Rashawn Parker

[CycloneErik]

We should do this as a CF fund-raiser. We can have a donation auction to start the thread for each person on the two-deeps. Person with highest bid has exclusive rights to starting a thread to call that starter out.

It'll be classy like nothing we've ever seen before.

 

[dualthreat]

whats the deal with our captains? Arnaud, Parker, Mike O"Connell are all playing very poorly. In fact, MOC might not even start now.

 

[tazclone]

I've ready a lot of different stuff about what went wrong against K-state, and there were a lot of issues, but I haven't seen anyone being critical of the way Parker played. Maybe it's just me or coicidence on the camera shots, but IMHO he killed us. Ever since jr High when I started playing ball, the DE is suppose to get outside and force the RB or the running QB inside. Parker was horrible at this and it cost us repeatedly in this game. I couldn't tell you how many times I saw him just reaching an arm out as the Kstate runner just trotted on by like he wasn't there. He looked slow and totally lost as to what his job was. He doesn't get pressure on the QB anymore, he is terrible against the run, I just don't know what he brings to the table. Now, I know that we are EXTREMELY thin at the DE and DT positions but it's my opinion that we should at least give Mansfield, JMCD or some one else some game time out there. He really looked like a D-1aa kid out there playing against and Orlando Pace type of line. Am I the only one who noticed this and am I being to hard on him?

He has been the third best DE all year. REally disappointing play thus far.

 

[Wesley]

I am hoping that by next Saturday, we can have a separate thread calling out each starter. Not just the 22 on O and D, but specialists too. ST players, I am talking about you. Really, no one should be safe this week.

Whats his name the kicker is getting better with every punt. Is he a freshman?

 

[CylentButDeadly]

Parker has always been undersized, but to me, it doesn't look like he's 100%, and I can't really blame him. He tore an ACL last year, and even though you can get back on the field in about 7-8 months, it takes far longer than that to build up the strength and speed that you lose after surgery. The whole DL play has been poor. I don't know that you can just single out one guy.

 

[CyForPresident]

Parker has got to one of the few players to ever start 5 straight season openers. It just shows where our D-Line has been. He has 8 sacks over that time span, and a quarter of them came on back to back plays in his first game. We need an upgrade at the position.

Exactly. I never understood why everyone was so jacked up that Parker was coming back this year. Pat Neal put up similar numbers to Parker last season and that was his first time playing the position.

 

[Tre4ISU]

Parker will grade out pretty bad. When he wasn't handled he was losing contain. He did that a lot I think.

 

[Steve]

Ever since jr High when I started playing ball, the DE is suppose to get outside and force the RB or the running QB inside.

That might have been true in jr High, but often is not the case in a 4-3 defense at the D1 level. It's probably more likely that a LB, S, or CB has the outside gap responsibility. DE's in modern defenses can't afford to take a boxing end approach. It would take them out of too many plays and make them useless at trying to help control the off-tackle power game or the inside zone plays.

A DE covering an inside gap still has the ability to slide out and help string out an outside play. If they start outside, they can almost never get back inside in time to help out. It's usually better to have a LB cover outside because they are in a better position to also react to an inside cut.

 

[brett108]

I've ready a lot of different stuff about what went wrong against K-state, and there were a lot of issues, but I haven't seen anyone being critical of the way Parker played. Maybe it's just me or coicidence on the camera shots, but IMHO he killed us. Ever since jr High when I started playing ball, the DE is suppose to get outside and force the RB or the running QB inside. Parker was horrible at this and it cost us repeatedly in this game. I couldn't tell you how many times I saw him just reaching an arm out as the Kstate runner just trotted on by like he wasn't there. He looked slow and totally lost as to what his job was. He doesn't get pressure on the QB anymore, he is terrible against the run, I just don't know what he brings to the table. Now, I know that we are EXTREMELY thin at the DE and DT positions but it's my opinion that we should at least give Mansfield, JMCD or some one else some game time out there. He really looked like a D-1aa kid out there playing against and Orlando Pace type of line. Am I the only one who noticed this and am I being to hard on him?

This is the reason why he was lightly recruited out of HS. He is a 5-11 DE, and there is no place for him on the field. Our best DL performer up to this point is old Rump, but even he looks small compared to other DTs across the league.The only guy on our DL with prototypical size and frame is McDonaugh. Had he not lost a year with his stomach bug, he would be our impact defensive tackle. We need to go get some JUCO guys to start filling these holes. In two years, I think we will have Nick Kron and Brandon Jensen ready to play, and both are the type of guys that can be molded into effective DTs. But we are a long way off still.In 2-3 years, I am predicting that Devin Lemke becomes a shutdown DE for us. I know he is an under the radar recruit, but he has a great frame, is athletic, and best of all is a great wrestler. This skill set will prove invaluable being able to control the blockers sent his way.

