Question Re Simmons

[OrangeinBoston]

SU has a 6' 2" 240 lb guy, who is reportedly fast, languishing at DE where he is clearly too small to play. SU has no middle linebacker big enough to play that position. So, what am I missing here?

 

[hoopsupstate]

He's obviously not as good as the hype. Ditto, most of our recruits.

 

[OrangeinBoston]

SU has a 6' 2" 240 lb guy, who is reportedly fast, languishing at DE where he is clearly too small to play. SU has no middle linebacker big enough to play that position. So, what am I missing here?

I'm bumping this up because I posed it as a serious question. Why isn't Simmons a candidate for MLB?

 

[MaxwellCuse]

I'll bite. Stubbornness?

 

[RMH44]

I'm bumping this up because I posed it as a serious question. Why isn't Simmons a candidate for MLB?

How do you know that the staff hasn't considered him at MLB?

Btw, I like the idea if he has the skill set. Our LB's are far too small for my liking.

 

[RICuse44]

My only rationale for not playing him here is the old "hand in the dirt" coachspeak. Generally, transitioning a player from a down lineman to a linebacker is a project. Does not mean it can't be done, in fact Bill Belichek did it repeatedly with guys like Bruschi and Vrabel. And that was in the NFL, not the SunBeast. Plus, Simmons has only been playing DE in college for the past 2 years and was a running back in high school who returned kicks if I'm not mistaken. Which brings me back to the same question you asked initially, why not put him there?

 

[Rocco]

He's obviously not as good as the hype. Ditto, most of our recruits.

What hype did he have??? Some people on here are delusional. Nobody thought that the last few classes were going to come in and immediately win starting jobs, especially Simmons. Give me a ing break with this post.

Fail.

 

[suthrills]

It's a great idea but maybe he's just not a good enough football player.
Sirike just doesn't do it in the middle, he's a safety playing MLB, but the hard truth is maybe they just don't have any alternatives.
Sadly, a this point Shamarko looks more stout than Sirike.

 

[cuseguy]

Simmons: another tweener lost in the depth chart. Max B. was supposed to be a star coming here; now he's our 4th TE.

 

[SUalldway]

It's a great idea but maybe he's just not a good enough football player.
Sirike just doesn't do it in the middle, he's a safety playing MLB, but the hard truth is maybe they just don't have any alternatives.
Sadly, a this point Shamarko looks more stout than Sirike.

How about Vaughn? This coaching staff is just painfully slow in making changes to fill obvious, glaring weaknesses.

 

[Upstate]

How about Vaughn? This coaching staff is just painfully slow in making changes to fill obvious, glaring weaknesses.

Would rather have Vaughn, who can take on a block in the middle at MLB than Diet tab. Don't need as much lateral speed at MLB, which he has lacked.

 

[retro44]

He's obviously not as good as the hype. Ditto, most of our recruits.

RU serious

 

[RF2044]

How about Vaughn? This coaching staff is just painfully slow in making changes to fill obvious, glaring weaknesses.

Regarding Vaughn: it really is an interesting idea. The guy was prolific, despite perhaps being a step slower than the other LBs. Reminds me of Richie Scanlon--not putting Vaughn on that level, but Scanlon was a guy who many were disappointed in, then he shifted to MLB, which was a great position for his skill set, and he rode an incredible senior year to the NFL.

Regarding Simmons: let's not write the guy off. Isn't he a redshirt frosh? I'm willing to bet he'll be an impact player here before his career is over.

 

[Cusee44]

Regarding Simmons: let's not write the guy off. Isn't he a redshirt frosh? I'm willing to bet he'll be an impact player here before his career is over.

I hope so as well, given that I've met the kid and he is one of the most wholesome athletes I've ever met. But with that said, it worries me that this is the general trend of our recruiting process: waiting at least two years for some of our scholarship athletes to develop into D1 players.

 

[Bayside44]

I hope so as well, given that I've met the kid and he is one of the most wholesome athletes I've ever met. But with that said, it worries me that this is the general trend of our recruiting process: waiting at least two years for some of our scholarship athletes to develop into D1 players.

We recruit a lot of NYC kids, they aren't ready made like the FL / southern kids to step in. Esp at DE

 

[RF2044]

I hope so as well, given that I've met the kid and he is one of the most wholesome athletes I've ever met. But with that said, it worries me that this is the general trend of our recruiting process: waiting at least two years for some of our scholarship athletes to develop into D1 players.

Having to wait two years doesn't worry me at all. We're recruiting a lot of solid athletes who need more time to adjust than their higher recruited [and often more football experienced] counterparts. But if they pan out, who cares?

But I see your point--we aren't recruiting players for the most part who are capable of making an immediate impact. I figured that Simmons was going to be part of a heavy rotation at DE [along with Sharpe and MPB] who were going to generate more pass rush than what we've had in recent years, and that hasn't happened.

I still believe 100% that Simmons's best football is ahead of him, and he will be an above average starter down the road. But our lack of pass rush has been an issue this year--no question--and Simmons's [and Robinson's and every other DE's] general inability to get upfield and be disruptive in the backfield is hurting us immensely.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

What hype did he have??? Some people on here are delusional. Nobody thought that the last few classes were going to come in and immediately win starting jobs, especially Simmons. Give me a ******* break with this post.

Fail.

There were people that said Simmons was better than Ishaq.

 

[RF2044]

There were people that said Simmons was better than Ishaq.

There were definitely people saying that Simmons was more equipped to contribute sooner than Ishaq.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

There were definitely people saying that Simmons was more equipped to contribute sooner than Ishaq.

Yup. I distinctly recall being told not to worry that we whiffed on Ishaq because Simmons was a better player.

I'm not saying it's decided between the two of them who will be the better player, but it's inaccurate to say that Simmons was a low profile recruit.

 

[RF2044]

Yup. I distinctly recall being told not to worry that we whiffed on Ishaq because Simmons was a better player.

I'm not saying it's decided between the two of them who will be the better player, but it's inaccurate to say that Simmons was a low profile recruit.

"Low profile" is qualitative. Simmons was a 2-star recruit [don't think he was a 3-star--could be wrong about that, but it doesn't change the general point] to Ishaq's 5-star rating.

I think that it had as much to do with some posters suggesting that if Ishaq came here, he wouldn't be a savior from the jump despite the 5-star rating, that he needed time to gain strength, etc. to play DE at this level. Thinking back to those posts [and I recall one opinion specifically from a very respected poster who stated this], I don't think it was rationalizing that Simmons was better or a superior get--just that he might be better equipped to contribute sooner than Ishaq.

Whatever. We didn't get Ishaq. Hopefully, Simmons pans out and emerges as an above-average starter.

 

[MaxwellCuse]

Simmons was a Scout 3-star. Don't know about the other rating sites.

 

[CIL]

He's obviously not as good as the hype. Ditto, most of our recruits.

I find it highly entertaining that someone has written off a 19 year old RF as a bust.