FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

A lot of schools do this due to the thought that if a kid plays QB, he has a high Football IQ and if athletic enough, then can excel elsewhere on the field.

Beat me to it. Your fourth-string quarterback might be a second-string safety and more valuable to the program that way.

[bceagle80]

I took a look at each of the lineman and I see multiple big men with good speed (5.0 or less). At the DT/NT positions, I see 25 OL or DL guys. Based on the positions in the list above, there are at least 5 guys at 245 of larger, 3 at 265 or larger. There are 6 squatting more than 500 lbs. and more than 5 benching over 300 lbs.

I would put precisely zero stock in the height, weight, 40-yard dash, bench, and squat numbers you see listed.

I was officially listed at 6-1 and 245 in my high school program as a senior, then listed at 6-1 and 260 for the duration of my college career. 

In real life: I am 5-11 and weighed 240-something as a freshman, 260 as a sophomore, 235 as a junior, and 240 as a senior (furthermore, I was a significantly better player as a 235-pound junior than I was at 260). 

Translation: yes, generally, it's nice to see big bodies coming in to fill out the lines, but projecting the success of the individual players based on size is a bit dicey.  It's possible some of those 245 pounders might be better than the 265 pounders, or that some of the "265 pounders" actually weigh 245 but had a coach that was a bit generous in his program listings.

Re: the lifting numbers, it's pretty well-known that they can vary quite widely depending on how strictly coaches enforce good squatting depth.  Half-squatting 500 pounds is much less translatable to football than a full-depth squat with 405 pounds.  Bench-pressing, likewise, is prone to bouncing, all manner of cheating and inflation for the sake of sounding impressive.  I love lifting weights and it's undoubtedly an essential part of football training, but in projecting college success, I really couldn't care less what a high-school kid has supposedly lifted for 1 rep (or how many times he benched 185/225 at a combine somewhere).

What I was looking for has more to do with trends, not what a specific kid individually can do. How a kid plays the game (with focus, tenacity, great technique, etc.) is more important than individual strength stats and numbers. That being said, if the numbers are true, then there are somethings you just can not teach (make a 5' 7" inch kid 6' 2", real raw speed, true natural football instincts). Think about the guy who is the not the biggest, strongest or fastest guy on the field defensively but he is always in the right where he needs to be.

I can tell you a lot of weights for lineman can vary. Depending on skeletal structure, some kids can pack on more muscle weight than others. My son is blessed with that advantage. He had trouble keeping weight on his junior season losing 20 lbs. during the season. After the season he started lifting in earnest for his senior season. He found a new squat workout that worked well for him. You can put more muscle into your quadriceps and hamstrings than other muscles in the body. He went from 205 lbs. at the end of his junior year to 245 lbs. at the start of football his senior year. 30 lbs. was definitely in his legs and probably another 10 lbs. in his chest and arms. He maintained his weight through the season and again lifted hard after the season. He has been doing the workouts sent him by VK since May (weight training, conditioning, agility and more) and still has put on another 20 pounds since December. He, in fact, has never been faster than he is now and stronger (legs and upper body). My son is a legit 6' 1" and 265 lbs. He will continue to grow for another year when he will turn 19. Both his brother grew until we were 19. He may end up around 6' 2". During college he wants to increase his size and strength while maintaining his current speed.

One reason my son excelled on both sides of the ball this past season was technique. He had a low stance, fired out low and played low. The trend at all levels of college football is to try to get players who react quick and read who play  the defensive line. They don't penetrate as much as the read and react. My son's coaches have done well with him and I have helped with his defensive stance. A man I played with in college spent 16 years in the NFL and was an all pro. My son uses a similar stance and I have mentored him to play with his instincts. You do not have to always see the ball carrier to know where he is going. That said you can not underestimate great football vision and the ability to play sideline to sideline. One reason he wanted to play for Mount Union was the style of defense they play. They liked to penetrate and it plays to his strengths. It's what they do with their God given talent, size, speed, agility and strength on the football field that counts.

[Knight Raider]

I have an additional kicker on my list.  I separated my list by position and the number of QBs and WRs stand out to me.

The number of QBs surprised me too but it's probably because I'm in my 30's and these aren't old I formation QBs like when I was in HS.  Someone with a kid in HS like bceagle might know this, but it would be my guess that with so many teams running spread/read option that HS coaches may put their best athlete at QB these days.  They want Taurice Scott not Rob Adamson.

From your previous post with the list of Capital Recruits (http://athletics.capital.edu/sports/fball/2013-14/releases/20140611cxud01) there are only 4 of the 86 that are QBs.  I have a feeling that most of the 12 recruits wanting to be the QB will be very surprised.

[Onward on, John Carroll]

Pre-season Top 10:  http://www.d3football.com/top25/2014/preseason

As I said during the run up to last year's Mount-JCU game, I just cannot tell you how much fun it is to be considered relevant again by people outside of University Heights.  It was a long, lonely decade following the Final Four team in 2002 and I am very hopeful that Coach Arth will be able to turn this (a good team) into a regular thing.

[Dr. Acula]

I have an additional kicker on my list.  I separated my list by position and the number of QBs and WRs stand out to me.

The number of QBs surprised me too but it's probably because I'm in my 30's and these aren't old I formation QBs like when I was in HS.  Someone with a kid in HS like bceagle might know this, but it would be my guess that with so many teams running spread/read option that HS coaches may put their best athlete at QB these days.  They want Taurice Scott not Rob Adamson.

