lot of thought.
I could be wrong, but I still think it's a game of juniors and seniors, especially on the line, so you're going to be better with older guys in there who can handle the workload better. That's really what it is about, being physically developed enough to not only handle it, but then dominate the guy opposite you. I wouldn't play Freshman or Sophomores on the line unless they are physically developed and/or you have to play them because of depth issues.
I could be wrong, but I still think it's a game of juniors and seniors, especially on the line, so you're going to be better with older guys in there who can handle the workload better. That's really what it is about, being physically developed enough to not only handle it, but then dominate the guy opposite you. I wouldn't play Freshman or Sophomores on the line unless they are physically developed and/or you have to play them because of depth issues.
At center (or at least its typically the center) you also have to read the defense and make the protection calls for the line. Essentially, you have to tell the 4 other guys (possibly more if you have TEs blocking on the play) who to block as well based on the defensive alignment. Essentially you're acting as the QB of the line.
I'm not saying you need to be a MENSA member to play O-Line, but there's more too it than the HULK SMASH you seem to think it is.
I agree it is more work for the center.
We have 4 upperclassmen on our 2 deep O-line, and it probably should be 2 deep all Jr's & Sr's in a perfect world. This to me is more likely why the line has difficulty, most of those guys are young and not as developed yet.
Another reason losing Decker really hurt.
Cam is out for a month with a broken metatarsal. As for the rest, he was considered a top 300 recruit by ESPN and top 200 by 247. He has a high level of athleticism for his size. Frost: "After evaluating him for a while he’s as physical and as good of a blocker as we have on our football team and I really think he’s got a potential to be a really good player on the offensive line either at center or guard."
It is not out of the realm of the possible that Jurgens could start next fall at center. I seem to remember talk of Raridon (or was it the older Farniok) being an eventual possible at Center earlier in the Riley regime. It would be better to have a more experience guy at that spot, but if Cam is one of the five best linemen next Fall, he'll either be at guard or center.
I like Frost's approach of evaluating big athletic kids for what they can be, not what they are at the present time.
https://hailvarsity.com/s/5045/nebraska-te-cam-jurgens-out-a-month-with-a-foot-injury
It is not out of the realm of the possible that Jurgens could start next fall at center. I seem to remember talk of Raridon (or was it the older Farniok) being an eventual possible at Center earlier in the Riley regime. It would be better to have a more experience guy at that spot, but if Cam is one of the five best linemen next Fall, he'll either be at guard or center.
I like Frost's approach of evaluating big athletic kids for what they can be, not what they are at the present time.
https://hailvarsity.com/s/5045/nebraska-te-cam-jurgens-out-a-month-with-a-foot-injury
I'll be surprised if Little Farniok contributes next year but if Raridon can't that would be a bummer. Pretty highly recruited guy.
I was referring to the elder Farniok, although I think it was actually Raridon who was talked about as a potential Center. Doesn't look like Raridon will be in the mix.
and he's still far ahead of knowing what Frost is doing than either Farmer or Conrad were at this point last year
Why?? Our head coach stated he can be the second-coming of Dave Rimington
I wish I shared your optimism. Jurgens has been injured every year since I can remember.
definitely a fair concern. I think he has the potential, but health.. we'll see.
I like some of the young guys we have on the roster. Hopeful that we'll be able to put together a cohesive group in another year, and I haven't given up on this bunch either. The OL has shown some flashes of being good, just not consistent at all and I think limited athletically
I don’t think Conrad or Framer are stupid. I just think Conrad lacks talent and Famer lacks ability to move to center. It’s not a matter of just flipping an interior lineman to center. I wish it were that easy but it’s not. Farmer gives it all he has but it’s just doesn’t come natural to him and it never will.
And it’s not totally uncommon to take an athletic TE and bulk him up to play on the O-line. You are always talking about “lack of talent.” cams a great talent . Highly recruited. The recruiting services loved him when they projected him to be a lineman. It was when he committed as a TE that they started to drop his rating.
And his injuries are troublesome but it should hold the staff back in trying to develop him. He’s out a month or so and IMO it might be a small blessing. It removes all pressure to try to play him this year. Allow him to get the verbiage down. Let him bulk up this year. It could be greatness in the making.
I don’t think Conrad or Framer are stupid. I just think Conrad lacks talent and Famer lacks ability to move to center. It’s not a matter of just flipping an interior lineman to center. I wish it were that easy but it’s not. Farmer gives it all he has but it’s just doesn’t come natural to him and it never will. Frost says all of his interior guys should be able to play all 3 positions.
And it’s not totally uncommon to take an athletic TE and bulk him up to play on the O-line. You are always talking about “lack of talent.” cams a great talent . Highly recruited. The recruiting services loved him when they projected him to be a lineman. It was when he committed as a TE that they started to drop his rating. I am not familiar with many 6'3 TE that moved to interior OL. Most of the TE that moved to OL were 6'5 or 6'6 guys that moved tackle. Also don't remember him dropping because of the TE thing. There was talk of him playing defense, but I don't remember much talk of him playing OL. Maybe you can provide me with a link.
And his injuries are troublesome but it should hold the staff back in trying to develop him. He’s out a month or so and IMO it might be a small blessing. It removes all pressure to try to play him this year. Allow him to get the verbiage down. Let him bulk up this year. It could be greatness in the making. It shouldn't hold them back from developing him, but it also shouldn't hold them back from recruiting someone else to play center.
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Matt Farniok was always recruited as a tackle. Will Farniok on the other hand was listed usually as a center. I just don't know if Will is going to be athletic or big enough.
I thought we have a tight end who is suppose to be the savior at center except that he broke his foot in practice this week.
I would guess that the Wisconsin players that were TE, all played at high schools that did nothing but run, so the were glorified tackles, then based on their size, went to Wisconsin as interior linemen. That is different than a dude who was highly recruited as a pass catching TE.
Good discussion
Good discussion
I think Bland has played some tackle for his JC team this year as well. Our redshirting tight end/center will be a project. We have to start building depth sometime.