ChosenChildren
Well-Known Member
Just a thought. We gotta get this dude on the field for the first game. He is a freak.
Epeneza to outside linebacker?
- Thread starter ChosenChildren
- Start date
WinOneThisCentury
Well-Known Member
If there is someway we can get him to play two positions at the same time, I'm for it.
99topdawg
Well-Known Member
He's not really even considered a rush end, he's a strongside DE, which is the run support guy (not saying he can't rush the passer), because he's on the TE side/run strength side. I do agree, though, that he needs to be on the field as soon as he's ready. Athletic freaks are good.
I was going to say how many players ever have had those trio of positions in their picture? I don't see him slimming down for that. If he doesn't gain another lb he's just too big for LB. I see him blowing up offensive tackles at DE. He'd probably be really good at DT too if he were to pack on some more weight. I think having a kid that's an absolute havoc at DE that forces O coordinators to adjust their blocking schemes just for him is more valuable and it's where I hope he plays.
HawkeyeWalker
Well-Known Member
He'll be 280+ by Fall. Beast DE.
DP5555
Well-Known Member
No one is expecting him to be JJ Watt from day one, but I fully expect him to contribute right away. The kid is a freak and he has his head screwed on the right way. He'll do everything he can to get on the field, and once he's there I don't see any reason to doubt him. He's a rare player for the Hawks to land. His body is ready to play at this level already.
WinOneThisCentury
Well-Known Member
Why can't he be JJ Watt from Day one? Offseason is the time for dreaming boys. Jerminic Smith in my mind is Jerry Rice and Noah Fant is Kellen Winslow. Josie Jewell is Dick Butkus and best of all Bo Bower is Lawrence Taylor. Lastly we have the Hogs on the OL and the Steel Curtain on the DL. We gonna be freaking good.
It should always be this way right up to the first game kickoff. Dare to dream boys.
It should always be this way right up to the first game kickoff. Dare to dream boys.
hawkeyebob62
Well-Known Member
Jerminic Smith as Jerry Rice would be the greatest miracle since the "water-into-wine" deal.
Robowe
Well-Known Member
Well, to be fair, JJ Watt was a TE at Central Michigan first, so it is an interesting comparison.
SamBrownlee48
Well-Known Member
Maybe if we ran a 3-4.
I find myself having to temper my expectations down some for him too. I want to pencil him into Hesse’s DE spot day 1 and turn him loose. It probably won’t be that cut and dry…. To bench a 2 yr starter for a true freshman that’s yet to take a snap would be pretty un KF like. But if the kid is ready I hope they don’t hesitate to put him in there a lot. Throw him in on passing downs and just let him pin his ears back.
ibahawkeye
Well-Known Member
Maybe my expectations are too high but I expect him to be on the field at DE this year.
Adam
Well-Known Member
I'm still expecting to see him playing DT this year. To me it's irrelevant DE or DT. As long as you blow up rushing lanes and get pressure on the QB with 4 down lineman it doesn't matter what position you are getting the most from. I can show examples of teams that do it with DE's and teams that do it with DT's. Either water the best defenses are were every DL is a potential problem. I think we are close to that again. I could see this group being pretty darn good.
docholihawk
Well-Known Member
He's going to be outstanding at DE his first year. He might end up inside further into his career but no way is he a LB.
He has to be the best prospect we've signed since Doering over a decade ago. Please correct me if we've had a better prospect in that time.
He has to be the best prospect we've signed since Doering over a decade ago. Please correct me if we've had a better prospect in that time.
Adam
Well-Known Member
Better how? I assume we are talking recruiting rankings. In that case he is the best recruit I ever remember. Through the years though we have had kids that developed under the radar to be just as good as any of the 5* kids. I also hope AJ breaks the trend at Iowa. Just as many of our 5 and 4* kids struggle vs live up to potential. We need to prove that we can take a stud and make him even better. This will strengthen our recruiting pitch and give us more credibility with blue chip recruits. We really do need AJ to stay healthy, humble and hardworking. If those 3 H's line up he could be a top 20 pick in a few years. That is what Iowa needs.
I think they like to get their top 4 guys out there. Similar to the Oline and how they like to mix and match the top 5 guys till they find the right mix. I think Lattimore and Bazzata will be the top 2 DTs taking the most reps. I think Matt Nelson will be the 3rd DT rotating in and he'll go back and forth from that spot to rotating in with Anthony at DE. Hesse and Eppy will compete for reps at the other spot. I think Eppy will be pretty effective if he can go in on primarily passing downs to start off with and just be allowed to pin his ears back and do what he does best.
