MAC Recruiting Rankings

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 12:37 pm

Eh, recruting rankings mean nothing to me anymore. Nobody really knows how these kids will fare once they hit campus.

But I do like Coach Clawson's first class an awful lot....we'll see.

GO FALCONS!!!

redskins4ever · Post by **redskins4ever** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 11:53 am

What bench pressing and offensive blocking have to do with one another is something I will never understand.

Now if you had a bunch of linemen who can squat worth a doodie... then you may have issues.

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 1:39 pm

Since you're allowed to lock onto a defender within the width of his pads and push...I'd say the bench press is a nice measure of "functional stregth" for an offensive lineman....

Pete Segaard · Post by **Pete Segaard** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 1:57 pm

Flipper wrote:Since you're allowed to lock onto a defender within the width of his pads and push...I'd say the bench press is a nice measure of "functional stregth" for an offensive lineman....

What is "functional stregth"

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 1:57 pm

Flipper wrote:Since you're allowed to lock onto a defender within the width of his pads and push...I'd say the bench press is a nice measure of "functional stregth" for an offensive lineman....

I'd say it's also a decent indication of the force an OL can exert in his initial punch. I would say that the initial punch is probably 2nd only to footwork when it comes to pass blocking ability.

To say that the bench has no correlation to OL play seems pretty foolish to me. Obviously it's not the be all, but it's a pretty good indication of upper body strength, which is pretty important along the OL.

takeoffeh · Post by **takeoffeh** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:14 pm

Hammb's got the idea. I'm a former lineman. That initial punch is crucial, but more importantly is the inside position and keeping the arms extended. If you're extended on his chestplate, the D'lineman can't grab the back of your shouldpads and swim. But it's not the "be-all." Squat and Hang Clean are equally important. Mix those three with good balance and good footwork, and you'll have a stud lineman.

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:24 pm

takeoffeh wrote:Mix those three with good balance and good footwork, and you'll have a stud lineman.

Being Mr. T doesn't hurt, either.

JoeFalcon · Post by **JoeFalcon** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:11 pm

I'd like to see what we can do when the head coach isn't fired two months before signing day and we're working with a full staff. The fact that two prominent media outlets have us 1st and 2nd given those circumstances is almost unbelievable.

BTW, anyone know the story on Mark Carney? He was mentioned as the WR coach and disappeared from the Richmond website but was never confirmed in the official press release.