Ducks Attack Message Board Forum

Rated among the top 10 linemen in the LA area.

"Hroniss Grasu, Crespi, 6-3, 265, Sr. Oregon commit doesn't make mistakes."

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-li ... 428.column

I hope I'm wrong and wish him the best, but I just feel this is a wasted Scholly.

fecta23 wrote:I hope I'm wrong and wish him the best, but I just feel this is a wasted Scholly.

Why? If the coaches like him, they must see something that makes them believe he can contribute in future seasons. You could get that feeling on just about any recruit and be right 50% of the time.

fecta23 wrote:I hope I'm wrong and wish him the best, but I just feel this is a wasted Scholly.

Couldn't disagree more.

fecta23 wrote:I hope I'm wrong and wish him the best, but I just feel this is a wasted Scholly.

I'm interested as to why you feel as you do. Have you ever seen him play, or watched a game tape? Do you have insight into his character or work ethic? Know something about his high school team? Seriously, why do you think he will be "a wasted Scholly"?

maxduck wrote:

fecta23 wrote:I hope I'm wrong and wish him the best, but I just feel this is a wasted Scholly.

I'm interested as to why you feel as you do. Have you ever seen him play, or watched a game tape? Do you have insight into his character or work ethic? Know something about his high school team? Seriously, why do you think he will be "a wasted Scholly"?

I watched his film on rivals and came away very unimpressed, he looked no different than my buddies on my Oline when I played in HS. He is small and doesnt seem to have the frame (IMO) to put on much more weight. Obviously, there is a chance I'm wrong but its not like the coaches never miss on players( Brian Truelove, Long snapper, Mychael Riviera etc). This along with the lack of big time offers and the low rating on rivals makes me think this. I know rivals rankings are not the end all be all,and of course there is exceptions but they do mean something. Also if we had room for a full class and he was a last minute flyer I would be ok with that, but when we have a limited number of schollies I just question it. Also do you have any insight into why this wouldnt be a wasted scholly ? With all this being said I hope I'm wrong and I wish him the best but this is just my opinion.

fecta23 wrote:

maxduck wrote:

fecta23 wrote:I hope I'm wrong and wish him the best, but I just feel this is a wasted Scholly.

I'm interested as to why you feel as you do. Have you ever seen him play, or watched a game tape? Do you have insight into his character or work ethic? Know something about his high school team? Seriously, why do you think he will be "a wasted Scholly"?

I watched his film on rivals and came away very unimpressed, he looked no different than my buddies on my Oline when I played in HS. He is small and doesnt seem to have the frame (IMO) to put on much more weight. Obviously, there is a chance I'm wrong but its not like the coaches never miss on players( Brian Truelove, Long snapper, Mychael Riviera etc). This along with the lack of big time offers and the low rating on rivals makes me think this. I know rivals rankings are not the end all be all,and of course there is exceptions but they do mean something. Also if we had room for a full class and he was a last minute flyer I would be ok with that, but when we have a limited number of schollies I just question it. Also do you have any insight into why this wouldnt be a wasted scholly ? With all this being said I hope I'm wrong and I wish him the best but this is just my opinion.

Unless you have an innate ability to predict college careers based on one video, your statement sounds pretty shortsighted. Oregon has recruited very well on the OL in the past and Greatwood was named the best Offensive Line coach in the nation, so I will lean towards their opinions until proven otherwise.

fecta23 wrote:

maxduck wrote:

fecta23 wrote:I hope I'm wrong and wish him the best, but I just feel this is a wasted Scholly.

I'm interested as to why you feel as you do. Have you ever seen him play, or watched a game tape? Do you have insight into his character or work ethic? Know something about his high school team? Seriously, why do you think he will be "a wasted Scholly"?

