Thin is in at SDSU
Here's a link to a solid column by an old buddy from my days at the San Diego Union-Tribune, Tim Sullivan, on San Diego State buying into to new head coach Brady Hoke's dietary suggestions.
First rule: No more California burritos.
An excerpt:
"Bad weight is in a bad way these days at SDSU. Between their first Hoke Era weigh-in on Feb. 2 and their most recent scale session on July 27, the 16 linemen on the Aztecs' roster shed a total of 303 pounds - nearly 19 pounds per man.
What that will mean on Sept. 5 at UCLA is uncertain - the Bruins' offensive line averages 312 pounds, after all - but Hoke believes diminished bulk does not necessarily mean diminishing returns. And his players appear to be responding as if their new coach's challenge had been, "Who wants ice cream?"
Jon would you kindly confirm(verbally) David Carter's weight. His DL coach has him at 300. He looks 250. Keep up the good work.
hey Jon, how about Carne Asada Fries? Can they have those? lol
Carne Asada fries, yes those are fine. Hold the guac.
Hey Pakistani. You're referring to the photo from Media Day, right? I had the same thought when I saw it. "Wow, that guy looks thin for a defensive tackle." I believe, however, that the identification in the caption is incorrect, and the person in the photo is actually Jerry Johnson, who also wears number 85.
Yo Jewin! You're spot on: it's Jerry Johnson. Keen sense of observation, thanks.
While slimming down is great for the joints (ESPECIALLY once these guys get older), being light-in-the-butt means you get manhandled on the football field. I think many/most of today's linemen carry unhealthy weight, but it's one of those things where someone has to prove effective playing lighter before anyone else follows. I'm thinking these guys get pushed around on 9/7
Thanks for the comment R_H,
There's actually two methods of thought on the whole hog debate. In a zone blocking scheme, having lithe, quick linemen is much preferred over a plodding offensive tackle with size-18 shoes. At Thousand Oaks High last season, John Lister had more than 2,000 yards and broke every school record with just one offensive lineman weighing more than 210 pounds. Thousand Oaks used a zone, chipping block system - the idea: get a body on a body and go from there - and it seemed to work.
At the college level, though, where defensive linemen can carry 285 pounds yet run a 4.6 40, I just don't think that can work. Give me a 310-pound warthog who can make a guy bleed any day of the week.
Hey P_B,
It can be done, it certainly can be done. And it can be done with success particularly in the Pac-10, where the defensive linemen seem to be a little smaller than at the midwest schools. Still, it can be a risky proposition without the exact personnel, no?
JG
I believe Tom Cable employed the former -- with tremendous success -- while at UCLA.