I'm no Suitcase Scantlebury but I'll try to offer some content for you football starved crazies
Up the middle WVU is anchored by RSSr Tyler Orlosky at Center. He's an NFL caliber Center. 6-4 and 296. Think Evan Boehm. He has all the accolades and recognition in the Big12.
Right Guard should be Kyle Bosch RSJr 6-5 and 304 who played for Michigan Wolverines transferred to WVU, sat out a year, and started all 13 games for the Mountaineers in 2015. Did well.
Now after those 2 solid guys - it gets dicey. Left Guard was supposed to be Adam Pankey but he received a DUI after crashing his vehicle. I don't see how he will play in this game. He should be suspended and miss the opener. Tony Matteo 6-4 and 302 RSSr who backed up Bosch at RG should slide over to Left Guard. He's played in 18 games and started 2 in his career. Reason I think this - is that WVU is better at Left Tackle than they are at Right Tackle. So balance the line by putting the better Right Guard on right side of the line.
Who backs up the Center and Guards? Behind Orlosky is an unproven guy and hasn't played a game RSFr Ja'HSaun Seider at Center. I truly doubt he sees any action unless the game is decided or Orlosky is winded and needs a break. Matteo has played some center in high school.
Guards are RSJr Grant Lingafelter 6-6 and 308 has played in 14 career games but no starts. Mostly as mop up duty with his snaps occurring against the dirty birds, Maryland, Towson and Iowa State.
Other Guards listed are Jacob Buccigrossi True Freshman 6-3 and 294 but didn't play in Spring camp because of shoulder surgery, or Matt Jones RSFr who also has no game experience. Brendan Willis RSJR but is relegated to the Scout Team so I doubt he will play.
Couple other notes Amanii Brown a rising RSSo guard prospect left the program this June
http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20160602/GZ02/160609847
Another RSSo Guard Donte Angus just isn't breaking through the depth chart to garner playing time
So Mizzou has 4 established DT's - Beckner, Hatley, Logan, and Augusta with possibly Utsey (if ready) and Tre Williams (if concussion protocol is cleared to play).
Advantage Mizzou just because I think we wear them out with fresher bodies.
Left Tackle for WVU will be Yodny Cajuste RSSo who started first 6 games until season ending injury. Came back to play in their bowl game against Arizona. 6-5 and 304 out of Miami area. Very athletic. Excelled in basketball and took up the game of football at a later stage. Played against Ga Southern, Liberty, and Maryland. All Wins. Played against OU and Oky St both losses. Injured in Baylor game - a loss.
Going up against another basketball dude in Charles Harris. Who wins that battle? I think my money is on Sir Charles.
Right tackle will be fought over by two guys. Here's WVU Rivals website's take on it:
West Virginia has had difficulty finding depth at the tackle positions in recent years but this fall the Mountaineers are finding it hard to see exactly where the pieces fit into the picture.
While redshirt freshman Yodny Cajuste is all be cemented on the left side, the opposite end of the line has seen quite the ongoing position battle between redshirt junior Marcell Lazard and redshirt freshman Colton McKivitz. Both players are vying for the starting spot and it’s a competition that has been created as both players have risen their levels of play throughout the course of camp.
“Which is what you’re after. You want that competition. We want to develop as many of those battles as we possibly can,” head coach Dana Holgorsen said.
Lazard is the most experienced option of the two and was thrust into the starting lineup last season after the shuffling that occurred when Cajuste went down with a foot injury. The New Jersey native started a total of six games on the right side and has only continued to improve this fall.
That has only been aided by the work that not only offensive line coach Ron Crook is providing but new offensive coordinator and renowned offensive line coach Joe Wickline has done with the tackles.
“He’s getting better at what he does and is bringing his game forward. We worked on a few things on him and he’s adjusting and buying in. Because of that he’s staying in blocks more and getting in front of people,” Wickline said.
Holgorsen echoed those comments and said that Lazard has taken major strides this fall and he is better than he was last season so this is a slam dunk, right? Anything but. While Lazard did come out with the first team during the scrimmage, McKivitz is doing his best to make this interesting.
