'15 OH DT Elijah Taylor (Notre Dame Signed NLI)

[NDdomer2]

So someone help me get this straight. This kid is about to commit to ND. We plan taking him and Taissum and be done with interior DL?

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

So someone help me get this straight. This kid is about to commit to ND. We plan taking him and Taissum and be done with interior DL?

I suspect this will prevent Tiassum from being able to commit.

My thought is that Tiassum was planning to commit and the staff used that to put heat on Taylor.

 

[Big23Head]

Fwiw Anna reported OSU coaches believe they are out of it for Taylor.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Fwiw Anna reported OSU coaches believe they are out of it for Taylor.

Another head-to-head win for Kelly?

 

[GBdomer]

Another head-to-head win for Kelly?

per the usual

 

[connor_in]

Rough timing for this but this is the first I've seen of his film (first page's link is broken).

It's good to hear he has serious strength, but I was excited for the news until I saw this film.

IMO he has a pretty slow first step and isn't dominant. I won't say anything else on it but that was my take.

Elijah Taylor's Highlights - Elijah Taylor highlights

(Kuehna's not feeling this guy's physique)

 

[Goldedommer44]

Wow if this is our only DT option we are in trouble!!! He has a TERRIBLE first step and his hands are even worse. This kid needs years to develop . I hope Tiassum commits before Taylor, but I don't see that happening right now

 

[koonja]

Another head-to-head win for Kelly?

per the usual

I know he had an offer, but do you really think Meyer cared about this one? He has much bigger fish to fry I'm guessing.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Wow if this is our only DT option we are in trouble!!! He has a TERRIBLE first step and his hands are even worse. This kid needs years to develop . I hope Tiassum commits before Taylor, but I don't see that happening right now

ouch

 

[STLDomer]

I know he had an offer, but do you really think Meyer cared about this one? He has much bigger fish to fry I'm guessing.

OSU definitely wants/wanted Taylor. Why would OSU have any bigger fish to fry then Notre Dame?

 

[Irish8248]

There is definitely nothing in that video that suggests he has a terrible or great first step

The only flaws I saw were he looked to be lined up further off the line than what we normally see for DL abs his tape was good, not great, not bad, good.

He looks like he can clog the middle though and I'm willing to bet his primary responsibly was to hold the line despite playing a 4-3

 

[Rack Em]

OSU definitely wants/wanted Taylor. Why would OSU have any bigger fish to fry then Notre Dame?

Plus Urbie knows that there's lots of talent coming out of Cincinnati. Even he wasn't enamored with Taylor, you take him so you build a good rapport with the Moeller staff. You don't shit where you eat.

 

[koonja]

OSU definitely wants/wanted Taylor. Why would OSU have any bigger fish to fry then Notre Dame?

I assume they have a better chance of landing some elite DL than we do? Maybe not. I doubt Taylor was near the top of his board is all I'm saying.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

I assume they have a better chance of landing some elite DL than we do? Maybe not. I doubt Taylor was near the top of his board is all I'm saying.

Make what you will with this info but per 247 he is a top target for OSU.

Ohio State 2015 Football Targets

 

[STLDomer]

I assume they have a better chance of landing some elite DL than we do? Maybe not. I doubt Taylor was near the top of his board is all I'm saying.

I disagree. OSU and ND recruit against each other for so many recruits, we are at the same level though it appears u think OSU is a tier above ND. Sure OSU would rather have someone like Tim Settle but ND also would rather have a guy like Rasheem Green.

 

[Goldedommer44]

There is definitely nothing in that video that suggests he has a terrible or great first step

The only flaws I saw were he looked to be lined up further off the line than what we normally see for DL abs his tape was good, not great, not bad, good.

He looks like he can clog the middle though and I'm willing to bet his primary responsibly was to hold the line despite playing a 4-3

Him lining up a yard off the ball is just another sign he in not quite their yet in he knowledge of the game. Typically players who line up that far off have trouble reading the blocking scheme and get trapped easy so they line up a yard off to give them more time to read the scheme. I guess "terrible" was a little harsh. He can differently play the game, but he is not as violate and as dominate as I would like a D1 DT to be.

