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OL Connor Smith (official thread)

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I didn't watch it like coaching film or anything but I remember making a mental note to myself that C Smith was dominanting his man early on, then things obviously changed.

I think what happened was McCoy found out he couldn't overpower Conner and was phenominal athlete enough to just start outquicking him. It wasn't just in pass pro, he swam Conner and got into the backfield on several runs.

Conner looked plenty good enough, that kid he was playing is just ahead of him right now 1 on 1. In a real game coaches would make the adjustments to the blocking schemes to get you some help if someone was handling you like that and that McCoy kid might be in the top 5% of DT's Conner will ever face.

All in all, I don't mind an OL getting his lunch handed to him like that in a meaningless HS all star game. If thats not a wake up call to the type of hard work you'll have to put in for the improvement thats required at the next level, I don't know what is. Now he'll know coming in how tough it will be in college and probably just work that much harder to get better.
 
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Well what I made of today was that, while there were plays when he got his butt kicked by the number one dt, mostly on obvious passing downs, He clearly showed that he can move his man and get up to the next level on run blocking. I think once he gets on campus and gets his technique down for pass protecting we could very well see a very special player. His motor never stops and this is just going to motivate him.
 
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I second what Shaker said above. The key is to remember what conner has done in HS, run block, run block, and a little more run block. When colerain? passed it was usually a rollout as well, which I have to believe is a completely different technique than pocket protection and probably more like a run protection.
Add this to the hand injury and I'll take Conners performance with the understanding that the pass protection can only improve.
 
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Firtst off, McCoy is unbelievable. PHenominal quickness and agility for such a big guy.
Second off, Connor's issue is all about technique and experience. You hardly ever see a DT swim - that's usually used more by ends. Swimming on the inside, there usually isn't enough room to make it work. This guy was so quick, though, he was sidestepping Connor, then swimming to use Connor's own momentum against him. Connor was just using the wrong technique against this guy. If he just walls him off one way or the other, then drives him, he would have been much better off. Instead, he was firing out hard, and because McCoy is freakishly quick, he was able to use that against Connor.
I was very impressed with Conor overall - with some good coaching and experience against this level of athlete, he will be a great one.
 
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Excellent post, Nightmare...

Connor has heard the 'can't pass block' mantra for three years...and he always replies the same: 'Don't they have coaches in college????'

and, if my memory serves me correctly, Boone got beat a few times in the game last year. It happens and I'm not worried about it. OSU has the best coaches in college football...and where great coaching meets desire, special things happen.

Connor, despite getting beat by a great player on a three to four playes, did represent himself well. He played the entire game, opened up some nice holes, caved in the entire DL on one of Well's long runs (the one that set up the first TD) and had a nice seal block on a reverse in the 3rd Quarter. Connor wants to be the best that he can possibly be. He has the heart, nastiness and brain to do that. Props to Wells, though...That was only the 2nd time I have seen him play and he is truly a man amongst boys.
 
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And hey, even in the event that his pass-blocking doesn't develop as expected...

...considering the running backs (and a mobile Henton) we'll have for the next several years, he should have plenty of opportunities to show off his run-blocking skills.
 
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#dddddd><TD vAlign=center align=right>55</TD><TD vAlign=center>Connor Smith</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle>OL</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle>
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</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle>6-6/300</TD><TD vAlign=center align=left>Cincinnati (OH) Colerain</TD><TD vAlign=center align=left>Ohio Statehttp://www.rivals.com/commitlist.asp?Year=2006&School=56&Sport=1</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

smith dropped a bit in the new rivals 100.

but last i checked, he is still committed!:biggrin:
 
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