If You Could Add One Rodriguez/Hoke Player to This Team

Submitted by SF Wolverine on

Who would it be?  Who would most improve this team?  Brandon Graham was great, but we are loaded at that position.  I don't think Denard, b/c not clear how he fits.  I'd go for either Jake Ryan (big upgrade over big question marks) or Taylor Lewan, who is perhaps not as big an upgrade over who will play there, but certainly better and gives O-line better depth.  

Discuss.

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LSAClassOf2000

August 23rd, 2016 at 6:17 PM ^

Yeah, I'll agree with some of the other answers here - a Harbaugh-coached Gardner that never had to deal with the 2013 offensive line would have been a very interesting player indeed, or rather, even more fun perhaps. Same thing goes for Jake Ryan - if he were around for this particular set of players and this staff, we might have entire threads with just JMFR moments....from one game perhaps. 

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Padog

August 23rd, 2016 at 6:19 PM ^

Taylor Lewan.
This team with a road grating line would be DOMINANT.
Lewan-Braden-Cole-Magnuson-Newsome or Kalis would be a huge O line with good protection.

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bluesalt

August 23rd, 2016 at 6:21 PM ^

I can't think of anyone who was more of a joy to watch play, and sports are supposed to bring joy, amongst other things. So Denard, first, last, and always.

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laus102

August 23rd, 2016 at 6:23 PM ^

denard. I know there are some questions in regards to his fit as a mobile quarterback in harbaugh's system, but: 1) He had flashes of great passing, and I have complete faith in Harbaugh that I think he could have made him into probably the best dual threat QB of all time. 2) Denard.

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Reader71

August 23rd, 2016 at 6:27 PM ^

It's either Lewan or Molk, and it's not close. Purely football wise, Lewan is the choice. But Molk's personality and leadership might give him an edge. I think our OL will be pretty good, and they all seem like nice kids. But we've been missing a mean motherfucker on the OL for a while, and it's hurt us. The line needs its Everett, Hutchinson, Payne.

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ThatFatMan42

August 23rd, 2016 at 9:14 PM ^

Luck wasn't a RR/Hoke player, he played for Harbaugh at Stanford.  

 

Schmitt on the other hand played for RR at WVU.  He played a couple positions, inlcuding fullback and was known for breaking a number of facemasks on his helmets.  Seemed like the right kind of hard-hitting nastiness we want if you ask me, and I'm not too concerned about the QB spot anyway with Harbaugh.

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Roland Deschain

August 23rd, 2016 at 6:50 PM ^

Just one is hard because I can see several that would not only benefit from Harbaugh's coaching but would also have a role to play on this team: Lewan, Funchess, Gardner, Denard, Martin, Graham, Demens, and Trent. At the end of the day, though, I feel like DG was probably the most wasted athlete ever to wear maize and blue. If he had been given any proper coaching (and some semblance of an O-Line), he'd be in the NFL making a lot of money.



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Roland Deschain

August 23rd, 2016 at 8:05 PM ^

Agreed. I mean, it's one thing to simply be poorly used. However, in DG's case, he was poorly used, publicly humiliated, and physically / mentally pounded to a pulp. His performance against OSU was probably the most Harmon-like game I've ever seen.



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Danwillhor

August 23rd, 2016 at 10:22 PM ^

I felt worse for him than I did myself or the team or anything after that game. I felt like a player had been let down for the first time in my life as he kept coming hit after hit after hit, to the point of hobbling on a broken foot. I felt a totally different feeling after that game than any game I've ever seen.

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