 

[koonja]

I disagree. OSU and ND recruit against each other for so many recruits, we are at the same level though it appears u think OSU is a tier above ND. Sure OSU would rather have someone like Tim Settle but ND also would rather have a guy like Rasheem Green.

I don't know what this is supposed to mean.

I'm simply saying how much does OSU care about Taylor, as they're getting a lot of attention from big time recruits.

But it appears he's at the top of their board, so I stand corrected.

 

[STLDomer]

I don't know what this is supposed to mean.

I'm simply saying how much does OSU care about Taylor, as they're getting a lot of attention from big time recruits.

But it appears he's at the top of their board, so I stand corrected.

I'm just confused why u think OSU is in on more elite recruits than ND and would care less about Taylor than ND. That's all I'm saying.

 

[IrishLax]

Him lining up a yard off the ball is just another sign he in not quite their yet in he knowledge of the game. Typically players who line up that far off have trouble reading the blocking scheme and get trapped easy so they line up a yard off to give them more time to read the scheme. I guess "terrible" was a little harsh. He can differently play the game, but he is not as violate and as dominate as I would like a D1 DT to be.

This is the only thing I disagree with that you've said. I thought the same thing and then I looked at the other linemen doing the same thing. They were clearly instructed to do this... why, I have no idea. You'd have to ask the coach. I'm guessing something about cut blocking... but yeah, it's dumb. Makes it really hard to judge a lot of different parts of his game because he was always so far back off the ball.

 

[koonja]

I'm just confused why u think OSU is in on more elite recruits than ND and would care less about Taylor than ND. That's all I'm saying.

I guess I'm going by the fact that OSU's last two classes were ranked 2nd and 3rd, so Urban comes pretty close to getting who he wants.

I don't know recruiting as well as you so I won't argue, but I was using the generalization above.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

Him lining up a yard off the ball is just another sign he in not quite their yet in he knowledge of the game. Typically players who line up that far off have trouble reading the blocking scheme and get trapped easy so they line up a yard off to give them more time to read the scheme. I guess "terrible" was a little harsh. He can differently play the game, but he is not as violate and as dominate as I would like a D1 DT to be.

Step off the ledge.

The reason he plays off the line is scheme of the defense. ND played off the line multiple games in the Diaco area. Its a read and react defense. It gives the dline a little longer to diagnose the play. Its not really an attacking defense. But it looks like Moeller runs something similar to the Packers, where they have 2 big DTs, then essentially 5 LBs that make up the front 7. Its just maximizes getting more athletes on the field, being quicker to the edge, and the 2DTs are counted on just blowing the middle of the Oline to hell.

Taylor was very high on ND's board. He would be a huge pickup for a defense that needs to get athletic at the DT position.

 

[Goldedommer44]

No ledge to worry about. I just think their has to be better prospects out there.

 

[NDinL.A.]

I assume they have a better chance of landing some elite DL than we do? Maybe not. I doubt Taylor was near the top of his board is all I'm saying.

STL is completely right. No idea why you felt to argue with STL when you admit that later that you were just guessing, but whatever.

OSU, per just about everybody, wanted Taylor and they were recruiting him hard. Hard enough to force him to take a big step back and rethink his recruitment. It looks like they are going to lose this battle. Believe it or not, Urban loses recruits...quite a few to BK in fact.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

Hahahaha....always with the name-calling first, but you always deny it. Wooly nailed you to a T. And dude, you post 50 times a day you loser. I'd have to quit my job and leave my family to follow you around on this site and jump on all the times you stick your foot in your mouth. I read posts and comment on them...you just happen to say the most stupid things. That's a you problem.

And btw, this is what you wrote, and it's not a 'question':



Try NOT posting on every thread that comes up, and you might not fuck up all the damn time lol. Now lets get this back to Taylor and not me and you.

So what youre saying is that you arent letting the koon crash in your basement for the Michigan game?

 

[greyhammer90]

So what youre saying is that you arent letting the koon crash in your basement for the Michigan game?

I can see it now:

Scene: 3:30 AM, LA's house. Koon pulls himself out of a taxi, he looks disheveled and sweaty, smelling like beer and smoke. He stumbles clumsily up sidewalk and onto the porch. He pulls out a shaky finger and presses the doorbell.