 

[brett108]

That might have been true in jr High, but often is not the case in a 4-3 defense at the D1 level. It's probably more likely that a LB, S, or CB has the outside gap responsibility. DE's in modern defenses can't afford to take a boxing end approach. It would take them out of too many plays and make them useless at trying to help control the off-tackle power game or the inside zone plays.

A DE covering an inside gap still has the ability to slide out and help string out an outside play. If they start outside, they can almost never get back inside in time to help out. It's usually better to have a LB cover outside because they are in a better position to also react to an inside cut.

Wrong. The DE is supposed to maintain the edge. Any coach who tells you otherwise is admitting to having a defense that can't really stop anyone. Several big plays were made by KState, and the one thing true in all of them was that the DE didn't maintain the edge, so the OLB had to, which let the back run free. The DE maintains the edge on good defenses. We are not good, and therefore we don't. Watch a real defense and see what I mean.

 

[dualthreat]

this is really all coming full circle

its hard to coach very undersized D-linemen above their ability
-or a very thin LB crew
-or a QB thats sporadic at best... what pass plays can herman even call when arnaud was struggling to complete rocket screens and slants... and the WRs can't get open or hang on to the dang ball or out run ANYBODY.

Any Offensive or defensive coordinator could look awesome at Texas. But dang, it probably is tough.. when you call a perfect play sending ARob running free down the middle of the field and your QB throws it 15 feet over his head. sheesh

 

[Tre4ISU]

This is the reason why he was lightly recruited out of HS. He is a 5-11 DE, and there is no place for him on the field. Our best DL performer up to this point is old Rump, but even he looks small compared to other DTs across the league.The only guy on our DL with prototypical size and frame is McDonaugh. Had he not lost a year with his stomach bug, he would be our impact defensive tackle. We need to go get some JUCO guys to start filling these holes. In two years, I think we will have Nick Kron and Brandon Jensen ready to play, and both are the type of guys that can be molded into effective DTs. But we are a long way off still.In 2-3 years, I am predicting that Devin Lemke becomes a shutdown DE for us. I know he is an under the radar recruit, but he has a great frame, is athletic, and best of all is a great wrestler. This skill set will prove invaluable being able to control the blockers sent his way.

Here is the thing with JUCO Dlineman. Generally, they take a lot of training and development. I would say they take more than any other position. JUCO programs do not have the resources to get that to the level needed to immediately contribute. So, if you take a guys you know you have to develop, RS him, develop him for two years, you are essentially in the same place as you are with a middle of the road Dline recruit out of a JUCO and you have a guy that knows your system and you know what you are getting. Of course, there are eceptions but not too many of them

 

[bdnichols2000]

I don't think Rashawn is 100% right now, and even if he was he should only be playing in obvious passing situations. He is worthless as a run defender. Unfortunately, our defensive line will be pushed around all year long. I know Jake McDonough came in a defensive end recruit, it would be interesting to see him playing defensive end on running downs. I'm sure it wouldn't be an easy transition, but would at least give us a fighting chance against the run.

 

[Steve]

Wrong. The DE is supposed to maintain the edge. Any coach who tells you otherwise is admitting to having a defense that can't really stop anyone. Several big plays were made by KState, and the one thing true in all of them was that the DE didn't maintain the edge, so the OLB had to, which let the back run free. The DE maintains the edge on good defenses. We are not good, and therefore we don't. Watch a real defense and see what I mean.

Sorry, but once again we are not talking about jr high style football. Wally uses a 4-3 alignment. Study any well coached 4-3 from the better high schools up to and including the NFL. You will find that the DE's are often not even aligned to be able to cover the D or E gaps. The reason is that they first and foremost have to control the C gap and then help with the B gap if possible. As was previously mentioned, LB's and DB's almost always are responsible for the D/E gaps.

There are many good online sites that provide an overview of these concepts. The attached link is one such source.

Inside the playbook: Cover 3 | National Football Post

 

[usedcarguy]

Of course our corners getting manhandled by receivers isn't exactly helping containment either... While I agree that Rashawn at this point has been less than impressive, and likely because of the injury, I've been REALLY disappointed with LJ.

