12/15 Early Signing Day: GT

[Sheboygan]

This is a terrific class. Very pleased.

Can we coach them up? And if so, how many years will it take? Also, are our previous 3 classes ready to contribute next year or do they still need more time? Those are my only questions.

Exactly ! Off of past performance I am doubtful, but stupidly optimistic !

 

[JacketFan137]

Yes! It's a red-letter recruiting year already, and if we get Quick and Tchio on OL, this will be a red-letter transfer year as well. That would make two 4-star DTs and three 4-star OLs - Five 4-star linemen in one year's haul. If we can coach them up instead of down, we'll be cooking on the front burner.

i really think a decent o line blocking for sims and dontae would make us a HUGE problem in the coastal. it’s not like we are gonna be playing super stout defensive lines in most of our games.

o line was easily our biggest area to improve after last seasons debacle. it didn’t matter if it was northern illinois or uga they still didn’t hold blocks

 

[chewybaka]

If you get tired of justifying something to yourself, then stop justifying it.

Interesting...I will need to ponder that..

 

[Oldgoldandwhite]

So you took his comment as him saying he was going to recruit and sign the same caliber of player at Tech as he did at Bama? Then that’s ridiculous. Nobody in their right mind would believe that to be true

Shut down the ATL.
404 is ours.
Or was that a movie I watched once?

 

[bobongo]

Exactly ! Off of past performance I am doubtful, but stupidly optimistic !

I'm stupidly hopeful. By next September I'll be Charlie Brown, approaching the football once again.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

i really think a decent o line blocking for sims and dontae would make us a HUGE problem in the coastal. it’s not like we are gonna be playing super stout defensive lines in most of our games.

o line was easily our biggest area to improve after last seasons debacle. it didn’t matter if it was northern illinois or uga they still didn’t hold blocks

I like your optimism but I’m curious when you think this new offensive line will be ready to go? Next year? Before Dontae graduates?

I’m honestly not trying to be a nay sayer, I’ve just gotten so many posts from people talking about how it takes 5-7 years to develop an offensive line. When do you think we will be ready to compete with this line?

 

[forensicbuzz]

This is a terrific class. Very pleased.

Can we coach them up? And if so, how many years will it take? Also, are our previous 3 classes ready to contribute next year or do they still need more time? Those are my only questions.

I'm just sad that we didn't get any OL recruits in 2019 to kick things off.

 

[forensicbuzz]

I like your optimism but I’m curious when you think this new offensive line will be ready to go? Next year? Before Dontae graduates?

I’m honestly not trying to be a nay sayer, I’ve just gotten so many posts from people talking about how it takes 5-7 years to develop an offensive line. When do you think we will be ready to compete with this line?

Well, this is going to be Year 3 with any of CGC and CBK linemen recruits, so how long do you think it should take? Just curious what your opinion is.

 

[JacketFan137]

I like your optimism but I’m curious when you think this new offensive line will be ready to go? Next year? Before Dontae graduates?

I’m honestly not trying to be a nay sayer, I’ve just gotten so many posts from people talking about how it takes 5-7 years to develop an offensive line. When do you think we will be ready to compete with this line?

it should be good enough to compete in the acc against most teams NOW. i don’t see why it can’t since guys are gonna be more experienced and we are supposedly getting another transfer.

it definitely takes a while and all of the lineman we had from the johnson era certainly weren’t good enough early on. now it’s all on key and the rest of the staff to get them there since they’ve been with us for a while

 

[Northeast Stinger]

it should be good enough to compete in the acc against most teams NOW. i don’t see why it can’t since guys are gonna be more experienced and we are supposedly getting another transfer.

it definitely takes a while and all of the lineman we had from the johnson era certainly weren’t good enough early on. now it’s all on key and the rest of the staff to get them there since they’ve been with us for a while

So next year?

 

[Northeast Stinger]

Well, this is going to be Year 3 with any of CGC and CBK linemen recruits, so how long do you think it should take? Just curious what your opinion is.