From your previous post with the list of Capital Recruits (http://athletics.capital.edu/sports/fball/2013-14/releases/20140611cxud01) there are only 4 of the 86 that are QBs.  I have a feeling that most of the 12 recruits wanting to be the QB will be very surprised.

Ya lost me there, KR.  I'm not sure what Cap has to do with it?  I was commenting on the list of Mount kids. 

[Dr. Acula]

Pre-season Top 10:  http://www.d3football.com/top25/2014/preseason

As I said during the run up to last year's Mount-JCU game, I just cannot tell you how much fun it is to be considered relevant again by people outside of University Heights.  It was a long, lonely decade following the Final Four team in 2002 and I am very hopeful that Coach Arth will be able to turn this (a good team) into a regular thing.

It seems like a good bet it happens, IMO (being a good team regularly).  2015 will be interesting for both JCU and Mount as their young coaches move on for the first time without an established stud at QB.  Obviously with Arth's pedigree it seems fairly safe to assume he will be able to develop QB's. 

[Knight Raider]

I have an additional kicker on my list.  I separated my list by position and the number of QBs and WRs stand out to me.

The number of QBs surprised me too but it's probably because I'm in my 30's and these aren't old I formation QBs like when I was in HS.  Someone with a kid in HS like bceagle might know this, but it would be my guess that with so many teams running spread/read option that HS coaches may put their best athlete at QB these days.  They want Taurice Scott not Rob Adamson.

From your previous post with the list of Capital Recruits (http://athletics.capital.edu/sports/fball/2013-14/releases/20140611cxud01) there are only 4 of the 86 that are QBs.  I have a feeling that most of the 12 recruits wanting to be the QB will be very surprised.

Ya lost me there, KR.  I'm not sure what Cap has to do with it?  I was commenting on the list of Mount kids.

Sorry about my train of thought. 
I meant to say that Mount Union has 12 QBs for 100 freshman players and Capital only 4 QBs for 86 players. I worry that we might have some unhappy QBs.  I think most of these QBs are running QBs, so they have some speed and over half of them also had a defensive position as well.

[Dr. Acula]

Got it.  I agree 12 is a lot and I think it's safe to assume a lot of those kids will end up at other positions (or transferring).  That was kind of what I was getting at with my comment about HS QB's being better athletes these days.  Basically that was me crossing my fingers that there are a couple WR's and DB's hidden in that 12.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Got it.  I agree 12 is a lot and I think it's safe to assume a lot of those kids will end up at other positions (or transferring).  That was kind of what I was getting at with my comment about HS QB's being better athletes these days.  Basically that was me crossing my fingers that there are a couple WR's and DB's hidden in that 12.

Shorts has already said he is moving to WR, so I don't think he will be surprised.

[bceagle80]

Got it.  I agree 12 is a lot and I think it's safe to assume a lot of those kids will end up at other positions (or transferring).  That was kind of what I was getting at with my comment about HS QB's being better athletes these days.  Basically that was me crossing my fingers that there are a couple WR's and DB's hidden in that 12.

I saw a lot of WRs and DBs in the list already. There will be a lot of competition and the best will rise to the top. Shorts has the pedigree but there are multiple guys with sub 4.4 speed that could make a mark this year at WRs or DBs.

[Onward on, John Carroll]

Pre-season Top 10:  http://www.d3football.com/top25/2014/preseason

As I said during the run up to last year's Mount-JCU game, I just cannot tell you how much fun it is to be considered relevant again by people outside of University Heights.  It was a long, lonely decade following the Final Four team in 2002 and I am very hopeful that Coach Arth will be able to turn this (a good team) into a regular thing.

It seems like a good bet it happens, IMO (being a good team regularly).  2015 will be interesting for both JCU and Mount as their young coaches move on for the first time without an established stud at QB.  Obviously with Arth's pedigree it seems fairly safe to assume he will be able to develop QB's.

I assume, like you, that he can develop the talent  . . . IF he gets it.  Tom Arth is not Rumpelstiltskin. He still needs to show that he can recruit and bring in the raw materials. 

Regis Scafe was able to coach 'em up too, his first 4 years with Decarlo's recruits . . . then . . . well, then 2003-2012 happen.

[Raider 68]

Pre-season Top 10:  http://www.d3football.com/top25/2014/preseason

As I said during the run up to last year's Mount-JCU game, I just cannot tell you how much fun it is to be considered relevant again by people outside of University Heights.  It was a long, lonely decade following the Final Four team in 2002 and I am very hopeful that Coach Arth will be able to turn this (a good team) into a regular thing.

It seems like a good bet it happens, IMO (being a good team regularly).  2015 will be interesting for both JCU and Mount as their young coaches move on for the first time without an established stud at QB.  Obviously with Arth's pedigree it seems fairly safe to assume he will be able to develop QB's. 

Dr.Acula,

The Raiders will also have no problem developing the next QB (post the Burke era). Look who is working with the QB's!

[raiderguy]

Is it safe to assume that our offensive coordinators new name is now Geoff Kehres, since he married a kehres?
Might not be a bad idea! You can't have too many of them

[grunion-run]

Is it safe to assume that our offensive coordinators new name is now Geoff Kehres, since he married a kehres?
Might not be a bad idea! You can't have too many of them

So with V.K. AND L.K. And now Geoff /OC married to L.K.,S daughter  THE Purple Raiders now  have The " KEHRES SHOW". Sounds good to me !
Look out division 3 football as the Alliance Ohio  University Of Mount Union continue to to be TOP OF THE HEAP !
The "KEHRES SHOW " Nice Sounding"  Begins soon ! 

[purple]

You heard it here first, Roman Namdar is going to be a sensation for Mount Union this year.