Posted by Phalanxman
on 1/29/2009, 8:32 pm
75.62.254.6
My first post here on returning Spartans focused on Centers, and there have already been a couple of good comments. Thanks.
Here is a run-down on the players who will be returning at the Offensive Guard position:
Amar Albassam, R/S FR, 6-3, 315: did not play in 2008 as a red-shirt freshman, so would be a sophomore (I guess) in 2009. He was a walk-on in 2007.
Ailao Eliapo, JR, 6-2,320: Eliapo was the 2008 starting right guard in all 12 games. He began his college career as a defensive tackle. Eliapo was a 2005 CalHi Sports first-team all-state player, and a first-team all Central Coast Section defensive lineman. He started all 12 games in 2008 for the Spartans.
Garrett Faulconer, JR, 6-7, 330-360: Faulconer got into four games in 2008, all in the first half of the season. His last game was the Utah State game (#6), and he missed the two before that. This looks like an injury to me, but I don't know for sure. Anyone who does, please fill us in. Garrett weighs between 330 and 360, depending on which publication you read, or maybe even what time of day he weighs in. He red-shirted in 2007, but was listed in this year's media guide as a sophomore. So I reckon he will be a junior in 2009, and I hope he comes back healthy.
Isaac Leatiota, JR, 6-4,295: Leatiota ended up as our starting left guard in 2008. He got into 10 games in 2008, starting the last nine. He did not play in the first two games of the season (Davis and Nebraska). As a freshman in 2007, he started 10 games. He can also play Center. Leatiota was a 2nd team All-State player in CalHi Sports, and relatively highly rated by Rivals.com as a recruit.
Steve Lightsy, SR, 6-4, 370: Lightsy will be a senior in 2009. He came to SJSU from Fresno City College, where he was a 2006 JC GridWire first team All-American and a Region II All-State JC player. He is also a graduate of Kahuku High School on Oahu -- the football high school in Hawaii. Lightsy got into all 12 games in 2008, though he did not start.
Nathaniel Timo, SR, 6-0, 335: Timo played two seasons at Monterey Peninsula College. He red-shirted in 2007, and will be a senior in 2009. He was a 2006 First-Team Region II All-State JC player. Timo started against Davis in 2008, and played in seven other games. (P.S.: I love this guy's picture in the 2008 Media Guide. "Don't Worry, Be Happy.")
Ben Zorn, R/S FR, 6-3, 270: Zorn is from Falls Church VA, where he was a two-time all-district and all-region player. He did not play in 2008, so will be a red-shirt freshman in 2009. He was born in Vienna, Austria, so can probably hum a waltz while he throws a block. Zorn was listed as a Guard in 2008, but he may be playing Tackle in 2009.
Joseph Zusin, SR, 6-5,310: Joseph Zusin did not appear in any games in 2008, after suffering a serious injury toward the end of Fall practice, prior to the start of the season. Some have suggested Joe's football career is through, but I haven't read anything official, and am not qualified to make that determination. Until we know different, I've included him in the list of our returning Offensive Guards, and I hope he is able to return.
Analysis:
My first impression of this squad is that they are all BIG, and that there seems to be some real depth at this position, even if Zusin doesn't make it back. The second thing is that many of these guys were all-star players in high school, or at their JCs. [Ronnie Castillo and Robbie Reed, two of our returning Centers, were also stand-out high school players.] The third thing is that we had NO seniors playing Offensive Guard in 2008, so ALL of our Offensive Guards will be returning (except maybe Zusin).
But there is a mystery surrounding our offensive line in general: Why was it so bad in 2008?!?!?!?!? How can guys who had previously distinguished themselves in football have been so ineffective? (I'm trying to be nice here.)
Are they really just flab-bags, as some have suggested? But if they are that poorly conditioned, how could they have excelled at their former levels? Maybe these guys are not real fast, and maybe they should have spent more time in the weight room. And I know some -- like Lightsy -- are pretty BIG boys. But I'm not biting on the "overweight, out-of-shape" explanation, at least not as a primary malfunction, because most did excel at their previous schools.
