Fresno State coach Pat Hill has a solid reputation around the country. Still, some Fresno State fans question Hill's playcalling, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. And maybe fans aren't the only ones.
Here's the thing with sports and success. It's all relative. For instance, New Mexico State football fans would be head over heals to have a season or two that the Bulldogs are accustom to having. Fresno State fans are trying to catch the Boise State's of the world. In a nutshell, fans and programs are always looking to get to the next level. Who can blame them?
It is a fine line though. It's tough to win every year. Some years are better than others, some years are down. Does Fresno State lean on the side of caution on offense? Maybe. Probably. But you can't argue with Hill's success, can you?
The guy has won consistently at Fresno. He's recorded 85 wins in 11 seasons with the program. He's taken them to bowl games year in and year out. Fresno always has a solid batch of talent and moves players on to the NFL. Yes, Hill does run the ball a lot. That's his formula. Once again, the Bulldogs have a stable of running backs this year and they will lean on them now more than ever. Hill's philosophy is simple: Play well along the lines, run the ball well, get mistake-free football from the QB position and stop the run on defense. Is it flashy? No. Does it win games? Yes.
I think a lot of frustration comes from last year, when Fresno State was considered to be a WAC favorite, even possible a BCS bowl team, and failed to live up to the billing. It almost gave Hill the stigma of being a good coach who couldn't take his team to an elite level. Is it fair? I don't think so, and I don't think it to be true either. But when expectations are high and you fall flat, that can happen.
Last year was a disappointment for the program. The team actually got off to a nice start. Wins at Rutgers, Toledo and UCLA put them at 3-1, the one loss coming 13-10 to Wisconsin. Something happened during WAC play however. First off, the Bulldogs dropped the conference opener, at home, to Hawaii. Not a good start to league play at all. And they simply didn't play well against the conference's elite. They lost by three at Louisiana Tech, then came home the following week and fell to Nevada. At Boise State the last week of the season was tabbed as a possible conference decider prior to Week 1 of last season. It was anything but. Not only were the Bulldogs out of the race by that time, they got pummeled on the Blue Turf as well, a 61-10 loss. And then they lost the New Mexico Bowl to Colorado State. They finished 4-4 in the WAC and beat the bottom feeders. And they struggled in some of those games as well.
Right or wrong, this seems to be a big year for Hill. I still believe that he's a solid coach and someone who can get the job done. It's just how that old saying does — the grass is always greener on the other side. Taking Hill's success for granted could be a mistake by Bulldog fans.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Abdoulaye N'doye
From my understanding, basketball player Abdoulaye N'doye will be on the NMSU campus shortly.
The 7-foot-1 African center could possibly be at NMSU by the second summer session and will almost surely be here by the time school starts.
N'doye, a native of Senegal, never made it to Las Cruces last year. His arrival would give NMSU another big body in the frontcourt.
The 7-foot-1 African center could possibly be at NMSU by the second summer session and will almost surely be here by the time school starts.
N'doye, a native of Senegal, never made it to Las Cruces last year. His arrival would give NMSU another big body in the frontcourt.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Utah State
It seems that a lot of people are picking the Utah State football team to be a breakout program in the WAC this season. Here's what I think....
I think the UtAgs were a lot better last year. They finished 3-5 in the WAC and the case could be made that they should have went 4-4. They beat Idaho, NMSU and Hawaii all at home. They also were extremely competitive with Fresno State and Louisiana Tech, losing to FSU 30-28 and to Tech on the road 45-38. Either one of those games could have gone to Utah State.
This year, the team brought in a new coach, Gary Anderson, who was the defensive coordinator at Utah. Anderson comes from a strong program and has the reputation of being a good defensive strategist and recruiter. The program believes Anderson can recruit with Utah and BYU in the same region.
He takes over a team that has some talented pieces formed by former coach Brent Guy. Guy was fired after last season but did not leave the roster without skill. Offensively, the UtAgs have an underrated player in quarterback Diondre Borel. I actually think Borel was the single reason USU made the turnaround it did last season. He was inserted into the starting lineup in Week 4 and the team promptly went on to blow out Idaho 42-17. He injected the offense with some needed spunk and energy and made them difficult to defend. Borel is a mobile quarterback who is tough to gameplan against. Bringing him into the fold was a good move by Guy and probably overdue. Anderson hired former New Mexico offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin to open things up for the UtAgs. USU will spread the field and hope to take advantage of Borel's playmaking abilities. He will be a junior this season and will need to exceed last year's performance if the UtAgs are expected to take the next step.
