07-25-2023, 08:33 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-26-2023, 10:04 AM by lemonoppy. Edited 3 times in total.)
The Prospect Bowl rosters have been announced, the recruits are boarding their planes, trains, and automobiles to reach their first stop on this amazing new career, and the analysts and talking heads are already revving up to talk all about their estimates and predictions. (I am also going to be doing that, but because I’m doing it in writing its sophisticated.)
The preliminary look at the Mexico City Aztecs is full of interesting questions, while others are as straightforward as it comes. Depending on what direction the coaches at the bowl decide to commit to, the performance of this team will live and die on it. The coaches are all chosen specifically for their experience at gauging talent and using it to their advantage, but there is always the question of whether or not the players will be able to pick up the nuances of the game in such a short time. With games set to start soon, the prospects are in for some long nights studying and practicing. To understand this team, let’s look at the roster and begin gathering our thoughts and questions.
Starting with the offense, let’s look at a positional breakdown first. We can attempt to read the tea leaves of the offense after understanding the brew we are making.
--
Quarterback
Tua TurnDaBallOva; Austin Gausman
The general of the offense, the quarterback position remains the most important piece of the offensive puzzle. The Aztecs have selected two prototypical pocket passers in Tua TurnDaBallOva and Austin Gausman. Based on measurables provided by the DSFL, it would seem that Tua has the edge on arm strength, while Gausman is slightly faster. DSFL has also informed me that Gausman performed slightly better on the general studies test. Whether this will result in faster acclimation to the game remains to be seen. This will be the battle to watch in camp, although I expect that both players will see the field during the games.
--
Running Back
Marty Crane
The sole running back taken by the Aztecs is Marty Crane, a speedy back with homerun potential and the coveted elusiveness to make men miss. Scouts did note that Crane did not catch passes during workouts and was not seen as a primary part of their game during college. Still, with Crane being the only man standing for the team, they will be getting a multitude of opportunities to impress those watching.
--
Tight End
A Waffle; Theo Blake; Thomas Passarelli
A balanced group of options at the tight end position, with each TE finding a separate niche to occupy. Waffle is a menace of a blocker, massively strong and faster than one would expect. Waffle could be a key player in the run scheme, sealing the edge for Crane to get to the second level untouched. Blake is more traditional ball security tight end, looking to catch the ball and hold onto it through contact. Blake should be utilized in the short-to-intermediate passing game to keep the chains moving where possible. For the big swings, coaches are going to be looking for Thomas Passarelli to stretch the seams and abuse mismatches. Passarelli was a standout at ODU, with solid hands and good speed. Seeing the options that these three TEs present will give the Aztecs chances to attack in a variety of ways.
--
Wide Receiver
Diego López de Castilla; John Parano
Another solid set of choices by the Aztec staff with two complementary wide outs that will see time on the field together without overshadowing each other. De Castilla is a dangerously fast slot receiver with solid hands. De Castilla will be a match-up nightmare for some nickel corners, or the unfortunate linebacker forced to cover de Castilla in a zone. Parano is a big body outside receiver who values coming down with the ball. While he lacks the getaway speed you might expect, he has sticky hands and great body control to evade a press and gain separation.
--
Lineman
Otis Grabber; Paul McLaughlin
Grabber and McLaughlin are the big-name selections on the Oline and could either create a wall on one side of the line or balance out the quality of both sides. Grabber has great footwork and a fantastic ability to diagnose the defense and react. Otis can also anchor a pass block, giving great versatility to his game. McLaughlin edges Grabber in strength, able to push his man off the block consistently at the cost of heavier feet. Look for how these two are employed along the line, as it could solve or create issues in both the run and passing game.
--
Kicker/Punter
Logan Johnson
Johnson will be taking on both kicking and punting duties for the Aztecs and is a sure leg with great poise. While possessed with excellent accuracy, the North Carolina product also has the weakest leg of the prospects. The Aztecs will be leaning on their offense to get them well inside scoring distance. If that happens, though, Johnson is a sure bet that points will end up on the board. The question of playing the field position game with Johnson is difficult to discern, and we will all be looking to see how that affects defensive strategy.