So what about "injuries"? There were 24 available starts for the two Offensive Guard positions in 2008. Eliapo started 12, and Leatiota 9, for 21 between them. I've gone over the offical 2008 stats, and it looks to me like Timo got one start (against Davis); John Konye, carried as a Tackle, started at Guard against Nebraska; and John Moreno, another Tackle, got the start against San Diego State. [Pah-leeeeaase, feel free to correct me on this.]
Leatiota missed the first three games -- but we were 2-1 in those three games! He played in the last 9, and we were 4-5. Was he playing hurt? Eliapo started all 12 games in 2008, so you can't say he was injured.
[At Center, Reed started the first four games in 2008, Justin Paysinger got the nod in the next five, and Castillo closed out the season starting the last three. So we had talent, if not a consistent starter, at the Center position all year, also.]
BUT, injuries probably did deplete our ranks at Offensive Guard, leaving us with very little depth. Joe Zusin was out before the season started; Faulconer was out in two of the first six, and all games after that. Albassam and Zorn red-shirted, so were unavailable. It looks to me like all we had on the bench most of the season were Lightsy and Timo. So cumulative fatigue may have been a factor.
My next post will take a look at Offensive Tackles, and you can bet I'll continue this line of thought there.
Eliapo and Leatiota will probably go into Spring practice as the starters, but, given the need for improvement on the offensive line in general, there will probably be no guarantees on who starts.
Whatever scheme our new offensive coordinator installs (be it Steve Morton, Terry Malley, or Mr. X) may also have an influence on which Guards start. If we go back to a power running attack, as Coach Tomey has said he'd like to, we may see more of Steve Lightsy and Garrett Faulconer on the line. I mean, all they have to do is just push and not fall down, and a running back (especially one like Muldrow) should be able to pick up three to four yards in a rugby scrum play.
(I remember one of our home games -- I can't recall which one, it might have been USU or La-Tek -- featured a scrum attack at our goal line that resulted in an enemy touchdown.)
One thing that is encouraging is that there seems to be some young talent on the team, particularly Albassam and Zorn. I hope they develop well, and get some quality playing time next year.
Despite the depth here, I would expect Coach to recruit at least two or three potential Guards this year, because four of the eight returners will be seniors in 2009. (And Zusin may not be back at all.) Coach has gone to the JC ranks for offensive linemen in the past, and we may see a couple recruited in 2009 as well. That might bode well for immediate help on a line that needs to improve quickly.
All offensive linemen will be challenged to improve the calibre of their play in 2009. Given that many of these guys were stand-out high-school and JC players, it only deepens the mystery as to why our OL was not improved this year. It's not like the WAC is the toughest conference in college football, know what I mean?
We don't lack for beef at Guard, although many comments this past season questioned the conditioning of the offensive line. Coach Tomey has recently said he will emphasize a more physical, tougher regimen in 2009. I hope these players take these challenges seriously during the off-season, trim down a bit, run a lot, especially wind-sprints, and hit the weight room regularly.
Next season is not going to be easy. It is paramount that our offensive linemen get serious about getting in condition and staying in condition if we are to have any prayer of finishing as well as 7-5.
One last thought: A comment on my post on Centers complimented me for calling attention to our interior linemen. I really believe that the lines -- both offensive and defensive -- make up the heart of any football team. I hope that, if any of the players read this, they realize that we DO know who they are, and we DO appreciate the sacrifices and the hard work they give to good old Sparta. We all cheer when a back breaks a run, or on a big pass reception, or for sacks and interceptions. But I want these guys who play in the trenches to know I'm cheering for them, too, because they are the players that make the big plays possible.
As before, please feel free to comment, but keep comments on this thread limited to the Offensive Guards. Thanks for reading, and don't forget about that light on the way out.
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