Pressconferencin': Toledo Week
Herein, the things that have been related by Rodriguez in easily digestible form.
Injuries
- Perry Dorrestein got hit in the head or something but "should be fine" to play.
- Austin Panter is out with a shoulder issue.
- Brandon Graham has a leg infection; he played on it last week but might sit this weekend as a precautionary measure.
- Martavious Odoms also has a shoulder issue. He's in a green jersey and practicing lightly; Rodriguez termed him "questionable" Wednesday.
- Martin "didn't do much" in the first couple practices of the week but "should be fine."
- Warren is "banged up," having previously had an ankle injury and now a thigh bruise.
- This isn't an injury, but Stonum's status is "undecided." Given previous punishments for a similar level of offense, I believe he'll be back.
- Hemingway and Brown are still out.
Shuffleboarding
The Mark Ortmann at guard experiment didn't go so well, and Rodriguez proposed more shuffling on the offensive line. Sounds like Ortmann will return to LT, Dorrestein will return to RT, and Steve Schilling will end up at guard.
Sex Panther Robinson
…is, of course, still fighting the effects of his ankle issue. If we don't see him Saturday he'll be on the shelf until 2009:
This is the last game, if we're going to be able to medical redshirt him. I don't know if he'll be able to go this week or not. He moved a little bit better yesterday, but this week will be the determination of whether we can get him ready to play.
On Wednesday Rodriguez say he didn't think Robinson would be able to go; looks like a redshirt.
"Soft"
You have, of course, heard this accusation Rodriguez leveled at his team. I thought this was a pithy exposition of the above:
At the inevitable point of contact, or collision you're either the hammer or the nail. I'd rather be the hammer. We weren't the hammer.
There was also this apropos of nothing except a "how did Odoms do on KR?"
we didn't do a good job blocking in our kickoff return. We were soft. Our wedge blocking was embarrassing.
More Odoms
This extended into a conversation about Martavious that was enlightening in re: Rodriguez's recruiting philosophy:
He's a very competitive guy. He's a quick learner. He's not fazed. He's a true freshman; a year ago this time he was playing down in the muck. [note: nickname for the area Odoms is from –ed]
He loves to compete. He's a tough little guy, not much taller than this podium, 165 pounds, and he's blocking 220-pound linebackers. He's one of those guys that is tough. …
A lot of those guys from that area have that mentality. I've had a few in the past, and they just love playing football. They have a passion for it. I want 125 guys like that that have that passion and desire to play, and we've got a lot of them. But I want them all to have it … I don't want to have 119 that do and 10 that don't.
Less Odoms
If Odoms plays it will probably be sparingly; Rodriguez named Avery Horn and James Rogers as the kick returners in his absence.
On, say, 77-yard touchdowns on third and ten to a tight end
They executed it well, but he could have underthrown it or overthrown it and still completed it, because they were so wide open. Just total blown assignments. That's out of veteran guys, and those are things that can't happen if you want to win.
Speaking of, say, a 77-yard touchdown on third and ten to a tight end
It was a misjudgment in coverage by a safety. It was third down and long, shouldn't happen. But it did.
October 9th, 2008 at 12:10 PM ^
I seem to recall him getting a chance to start against Vandy in 2006. He was horrendous, blowing his coverage assignments left and right. He was benched.
I held out hope that he had improved his Football IQ since then. Eh, not so much.
October 9th, 2008 at 12:16 PM ^
I think that Stevie put on Stewart's jersey last week to see if it was just our perception that he lacked the ability to play safety or if he really was that bad.
Survey says?..... Just that bad.
October 9th, 2008 at 12:17 PM ^
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October 9th, 2008 at 1:53 PM ^
I thought it was easier to evaluate o-linemen.
October 9th, 2008 at 2:17 PM ^
Steve Schilling is a redshirt Sophomore that had mono his freshman year. Last year he spent the season trying to single block J. Lehman and Gholston. This is after he lost lots of weight from mono and had Gittleson trying to get him back up to strength.
Also, Schilling played guard in highschool. He has guard measureables. The reason he is at tackle is because other players failed miserably at it (Mitchell, Ciulia) or dropped out of the program (Gallimore, Schiafano, someone else I'm missing). In super awesome parallel world where Moeller is never the oline coach and Boren isn't a pussy, we have Zirbel (6'7") at left tackle and Boren (6'3") and Schilling (6'5") as dominant guards. Some combination of RS Junior Schiafano (4*), RS Seniors Mitchell (4*) and Gallimore (4*) at C and RT. But we didn't get that, we got Moeller and Gittleson failure.
TL;DR - Schilling will be fantastic at guard, by next year at the latest. Mark it down.
October 9th, 2008 at 2:56 PM ^
October 9th, 2008 at 12:53 PM ^
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October 9th, 2008 at 1:13 PM ^
So much for the hope that eeeeeBarwis was going to result in fewer dings.
We're almost as bad this year as ND was last year, albeit for different reasons. I can't see us going any better than 5-7...wouldn't surprise me a bit if PSU hangs 60 on us.
October 9th, 2008 at 1:19 PM ^
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October 9th, 2008 at 1:36 PM ^
anyone that didnt know that was cover 2 is an idiot. and pretty sure, like i said, a healthy warren would have helped a little more, but the play still would have happend...
October 9th, 2008 at 1:36 PM ^
anyone that didnt know that was cover 2 is an idiot. and pretty sure, like i said, a healthy warren would have helped a little more, but the play still would have happend...
October 9th, 2008 at 1:41 PM ^
that Stewart has deep responsibility and should definetely break this up no matter what? I agree with you he should have made the play. I have never played football and sadly, I don't really know what cover 2 means. Are you saying that Hanlon is wrong that Warren shouldn't have turned his man inside? I am not doubting that you are correct, just want to know what you think.
October 9th, 2008 at 2:54 PM ^
October 9th, 2008 at 4:38 PM ^
I think anything underneath was covered by other guys
October 9th, 2008 at 2:18 PM ^
.....i really really hope you guys win your game this week.
I am afraid of Homecoming Week GSimms......lol.
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