I know longer have an opinion. I’m just trying to understand the disconnect between those who say on the one hand that it takes 7 years to transition from an option team while saying on the other hand we will be a winning team next year.

I’m open to hearing an explanation as to how this year’s recruiting class makes people optimistic about next year.

 

[forensicbuzz]

Personally, I wouldn't want my team running 2nd and 3rd-year OL out there to compete with 4th and 5th-year guys. I think that's why we need good OL coming in as transfers. OL is probably the biggest hit-or-miss position on the field coming out of HS, so that makes it even worse. So, really, I don't expect a stellar OL until Year 5 or 6 of CGC's tenure. That doesn't mean we won't be good enough to win games, I just think it will take that long to have a dominating O-Line, especially since we didn't take any Year 1 OL recruits.

If we don't win more games than we have been, CGC won't get to Year 5 or 6 to see that stellar OL perform. Fixing the Defense should be much easier.

 

[iceeater1969]

Well, this is going to be Year 3 with any of CGC and CBK linemen recruits, so how long do you think it should take? Just curious what your opinion is.

Arent you counting cpj last class as cgc class?
Cgc was here by himself trying to hire staff and we accepted that group.

.

 

[MidtownJacket]

The trouble with recruiting either side of the line is in projecting how and what type of weight a kid will be able to put on.

Grad transfers or older portal guys at least are built out by NCAA level S&C guys so you have a better sense of their frame. Less physical projection means less likely that you swing and miss.

Also if you’re a poor line player the only real potential role to fall back on is MAYBE be a large TE, but that normally requires hands which aren’t trained by the big uglies and stamina for longer route running.

It’s not like the skill guys or Athletes who can flip all over the field if they don’t grow as expected. Though we had guys at S who bulked up more of a LB Build so hoping that gets address by the new DB staff.

As for how long it takes, frankly if it doesn’t happen this year it won’t much matter as we’ll be getting a new HC the following year.

 

[bobongo]

The trouble with recruiting either side of the line is in projecting how and what type of weight a kid will be able to put on.

Grad transfers or older portal guys at least are built out by NCAA level S&C guys so you have a better sense of their frame. Less physical projection means less likely that you swing and miss.

Also if you’re a poor line player the only real potential role to fall back on is MAYBE be a large TE, but that normally requires hands which aren’t trained by the big uglies and stamina for longer route running.

It’s not like the skill guys or Athletes who can flip all over the field if they don’t grow as expected. Though we had guys at S who bulked up more of a LB Build so hoping that gets address by the new DB staff.

As for how long it takes, frankly if it doesn’t happen this year it won’t much matter as we’ll be getting a new HC the following year.

But some say (on here, anyway) the OL has to play together for an extended period of time (at least a year, or more) in order for the line to "gel".
I don't believe it, but that's what they say.

 

[85Escape]

Right?

I remember when Curry went to Bama and he immediately improved their record, won SEC coach of the year twice and Bobby Dodd Coach of the year once. His last recruiting class went 13-0 and won a national championship under Stallings.

NOTHING is easier at Tech than at Alabama.

Maybe Key meant it was easier to recruit at Tech since there are more direct flights out of ATL than Tuscaloosa? That'd be true for sure.

 

[85Escape]

I like your optimism but I’m curious when you think this new offensive line will be ready to go? Next year? Before Dontae graduates?

I’m honestly not trying to be a nay sayer, I’ve just gotten so many posts from people talking about how it takes 5-7 years to develop an offensive line. When do you think we will be ready to compete with this line?

I'd say that NIU would beg to differ on the 'it takes 5 - 7 years for an O-line to develop' mantra.

