dogfish
03-24-2010, 03:28 PM
since worthwhile topics are pretty scarce right now, i thought i'd start a thread on seth olsen. . . the more i read, and the closer we get to the draft, the more i'm convinced that this guy is likely to be starting at one of our interior O-line spots next year. . . olsen was drafted in the 4th round out of iowa last year, where head coach kirk ferentz is a former O-lineman who's reknowned for producing tough, smart, well-coached and technically sound OLs (their OT brian buluaga projects as a top ten pick this year). . .
http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/1439/ols327015.jpg (http://img362.imageshack.us/i/ols327015.jpg/)
Height: 6-5 Weight: 308 Age: 24
Born: 12/17/1985 Willmar , MN
College: Iowa
Experience: 2nd season
High School: Millard North HS [Omaha, NE]
pre-draft scouting report:
Overview
Nationally underrated, Olsen leaves Iowa as a first-team All-Big Ten selection and a rising prospect on NFL boards due to his size, strength, durability and versatility. A four-year contributor, Olsen started each of the past two seasons, primarily on the right side of the line, but also seeing some action at left tackle.
He was first-team All-Big Ten selection by the media and coaches while primarily at right guard in 2008 after garnering honorable mention honors at right tackle as a junior. A strong showing throughout the week at the East-West Shrine Game might have secured Olsen's place as a second-day draft selection.
Analysis
Positives: Naturally large man with good weight distribution. Good initial quickness off the snap. Very good hand placement and upper-body strength. Seems to enjoy the physical hand-to-hand combat inside the trenches. Good strength to latch onto the defender, turn and either sustain his position or toss the defender onto ground for a pancake block. Underrated short-area lateral quickness and balance to hold up in pass protection. Plays with good leverage despite his height. Versatile blocker who has started at right guard, right tackle and left tackle over the past two years. Impressive week of practice at the East-West Shrine game.
Negatives: Strong and technically refined, but isn't an elite athlete. Only phone-booth quickness. Struggles adjusting in space at the second level. Lumbers after a few steps and is forced to lunge at defenders. Lacks the deep kick-step and elite lateral quickness to handle the left tackle position, though he has experience there. May struggle on the outside at right tackle.
2008 Season
First team all-Big Ten by league coaches and media . . . first team all-Big Ten by Phil Steele's College Football . . . academic all-Big Ten . . .Listed as first team right guard following spring practice . . . started at right guard in 46-3 opening win over Maine as offense rushed for 245 yards and gained 457 yards total offense . . . started at right guard in 42-0 win over Florida International as offense rushed for 241 yards and gained 512 yards total offense . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 17-5 win over Iowa State . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 21-20 loss at Pittsburgh . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 22-17 loss to Northwestern as offense gained 407 yards total offense . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 16-13 loss at Michigan State . . . started at right guard in 45-9 win at Indiana as offense rushed for 227 yards and gained 422 yards total offense . . . did not see action in 38-16 win over Wisconsin due to injury . . . did not see action in 27-24 loss at Illinois due to injury . . . started at right guard and played every offensive play in 24-23 win over third-ranked Penn State . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 22-17 win over Purdue as offense gained 248 net rushing yards . . . started at left tackle in 55-0 win over Minnesota as offense rushed for 222 yards and gained 483 yards total offense.
2007 Season
2007 Honors - - Named honorable mention all-Big Ten by league coaches . . . Hustle Team Award, offense . . . started at right tackle in opening win over Northern Illinois as offense rushed for 250 yards and gained 383 yards total offense . . . started at right tackle in win over Syracuse as offense gained 408 yards total offense . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in loss at Iowa State . . . started at right tackle in loss at Wisconsin before moving over to play right guard for majority of the game . . . started at right guard in loss to Indiana at offense gained 428 yards total offense . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in loss at Penn State . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in win over 18th-ranked Illinois as offense rushed for 141 yards and gained 323 yards total offense . . . started at right tackle in loss at Purdue . . . started at right tackle in double OT win over Michigan State as offense gained 230 yards rushing . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in win over Northwestern as offense gained 299 passing yards and 369 yards total offense . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in win over Minnesota . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in loss to Western Michigan as offense gained 397 yards total offense.
2006 Season
2006 Honors - - Next Man in Award, offense. 2006 - - Listed as second team right guard following spring practice . . . saw action in 41-7 win over Montana as offense gained 416 yards total offense . . . saw action in double overtime win at Syracuse . . . saw action in win over Iowa State as offense gained 410 yards total offense . . . started at left guard in win at Illinois for second career start . . . moved to right guard for entire second half . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in loss to top-ranked Ohio State . . . started at right guard in win over Purdue as offense posted season high marks in points (47) and rushing yards (286) . . . started at right guard in loss at Indiana at played every offensive down as offense gained 467 yards total offense . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in loss at Michigan . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in win over Northern Illinois as offense gained 405 yards total offense . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in loss to Northwestern . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in loss to Wisconsin . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down as offense gained season-best 546 yards total offense in loss at Minnesota . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down as offense gained 363 yards total offense vs. Texas in Alamo Bowl.