Another key to the team moving forward will be its performance on defense. Last year, Utah State was terrible on this side of the ball, surrendering 34.7 points per game, eighth in the WAC (Idaho was ninth at 42.8; NMSU seventh at 34.1). This is where Anderson comes into the fold. Although Guy had a defensive background upon his arrival at USU, Anderson will bring a fresh perspective and, the hope is, better results. The team shuffled its personnel in the offseason. One was moving running back Curtis Marsh to the cornerback position. Another was moving around some pieces on the defensive line, some defensive ends to tackle and linebackers to end. The moves were designed to generate more speed on that side of the ball. Clearly something had to be done with the personnel here, as this was a major weakness in 2008.
Here are the keys for the UtAgs:
1) The performance of Borel. He also needs to stay healthy and avoid the big hits that can happen to a mobile quarterback.
2) The defense needs to be better, a lot better. If the team surrenders over 30 points per game again, they will not be much improved.
3) The team's success against Utah and BYU are important. Although not WAC games, USU has suffered from being a “third wheel” within its own state. Utah and BYU remain powerhouse programs in the Mountain West, but nothing will open eyes faster than being competitive with these two teams and perhaps even pulling off an upset here. It will be a tall order, as both games take place on the road this season.
4) Obviously, playing well in conference is a must. They host Nevada, La. Tech, San Jose State and Boise State. The game versus BYU is on ESPN. Gotta love the nationally televised contest in Logan. It's scheduled for Nov. 20. On the road, they come to Las Cruces, go to Idaho, Fresno State and Hawaii. It's a tougher road schedule than advertised. I'm looking forward to seeing them at NMSU (Oct. 10).
Where can the team end up? They could finish in the Top-5 in the conference. Frankly, I can't see them finishing higher than fifth. They could also finish in the bottom three. They are one of the more intriguing teams as the 2009 season approaches and one WAC program to keep an eye on.
I think the UtAgs were a lot better last year. They finished 3-5 in the WAC and the case could be made that they should have went 4-4. They beat Idaho, NMSU and Hawaii all at home. They also were extremely competitive with Fresno State and Louisiana Tech, losing to FSU 30-28 and to Tech on the road 45-38. Either one of those games could have gone to Utah State.
This year, the team brought in a new coach, Gary Anderson, who was the defensive coordinator at Utah. Anderson comes from a strong program and has the reputation of being a good defensive strategist and recruiter. The program believes Anderson can recruit with Utah and BYU in the same region.
He takes over a team that has some talented pieces formed by former coach Brent Guy. Guy was fired after last season but did not leave the roster without skill. Offensively, the UtAgs have an underrated player in quarterback Diondre Borel. I actually think Borel was the single reason USU made the turnaround it did last season. He was inserted into the starting lineup in Week 4 and the team promptly went on to blow out Idaho 42-17. He injected the offense with some needed spunk and energy and made them difficult to defend. Borel is a mobile quarterback who is tough to gameplan against. Bringing him into the fold was a good move by Guy and probably overdue. Anderson hired former New Mexico offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin to open things up for the UtAgs. USU will spread the field and hope to take advantage of Borel's playmaking abilities. He will be a junior this season and will need to exceed last year's performance if the UtAgs are expected to take the next step.
Another key to the team moving forward will be its performance on defense. Last year, Utah State was terrible on this side of the ball, surrendering 34.7 points per game, eighth in the WAC (Idaho was ninth at 42.8; NMSU seventh at 34.1). This is where Anderson comes into the fold. Although Guy had a defensive background upon his arrival at USU, Anderson will bring a fresh perspective and, the hope is, better results. The team shuffled its personnel in the offseason. One was moving running back Curtis Marsh to the cornerback position. Another was moving around some pieces on the defensive line, some defensive ends to tackle and linebackers to end. The moves were designed to generate more speed on that side of the ball. Clearly something had to be done with the personnel here, as this was a major weakness in 2008.
Here are the keys for the UtAgs:
1) The performance of Borel. He also needs to stay healthy and avoid the big hits that can happen to a mobile quarterback.
2) The defense needs to be better, a lot better. If the team surrenders over 30 points per game again, they will not be much improved.
