It seems like as the spring went on more and more information was available about our next starting center. C. Pensick, Justin Jackson, and Mark Pelini (in descending order of apparent starters) are the 3 players currently getting a shot at the position, but I am so intrigued by the possibility of JJ turning into a beast for us. From some of the news out of spring practice it sounds like JJ has all the physical requirements need but lacks the position knowledge of Pensick. I think the key to a great Oline is having a smart and physical center to control the timing and the center of the play. I wish JJ was younger and had time to develop into a center and play at least 2 years there. I think ultimately that is his biggest disadvantage is that we don't want to have to replace our starting center 2 years in a row. I just hate seeing our center get blown up because he is undersized and cant take on a nose tackle over 290lbs. Who do you want to start @center come Aug/Sept.
Justin Jackson...Starter?
- Thread starter Ziggy
- Start date
kchusker_chris
All-American
They say Pensick is the strongest guy on the team. Based on that, I would imagine that he is far beyond Caputo in regards to strength. If he is even close to where Caputo was in the mental game then I think we are going to see improvement at the position assuming Pensick is the starter. Caputo did a lot with very little - but I don't think he would have been starting for many other teams in the B1G. (here comes all the "he was second team all B1G" or whatever he was, but I was just never impressed with Caputo on the field)
At this point I haven't seen any proof that Jackson is more athletic than Pensick. He's definitely not stronger in the weight room. We haven't seen either play. A lot of talk about Jackson being a very physical, athletic guy which gets you excited - but I don't know if that means he is more physical and athletic than Pensick...or just getting a little more attention with the media a'la K. Bell.
At this point I haven't seen any proof that Jackson is more athletic than Pensick. He's definitely not stronger in the weight room. We haven't seen either play. A lot of talk about Jackson being a very physical, athletic guy which gets you excited - but I don't know if that means he is more physical and athletic than Pensick...or just getting a little more attention with the media a'la K. Bell.
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Lyons in the Sea of Red.
All-Conference
Strength doesnt necessarily equate to a better football player. Im sure Jackson can hold his own.
kchusker_chris
All-American
I thought Choi said he used to be, but he lost some strength trimming down for this year and Pensick can get him now.
kchusker_chris
All-American
agree - but that's about all we have to go on at this point
- spring game would have been nice.Fair enough, I have just heard good things regarding JJ's explosiveness and athleticism, but I agree about Pensick being a more complete center over Caputo and for the moment JJ. I like my centers to be a little nasty, a little hot headed and ready to punch the player he is blocking in the mouth (figuratively) and pancake him. I just wish all 3 have a good 20-25 lbs more on their bodies. They all are around 270-275 which seems light to me for pushing around some of the bigger NT's we might come across (Big10/SEC), and being that our offense is more run oriented having to double team a NT takes blockers from getting to the 2nd and 3rd levels of the defense.
kchusker_chris
All-American
yeah, that's why I thought Reeves would be in the discussion. highly recruited true-center with 20-25 pounds on the rest of the guys. i'm surprised they moved him w/ the current situation at center and the departure of Pensick in 2 years. He would have been a nice hier to that throne in a couple of years.
The Dude
Heisman Trophy Winner
They said Caputo was the 2nd strongest guy on the team when Suh was on the team. I don't think strength means much if you don't have the size to push people around. Pensick doesn't seem much bigger than Caputo. That worries me.
I agree. and kind of wonder if they are moving Reeves just to get him into the rotation at guard, with the idea of having him move to center after Pensick graduates. Going along with the strength thing, strength is only one physical indicator of a players ability to play a position, and alot of the time its a overstated and some what misleading. Its like saying a WR is going to be great because he runs a 4.28 40. If he cant do that with pads, or catch or run a route, or jump then 1 out of 4 isn't going to work. Same with an OL, Size, strength, explosivness, leverage, distribution of strength, and stamina all help determine who is a good player and who gets 5 stars because he is 6'6" in high school and just road grades people but fails to ever do anything in college because he is too high, or lacks stamina to stay in the game for 3 plays or a series.
flatwaterfan
Starter
Maybe one thing they could do is have Long or Sirles do the line calls instead of Jackson. They might relief him of some of the burden of learning the offense.
Danny Bateman
Heisman Trophy Winner
Be careful what you wish for... **COUGH COUGH** Incognito **COUGH COUGH**
Honestly, I don't really care THAT much who wins the center job. It doesn't make that big a difference, assuming whoever wins the job doesn't suck to the point we have to do something about it. Pensick and JJ are probably pretty equal, all things considered. If I had to pick one, judging by what we've heard during spring ball, I'd hope that JJ somehow makes up for ground mentally and takes the job over. It really is too bad he's a senior though... that's the only reason I could think of to root for someone else to win the job-- continuity. If he won, Pelini could start for 3 years, 2 for Pensick. It's too bad Reeves wasn't ready to step up and fill the C spot, although it is good to see him getting reps at guard. He could've been the first 4 year starter we'd seen in a while along that OL.
Honestly, whoever we see is going to be an improvement over seeing Caputo get tossed around like that Texas center Suh embarassed with one arm while ripping Colt McCoy in half with the other. No more getting DESTROYED in the middle of the OL. Be happy!