'13 MI OT Steven Elmer (Notre Dame Early Enrollee)

[Emcee77]

further clarification..........

The article is titled- Rising Freshman- early enrollees who can make an impact in spring practice.

1. Derrick Henry - Bama
2. Su'a Cravens- USC
3. JaQuay Williams- A&M
4. Eli Apple- Ohio St.
5. Steve Elmer- ND

The issue has Jadeveon Clowney on the cover- march madness issue.

I haven't seen the article, but it's interesting that Elmer was mentioned. True, he can make a big impact in practice with our depth chart really thin at tackle, but with both starting tackles back next year, it's not like he is realistically fighting for a starting spot.

 

[PANDFAN]

I haven't seen the article, but it's interesting that Elmer was mentioned. True, he can make a big impact in practice with our depth chart really thin at tackle, but with both starting tackles back next year, it's not like he is realistically fighting for a starting spot.

OT Steve Elmer, Notre Dame
Offering significant playing time to a true freshman offensive lineman is never ideal, but given Notre Dame's situation, Elmer could make a compelling case. Starters Mike Golic Jr. and Braxston Cave are gone from the 2012 squad. Elmer was named the Anthony Muñoz Lineman of the Year at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. And by enrolling early and taking part in spring practice, Elmer will have an opportunity to earn Brian Kelly's trust. If nothing else, he's smart enough to cut it in South Bend; he graduated from Midland (Mich.) High in December with a 4.3 GPA.


Read More: O.J. Howard, Eli Apple among early enrollees to watch this spring - College Football - Ben Glicksman - SI.com

 

[Old Man Mike]

EMCEE: Elmer becomes a factor if Hiestand sees his best five with Lombard at guard. And one could easily imagine him thinking that way.

Right Guard is at least the mystery that Center is. If NMart doesn't pan out there, or has to move to Center, then Lombard looks probably easily as our best option there, with Stanley and Elmer squaring off to see who gets Right Tackle.

Spring ought to tell a lot there, but if Hegarty isn't quite ready yet it gives Coach Harry a dilemma: Does he simply count on Matt taking over in August? {I bet not}, or does he reveal the player whom he thinks is really the likely Center if he can't count on Matt? If so, who is it that gets the reps with the first team? NMart? Watt? {probably not}. Harrell? Does he sacrifice any of NMart's Guard snaps because Matt's not there yet? How much does he sell-the-ranch on getting NMart ready for Center if Matt's not full strength?

I think that Spring is going to be more interesting than the staff would like vis-a-vis the OLine. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[Emcee77]

EMCEE: Elmer becomes a factor if Hiestand sees his best five with Lombard at guard. And one could easily imagine him thinking that way.

True, good call.

 

[ThePiombino]

True, good call.

Are we to assume that he jumps over Stanley though?

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Are we to assume that he jumps over Stanley though?

IMO Stanley is the prototypical RT.

 

[CanadalovesND]

IMO Stanley is the prototypical RT.

6'6'' 305 and counting with supposed great athleticism, sounds like LT potential

 

[Buster Bluth]

Even as a former OL myself (1st-team all-conference booyah! ), what on Earth is the difference between a prototype LT and RT, other than you'd want your better tackle at LT to protect a quarterback's blindside. I assume right/left handedness could be a factor...but isn't a tackle a tackle?

 

[IrishLax]

I had hoped Stanley would take over at RT this year and Lombard would move to guard. Seems like Stanley's injury might preclude that. Would we ever play a true frosh OL on this team?

Lombard at guard and an actual tackle at RT is the missing piece to us being a dominant running team.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

EMCEE: Elmer becomes a factor if Hiestand sees his best five with Lombard at guard. And one could easily imagine him thinking that way.

Right Guard is at least the mystery that Center is. If NMart doesn't pan out there, or has to move to Center, then Lombard looks probably easily as our best option there, with Stanley and Elmer squaring off to see who gets Right Tackle.

Spring ought to tell a lot there, but if Hegarty isn't quite ready yet it gives Coach Harry a dilemma: Does he simply count on Matt taking over in August? {I bet not}, or does he reveal the player whom he thinks is really the likely Center if he can't count on Matt? If so, who is it that gets the reps with the first team? NMart? Watt? {probably not}. Harrell? Does he sacrifice any of NMart's Guard snaps because Matt's not there yet? How much does he sell-the-ranch on getting NMart ready for Center if Matt's not full strength?

I think that Spring is going to be more interesting than the staff would like vis-a-vis the OLine. Hope I'm wrong.

Correct me if I'm wrong here, OMM, but despite all the talk about the "best 5" and moving guys around, most OL coaches seem to be remarkably conservative. I'd bet there's a strong assumption in favor of maintaining last year's status quo (Z. Mart - Watt - ? - ? - Lombard).

The safest line-up is probably Z. Mart - Watt - Hegarty - N. Martin - Lombard, with Stanley and Hanratty as the first man in at OT and OG, respectively.

