SJ Alofaituli- season stats, other interesting stats. Mensah is saving the line

[EudocimusAlbus]

The thought process of "We have a lot of season left for the line to get better" doesn't work if this line gets Mensah hurt.

If he's out, we're done.

Yea this is my shock to all those mentioning they need more time. He got lit a few times already, we don't want this guy playing scared and/or getting hurt.

 

[Pearson704]

He's an inexperienced player with physical limitations at guard. I projected him to start based on info, but I view him as a center longterm. The surprise to me is that he's struggled with teams like Wake and Stanford. I thought he'd be adequate there until the playoff-caliber opponents.

One thing I'd say about both SJ and Buchanan- they are young players, too. I expect them both to improve.

But what did your eyes tell you?

I could see a 'bridge-to-youth' angle that provides low-stakes reps to develop more talented guys. I could also see SJ 'earning the opportunity to play' based on his commitment to the program and being coachable.

That said, he (individually & in combination) jeopardizes everything and simply can't be trusted at guard. If i'm the opposing team I'm mugging, blitzing and stunting on SJ all game long.

 

[SinisterCane]

When you got guys that aren’t physical specimens they better be well coached. Ryan plays to high and that kicks in his roller skates while SJ looks like he is playing the game on a slip and slide covered in oil and always puts himself in bad situations or he’s just missing his guy.

We got one trash game left before we kick into the meat of our schedule and I’m not seeing anything that says we are getting better each week in the interior.

We have no trash games left

 

[Pearson704]

If we move a tackle it’s likely McCoy to guard, and then Cantwell takes his lumps at RT. We’ve done similar things before: Frances in ‘23 and we threw Bell right into the fire when he really wasn’t “ready” and Rivers was already one of the best tackles in the ACC. I’d rather deal with edge pressure especially now that our TEs actually appear able to block, than have to worry about interior blow up destroying most of the plays they occur on.

Whether we’ll do that here remains to be seen. The staff may look at it through the prism that we have one of the best tackle situations in the country and they’d rather square peg/round hole their way at guard than “rock the boat” at tackle. No clue, we’ll see.

One thing I KNOW is that we’re stuck with Rodriguez at center. Personally I think the staff should have gone to the portal again there instead of letting themselves fall in love with him, but we’ve made our bed there and now we have to sleep in it. My real concern with RR is more in the run game, like against some team’s really good 1-tech or nose in the playoffs on a “4th and 1 and a half” type situation.

I THINK Buchanan is going to be ok even though he’s had some rough moments too. Needs to get stronger (but that’s a year over year thing though). I’m guessing he’s going to continue to get opportunities there.

So it’s probably going to come down to what they decide to do about LG. Going to be interesting to see the combos they use against CMU.

Goes without saying, but everything needs to be on the table.

For the record, I don't see SJ's issues being of a physical nature; the moment just looks too big for him right now.

It was FAMU, but Woodrow and Meriweather looked solid (shoulders over hips, knees bent, anchoring and engaging defenders).