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I had already watched the replay of the Louisville game once and wanted to watch it again. However, this time I wanted a special task to keep it interesting. I don't have a DVR any more, so watching every play over and over isn't very time efficient. I decided to pick a single player on each side of the ball to watch every play as the game tape ran unstopped for three quarters. I thought it would be fun to choose players I wasn't familiar with, just to get to know them better. In this case it was Connor Hansen #56 at RG on offense, and Charlie Thomas #45 on defense. My observations are as follows:
Hansen: I had a blast watching this kid, I have to be honest. He really gets after it. In fact, I don't think the guy he was assigned to (run blocking) made a single stop the entire three periods. There was a draw play where he stood up to block and got beat, but that was it in my recollection. He really gets low. Nobody, and I mean nobody, gets underneath him. He was very decisive about his assignments and appeared to take the right guy when moving to the second level every time. When on the really big DL guy, he drove into him and controlled him despite giving up a lot of weight. He pulls very quickly and gets out in space effectively. This kid is ready to play and is absolutely an asset to this offense. He knows how to play in it and he is really tough. We didn't pass much, so making judgement on his pass blocking skills would be premature. With that said, his run blocking is top notch. His cut blocking on the interior was simply fearsome.
Thomas: It was a bit eery seeing a guy in #45 who looked so much like Attaochu moving around the field. Charlie has as much agility and athletic ability as Jeremiah and will progress in a similar fashion I would imagine. He flies around the field and can put a foot in the ground rushing the passer, making it difficult for blockers to stay in front of him. Just to set the record straight, on the first fumble recovery, near the right sideline, he started the play as the OLB on the left side, rushed the passer, beat the guy on him with an inside move, got a hit on the QB and rushed the throw, THEN beat feet towards the receiver on the opposite side of the field to get in on the recovery. The ground he covered and the hustle he displayed were all that ANY coach could ask for. 99% of defensive players don't make that play. Having said that, at this point, Charlie plays a little out of control. He over runs some plays and gets himself out of position at times. Additionally, he appears to lack the upper body strength at this time to shuck blockers like he will in the future. IMHO, he needs to play now though, because he can really move. We are talking about a future STAR LB for GT. I feel sure about that. He will help us now, but he will be a way better player in the years to come. Remember Phillip Wheeler? He reminds me of him as well in a lot of ways. You have to love the energy.
Hansen: I had a blast watching this kid, I have to be honest. He really gets after it. In fact, I don't think the guy he was assigned to (run blocking) made a single stop the entire three periods. There was a draw play where he stood up to block and got beat, but that was it in my recollection. He really gets low. Nobody, and I mean nobody, gets underneath him. He was very decisive about his assignments and appeared to take the right guy when moving to the second level every time. When on the really big DL guy, he drove into him and controlled him despite giving up a lot of weight. He pulls very quickly and gets out in space effectively. This kid is ready to play and is absolutely an asset to this offense. He knows how to play in it and he is really tough. We didn't pass much, so making judgement on his pass blocking skills would be premature. With that said, his run blocking is top notch. His cut blocking on the interior was simply fearsome.
Thomas: It was a bit eery seeing a guy in #45 who looked so much like Attaochu moving around the field. Charlie has as much agility and athletic ability as Jeremiah and will progress in a similar fashion I would imagine. He flies around the field and can put a foot in the ground rushing the passer, making it difficult for blockers to stay in front of him. Just to set the record straight, on the first fumble recovery, near the right sideline, he started the play as the OLB on the left side, rushed the passer, beat the guy on him with an inside move, got a hit on the QB and rushed the throw, THEN beat feet towards the receiver on the opposite side of the field to get in on the recovery. The ground he covered and the hustle he displayed were all that ANY coach could ask for. 99% of defensive players don't make that play. Having said that, at this point, Charlie plays a little out of control. He over runs some plays and gets himself out of position at times. Additionally, he appears to lack the upper body strength at this time to shuck blockers like he will in the future. IMHO, he needs to play now though, because he can really move. We are talking about a future STAR LB for GT. I feel sure about that. He will help us now, but he will be a way better player in the years to come. Remember Phillip Wheeler? He reminds me of him as well in a lot of ways. You have to love the energy.
Hide the kids, ladies and gentlemen.