3) The team's success against Utah and BYU are important. Although not WAC games, USU has suffered from being a “third wheel” within its own state. Utah and BYU remain powerhouse programs in the Mountain West, but nothing will open eyes faster than being competitive with these two teams and perhaps even pulling off an upset here. It will be a tall order, as both games take place on the road this season.
4) Obviously, playing well in conference is a must. They host Nevada, La. Tech, San Jose State and Boise State. The game versus BYU is on ESPN. Gotta love the nationally televised contest in Logan. It's scheduled for Nov. 20. On the road, they come to Las Cruces, go to Idaho, Fresno State and Hawaii. It's a tougher road schedule than advertised. I'm looking forward to seeing them at NMSU (Oct. 10).
Where can the team end up? They could finish in the Top-5 in the conference. Frankly, I can't see them finishing higher than fifth. They could also finish in the bottom three. They are one of the more intriguing teams as the 2009 season approaches and one WAC program to keep an eye on.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Zach Daugherty
Lots of chatter about Zach Daugherty electing to go to the University of New Mexico over New Mexico State.
My initial thoughts? I was surprised. I thought he would come to NMSU for a few reasons:
1) It's his hometown
2) DeWayne Walker is a defensive-minded coach
3) NMSU needs help at linebacker, giving him a legitimate shot at playing time right off the bat
In reality, Las Cruces being Zach's hometown was a big reason the kid left. He wanted to branch out and get a new experience under his belt. Can anyone blame him for feeling that way? I know I can't.
As for the other two factors, I think they are legitimate. Both NMSU and UNM are going through massive transformations on the football field. If it were the last few years, with Hal Mumme and Rocky Long at the helm of their respective programs, that would be a different story. If Long was still in Albuquerque, it would be the ideal fit. Go to a unique defensive system, to a coach that frankly was able to get a lot of his players to overachieve. That would make perfect sense. Who knows what you're getting at UNM now. The Lobos have just as many question marks as the Aggies, in my eyes. The hope is that, in time, Walker will mold NMSU into a tough-minded defensive team.
Who knows how he would have fared at NMSU. I think Zach will be a solid D-I football player. A middle linebacker? Time will tell where he fits in and in what role. But I do think he will be a factor during his career in Albuquerque.
Moving forward, how does NMSU attract more New Mexico players to its program? That's easy. You gotta win. You gotta beat the Lobos, you gotta beat UTEP, you gotta get a positive buzz surrounding your program. If you do that, kids will come play here. Easy answer. Concocting that winning formula can be a bit more elusive. They'll get another shot at it in two months.
My initial thoughts? I was surprised. I thought he would come to NMSU for a few reasons:
1) It's his hometown
2) DeWayne Walker is a defensive-minded coach
3) NMSU needs help at linebacker, giving him a legitimate shot at playing time right off the bat
In reality, Las Cruces being Zach's hometown was a big reason the kid left. He wanted to branch out and get a new experience under his belt. Can anyone blame him for feeling that way? I know I can't.
As for the other two factors, I think they are legitimate. Both NMSU and UNM are going through massive transformations on the football field. If it were the last few years, with Hal Mumme and Rocky Long at the helm of their respective programs, that would be a different story. If Long was still in Albuquerque, it would be the ideal fit. Go to a unique defensive system, to a coach that frankly was able to get a lot of his players to overachieve. That would make perfect sense. Who knows what you're getting at UNM now. The Lobos have just as many question marks as the Aggies, in my eyes. The hope is that, in time, Walker will mold NMSU into a tough-minded defensive team.
Who knows how he would have fared at NMSU. I think Zach will be a solid D-I football player. A middle linebacker? Time will tell where he fits in and in what role. But I do think he will be a factor during his career in Albuquerque.
Moving forward, how does NMSU attract more New Mexico players to its program? That's easy. You gotta win. You gotta beat the Lobos, you gotta beat UTEP, you gotta get a positive buzz surrounding your program. If you do that, kids will come play here. Easy answer. Concocting that winning formula can be a bit more elusive. They'll get another shot at it in two months.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Rating the QBs
Tonight I break down the quarterback position for all nine teams in the WAC.
Sure things
Colin Kaepernick, Nevada
2008 stats: 208-of-383, 2,849 yards, 22 TDs, 7 INTs; 161 rushing attempts, 1,298 yards, 17 TDs
Team's 2008 record: 7-6 overall, 5-3 in WAC
Kaepernick is a different kind of player. At 6-foot-6, 215 pounds, he is anything but a classic drop-back quarterback. What he does do well is move in and around the pocket and can get downfield with his legs. Kaepernick remains a streaky passer, prone to hot and cold spells. His scrambling ability sets up well though in the Wolf Pack offense, which sports a handful of good running backs. The one risk with Kaepernick is injury. His style could lead to big hits and possible missed time. If he went down, the Nevada offense wouldn't be the same.
