David Dawson on Rivals Recruiting Front Page
http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1368088
In this article you can read about his 5 star challenge, and you can see him throwing around those less fortunate than him. Enjoy.
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Thank you
I'm getting that same error, but if you go to the Rivals home page, you can click on the link, and it goes to the exact same URL, and it works just fine. Strange.
EDIT: Clicking the link in the OP is suddenly working for me. Don't know what happened there.
I fixed it!
Not working for me.
EDIT: working.
We should probably hold out and see if some more higher profile guys are interested before offering this guy. /magnus
...worked for me.
I like this passage a ton:
Dawson, who played last season at Houston (Texas) Cy-Ridge after spending his freshman and sophomore years at Cass Tech, said that his year in Texas paid dividends but also opened his mind to football across the country.
"It was hotter," he said. "That is about it. We have five-stars and they have five-stars. We have four-stars and they have four-stars. It's football."
Such will be his approach entering the invitation-only Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge that all the players are on equal footing no matter where they are from.
"We are all good players or we wouldn't be there," he said. "You aren't better just because you are from Texas and I am from Michigan."
I like his attitude. Quiet confidence. Spirited and nasty without going over the line. Ideal for Hoke and Crew.
I've been thinking about Dawson's comments, which he concludes with "It's football."
There's a fair depth of wisdom in that.
I've been reading a lot of Chris Brown's "Smart Football" material and listening to his podcasts. He seems to make the point over and over that football is, ultimately, a game best won by executing a handful of things very well. There's nothing magical about it. It's not necessarily scheme or where it's played.
Talent matters, however. And further, talent that executes properly wins football games.
In short -- understand the game and execute. For players, understanding the game means taking coaching and going out and working hard to perfect the execution. And that's exactly the message we hear again and again and again from Hoke, Borges and Mattison.
So Dawson's comment implying there's nothing particularly special about Texas football is really spot on. It's football. His recognition of this speaks well of him as a player and as a young man.
NIce to see MIchigan recruits getting notice
Dawson may end up being the best of the linemen in this 2013 class for Michigan. He seems to have all the attributes of being a dominant college OL - not the least of which is his confident, aggressive attitude.
He has exceptional footwork, but I am really concerned about his arm length.
/s
#stretcharmstrong
arm length is overated.
Reminds me of those Burger King commercials.
I think it was five or six years ago. An offensive lineman for the Jets I believe.
Edit: Found a page with pics: http://i.imgur.com/TxIWk.jpg
I realize you were just joking in your post. But I'm going to follow-up with some questions, and my questions are sincerely offered. I'm seeking some knowledge here.
I can see how longer arms would be a plus for defensive players, particularly linemen seeking leverage and long arms to knock down passes.
But for offensive linemen ... isn't the general rule that to avoid getting called for holding it's best to keep the arms inside the shoulders? Would longer arms be a plus or a negative there?
Also, can it be said that there's any strength advantage / disadvantage to longer arms? I would think shorter arms would provide more strength in close-quarters ... I would imagine (but I don't know) that guys with really long arms have more trouble bench pressing when the weight is down near the chest.
Having long arms is much more important for tackles because it's necessary for pass protection. It's less important for run blocking, for some of the reasons you mentioned, and therefore less important for guards. This is a big reason people think Kalis is a better guard prospect than tackle, because he has shorter arms.
As far as getting called for holding, it's neither a plus nor a minus. If an OL keeps his hands inside, he's probably not going to get called for holding, period. Whether he's holding a guy at 6" or 12", the rule or interpretation of the rule doesn't change.
The point of wanting longer arms for an OT is that he will be able to strike a defensive end or linebacker (therefore controlling him) before the DE/LB has a chance to strike him. It's just like a reach advantage for an MMA fighter. Yeah, you might have to grapple with him once in a while, but if you can keep him at bay with your reach, then why wouldn't you?
The point of wanting longer arms for an OT is that he will be able to strike a defensive end or linebacker (therefore controlling him) before the DE/LB has a chance to strike him.
<insert lightbulb image here>
Ah! And since contemporary DEs tend to be taller, longer-armed and freakishly fast, a shorter-armed OT is at a distinct disadvantage.
Thanks!
How can you have a favorite? They are all my favorite...if that's even possible.
(Eh, it is possible.)
"We have five-stars and they have five-stars. We have four-stars and they have four-stars. It's football."
Love this kid.
David Dawson reminds me of Mr. T.
Yeah, Dawson looks like a beast.
You know who hasn't gotten nearly enough praise around here? Chris Fox. He is as highly or higher rated than any of our other OL commits, he just hasn't hit up the camp scene as much. But that guy is a total monster and I'm as excited about him as anyone.
Dawson shows in these camps that he has a nasty streak. He plays to and a bit past the whistle. If you watch the highlight tape on Fox and Boesch you will see a nasty side to them to. They are pounding one guy and then looking to get someone on the next level. These 3 on the same line will we so awesome.
We are going to have a mean friggin o-line.
Dawson at LG, Kalis at LT (assuming Shane is playing)....one mean, nasty SOB line.
LOVE IT.
MOAR ANGRY ROADGRADERS, please!
Therefore you then want your best OT to play the right side, aka Blind Side. So I'm assuming you're mentioning those 2 as if they will be the best OG/OT combo to protect Shane.
No, I'm saying they would be the classic RT/OG (road graders), but since Shane is a lefty, they would be on the right.
Supposedly, Magnusson was the potential LT (for shane, RT I guess) from the 2012 class...
Dawson is a hell of a prospect. Great technician with excellent balance in that video.
I also love his 'just taking care of bizness" attitude too.
Think everyone is forgetting Kugler.
Dude might be the next Molk.. but more technical.
Having your father being the Steelers line coach, Kugler BETTER be technically sound!
If Dawson plays the circuit like this... he is going to get attention - more than the considerable attention he has already garnered. It may be an honor but I'm not sure it's really going to do as much for him as hitting the gym or the books might in the long run.
Both he and Shane are driven by the recruiting scene. It shows commitment to excellence and a desire to be the best but these recruitniks aren't trying to coach them up so much as make money. Dawson has nothing to prove to Michigan coaches at these events.
I admit I love it regardless. I especially love his dig on regional favoritism in the recruiting world. He's going to right that ship if past camps are any indication.