Enrique Cruz transferring to Kansas

[wfschrec]

Just the two.

Overall looked really solid.



I hope our OL coach knows what he was doing...

He did but I can definitively say that he had a significant size and strength advantage over the Fresno end. It was dramatic and Fresno looked quite small up front. I think as he steps up in competition it will be interesting to see how he holds up.

 

[Cuseregular]

Just the two.

Overall looked really solid.



I hope our OL coach knows what he was doing...

Now that he’s no longer here and “our guy”…..can give an honest assessment as someone who played OL, went against OL (and OT specifically), and recruited coached a bit (not sure if you knew all that or not)

Good kid as we all know but athletically at this level he was lacking foot speed, a quick reaction time and lateral mobility. Saw it day one and sadly made mention to Mark and was hoping that it could be improved upon.

Unfortunately, that is difficult as athleticism is generally baked in and is the type thing of what you have is what you have.

Technique can be improved upon certainly but not raw athletic ability so much and was why I always thought he should’ve been moved to center or even guard as his straight on ability and strength was pretty damn good.

Glad he found a spot in the power four and much like I made the comment that if Collins Beats out Angeli it would mean to me we have the next Donovan McNabb, similarly here, if a good capable lineman, albeit not elite, like Enrique has been beaten out, it means to me we have some real good kids on the OL.

Can’t wait to see what that means for the season as the way the pieces are coming together (along with I think for the first time ever (!) no major injuries in preseason fall camp!), this season is shaping up to be much better than I would have anticipated if anybody asked me six months ago.

 

[GoSU96]

Now that he’s no longer here and “our guy”…..can give an honest assessment as someone who played OL, went against OL (and OT specifically), and recruited coached a bit (not sure if you knew all that or not)

Good kid as we all know but athletically at this level he was lacking foot speed, a quick reaction time and lateral mobility. Saw it day one and sadly made mention to Mark and was hoping that it could be improved upon.

Unfortunately, that is difficult as athleticism is generally baked in and is the type thing of what you have is what you have.

Technique can be improved upon certainly but not raw athletic ability so much and was why I always thought he should’ve been moved to center or even guard as his straight on ability and strength was pretty damn good.

Glad he found a spot in the power four and much like I made the comment that if Collins Beats out Angeli it would mean to me we have the next Donovan McNabb, similarly here, if a good capable lineman, albeit not elite, like Enrique has been beaten out, it means to me we have some real good kids on the OL.

Can’t wait to see what that means for the season as the way the pieces are coming together (along with I think for the first time ever (!) no major injuries in preseason fall camp!), this season is shaping up to be much better than I would have anticipated if anybody asked me six months ago.

He played very little early in the year and it looks like he didn’t get a snap after HC. He wasn’t going to be in the two deep this year.

 

[sufandu]

Now that he’s no longer here and “our guy”…..can give an honest assessment as someone who played OL, went against OL (and OT specifically), and recruited coached a bit (not sure if you knew all that or not)

Good kid as we all know but athletically at this level he was lacking foot speed, a quick reaction time and lateral mobility. Saw it day one and sadly made mention to Mark and was hoping that it could be improved upon.

Unfortunately, that is difficult as athleticism is generally baked in and is the type thing of what you have is what you have.

Technique can be improved upon certainly but not raw athletic ability so much and was why I always thought he should’ve been moved to center or even guard as his straight on ability and strength was pretty damn good.

Glad he found a spot in the power four and much like I made the comment that if Collins Beats out Angeli it would mean to me we have the next Donovan McNabb, similarly here, if a good capable lineman, albeit not elite, like Enrique has been beaten out, it means to me we have some real good kids on the OL.

Can’t wait to see what that means for the season as the way the pieces are coming together (along with I think for the first time ever (!) no major injuries in preseason fall camp!), this season is shaping up to be much better than I would have anticipated if anybody asked me six months ago.

Thanks for the insight. In my opinion, you don't have to wait until someone is gone to give honest assessment, especially with your background, but I understand why you would choose to.

 

[Consigliere]

He wasn't in on the last scoring drive. I know he was 50/50 on the starting job as of a week ago, so it might have been a planned rotation, but he might have penalized himself off the field.

*Edit

And he's back in the next drive.

Was listed as an “OR” on the final depth chart. Plan was for him to play first and third quarters. The other guy got the second. Fourth was TBD based on game situation. Kansas was up big so he sat most of fourth and played 33 of 58 snaps. Admittedly biased but I thought he looked very good.

 

[Consigliere]

He played very little early in the year and it looks like he didn’t get a snap after HC. He wasn’t going to be in the two deep this year.

Actually was rated as the second or third best O Lineman by Williams early spring. Ended up dropping to eighth in Williams’s ranking. That was before the post spring transfers, though.

 

[GoSU96]

Actually was rated as the second or third best O Lineman by Williams early spring. Ended up dropping to eighth in Williams’s ranking. That was before the post spring transfers, though.

Was he hurt last year?

 

[Consigliere]

Was he hurt last year?

Not at all.