Posted by Phalanxman
on 1/28/2009, 8:46 pm
99.137.80.186
Spartan football fans are already looking forward to next season. Some, like myself (admittedly), look ahead with with grim determination, others with more optimism. In a few days we'll know more about the players who will join our program in 2009. Here is a look at who is coming back, position-by-position, starting with Centers.
Our returning Centers are:
Ronnie Castillo, SR, 6 - 0, 292: The most likely starter at Center is Ronnie Castillo, who (I believe) was injured in the early part of the 2008 season. He missed the first five games of '08, then played the next seven, starting the last three. Castillo started all 12 games in 2007, either at center or guard. He joined the the team in 2005, and red-shirted his true freshman year. He was a most valuable lineman in his high school football league during his senior year.
Castillo would seem to have sufficient experience to be a competent Center. At 6-0, he should have a low center of gravity, but also gives up some height to opposing defensive linemen. I'm not sure what his injury was, but he may be prone to getting re-injured. The offense did not improve markedly after his return to the line-up in Game 7.
Robbie Reed, JR, 6 - 3, 290: Reed played in 10 games in 2008, starting the first four. He did not play against New Mexico State, or Nevada. As a reserve in 2007, Reed got into three games. As a high school player, he was a two-time all-league selectee, first team in his senior year.
Reed packs about the same weight, but adds three inches of height, so is probably a bit more imposing on the line, maybe a little faster. Reed played a lot this year, so he should be more experienced in 2009. He will probably be the number 2 Center in '09, and may play a little Guard as well, especially if he can pull well.
Jackson Dallas, FR (RS), 6 - 4, 305: All I know about Jackson Dallas is that he was listed in at least one SJSU program this year as being on the roster. He did not make any game appearances. I have read elsewhere that he was a walk-on freshman in 2008, which would make him a red-shirt freshman in 2009. Anybody who knows anything about Jackson, please enlighten us below. At 6 - 4, 305, you'd think it would be kind of hard to keep him under wraps.
Dallas has great size, but I'm not sure if he is center-heavy. (You old Spartans know what I mean.) I'd look for him to make some game appearances in 2009, probably as a reserve. It would be great to see this walk-on turn into a real Spartan success story.
Analysis
Let's face it: our 2008 Spartans were not very good on offense. Many fans have singled out the offensive line as the root cause for that poor performance, whether due to injury, poor conditioning, poor coaching, an offensive scheme they were ill-suited to, or just maybe because they really weren't that good. Or: [D] All of the above.
At the center of the line is -- well -- the Center. It's an important position. He snaps the ball, and must be sure-handed to avoid muffs. Because he is snapping the ball, he is often targeted for an early blast by defensive linemen, so he has to be able to hold his ground. The Center doesn't pull much (if at all), but he is often the pivotal blocker on pass protection. He will often team up with one of the guards to put a double team on a troublesome defensive lineman, to open a hole, or pass protect.
I am just as mystified as many other fans as to why the offensive line performed so poorly this year. I'm inclined to hold the OL Coach, Steve Morton, and the departed Offensive Coordinator, Marcus Arroyo, primarily responsible for that. My guess is that our linemen did not have the physical agility and finesse necessary to execute Arroyo's offensive playbook, which may have led to disagreements between Arroyo and Morton. Those differences were reflected in the poor offensive performance.
Hopefully, our coaches -- whoever they may be -- will mold next year's offensive line into a more cohesive unit, with emphasis on blocking, and the unit will improve. Coach Tomey has said he wants to emphasize "power" running next year. He's not gonna get that without a more effective offensive line. And a more effective offensive line starts with the Center who anchors it.
I don't expect all readers will agree. Any comments or insights on the Center position, or the offensive line, are welcomed.
Next up: Offensive Guards.
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