--
Strategy
Talk from the camp states that the Aztecs will be utilizing a pro-style offense for the Prospect Bowl. With Crane being the premier back picked up by the Aztecs, we can expect heavy use of Single back and shotgun formations, with the offense balanced between run and pass. This will create opportunities for play-action and draw plays. At this time, I am giving a slight edge to Tua TunDaBallOva to start the game over Austin Gausman. The arm talent is slightly better, allowing for the offense to stretch the field. I expect the team to utilize a gap-scheme run fit, giving Crane options to find his own hole. One concern for the team is that with Crane being the primary back, the Aztecs will need to find a way to rotate and fill that position while he gets his wind back. To that end, we could see de Castilla be asked to sub over, with Blake or Passarelli filling in at slot. The other question is if Grabber and McLaughlin will be deployed on the same side of the field. I predict this to be the case, with Grabber fitting better as a guard due to the quicker feet and giving him the ability to pull. Overall, this offense feels very balanced and can attack at multiple levels. The question will be one of match-ups more than talent in the coming games.
----
Defense
The Aztec defense is slim up front, with a lack of coverage behind the starting tackles and linebackers. To aid in that, the secondary is aggressive and full of potential playmakers. Let’s look into them.
--
Defensive Tackle
Dormo Bloodhand; Ryan McBean
The two tackles the Aztecs picked up are punishing attacking tackles. McBean might be one of the scariest lineman on film; blisteringly fast off the snap, with strong violent punches and a strong finish. Bloodhand is slower off the ball and his push less noticeable, but he makes up for it with good instincts for the ball and is a strong finishing tackler. With no big body to occupy the nose, expect a rotation from these players to get bounced between the nose and end positions.
--
Rush LB
Joey Battle
The Sooner Battle is a blazing fast rush linebacker, with good push and footwork giving him the ability to meet blockers then rip past them. Battle will be asked to both rush and drop in this defense, but with elite speed numbers Battle should be up for the task of sticking with receivers or backs. Still, look for Battle to shine in pass rush situations, either wrapping up the play himself or forcing the play back to the teeth of the defense.
--
Inside LB
Adam Dietzel
Dietzel is a prototypical MIKE, with good speed, strength and tackling ability. Dietzel will likely be wearing the dot for the Aztecs, coordinating the on-field defense and securing the box from crossing routes and dive plays. The main issue that Dietzel may encounter is the lack of a supporting cast other than Battle. The 3-4 defense relies on strong backers making the plays that the tackles can’t get due to soaking up blocks. Dietzel will have his work cut out for him and should be hitting the oxygen each time the offense hits the field.
--
Cornerbacks
Dylan Friedland; Big Birtha
A tale of opposites will anchor the outsides of the Aztec defense. Friedland is the fastest prospect appearing in the bowl, and it isn’t particularly close. Friedland pairs this with good footwork and solid hands, allowing for any chance the ball goes up to come down as an interception. If that happens, Friedland might take it all the way back home. Birtha, on the other end, is an aggressive press corner who can jam receivers at the line and then keep pace once the route is disrupted. Birtha also shows great signs of play identification, refusing to bite on any moves that might happen after the initial disrupted route.
--
Safety
Carlos Monfils
Monfils will sit at the top of the defense, looking to make splash plays on the ball when possible. Monfils possesses good hands for a defender, as well as the closing speed to get to the ball while in the air. Monfils might not be equipped to blitz, there is potential that Monfils would work as a hybrid nickel corner depending on need. Still, Monfils will need to be all over the field, as he is the only big-name safety the Aztecs managed to snag.
--
Strategy
The Aztec defense feels light on playmakers but is equipped to deal serious damage to opposition if things slide in the right direction. McBean and Bloodhand are both dangerous attackers who have the chance to blow up plays before their development, more so if Battle is attacking off the edge. Coverage from Friedland and Birtha make quick outside passes harder and dangerous. The major vulnerability comes from Dietzel having little help if Battle is sent on blitz or rush packages, which seems likely in the assessed 3-4 defense being run. As long as Dietzel can keep the surrounding cast on their feet and prevents long runs from occurring up the middle, this defense is more than capable of getting off the field. The goal will be forcing short drives, as any player rotating off the field will create a potential weak point that can be exploited.
