Parting Thoughts

i will contribute for ms state at www.forwhomthecowbelltolls.com. I have a few writings up there including a follow-up to the spring game if youre interested.

But i don’t watch as much college as i should and all of us could always be better informed. Maybe we could assign certain people to certain teams or conferences and o write-ups every saturday. just a thought.

LT: Tra Thomas(maybe later during the season switch to Monroe)
LG: Manuwai
C: Meester
RG: Mo Williams/Pashos(?)
Rt: Pashos or Monroe/Britton (later the season)

You guys really taught me a lot this year. We should start watching prospects from the very start. Maybe we can find the hidden gems like Cox is supposed to be. Its an idea.

Maybe the kid is into academics…has anyone checked out his course of study & whatnot?

LT: Tra Thomas
LG: Vince Manuwai
C: Brad Meester
RG: Mo Williams/ Eben Britton
RT: Eugene Monroe

Sorry but I take the vet over the rookie.

Thomas
Manuwai
Meester
Williams/Britton
Monroe/Penalty Pashos

Many reasons why people close smaller schools over big ones.
-smaller classes
-not as crowded
-less distractions
-money
-closer to home
-didn’t grow a lot until well after highschool

Gene said Andy Heck had the final call on where everyone will play. No one is locked in to any position.

I think both suggestions are great ideas. My 2 oldest boys would especially love the game reviews (9,7, and 2). I subscribe to game informer, but don’t let them look through it due to some of the graphic content. When older yeah, but not now.

Also, the idea of the college review is very intriguing. Talk about the opportunity to scout prior to the 10 draft. I agree with surteal in regards to possibly assigning people to a conference or games with players of interest. Great ideas!!!

My OL would be:
LT- 1) Thomas 2) Monroe
LG- 1) Manuwai 2) Nwaneri
C- 1) Meester 2) Norman
RG- Pashos/Naeole/Williams (In no particular order)
RT- 1) Monroe 2) Britton

With that said, it should never be assumed that these guys are shoe ins. According to Gene and Jack these guys are here to compete, and compete they will!

So what are the matchups for he OKLAHOMA this year? Anyone have a matchup you’d like to see?

Derek Cox probably couldn’t run that fast or jump that high out of high school. Either that, or they just missed. The BCS does not have the market cornered on elite-pro-potential football players, and their scouts can’t be in all places at once.

He was already fast…you can’t teach 4.3 speed.

I think we should have 2 differnt starting rosters, one early in the year and one we transition to eventually.
Start:
LT-Thomas, LG-Pashos, C-Meester, RG-Manuwai, RT-Britton
Later:
LT-Monroe, LG-Pashos, C-Nwaneri, RG-Manuwai, RT-Britton

I know Manuwai is usually a LG, but usually your road grater goes on the right side. Not to mention Manuwai is not the best pass blocker, and on the LG position pass blocking should not be your weakness. So I put Pashos a former RT with good pass blocking skills for a guard, at LG. IMO, he beats out Williams because he’s not coming off an injury and Williams’ experience at RG makes him a better backup for Manuwai at RG.

As for the Tackles, often times rookie tackles do well but they are babied along with TE’s and stuff. But considering we have so many divisional games early in the season I go with Tra Thomas at LT early, allowing Monroe to learn under him for the first few games.

RT is an easier position to learn so Britton can start from the beginning of the season. I’ve seen some people put Monroe at RT, but he isn’t as physical and his primary objective early on will be learning that LT spot. Not to mention Britton already has experience at RT.

At Center Meester will be the obvious starter early, but now Uche Nwaneri will know going into the season what position he will play so he can concentrate at Center, because Norman and Williams can be the primary backups at guard. Uche is younger than Meester and less injury prone, so he should be the C of the future. I know some people want Drew Miller to be the incumbent starter at C, but because he’s slow into his stance I think his future is at Guard. Not to mention Uche has more experience at Center. For anyone that didn’t know, Uche was supposed to be the backup Center until the guards went down, and Miller was playing Guard. However this transition will be a much slower transition than the one at LT.

This whole thing allows everyone to learn one position while putting the best players on the field at all times, whoever it is at the time while making a seemless transition. It also allows for the backups to learn just one position, so when they come in there is less of a learning curve. (RT doesn’t have a specific backup, but there are atleast 4 people that can play the spot, and Britton has shown in college to be very reliable.)

Talk about a young and powerful OL!!! That OL could be one of the best and youngest by the end of the year and for years to come.