 

[usedcarguy]

This is the reason why he was lightly recruited out of HS. He is a 5-11 DE, and there is no place for him on the field. Our best DL performer up to this point is old Rump, but even he looks small compared to other DTs across the league.The only guy on our DL with prototypical size and frame is McDonaugh. Had he not lost a year with his stomach bug, he would be our impact defensive tackle. We need to go get some JUCO guys to start filling these holes. In two years, I think we will have Nick Kron and Brandon Jensen ready to play, and both are the type of guys that can be molded into effective DTs. But we are a long way off still.In 2-3 years, I am predicting that Devin Lemke becomes a shutdown DE for us. I know he is an under the radar recruit, but he has a great frame, is athletic, and best of all is a great wrestler. This skill set will prove invaluable being able to control the blockers sent his way.

I don't buy into that whole prototypical hype. If you look at some of the premier DE's in the NFL over the years, short ones and skinny ones have both been successful. I seriously doubt if Dwight Freeney is 6 feet tall, and Jason Taylor never has played at more than 250-255, yet both are All-pro players. So I'm pretty sure a 5-11 250 lb DE can make it in college football. It's all about quickness and leverage.

But you have a great point about recruiting wrestlers. I LOVE recruiting wrestlers and also basketball players because wrestlers understand leverage, and basketball players understand moving your feet to block from setting screens and have great hands. We should be finding all of these kids we can because they tend to fly under the radar (which means we can recruit them) and often develop into great players.

 

[Tre4ISU]

Sorry, but once again we are not talking about jr high style football. Wally uses a 4-3 alignment. Study any well coached 4-3 from the better high schools up to and including the NFL. You will find that the DE's are often not even aligned to be able to cover the D or E gaps. The reason is that they first and foremost have to control the C gap and then help with the B gap if possible. As was previously mentioned, LB's and DB's almost always are responsible for the D/E gaps.

There are many good online sites that provide an overview of these concepts. The attached link is one such source.

Inside the playbook: Cover 3 | National Football Post

That's all fine and dandy if th emiddle of your line is solid. Ours isn't so our Lineback are constantly filling middle gaps. They are not available to contin IMO. Our Dends are usually set pretty wide. While I will somewhat agree that containment shouldn't be the only priority, our Dends constantly run by linebackers. If there is a sweep run toward you you absolutely cannot let it get outside of you. You have to make them cut it up and let one of the backers fill.

 

[Wesley]

Looks like most of our tackles are being made by our LBs. Couple years ago our defensive backfield were making most of the tackles.

 

[clonetil01]

That's all fine and dandy if th emiddle of your line is solid. Ours isn't so our Lineback are constantly filling middle gaps. They are not available to contin IMO. Our Dends are usually set pretty wide. While I will somewhat agree that containment shouldn't be the only priority, our Dends constantly run by linebackers. If there is a sweep run toward you you absolutely cannot let it get outside of you. You have to make them cut it up and let one of the backers fill.

This was kind of my thought, that whether it's forcing the run in or streching the end out so the LBs or Ss have time to fill that gap I just don't see anything like that happening and it's really screwing up the rest of the field, especially when they run an option against us. I guarantee K-state saw that and knew that option would cause us problems, and it did.

Also, I understand calling a guy out isn't the classiest thing to do but my concern was more of wondering if his injury from last year is still playing a big role here as I remember him playing A LOT better in previous years, especially against the run. I'm sure this kid is leaving it on the field every game, but the camera doesn't lie. Also, if he and the rest of the DLine are that overmatched, why are we not blitzing more??? I would also agree that LJ seems to have taken a step back as well, and he is being targeted by the opposition much of the time too. If we blitz it's only going to help the DBs as well and keep them fresh.

 

[checker21]

This was kind of my thought, that whether it's forcing the run in or streching the end out so the LBs or Ss have time to fill that gap I just don't see anything like that happening and it's really screwing up the rest of the field, especially when they run an option against us. I guarantee K-state saw that and knew that option would cause us problems, and it did.

Also, I understand calling a guy out isn't the classiest thing to do but my concern was more of wondering if his injury from last year is still playing a big role here as I remember him playing A LOT better in previous years, especially against the run. I'm sure this kid is leaving it on the field every game, but the camera doesn't lie. Also, if he and the rest of the DLine are that overmatched, why are we not blitzing more??? I would also agree that LJ seems to have taken a step back as well, and he is being targeted by the opposition much of the time too. If we blitz it's only going to help the DBs as well and keep them fresh.

I love how everyone contributes Parker's struggles to his size. I saw him take the wrong guy on the option 3 times. I saw him blow containment time after time. All of these things weren't done because of his size, but because he screwed up. These constant mistakes out of a 5th year senior is scary. All that said, Pat Neal is actually doing really well in my opinion. He is undersized, but at least is going where he is supposed to go