2005 Season
2005 Honors - - Big Ten Conference all-Freshman team by The Sporting News . . . 2005 - - listed as second team right guard following spring practice . . . saw action in opening win over Ball State as offense gained 441 yards total offense . . . started at right tackle at Iowa State for first career start as offense gained 173 yards rushing . . . saw action in win over Northern Iowa as offense gained 496 total yards . . . saw action at Ohio State . . . saw action in offensive line as offense rushed for 301 yards and gained 476 yards total offense . . . saw action in win at Purdue as offense gained season-best 535 total yards . . . saw action in offensive line in win over Indiana as offense gained 425 yards total offense . . . saw action in offense line vs. Michigan as offense gained 427 yards total offense . . . saw action in offensive line at Northwestern as offense gained 492 yards total offense . . . saw action in offensive line at Wisconsin as offense gained 390 yards total offense . . . saw action in offensive line in win over Minnesota as offense gained 613 yards total offense . . . saw action in Outback Bowl vs. Florida as offense gained 410 yards total offense.
sounds like a prototypical fit for the man blocking/power scheme. . . he's had a year to learn the system, playbook, terminology, etc, plus he's a year ahead of any rookie we can get in terms of NFL weight room experience and coaching. . . and he's a doofy-lookin' fugger, much like chris kuper-- that should be a good thing, right? given that we need to fill both center and OLG, it seems like olsen should in the mix for either or both of those spots in TC. . .
from McD:
On whether he would play a young player at center:
"There are a lot of times where you end up playing a younger player on your terms. Sometimes you can get stuck playing a player where maybe you have to hurry along the process and try to get him ready to go, but (OL) Russ (Hochstein) has played center in this league. (C) Dustin Fry is a guy that I liked coming out of college. We added him to the roster late in the year obviously and we will see kind of how that all plays out. We are not concerned right now. (G) Seth Olsen has snapped the ball before. We will see how it goes. We are not panicked about it, certainly, like I said, our focus is on the offseason program and we will worry about that as we go along."
http://www.milehighreport.com/2010/3/23/1387268/potent-quotables-josh-mcdaniels
i'm sure interior offensive linemen will still be high on our priority list going into the draft, but don't automatically assume that olsen is an afterthought. . . the 4th round isn't necessarily a "late" pick when it comes to OGs, and olsen shouldn't be considered a weak option just because he hasn't played at this level before. . . don't be surprised if this kid is holding down one of our starting spots inside next year. . . .
http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/1439/ols327015.jpg (http://img362.imageshack.us/i/ols327015.jpg/)
Height: 6-5 Weight: 308 Age: 24
Born: 12/17/1985 Willmar , MN
College: Iowa
Experience: 2nd season
High School: Millard North HS [Omaha, NE]
pre-draft scouting report:
Overview
Nationally underrated, Olsen leaves Iowa as a first-team All-Big Ten selection and a rising prospect on NFL boards due to his size, strength, durability and versatility. A four-year contributor, Olsen started each of the past two seasons, primarily on the right side of the line, but also seeing some action at left tackle.
He was first-team All-Big Ten selection by the media and coaches while primarily at right guard in 2008 after garnering honorable mention honors at right tackle as a junior. A strong showing throughout the week at the East-West Shrine Game might have secured Olsen's place as a second-day draft selection.
Analysis
Positives: Naturally large man with good weight distribution. Good initial quickness off the snap. Very good hand placement and upper-body strength. Seems to enjoy the physical hand-to-hand combat inside the trenches. Good strength to latch onto the defender, turn and either sustain his position or toss the defender onto ground for a pancake block. Underrated short-area lateral quickness and balance to hold up in pass protection. Plays with good leverage despite his height. Versatile blocker who has started at right guard, right tackle and left tackle over the past two years. Impressive week of practice at the East-West Shrine game.
Negatives: Strong and technically refined, but isn't an elite athlete. Only phone-booth quickness. Struggles adjusting in space at the second level. Lumbers after a few steps and is forced to lunge at defenders. Lacks the deep kick-step and elite lateral quickness to handle the left tackle position, though he has experience there. May struggle on the outside at right tackle.