Look at their roster...mostly underclassman:

60	Evan Buss	OL	6-6	315	Fr	Kimberly, WI
72	Brendan Carr	OL	6-7	293	Fr	Hanna, IN
76	John Champe	OL	6-4	321	Fr	Brookfield, WI
70	Marques Cox	OL	6-6	306	Soph	Peoria, IL
75	Leif Engstrand	OL	6-8	331	Fr	Oconomowoc, WI
68	Marko Gbedo	OL	6-3	330	Fr	Alsip, IL
79	J.J. Lippe	OL	6-5	311	Fr	Milwaukee, WI
73	Brandon MacKinnon	OL	6-5	282	Fr	Lakeville, MA
50	Pete Nygra	OL	6-4	289	Fr	North Indianapolis, IN
58	Brayden Patton	OL	6-5	309	Sr	Ellettsville, IN
77	Luke Pinnick	OL	6-4	291	Fr	State Center, IA
74	Tyler Pitcel	OL	6-4	306	Fr	Mukwonago, WI
69	Nolan Potter	OL	6-6	308	Soph	Cedar Rapids, IA
64	Matt Schooley	OL	6-2	303	Fr	Wisconsin Rapids, WI
62	Seth Thompson	OL	6-4	288	Fr	Eden Prairie, MN
66	Anthony Vacula	OL	6-4	325	Fr	Hales Corners, WI
78	Jack Wilty	OL	6-4	309	Fr	Altoona, IA
65	Logan Zschernitz	OL	6-3	311	Fr	Spencer, WI

and they have been WAY more successful than GT in that regard. Sad, but true.

 

[billga99]

But some say (on here, anyway) the OL has to play together for an extended period of time (at least a year, or more) in order for the line to "gel".
I don't believe it, but that's what they say.

I watched a little of the Northern Illinois vs. Coastal Carolina game last night. NIU was getting major push on the offense line with 2 freshmen along with more experienced players. I just don't buy it takes 3 to 4 years to build up the offense line. In 2022, they need to perform at a much higher level. Whether it is scheme, coaching or misjudging talent, it needs to be fixed.

 

[bobongo]

Maybe Key meant it was easier to recruit at Tech since there are more direct flights out of ATL than Tuscaloosa? That'd be true for sure.

Maybe Atlanta has more Waffle Houses.

 

[Fatmike91]

I'd say that NIU would beg to differ on the 'it takes 5 - 7 years for an O-line to develop' mantra.

Look at their roster...mostly underclassman:

60	Evan Buss	OL	6-6	315	Fr	Kimberly, WI
72	Brendan Carr	OL	6-7	293	Fr	Hanna, IN
76	John Champe	OL	6-4	321	Fr	Brookfield, WI
70	Marques Cox	OL	6-6	306	Soph	Peoria, IL
75	Leif Engstrand	OL	6-8	331	Fr	Oconomowoc, WI
68	Marko Gbedo	OL	6-3	330	Fr	Alsip, IL
79	J.J. Lippe	OL	6-5	311	Fr	Milwaukee, WI
73	Brandon MacKinnon	OL	6-5	282	Fr	Lakeville, MA
50	Pete Nygra	OL	6-4	289	Fr	North Indianapolis, IN
58	Brayden Patton	OL	6-5	309	Sr	Ellettsville, IN
77	Luke Pinnick	OL	6-4	291	Fr	State Center, IA
74	Tyler Pitcel	OL	6-4	306	Fr	Mukwonago, WI
69	Nolan Potter	OL	6-6	308	Soph	Cedar Rapids, IA
64	Matt Schooley	OL	6-2	303	Fr	Wisconsin Rapids, WI
62	Seth Thompson	OL	6-4	288	Fr	Eden Prairie, MN
66	Anthony Vacula	OL	6-4	325	Fr	Hales Corners, WI
78	Jack Wilty	OL	6-4	309	Fr	Altoona, IA
65	Logan Zschernitz	OL	6-3	311	Fr	Spencer, WI

and they have been WAY more successful than GT in that regard. Sad, but true.

Wait, they have 15 freshman offensive lineman on their team??

/