Unlike Lazard, McKivitz does not have the crutch of in-game experience to lean on but what he does have is a skill set that has the coaches excited for his future development. A former basketball player, McKivitz has fast-tracked his development since arriving on campus last season and has added the strength to his frame in order to be in the mix for the starting spot.
“He is smart and probably a little ahead of the curve right now for his youth,” Holgorsen said.
It’s a race that’s hard to handicap at this stage because both have been playing at such a high level throughout camp. It’s also one that could linger well into the season, according to Crook.
But one thing West Virginia is doing is preparing McKivitz to learn both sides of the offense so he can serve as the swing tackle that the Mountaineers have wanted in past years.
“He’s athletic, he understands the game and he has a passion to improve. But I could say the same thing about Marcell. They’re excited about playing football and now it’s about developing confidence,” Crook said. “Now it’s about getting them to do the things we’re asking them to do.”
It’s an age old battle of youth vs. experience but both players have made each other better throughout camp. Wickline believes that McKivitz has a bright future as well.
“I think he’s going to be a really good one. I think that in time, he could be considered a starting tackle,” Wickline said.
Lazard is fighting to make sure that doesn’t happen sooner rather than later.
Lazard struggled at times but at least has game experience. McKivitz has no games under his belt.
So who are the backups to all their Tackles? RSSr Sylvester Townes 6-6 and 310. Which every indication is he's been surpassed on the depth chart and his time to prove he deserves playing time is waning. RSFr Rob Dowdy 6-6 and 296 but again no game experience. Josh Sills is a True Freshman 6-5 and 315. According to one website - is a massive tackle with more athleticism than the average trench recruit, but won’t practice with the coaching staff until the fall, it’s far more likely we will see him next year than this
They will go up against Mizzou DE's Harris which we already talked about. Jordan Harold (unknown but we are hearing great things), Marcell Frazier, pretty darn good, Spencer Williams, has potential but unknown, Josh Moore, had some great moments, and Nate Howard also had some great moments.
Advantage Mizzou.
I will do the skill positions for WVU tomorrow and how they stack up against our DB's and also will touch on their TE's and our LB's
Up the middle WVU is anchored by RSSr Tyler Orlosky at Center. He's an NFL caliber Center. 6-4 and 296. Think Evan Boehm. He has all the accolades and recognition in the Big12.
Right Guard should be Kyle Bosch RSJr 6-5 and 304 who played for Michigan Wolverines transferred to WVU, sat out a year, and started all 13 games for the Mountaineers in 2015. Did well.
Now after those 2 solid guys - it gets dicey. Left Guard was supposed to be Adam Pankey but he received a DUI after crashing his vehicle. I don't see how he will play in this game. He should be suspended and miss the opener. Tony Matteo 6-4 and 302 RSSr who backed up Bosch at RG should slide over to Left Guard. He's played in 18 games and started 2 in his career. Reason I think this - is that WVU is better at Left Tackle than they are at Right Tackle. So balance the line by putting the better Right Guard on right side of the line.
Who backs up the Center and Guards? Behind Orlosky is an unproven guy and hasn't played a game RSFr Ja'HSaun Seider at Center. I truly doubt he sees any action unless the game is decided or Orlosky is winded and needs a break. Matteo has played some center in high school.
Guards are RSJr Grant Lingafelter 6-6 and 308 has played in 14 career games but no starts. Mostly as mop up duty with his snaps occurring against the dirty birds, Maryland, Towson and Iowa State.
Other Guards listed are Jacob Buccigrossi True Freshman 6-3 and 294 but didn't play in Spring camp because of shoulder surgery, or Matt Jones RSFr who also has no game experience. Brendan Willis RSJR but is relegated to the Scout Team so I doubt he will play.
Couple other notes Amanii Brown a rising RSSo guard prospect left the program this June
http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20160602/GZ02/160609847
Another RSSo Guard Donte Angus just isn't breaking through the depth chart to garner playing time
So Mizzou has 4 established DT's - Beckner, Hatley, Logan, and Augusta with possibly Utsey (if ready) and Tre Williams (if concussion protocol is cleared to play).
