U-19 World Championship - USA vs. American Samoa 9:30pm - Open Thread

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June 30th, 2012 at 7:15 PM
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Leaders And Best
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U-19 World Championship - USA vs. American Samoa 9:30pm - Open Thread

The 2012 IFAF U-19 World Championship begins today with Team USA taking on the #8 seed American Samoa at 9:30pm in their opener.  Of interest to Michigan, Logan Tuley-Tillman (#72) is playing on the team.

The game is being broadcast live on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/usafootballeducation

Players of note:

 2 Jesus Wilson 5-10 170 WR Florida State-*
 3 Cameron Walker 5-10 180 DB Undecided
 5 Rashad Kinlaw 6-2 180 WR-QB Notre Dame-*
 6 Dajuan Drennon 6-3 230 DE Undecided
 7 Rodney Adams 6-1 170 WR Florida-*
 9 Dashon Hunt 5-10 175 DB Undecided
10 Tarean Folston 5-9 185 RB-WR Undecided
12 Tavares Garner 5-11 165 DB Texas A&M-*
13 Reggie Chevis 6-2 238 LB Texas A&M-*
21 Kight Dallas 6-2 220 DE-LB South Carolina-*
22 Chase Abbington 6-4 210 LB Missouri-*
23 Darius Mosley 5-11 175 DB Illinois-*
26 Malik Rucker 6-0 175 DB Iowa-*
32 Reggie Spearman 6-2 210 LB Undecided
63 Alec Abeln 6-4 275 OL Missouri-*
70 Hunter Bivin 6-7 288 OL Notre Dame-*
72 Logan Tuley-Tillman 6-7 321 OL Michigan-*
77 Ethan Pocic 6-7 285 OL LSU-*
88 Durham Smythe 6-6 230 TE Texas-*

Full roster:

http://u19championship.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/2012-U.S.-Under-19-National-Team-roster12.pdf

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June 30th, 2012 at 10:47 PM | How do these other nations (Score:1)
ThadMattasagoblin
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Joined: 08/24/2011
MGoPoints: 2678

How do these other nations keep it competitive?

903 wins most in college football

July 1st, 2012 at 11:24 AM | It wasn't competitive in 2009 (Score:2)
Leaders And Best
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Joined: 09/09/2009
MGoPoints: 1549

In 2009, they held this event for the first time, and USA was never scored on. But I think a couple factors will make this tournament more competitive.

1. I think more nations are playing American football at a higher rate (Canada, American Samoa especially) now. Better players are being developed worldwide and this played out earlier this year when a team of U19 World all-stars beat Team USA in the International Bowl.

2. In 2009, U19 Team USA used incoming college freshmen for the team. This year's US team is comprised almost entirely of rising high school seniors because many universities want their freshmen enrolling earlier in the summer now. So the US team is probably on average 1-2 years younger than the other teams. Also 10 states do not allow their high school athletes to partciipate (Ohio & Michigan are in this group) which narrows the group you can select from. This article gives a pretty good breakdown:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/football/story/2012-06-18/Team-USA-tries-young-roster-for-U19-World-Championship/55673936/1

3. Team USA's starting QB left the team for family reasons a couple days before the first game and the emergency 3rd string QB (a WR) got injured in the game yesterday. From a recap of yesterday's game:

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football-recruiting/2012/7/1/3129433/team-usa-survives-strong-challenge-from-american-samoa-wins-27-6

USA will still probably roll through the tournament, but a final against #2 Canada could be an interesting game.

 

June 30th, 2012 at 11:09 PM | Playin Hard (Score:1)
GTWolverine
Joined: 11/03/2011
MGoPoints: 34

So far the American Samoa team has been playing very hard and fast and has kept it as competitive as possible.  20-6 at the half.  They're fearless against the US.  It's moreso technique where they're getting beat.  They are smaller and are less athletically inclined but they're truly not playing like it.  The U.S. took the first kick back for a TD, and it wasn't because they were outdone.  It was blown assignments and a gaping hole in the middle.  Penalties is another reason why theyre behind.  Otherwise they've been playing just as hard and they pursue on defense.  Their RB is a tough north-south runner thats putting the US defense on their butts every now and again.

 

Having said that.  LTT is playing very, very well.  He's already had a few pancakes and is doing phenomenal on pass pro.  I'd say he's been doing better than Pocic and Biven.    He's consistently sealing off and the RB has got major yards behind him.  I can see why he struggled in camp, he's purely a pads player.  He doesn't use his hands as much as he uses his athleticism to get in to place and then just lays his entire frame on you until you cant move around him.  He'll have to use his hands more on the next level, but he'll be ok with that.  His potential is on full display here.

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