This Aztec team has tons of potential to come out on top but will need nerves of steel and sharp minds to ingest all the planning needed to compete with the other teams in the Prospect Bowl. Will the Aztec appease the gods and fans alike? We’ll find out tomorrow night when the team takes the field for the first time.
The preliminary look at the Mexico City Aztecs is full of interesting questions, while others are as straightforward as it comes. Depending on what direction the coaches at the bowl decide to commit to, the performance of this team will live and die on it. The coaches are all chosen specifically for their experience at gauging talent and using it to their advantage, but there is always the question of whether or not the players will be able to pick up the nuances of the game in such a short time. With games set to start soon, the prospects are in for some long nights studying and practicing. To understand this team, let’s look at the roster and begin gathering our thoughts and questions.
Starting with the offense, let’s look at a positional breakdown first. We can attempt to read the tea leaves of the offense after understanding the brew we are making.
--
Quarterback
Tua TurnDaBallOva; Austin Gausman
The general of the offense, the quarterback position remains the most important piece of the offensive puzzle. The Aztecs have selected two prototypical pocket passers in Tua TurnDaBallOva and Austin Gausman. Based on measurables provided by the DSFL, it would seem that Tua has the edge on arm strength, while Gausman is slightly faster. DSFL has also informed me that Gausman performed slightly better on the general studies test. Whether this will result in faster acclimation to the game remains to be seen. This will be the battle to watch in camp, although I expect that both players will see the field during the games.
--
Running Back
Marty Crane
The sole running back taken by the Aztecs is Marty Crane, a speedy back with homerun potential and the coveted elusiveness to make men miss. Scouts did note that Crane did not catch passes during workouts and was not seen as a primary part of their game during college. Still, with Crane being the only man standing for the team, they will be getting a multitude of opportunities to impress those watching.
--
Tight End
A Waffle; Theo Blake; Thomas Passarelli
A balanced group of options at the tight end position, with each TE finding a separate niche to occupy. Waffle is a menace of a blocker, massively strong and faster than one would expect. Waffle could be a key player in the run scheme, sealing the edge for Crane to get to the second level untouched. Blake is more traditional ball security tight end, looking to catch the ball and hold onto it through contact. Blake should be utilized in the short-to-intermediate passing game to keep the chains moving where possible. For the big swings, coaches are going to be looking for Thomas Passarelli to stretch the seams and abuse mismatches. Passarelli was a standout at ODU, with solid hands and good speed. Seeing the options that these three TEs present will give the Aztecs chances to attack in a variety of ways.
--
Wide Receiver
Diego López de Castilla; John Parano
Another solid set of choices by the Aztec staff with two complementary wide outs that will see time on the field together without overshadowing each other. De Castilla is a dangerously fast slot receiver with solid hands. De Castilla will be a match-up nightmare for some nickel corners, or the unfortunate linebacker forced to cover de Castilla in a zone. Parano is a big body outside receiver who values coming down with the ball. While he lacks the getaway speed you might expect, he has sticky hands and great body control to evade a press and gain separation.
--
Lineman
Otis Grabber; Paul McLaughlin
Grabber and McLaughlin are the big-name selections on the Oline and could either create a wall on one side of the line or balance out the quality of both sides. Grabber has great footwork and a fantastic ability to diagnose the defense and react. Otis can also anchor a pass block, giving great versatility to his game. McLaughlin edges Grabber in strength, able to push his man off the block consistently at the cost of heavier feet. Look for how these two are employed along the line, as it could solve or create issues in both the run and passing game.
--
Kicker/Punter
Logan Johnson
Johnson will be taking on both kicking and punting duties for the Aztecs and is a sure leg with great poise. While possessed with excellent accuracy, the North Carolina product also has the weakest leg of the prospects. The Aztecs will be leaning on their offense to get them well inside scoring distance. If that happens, though, Johnson is a sure bet that points will end up on the board. The question of playing the field position game with Johnson is difficult to discern, and we will all be looking to see how that affects defensive strategy.