Though things could get interesting if Hegarty isn't up to the task. Watt reportedly isn't comfortable at C. Hanratty and N. Martin have both cross-trained at the position, and the staff seems to be breeding Harrell for it specifically. If there's any domino that could set off a major OL reshuffle, it's probably Hegarty.

Even as a former OL myself (1st-team all-conference booyah! ), what on Earth is the difference between a prototype LT and RT, other than you'd want your better tackle at LT to protect a quarterback's blindside. I assume right/left handedness could be a factor...but isn't a tackle a tackle?

That's my understanding as well. RT seems to just be the 2nd best OT. I don't know of anything that distinguishes one from the other.

 

[IrishLax]

Typically you can have a more massive player at RT who might not be as good as pass blocking/as quick as your LT. It was explained to me once that basically any LT can play RT but there are a lot of really good RTs you wouldn't want playing LT because your QB might get killed 1-2 more times a game.

No idea if any of that is right.

 

[Irishman77]

Left tackles are quicker/ more athletic. Both need to pass block but a right handed qb with mobility can sometimes avoid what he sees coming.

The exception to this rule is Anthony Munoz ( best ol of all time) played lt and qb was left handed.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Whiskey: I agree with the assumption that Coach Hiestand would prefer leaving as many pieces in place and just infilling Center and Right Guard [with the guys you mention] and have said so a couple of places on the board. Like you [and I imagine every other IEer who is thinking clearly], I wonder what happens if Matt can't take charge at center. That's when the guessing game really begins and Hiestand has to make a gamble at shaking up the conservative approach [unless someone like Mark Harrell is better than the silence surrounding his progress might suggest].

I'd put a bundle of vBucks that Hiestand WANTS it to be ZMart/ Watt/ Hegarty/ NMart/ Lombard as of this moment, and have Stanley ready to replace ZMart in 2014, and if possible save Elmer a year. Replacing Watt in 2014 still sits there as a question mark, and so the possible move of Lombard to a guard might have to be considered one year or the other.

If I was Hiestand [yes, thank the Lord I'm not], I'd be thinking a "little" about 2014, and where Elmer might be. But he has a lot of Spring and Fall snaps to clear his head up on that.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Typically you can have a more massive player at RT who might not be as good as pass blocking/as quick as your LT. It was explained to me once that basically any LT can play RT but there are a lot of really good RTs you wouldn't want playing LT because your QB might get killed 1-2 more times a game.

No idea if any of that is right.

I can certainly buy the idea of putting a run blocking guy at RT and a pass blocking guy at LT, definitely.

 

[Buster Bluth]

So I guess my question would be, what is the prototype? You don't really want your RT to be less athletic, it's just a circumstance..no?

In a nutshell, he's going to be the inferior of the tackles, athletically speaking. Right? (<--pun)

 

[BeauBenken]

So I guess my question would be, what is the prototype? You don't really want your RT to be less athletic, it's just a circumstance..no?

In a nutshell, he's going to be the inferior of the tackles, athletically speaking. Right? (<--pun)

Yes.

 

[Irishman77]

Montelus will be next man in behind Watt.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Montelus will be next man in behind Watt.

Very doubtful with his shoulder injury. Hanratty is significantly more experienced, too.

 

[rtrn2glory]

agreed whiskey...staff will most likely be very cautious with montelus plus the possibility of cross training Bivin at guard who will most likely be more healthy

 

[Old Man Mike]

Herm Edwards [along with many other commentators] has said that, all other things being equal and you have a right-handed QB, that you'd prefer greater "extension" [arm levers] for your left tackle "so he can keep the pass-rusher from getting into him", where all manner of "moves" would then be avoided.

Although ZMart isn't ideal on extension, when you watch his play you see his rapid staccato feet pumping and adjusting as he blasts the rusher off him with his two-hand "punch". A powerful punch and tremendous feet can make up for less extension, especially in college.

Having said that, you'd like your Right Tackle to be just as good, of course, but life isn't that way. So you take your second best "feet", "extension", and "punch" guy and install him there. On our team, Hiestand looks to have fallen into good fortune with ZMart, but not any number two. Lombard is OK. NMart seems like his brother, but probably less "feet". There then sit Stanley, Elmer, and ultimately McGlinchey. McGlinchey seems the quintessential "extender". Stanley seems the best "feet". Elmer seems the best brute. You're Hiestand: who do you pick?

Well, the best combinations for the tasks of course, and we don't know who that's going to be. Almost everyone sees McGlinchey as a redshirt, but what about 2014? Everybody sees Stanley as a real jock, but with ZMart in place, is he a better RT combination athlete than Lombard? Would you rather train him there, or train him to replace ZMart? Elmer is Mr. Potential, immediately. All the camps said this guy is an a$$kicker. That to me means "power", "extension", AND "feet". Good enough for LT? Who knows? Good enough for RT this year? I wouldn't doubt him.

 

[irishroo]

Herm Edwards [along with many other commentators] has said that, all other things being equal and you have a right-handed QB, that you'd prefer greater "extension" [arm levers] for your left tackle "so he can keep the pass-rusher from getting into him", where all manner of "moves" would then be avoided.

