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

NZ Cane said:
This is just a vibe I get, nothing really to back it up but....

Does anyone else get the impression Mensah does not enjoy the physical side of football?

Its unfair to question his toughness and I am not but he just dosn't strike me as a gritty/ tough type. Looked uncomfortable with whatever minor knock he had at the weekend and it severly impacted our/ his play.

We know hes not a runner, and this combination with our OL does concern me.
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I think he has some pretty big balls honestly.

If I can see Ryan “The Roller Boogie King” Rodriquez getting shoved into the next area code along with Seuseu "The Construction Cone“ Alofaituli just watching defenders detour around him. I’m pretty sure Mensah can also.

He sits there and puts the ball where it needs to be.
 
sfcane2 said:
I’m not an X’s and O’s guy at all and know next to nothing about line play. In fact I don’t even watch the line during a game. But SJ’s play was so glaring- the way he just whiffs on plays is something I don’t remember seeing in a football game. Plus he’s so small it really is somewhat comical watching him play. So I decided to look at his stats on PFF.

According to PFF, in the power 4, 307 players have played a snap at guard this season. That’s 67 teams so and this includes a host of substitutes who have played 1-2 snaps.

Of the 307 players, SJ ranks 278th.

When you factor in the players who actually play significant snaps he’s the 8th worst graded guard out of at least 134 players- 2 guards a team.

And that’s without playing anyone.

The only thing saving us is that Mensah ranks 2nd in time in the pocket- basically how fast you get it out. The crazy thing is it’s not dink and dunk either. He’s 10th in passing depth.


I know that PFF has its flaws- last year some of the guards seemed underrated in pass blocking meanwhile Beck had forever to throw but to be behind 124 power 4 guards is quite an accomplishment.
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I do not understand how SJ Starts after Stanford. You have guys & Body Types Like Wilkerson, Joel Irvin Ben Congdon
To choose to play a 6’1 290lb Guard.

I’m calling both Maribal & Mario for being Stubborn as a Mule.Only until thing get bat Crap bad is when they make changes.
 
Pearson704 said:
DMoney said:
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.
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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.
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I thought he’d be adequate against average ACC comp, and we’d need to get the bigger guys ready for the latter half of the schedule.

I did not expect this level of struggle with this kind of opponent.
 
Stingarov said:
Memnon said SJ isn't a P4 guard; I'd go further and say he isn't a G6 offensive lineman at this point and may never be if he doesn't learn how to snap.
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Even if he can snap, he’s limited physically and will have similar struggles at center. I’m sure he will improve but he def has a ceiling.
 
DMoney said:
I thought he’d be adequate against average ACC comp, and we’d need to get the bigger guys ready for the latter half of the schedule.

I did not expect this level of struggle with this kind of opponent.
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Good morning and I’m not trying to troll

With the level of defensive talent that SJ would have to go up against in practice, shouldn’t this have been exposed in practice rather then finding out in a game?
 
SinisterCane said:
Good morning and I’m not trying to troll

With the level of defensive talent that SJ would have to go up against in practice, shouldn’t this have been exposed in practice rather then finding out in a game?
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Great question and my guess is that he mostly went against the 2s during fall camp and did ok against Carter/davis, which confirms things a bit since those guys haven’t really done much so far.
 
DMoney said:
I thought he’d be adequate against average ACC comp, and we’d need to get the bigger guys ready for the latter half of the schedule.

I did not expect this level of struggle with this kind of opponent.
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Understood.

I think everyone's pressing concern is the current IOL truly representing the best we have to offer, vs supporting guys who paid dues and 'earned the opportunity to play'.

I think we all hope it's the latter, even recognizing we may have to move on from certain guys.
 
DMoney said:
I thought he’d be adequate against average ACC comp, and we’d need to get the bigger guys ready for the latter half of the schedule.

I did not expect this level of struggle with this kind of opponent.
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So what was the expectation over the course of the season? SJ would get majority of the snaps vs. inferior opponents while the big uglies get garbage time reps/practice and then they are thrust into starting roles at the end of the year? Doesn't make too much sense when you think about it.
 
amanan28 said:
So what was the expectation over the course of the season? SJ would get majority of the snaps vs. inferior opponents while the big uglies get garbage time reps/practice and then they are thrust into starting roles at the end of the year? Doesn't make too much sense when you think about it.
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I think they were thinking like Markel Bell. By midseason they take over the starting rolls.
 
DMoney said:
I thought he’d be adequate against average ACC comp, and we’d need to get the bigger guys ready for the latter half of the schedule.

I did not expect this level of struggle with this kind of opponent.
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I’m struggling to see how this logic makes sense.

You’re saying we’re not playing the bigger bodies because we wanted them ready for the latter half of the schedule?

How? Are our practices so much better than game experience that we said we’re not going to play you against Wake Forest but WILL play you against Notre Dame?
 
Plays with zero power. Constantly looking around for someone to block. Looks lost as ic clearly thinking way too much.
He is not playable
 
Cribby said:
Atrocious evaluation. Ray Charles could see this guy moved like a sloth with the athletic ability of LT Dan.
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Ray could just feel that it was going to be a miss.

Ralph Scroggins has looked better as a walkon.

The amount of talent that left that room from 2025 to 2026 is crazy.

Cici- nfl starter - 3 year starter
Cooper- IR but was getting starter reps-4 year starter
Bell- behind one of the best in the nfl and likely starts next year - 2 year starter
Carpenter- 25yo with tons of experience- 3 year starter
Kinsler - starting at ole Miss
Nino- starting at buffalo
Plazz - 3rd string LG at Auburn

Additions
Cline- hasn’t played much
Meriweather- has played but doesn’t look like he is 100%
Hawks- JC with 4 to play
Freshmen
 
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