Kellen Moore, Boise State
2008 stats: 281-of-405, 3,486 yards, 25 TDs, 10 INTs
Team's 2008 record: 12-1 overall, 8-0 in WAC
Moore had a big freshman season last year, fitting in nicely in the Bronco offense and putting up big numbers. Moore was poised throughout the season and perhaps the most impressive statistic was Boise State's 12-1 record and Poinsettia Bowl appearance (the team lost 17-16 to TCU). The bottom line is that Moore put up gaudy numbers, and Boise State continued its high level of play. It spoke volumes about the freshman signal caller from Prosser, Washington. This year, the team loses some weapons on offense, namely running back Ian Johnson and wide receiver Jeremy Childs. The Broncos should have a solid supporting cast once again around the QB, however. One would think Moore should come close or eclipse his numbers from last season.
Simply solid
Diondre Borel, Utah State
2008 stats: 136-of-242, 1,705 yards, 11 TDs, 10 INTs; 179 rushing attempts, 855 yards, 5 TDs
Team's 2008 record: 3-9 overall, 3-5 in WAC
Many are predicting Utah State to be the most improved team in the conference. If the UtAgs are going to become a factor in the WAC race, Borel will need to continue building on his strong 2008 season. He took over the starting job in Week 4 and led the UtAgs to a 3-6 record following his promotion. One of those losses came to BYU. The team was also much more competitive in the games Borel saw extensive action, suffering a seven-point loss on the road at Louisiana Tech and a two-point defeat at home to Fresno State. Borel led the UtAgs in passing and rushing last season. He's a dual threat out of the backfield and seems poised for a big year.
Greg Alexander, Hawaii
2008 stats: 154-of-245, 1,895 yards, 14 TDs, 5 INTs
Team's 2008 record: 7-7 overall, 5-3 in WAC
Alexander started seven games last year for the Warriors, leading them to the Hawaii Bowl. His numbers were impressive, with a nice 14-5 TD-to-INT ratio. Hawaii has lost a lot of its offensive punch since June Jones moved on the SMU, but the team should still move the ball at a nice rate in 2009. If Alexander is the full-time starter for the Warriors, he should be solid once again.
Kyle Reed, San Jose State
2008 stats: 162-of-253, 1,563 yards, 9 TDs, 6 INTs
Team's 2008 record: 6-6 overall, 4-4 in WAC
Reed is borderline on this list, but I think he will have a good year for the Spartans. SJSU will remain a run-first team, built around a strong defense. Reed will be asked to make the occasional big play, execute mistake-free football and be clutch. I expect the Spartans to be solid once again, a reflection of the team's quarterback.
Underrated
Nathan Enderle, Idaho
2008 stats: 184-of-339, 2,077 yards, 20 TDs, 17 INTs
Team's 2008 record: 2-10 overall, 1-7 in WAC
Enderle appeared in all 12 games for the Vandals, tossing 20 touchdowns in the process. Enderle managed to do it without the benefit of a true No. 1 receiver, although H-Back Eddie Williams (54 catches, six TDs) was reliable once again in his final year with the Idaho. Enderle is streaky, throwing 17 interceptions as well. He will benefit from a strong running game behind him, although still lacks a true No. 1 and will play behind an offensive line that will be a work in progress. The team brought in junior college QB Brian Reader and freshman Taylor Davis, so there will be competition.
The great unknown
New Mexico State
Jeff Fleming, Trevor Walls, Tanner Rust
Team's 2008 record: 3-9 overall, 1-7 in WAC
This threesome is extremely unproven and a timeshare at the position seems like a distinct possibility. Fleming is more mobile than Walls, although Walls seems to be a more natural thrower of the football. Rust will be raw as a freshman, although he's a great athlete who could see the field as the season progresses. NMSU needs solid play from this position, whether it be a two-headed monster, a freshman stealing the show or another alternative. There is inexperience and potential here.