I watched his film on rivals and came away very unimpressed, he looked no different than my buddies on my Oline when I played in HS. He is small and doesnt seem to have the frame (IMO) to put on much more weight. Obviously, there is a chance I'm wrong but its not like the coaches never miss on players( Brian Truelove, Long snapper, Mychael Riviera etc). This along with the lack of big time offers and the low rating on rivals makes me think this. I know rivals rankings are not the end all be all,and of course there is exceptions but they do mean something. Also if we had room for a full class and he was a last minute flyer I would be ok with that, but when we have a limited number of schollies I just question it. Also do you have any insight into why this wouldnt be a wasted scholly ? With all this being said I hope I'm wrong and I wish him the best but this is just my opinion.

I tend to NOT be a blind "trust the coaches" guy but two positions that I worry very little about star rankings, especially if the offer is extended early and a commitment is accepted, are Wood's boys and Neal's boys.

If those coaches see what they want in a player I couldn't really care less what Rivals thinks. Those two coaches have shown, again and again, an ability to project prospects to the D1 level regardless of what their HS rankings are.

Oracle wrote:
I tend to NOT be a blind "trust the coaches" guy but two positions that I worry very little about star rankings, especially if the offer is extended early and a commitment is accepted, are Wood's boys and Neal's boys.

If those coaches see what they want in a player I couldn't really care less what Rivals thinks. Those two coaches have shown, again and again, an ability to project prospects to the D1 level regardless of what their HS rankings are.

I have to agree with Oracle when it comes to OL recruiting. If you look back at the OL recruiting the Ducks tend to do pretty well on the OL. Here's a look at the Rivals rankings:

2002
Enoka Lucas 3*
Jermaine Randolph 2*
Albert Toeania 4*

2003
Josh Tschirgi 3*

2004
Jacob Hucko 4*
Jeff Kendall 3*
Aaron Klovas 4*
Mark Lewis 2*
Geoff Schwartz 3*
Max Unger 3*

2005
Palauni Ma Sun 3*
Pat So’oalo 3*
Mark Sunga 2*
Mat Webb 3*

2006
Holmes 2*
C.E. Kaiser 2*
Bo Thran 3*
Fenuki Tupou 4*

2007
Mark Asper 2*
Charlie Carmichael 3*
Darrion Weems 4*
Carson York 4*

2008
Nick Cody 4*

2009
The jury is still out, imo.

I think every player on that list either started games or never played. Greatwood does an awesome job at finding players. Obviously, the jury is out, but I get pretty excited when we get a lineman because they are usually a solid player.

Seems like the 2 and 3 star players turned out better than the 4 star recruits. Which is a perfect example of why we shouldn't cross out Grasu and praise and recruit marked as a 4 star by a website.

Concerning Mychal Rivera:

He was a good enough talent to play D-1 football. He looked pretty good in spring ball too. His behavior and lack of desire are what found him on the wrong side of the doghouse, and eventually out the door. And before you ask-- yes-- I do speak from first hand experience not just message board grapevines.

I think this guy will turn out to be a good football player for us because:

* With a RS year he could easily get stronger and bulk up to about 285-290lbs

* He has a very good motor and looks like someone that doesn't take any plays off. Very Important!!

* Has very good technique but even more importantly he is very smart, which as a Center is arguably the most important skill to have since they are "Brains" of the OL and are generally responsible for diagnosing the defensive front and switching up the blocking scheme/coverage if they feel it's necessary

From reports I've read, from those at a couple of camps he went to, he is already bigger than Hamoni Stevens, (who was set to start this year) and they also said he has gotten a lot better since last season.

The best part of a football player and you can't teach it, is attitude and he is supposed to have a nasty attitude.

Bigducker wrote:The best part of a football player and you can't teach it, is attitude and he is supposed to have a nasty attitude.

Very true. You obviously need to be blessed with a certain degree of physical ability and size, but having the proper attitude and work ethic can get you a long ways on the offensive line. I expect Hroniss to be the type of player that will get the most out of whatever physical abilities he was blessed with, due to his attitude and work ethic which is excellent based on everything I have heard and read. He might not develop into a star along the lines of Max Unger (the odds are against any o-lineman reaching those heights), but my minimum expectations are for him to eventually become a very solid, reliable part of the offensive line in the future.