--
Strategy
Talk from the camp states that the Aztecs will be utilizing a pro-style offense for the Prospect Bowl. With Crane being the premier back picked up by the Aztecs, we can expect heavy use of Single back and shotgun formations, with the offense balanced between run and pass. This will create opportunities for play-action and draw plays. At this time, I am giving a slight edge to Tua TunDaBallOva to start the game over Austin Gausman. The arm talent is slightly better, allowing for the offense to stretch the field. I expect the team to utilize a gap-scheme run fit, giving Crane options to find his own hole. One concern for the team is that with Crane being the primary back, the Aztecs will need to find a way to rotate and fill that position while he gets his wind back. To that end, we could see de Castilla be asked to sub over, with Blake or Passarelli filling in at slot. The other question is if Grabber and McLaughlin will be deployed on the same side of the field. I predict this to be the case, with Grabber fitting better as a guard due to the quicker feet and giving him the ability to pull. Overall, this offense feels very balanced and can attack at multiple levels. The question will be one of match-ups more than talent in the coming games.
----
Defense
The Aztec defense is slim up front, with a lack of coverage behind the starting tackles and linebackers. To aid in that, the secondary is aggressive and full of potential playmakers. Let’s look into them.
--
Defensive Tackle
Dormo Bloodhand; Ryan McBean
The two tackles the Aztecs picked up are punishing attacking tackles. McBean might be one of the scariest lineman on film; blisteringly fast off the snap, with strong violent punches and a strong finish. Bloodhand is slower off the ball and his push less noticeable, but he makes up for it with good instincts for the ball and is a strong finishing tackler. With no big body to occupy the nose, expect a rotation from these players to get bounced between the nose and end positions.
--
Rush LB
Joey Battle
The Sooner Battle is a blazing fast rush linebacker, with good push and footwork giving him the ability to meet blockers then rip past them. Battle will be asked to both rush and drop in this defense, but with elite speed numbers Battle should be up for the task of sticking with receivers or backs. Still, look for Battle to shine in pass rush situations, either wrapping up the play himself or forcing the play back to the teeth of the defense.
--
Inside LB
Adam Dietzel
Dietzel is a prototypical MIKE, with good speed, strength and tackling ability. Dietzel will likely be wearing the dot for the Aztecs, coordinating the on-field defense and securing the box from crossing routes and dive plays. The main issue that Dietzel may encounter is the lack of a supporting cast other than Battle. The 3-4 defense relies on strong backers making the plays that the tackles can’t get due to soaking up blocks. Dietzel will have his work cut out for him and should be hitting the oxygen each time the offense hits the field.
--
Cornerbacks
Dylan Friedland; Big Birtha
A tale of opposites will anchor the outsides of the Aztec defense. Friedland is the fastest prospect appearing in the bowl, and it isn’t particularly close. Friedland pairs this with good footwork and solid hands, allowing for any chance the ball goes up to come down as an interception. If that happens, Friedland might take it all the way back home. Birtha, on the other end, is an aggressive press corner who can jam receivers at the line and then keep pace once the route is disrupted. Birtha also shows great signs of play identification, refusing to bite on any moves that might happen after the initial disrupted route.
--
Safety
Carlos Monfils
Monfils will sit at the top of the defense, looking to make splash plays on the ball when possible. Monfils possesses good hands for a defender, as well as the closing speed to get to the ball while in the air. Monfils might not be equipped to blitz, there is potential that Monfils would work as a hybrid nickel corner depending on need. Still, Monfils will need to be all over the field, as he is the only big-name safety the Aztecs managed to snag.
--
Strategy
The Aztec defense feels light on playmakers but is equipped to deal serious damage to opposition if things slide in the right direction. McBean and Bloodhand are both dangerous attackers who have the chance to blow up plays before their development, more so if Battle is attacking off the edge. Coverage from Friedland and Birtha make quick outside passes harder and dangerous. The major vulnerability comes from Dietzel having little help if Battle is sent on blitz or rush packages, which seems likely in the assessed 3-4 defense being run. As long as Dietzel can keep the surrounding cast on their feet and prevents long runs from occurring up the middle, this defense is more than capable of getting off the field. The goal will be forcing short drives, as any player rotating off the field will create a potential weak point that can be exploited.
This Aztec team has tons of potential to come out on top but will need nerves of steel and sharp minds to ingest all the planning needed to compete with the other teams in the Prospect Bowl. Will the Aztec appease the gods and fans alike? We’ll find out tomorrow night when the team takes the field for the first time.