Ross Jenkins, Louisiana Tech
2008 stats: 92-of-174, 1,155 yards, 7 TDs, 3 INTs
Team's 2008 record: 8-5 overall, 5-3
Jenkins was solid down the stretch, leading Louisiana Tech to a 6-2 record in the team's final eight games and an Independence Bowl win over Northern Illinois. Jenkins will have to do it again, this time as the team's unquestioned starter in 2009. The team doesn't have exceptional targets in the passing game - Phillip Livas is a great player but is more of a specialty receiver. One WR to keep an eye on is Cruz Williams, who has a ton of potential after sitting out the 2008 season. Jenkins will need to have a solid year for La. Tech to reach its full potential.
Fresno State
Ryan Colburn, Ebahn Feathers, Derek Carr
Team's 2008 record: 7-6 overall, 4-4 in WAC
There is a lot of inexperience here as well, although whoever wins the job steps into a good situation - strong running backs, solid receivers and a offensive line that has notoriously held up under coach Pat Hill. Colburn, a junior, seems to be next in line, although Carr - younger brother of former Fresno State standout David Carr - could make some noise. Either way, this is a position of intrigue for the Bulldogs.
Sure things
Colin Kaepernick, Nevada
2008 stats: 208-of-383, 2,849 yards, 22 TDs, 7 INTs; 161 rushing attempts, 1,298 yards, 17 TDs
Team's 2008 record: 7-6 overall, 5-3 in WAC
Kaepernick is a different kind of player. At 6-foot-6, 215 pounds, he is anything but a classic drop-back quarterback. What he does do well is move in and around the pocket and can get downfield with his legs. Kaepernick remains a streaky passer, prone to hot and cold spells. His scrambling ability sets up well though in the Wolf Pack offense, which sports a handful of good running backs. The one risk with Kaepernick is injury. His style could lead to big hits and possible missed time. If he went down, the Nevada offense wouldn't be the same.
Kellen Moore, Boise State
2008 stats: 281-of-405, 3,486 yards, 25 TDs, 10 INTs
Team's 2008 record: 12-1 overall, 8-0 in WAC
Moore had a big freshman season last year, fitting in nicely in the Bronco offense and putting up big numbers. Moore was poised throughout the season and perhaps the most impressive statistic was Boise State's 12-1 record and Poinsettia Bowl appearance (the team lost 17-16 to TCU). The bottom line is that Moore put up gaudy numbers, and Boise State continued its high level of play. It spoke volumes about the freshman signal caller from Prosser, Washington. This year, the team loses some weapons on offense, namely running back Ian Johnson and wide receiver Jeremy Childs. The Broncos should have a solid supporting cast once again around the QB, however. One would think Moore should come close or eclipse his numbers from last season.
Simply solid
Diondre Borel, Utah State
2008 stats: 136-of-242, 1,705 yards, 11 TDs, 10 INTs; 179 rushing attempts, 855 yards, 5 TDs
Team's 2008 record: 3-9 overall, 3-5 in WAC
Many are predicting Utah State to be the most improved team in the conference. If the UtAgs are going to become a factor in the WAC race, Borel will need to continue building on his strong 2008 season. He took over the starting job in Week 4 and led the UtAgs to a 3-6 record following his promotion. One of those losses came to BYU. The team was also much more competitive in the games Borel saw extensive action, suffering a seven-point loss on the road at Louisiana Tech and a two-point defeat at home to Fresno State. Borel led the UtAgs in passing and rushing last season. He's a dual threat out of the backfield and seems poised for a big year.
Greg Alexander, Hawaii
2008 stats: 154-of-245, 1,895 yards, 14 TDs, 5 INTs
Team's 2008 record: 7-7 overall, 5-3 in WAC
Alexander started seven games last year for the Warriors, leading them to the Hawaii Bowl. His numbers were impressive, with a nice 14-5 TD-to-INT ratio. Hawaii has lost a lot of its offensive punch since June Jones moved on the SMU, but the team should still move the ball at a nice rate in 2009. If Alexander is the full-time starter for the Warriors, he should be solid once again.
Kyle Reed, San Jose State
2008 stats: 162-of-253, 1,563 yards, 9 TDs, 6 INTs
Team's 2008 record: 6-6 overall, 4-4 in WAC
Reed is borderline on this list, but I think he will have a good year for the Spartans. SJSU will remain a run-first team, built around a strong defense. Reed will be asked to make the occasional big play, execute mistake-free football and be clutch. I expect the Spartans to be solid once again, a reflection of the team's quarterback.
