You can watch the video for yourself, but I have some slight concerns about how it seems that Poggi is regularly slow off the ball when playing defense. I only saw one or two plays where he looks like he’s getting off the ball as quickly as his fellow defensive linemen.
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It does seem like he's slow off the snap relative to the other defensive linemen.
Now I have some questions —
Q1 — I would assume that's a technique issue that can be coached?
Q2 — Is it possible that Poggi is just dogging it against lesser competition? (That by itself is a bad trait, but I wonder if he tends to play up to the competition he faces.)
Q3 — Is there any benefit for a DT to delay ever-so-slightly and maybe catch the OL a bit off balance if he doesn't have someone to engage? (I have no idea … just grasping for potential explanations here.)
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1. Yes, it can be coached.
2. It's possible, of course, but Poggi is known as a high-motor guy, not a kid who gets by on superior athletic talent, so that would be a step in the wrong direction.
3. No, you want to beat the opponent off the ball. Getting off the ball slowly will get you crushed by equal or superior talent.
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This was my concern with the DT UM passed on last year (Schutt?). He did not move quickly on the snap and was slow out of his stance – he just out-wrestled overmatched OL in HS. You could argue that Wormley was a little slow off the snap at times too.
The coaches will not doubt work on Poggi's first step and hone his reflexes, but it would be nice if the kid came in with that. Regardless, DL play can be a grind and so much of a player's development depends on how much focus and effort the kid puts into practice. As with all of the new breed DL Hoke is reeling in, Poggi does look like a big, athletic kid with potential.
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I didn't really notice those same issues with Schutt, and now he's playing (or PLAYED) as a freshman for Ohio State. I really liked Schutt, so I was somewhat disappointed that we passed on the chance to take him. I do think Wormley was slow off the snap sometimes, but overall, he just didn't seem to have a very high motor during his senior year.
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"I have some slight concerns about how it seems that Poggi is regularly slow off the ball when playing defense."
Jinkies. I've under the impression that Poggi, though undersized compared to most similar recruits, has been making up for it with superior technique and at least a little bit of athleticism. What exactly does he bring to the table in TTB's opinion?
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http://touchthebanner.blogspot.com/2012/06/henry-poggi-wolverine.html
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