2008 Season
First team all-Big Ten by league coaches and media . . . first team all-Big Ten by Phil Steele's College Football . . . academic all-Big Ten . . .Listed as first team right guard following spring practice . . . started at right guard in 46-3 opening win over Maine as offense rushed for 245 yards and gained 457 yards total offense . . . started at right guard in 42-0 win over Florida International as offense rushed for 241 yards and gained 512 yards total offense . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 17-5 win over Iowa State . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 21-20 loss at Pittsburgh . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 22-17 loss to Northwestern as offense gained 407 yards total offense . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 16-13 loss at Michigan State . . . started at right guard in 45-9 win at Indiana as offense rushed for 227 yards and gained 422 yards total offense . . . did not see action in 38-16 win over Wisconsin due to injury . . . did not see action in 27-24 loss at Illinois due to injury . . . started at right guard and played every offensive play in 24-23 win over third-ranked Penn State . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 22-17 win over Purdue as offense gained 248 net rushing yards . . . started at left tackle in 55-0 win over Minnesota as offense rushed for 222 yards and gained 483 yards total offense.
2007 Season
2007 Honors - - Named honorable mention all-Big Ten by league coaches . . . Hustle Team Award, offense . . . started at right tackle in opening win over Northern Illinois as offense rushed for 250 yards and gained 383 yards total offense . . . started at right tackle in win over Syracuse as offense gained 408 yards total offense . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in loss at Iowa State . . . started at right tackle in loss at Wisconsin before moving over to play right guard for majority of the game . . . started at right guard in loss to Indiana at offense gained 428 yards total offense . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in loss at Penn State . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in win over 18th-ranked Illinois as offense rushed for 141 yards and gained 323 yards total offense . . . started at right tackle in loss at Purdue . . . started at right tackle in double OT win over Michigan State as offense gained 230 yards rushing . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in win over Northwestern as offense gained 299 passing yards and 369 yards total offense . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in win over Minnesota . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in loss to Western Michigan as offense gained 397 yards total offense.
2006 Season
2006 Honors - - Next Man in Award, offense. 2006 - - Listed as second team right guard following spring practice . . . saw action in 41-7 win over Montana as offense gained 416 yards total offense . . . saw action in double overtime win at Syracuse . . . saw action in win over Iowa State as offense gained 410 yards total offense . . . started at left guard in win at Illinois for second career start . . . moved to right guard for entire second half . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in loss to top-ranked Ohio State . . . started at right guard in win over Purdue as offense posted season high marks in points (47) and rushing yards (286) . . . started at right guard in loss at Indiana at played every offensive down as offense gained 467 yards total offense . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in loss at Michigan . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in win over Northern Illinois as offense gained 405 yards total offense . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in loss to Northwestern . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in loss to Wisconsin . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down as offense gained season-best 546 yards total offense in loss at Minnesota . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down as offense gained 363 yards total offense vs. Texas in Alamo Bowl.
2005 Season
2005 Honors - - Big Ten Conference all-Freshman team by The Sporting News . . . 2005 - - listed as second team right guard following spring practice . . . saw action in opening win over Ball State as offense gained 441 yards total offense . . . started at right tackle at Iowa State for first career start as offense gained 173 yards rushing . . . saw action in win over Northern Iowa as offense gained 496 total yards . . . saw action at Ohio State . . . saw action in offensive line as offense rushed for 301 yards and gained 476 yards total offense . . . saw action in win at Purdue as offense gained season-best 535 total yards . . . saw action in offensive line in win over Indiana as offense gained 425 yards total offense . . . saw action in offense line vs. Michigan as offense gained 427 yards total offense . . . saw action in offensive line at Northwestern as offense gained 492 yards total offense . . . saw action in offensive line at Wisconsin as offense gained 390 yards total offense . . . saw action in offensive line in win over Minnesota as offense gained 613 yards total offense . . . saw action in Outback Bowl vs. Florida as offense gained 410 yards total offense.
sounds like a prototypical fit for the man blocking/power scheme. . . he's had a year to learn the system, playbook, terminology, etc, plus he's a year ahead of any rookie we can get in terms of NFL weight room experience and coaching. . . and he's a doofy-lookin' fugger, much like chris kuper-- that should be a good thing, right? given that we need to fill both center and OLG, it seems like olsen should in the mix for either or both of those spots in TC. . .
from McD:
On whether he would play a young player at center:
"There are a lot of times where you end up playing a younger player on your terms. Sometimes you can get stuck playing a player where maybe you have to hurry along the process and try to get him ready to go, but (OL) Russ (Hochstein) has played center in this league. (C) Dustin Fry is a guy that I liked coming out of college. We added him to the roster late in the year obviously and we will see kind of how that all plays out. We are not concerned right now. (G) Seth Olsen has snapped the ball before. We will see how it goes. We are not panicked about it, certainly, like I said, our focus is on the offseason program and we will worry about that as we go along."
http://www.milehighreport.com/2010/3/23/1387268/potent-quotables-josh-mcdaniels
i'm sure interior offensive linemen will still be high on our priority list going into the draft, but don't automatically assume that olsen is an afterthought. . . the 4th round isn't necessarily a "late" pick when it comes to OGs, and olsen shouldn't be considered a weak option just because he hasn't played at this level before. . . don't be surprised if this kid is holding down one of our starting spots inside next year. . . .