Here are a few things I jotted down:
Kenny Cooper and Jahaziel Lee were both defensive players in high school. [hmmm. As much as we need defensive help...]
Yaller, you rock for summarizing that for us!
I do have one small comment regarding the quoted material above.
I thought based on their high school film IMO Kenny Cooper and Jahaziel Lee did not project well as defensive linemen at all. They move well in the forward fashion of an offensive lineman and both have that top heavy OL kind of build. They do not look physically like Cerge-Henderson, Gotsis, Glanton, Gamble, or Kallon (all have lower center of gravity). And their HS film didn't have the explosive lateral/square-to-the-LOS movement you want to see out of a defender. Instead they turn their hips perpendicular to the LOS and chase. Same deal with Laskey playing safety. Just not his natural position.
Because a kid like Shaq, Cooper, or Lee plays a lot on the offensive line as a true people think automatically that they could be doing just as well on the defensive line because they played some HS DL. That doesn't make any sense. Of the three only Shaq's DL film intrigued, and that was more from his bull rushes and forward penetration rather than square pursuit down the line.
The very fact that Cooper and Lee are excelling enough to contribute valuable minutes as a tr-fr on OL should be a confirmation that they are both playing the appropriate position AND that they are needed at that position right now (else they wouldn't be seeing the field). JMHO, Our DL struggles are due to problems recruiting DL, and not due to putting good DL recruits on the OL.
Thanks again for the summary! Just wanted to offer an opinion on the fine point above...