Underrated
Nathan Enderle, Idaho
2008 stats: 184-of-339, 2,077 yards, 20 TDs, 17 INTs
Team's 2008 record: 2-10 overall, 1-7 in WAC
Enderle appeared in all 12 games for the Vandals, tossing 20 touchdowns in the process. Enderle managed to do it without the benefit of a true No. 1 receiver, although H-Back Eddie Williams (54 catches, six TDs) was reliable once again in his final year with the Idaho. Enderle is streaky, throwing 17 interceptions as well. He will benefit from a strong running game behind him, although still lacks a true No. 1 and will play behind an offensive line that will be a work in progress. The team brought in junior college QB Brian Reader and freshman Taylor Davis, so there will be competition.
The great unknown
New Mexico State
Jeff Fleming, Trevor Walls, Tanner Rust
Team's 2008 record: 3-9 overall, 1-7 in WAC
This threesome is extremely unproven and a timeshare at the position seems like a distinct possibility. Fleming is more mobile than Walls, although Walls seems to be a more natural thrower of the football. Rust will be raw as a freshman, although he's a great athlete who could see the field as the season progresses. NMSU needs solid play from this position, whether it be a two-headed monster, a freshman stealing the show or another alternative. There is inexperience and potential here.
Ross Jenkins, Louisiana Tech
2008 stats: 92-of-174, 1,155 yards, 7 TDs, 3 INTs
Team's 2008 record: 8-5 overall, 5-3
Jenkins was solid down the stretch, leading Louisiana Tech to a 6-2 record in the team's final eight games and an Independence Bowl win over Northern Illinois. Jenkins will have to do it again, this time as the team's unquestioned starter in 2009. The team doesn't have exceptional targets in the passing game - Phillip Livas is a great player but is more of a specialty receiver. One WR to keep an eye on is Cruz Williams, who has a ton of potential after sitting out the 2008 season. Jenkins will need to have a solid year for La. Tech to reach its full potential.
Fresno State
Ryan Colburn, Ebahn Feathers, Derek Carr
Team's 2008 record: 7-6 overall, 4-4 in WAC
There is a lot of inexperience here as well, although whoever wins the job steps into a good situation - strong running backs, solid receivers and a offensive line that has notoriously held up under coach Pat Hill. Colburn, a junior, seems to be next in line, although Carr - younger brother of former Fresno State standout David Carr - could make some noise. Either way, this is a position of intrigue for the Bulldogs.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Nick Paden
From my understanding, Aggie middle linebacker Nick Paden will not play this season.
Nick has been battling knee injuries which will cause him to drop football.
Paden played in 12 games last season, recording 107 tackles. He also had two sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
Nick has been battling knee injuries which will cause him to drop football.
Paden played in 12 games last season, recording 107 tackles. He also had two sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
Polo Gutierrez
Just wanted to let everyone know that I spoke with Polo Gutierrez about his tryout with the Buffalo Bills.
Polo sounded optimistic about the audition, saying that he displayed some of the quickest feet out of all the lineman present. The one thing Gutierrez didn't have on the other players was size. He said that all the linemen “towered” over him, but that he was right in the middle of the pack weight wise. Polo stands at about 6-2, 300 pounds.
One thing we talked about was the competition he went against. He said that the other linemen were from Oklahoma, Stanford and UCLA. He had a shirt that read “Aggies” and the group assumed that he was from Texas A&M. That's not exactly the support we're looking for here.
But he did sound very optimistic about his performance, saying that he had a “great day” in Buffalo. I think the Bills would be a good fit for him. They like hard working, tough, blue-collar lineman in Buffalo. Polo fits the bill. Hopefully he gets the shot that he deserves.
Polo sounded optimistic about the audition, saying that he displayed some of the quickest feet out of all the lineman present. The one thing Gutierrez didn't have on the other players was size. He said that all the linemen “towered” over him, but that he was right in the middle of the pack weight wise. Polo stands at about 6-2, 300 pounds.
One thing we talked about was the competition he went against. He said that the other linemen were from Oklahoma, Stanford and UCLA. He had a shirt that read “Aggies” and the group assumed that he was from Texas A&M. That's not exactly the support we're looking for here.
But he did sound very optimistic about his performance, saying that he had a “great day” in Buffalo. I think the Bills would be a good fit for him. They like hard working, tough, blue-collar lineman in Buffalo. Polo fits the bill. Hopefully he gets the shot that he deserves.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