Although ZMart isn't ideal on extension, when you watch his play you see his rapid staccato feet pumping and adjusting as he blasts the rusher off him with his two-hand "punch". A powerful punch and tremendous feet can make up for less extension, especially in college.

Having said that, you'd like your Right Tackle to be just as good, of course, but life isn't that way. So you take your second best "feet", "extension", and "punch" guy and install him there. On our team, Hiestand looks to have fallen into good fortune with ZMart, but not any number two. Lombard is OK. NMart seems like his brother, but probably less "feet". There then sit Stanley, Elmer, and ultimately McGlinchey. McGlinchey seems the quintessential "extender". Stanley seems the best "feet". Elmer seems the best brute. You're Hiestand: who do you pick?

Well, the best combinations for the tasks of course, and we don't know who that's going to be. Almost everyone sees McGlinchey as a redshirt, but what about 2014? Everybody sees Stanley as a real jock, but with ZMart in place, is he a better RT combination athlete than Lombard? Would you rather train him there, or train him to replace ZMart? Elmer is Mr. Potential, immediately. All the camps said this guy is an a$$kicker. That to me means "power", "extension", AND "feet". Good enough for LT? Who knows? Good enough for RT this year? I wouldn't doubt him.

That's the important part. It's not necessarily that the LT is more athletic in the sense that he has a faster 40 time and a bigger vertical, but rather probably has a better 3 cone and has longer arms (although often 40 time, vertical, and 3 cone often go hand in hand). RT is usually going to be asked to get downfield and run-block more often that LT, so his 10 yard split is probably the most important combine style athletic measurement. LTs tend to focus more on pass protection, meaning their run blocking abilities relative to RTs suffer. This is also one reason your LG is generally your best run blocker - pair strengths with weaknesses on the same side of the line.

 

[clashmore_mike]

Seeing nice gains in weight room per TV, repping 545 on squat.

 

[koonja]

Seeing nice gains in weight room per TV, repping 545 on squat.

Clashmore, thanks for all of these updates!

 

[clashmore_mike]

No problem, pretty solid Tunnel Vision today, as usual.

 

[yankeeND]

Seeing nice gains in weight room per TV, repping 545 on squat.

His attitude and work ethic show everyday how much of a steal this kid was out of Michigan. Big time get with a very bright future!

 

[Bogtrotter07]

A few thoughts. I didn't see everything.

Left tackle is left tackle unless you have a left handed quarterback, then it is right tackle. So the guy you are setting up for beyond 2014 at right tackle is probably going to be Malik Zaire's "left" tackle.

Harrell and Hanratty are both ready along with Nick Martin to start. I don't know about Heggie, but I bet that he is ready to play meaningful minutes.

Some of the freshmen will not be able to redshirt. Elmer is the first candidate to play. I believe Biven will be the second, and I really hope this is immaterial.

I think the lineup that has the best long term viability, from a strategic standpoint is left to right: ZMartin, Watt, Heagarty, Lombard, Stanley, with Hanratty alternating at center, and Elmer alternating at tackle. NMartin can alternate at either guard or tackle. I (and we) may be really wrong and one guy that I don't have listed may come out of nowhere to play well. Last year was the exception, unless you count Mike Golic who outplayed everybody's original expectations.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I think the lineup that has the best long term viability, from a strategic standpoint is left to right: ZMartin, Watt, Heagarty, Lombard, Stanley, with Hanratty alternating at center, and Elmer alternating at tackle. NMartin can alternate at either guard or tackle. I (and we) may be really wrong and one guy that I don't have listed may come out of nowhere to play well. Last year was the exception, unless you count Mike Golic who outplayed everybody's original expectations.

That's the obvious ideal lineup for athleticism and size, but that would require Stanley to have surpassed N. Martin. Based on what we've heard thus far about those two players, I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[clashmore_mike]

That's the obvious ideal lineup for athleticism and size, but that would require Stanley to have surpassed N. Martin. Based on what we've heard thus far about those two players, I wouldn't bet on it.

I thought Martin was more of an inside guy that could play tackle if needed, where Stanley is a better tackle. Have you seen something different?

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I thought Martin was more of an inside guy that could play tackle if needed, where Stanley is a better tackle. Have you seen something different?

No. I think the most likely lineup is Z. Martin - Watt - Hegarty - N. Martin - Lombard. Moving Lombard to ROG and slotting in Stanley at ROT is a definite upgrade in size and athleticism, but I doubt Stanley will surpass N. Martin (as an overall OL, not at the same position) to make that happen.

 

[clashmore_mike]

No. I think the most likely lineup is Z. Martin - Watt - Hegarty - N. Martin - Lombard. Moving Lombard to ROG and slotting in Stanley at ROT is a definite upgrade in size and athleticism, but I doubt Stanley will surpass N. Martin (as an overall OL, not at the same position) to make that happen.

Oh got ya and I agree.