DOOR OPENS*

LA: Who's there?

Koon: It's me, Koon. Don't you remember me from the IE tailgate earlier?

LA: (Looking visibly angry) What the hell are you doing here? It's three-fucking-thirty! I've got two kids asle--

Koon: (interupting) Look I'm sorry, but I've got nowhere else to go! I got locked out of the house IE rented! They asked me to go out and get more beer around the same time I started breaking down film and when I came back the house was locked up and I can't seem to get anyone to come to the door. I don't think they're ignoring me, I think they're just excited that we beat Michigan by 156 points and Desmond Howard got fired from College Gameday for being a whiny bitch.

LA: (Anger has turned to humor, and LA is clearly enjoying Koons troubles) You got locked out? (Laughs)

Koon: Look, I know we argue a lot. But we're both ND fans at heart. Do you think I could crash on that basement couch?

LA: I don't know man...

Koon: I'll look at facebook pictures of your wife and tell you how hot she is?

LA: ... Ok, I guess you can crash for the night. I'll go get my computer.

Koon: (Looking visibly relieved, begins to walk in but is stopped by LA's hand on his shoulder.)

LA: (LA looks intense now, but is obviously visibily excited. His eyes gleam in the moonlight, and he appears to be trying to keep a smile off his face.) But if your going to stay here... you have to do one thing for me first.

Koon: (Visibly nervous) w-what do you want me to do?

LA: (Hugs Koon like a brother, gently brings his mouth next to his ear, and whispers)


Take a lap.

 

[mkg77]

Step off the ledge.

The reason he plays off the line is scheme of the defense. ND played off the line multiple games in the Diaco area. Its a read and react defense. It gives the dline a little longer to diagnose the play. Its not really an attacking defense. But it looks like Moeller runs something similar to the Packers, where they have 2 big DTs, then essentially 5 LBs that make up the front 7. Its just maximizes getting more athletes on the field, being quicker to the edge, and the 2DTs are counted on just blowing the middle of the Oline to hell.

Taylor was very high on ND's board. He would be a huge pickup for a defense that needs to get athletic at the DT position.

This. I believe Mele on ISD explained this as well months ago in a review of Taylor. Makes him tougher to evaluate, but not his fault that he doesn't attack the line at the snap.

 

[rtrn2glory]

to those criticizing the defensive scheme and where the players line up, keep in mind that he and his high school just won their 2nd consecutive state title in Ohio's largest division.

i'm willing to bet that they've got a pretty good understanding of what they're doing down there.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

This. I believe Mele on ISD explained this as well months ago in a review of Taylor. Makes him tougher to evaluate, but not his fault that he doesn't attack the line at the snap.

Bingo.

In that scheme to be successful, Taylor has to use his hands well. That just so happens to be one of the strongest parts of his game, he engages, directs, and gets off his blocker consistently. He plays with a high motor and works sideline to sideline.

Based off just his highlights/video from their playoff run, he reminds more of Ian Williams. He is a little more athletic, a little stronger, and has a smaller build than Ian when he came as a freshman. I dont know what Ian numbers/etc were when he was going into his Senior year, but Taylor has a realistic shot of being 290lbs coming into ND next June. I mean how many times did Ian hustle his ass off down the line (horizontally) or make a tackle 10 yards down the field? It was more than a DT should. I see a lot of the same hustle and effort there. Once Taylor fills out, he will compliment Mokwuah and Cage really well.

 

[Luckylucci]

Interesting post from TJ.

They really like Taylor, Tiassum and Dew-Treadway a lot. All three are big-bodied Interior DL with talent, upside potential, athleticism and a mix of skill sets to play either the 1- or 3-techniques depending on front and scheme. Good versatility across this group and each is a fit.

They'd probably love to land two of them to meet target needs for DT/NT, but would continue recruiting the position (DT) through NSD in the event a third top guy (assuming we've landed two already) wants to come. There's some flexibility in their plan accordingly, and BVG knows what he wants. He likes all three guys, plus others obviously.

 

[BeauBenken]

Watched his most recent highlights, really like what I saw. I just think that DT is a position that recruiting services pay little attention to outside of the top 10 guys.