Advantage Mizzou just because I think we wear them out with fresher bodies.
Left Tackle for WVU will be Yodny Cajuste RSSo who started first 6 games until season ending injury. Came back to play in their bowl game against Arizona. 6-5 and 304 out of Miami area. Very athletic. Excelled in basketball and took up the game of football at a later stage. Played against Ga Southern, Liberty, and Maryland. All Wins. Played against OU and Oky St both losses. Injured in Baylor game - a loss.
Going up against another basketball dude in Charles Harris. Who wins that battle? I think my money is on Sir Charles.
Right tackle will be fought over by two guys. Here's WVU Rivals website's take on it:
West Virginia has had difficulty finding depth at the tackle positions in recent years but this fall the Mountaineers are finding it hard to see exactly where the pieces fit into the picture.
While redshirt freshman Yodny Cajuste is all be cemented on the left side, the opposite end of the line has seen quite the ongoing position battle between redshirt junior Marcell Lazard and redshirt freshman Colton McKivitz. Both players are vying for the starting spot and it’s a competition that has been created as both players have risen their levels of play throughout the course of camp.
“Which is what you’re after. You want that competition. We want to develop as many of those battles as we possibly can,” head coach Dana Holgorsen said.
Lazard is the most experienced option of the two and was thrust into the starting lineup last season after the shuffling that occurred when Cajuste went down with a foot injury. The New Jersey native started a total of six games on the right side and has only continued to improve this fall.
That has only been aided by the work that not only offensive line coach Ron Crook is providing but new offensive coordinator and renowned offensive line coach Joe Wickline has done with the tackles.
“He’s getting better at what he does and is bringing his game forward. We worked on a few things on him and he’s adjusting and buying in. Because of that he’s staying in blocks more and getting in front of people,” Wickline said.
Holgorsen echoed those comments and said that Lazard has taken major strides this fall and he is better than he was last season so this is a slam dunk, right? Anything but. While Lazard did come out with the first team during the scrimmage, McKivitz is doing his best to make this interesting.
Unlike Lazard, McKivitz does not have the crutch of in-game experience to lean on but what he does have is a skill set that has the coaches excited for his future development. A former basketball player, McKivitz has fast-tracked his development since arriving on campus last season and has added the strength to his frame in order to be in the mix for the starting spot.
“He is smart and probably a little ahead of the curve right now for his youth,” Holgorsen said.
It’s a race that’s hard to handicap at this stage because both have been playing at such a high level throughout camp. It’s also one that could linger well into the season, according to Crook.
But one thing West Virginia is doing is preparing McKivitz to learn both sides of the offense so he can serve as the swing tackle that the Mountaineers have wanted in past years.
“He’s athletic, he understands the game and he has a passion to improve. But I could say the same thing about Marcell. They’re excited about playing football and now it’s about developing confidence,” Crook said. “Now it’s about getting them to do the things we’re asking them to do.”
It’s an age old battle of youth vs. experience but both players have made each other better throughout camp. Wickline believes that McKivitz has a bright future as well.
“I think he’s going to be a really good one. I think that in time, he could be considered a starting tackle,” Wickline said.
Lazard is fighting to make sure that doesn’t happen sooner rather than later.
Lazard struggled at times but at least has game experience. McKivitz has no games under his belt.
So who are the backups to all their Tackles? RSSr Sylvester Townes 6-6 and 310. Which every indication is he's been surpassed on the depth chart and his time to prove he deserves playing time is waning. RSFr Rob Dowdy 6-6 and 296 but again no game experience. Josh Sills is a True Freshman 6-5 and 315. According to one website - is a massive tackle with more athleticism than the average trench recruit, but won’t practice with the coaching staff until the fall, it’s far more likely we will see him next year than this
They will go up against Mizzou DE's Harris which we already talked about. Jordan Harold (unknown but we are hearing great things), Marcell Frazier, pretty darn good, Spencer Williams, has potential but unknown, Josh Moore, had some great moments, and Nate Howard also had some great moments.
Advantage Mizzou.
I will do the skill positions for WVU tomorrow and how they stack up against our DB's and also will touch on their TE's and our LB's
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