Seth Olsen

[dogfish]

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. . . .

[underrated29]

. . and he's a doofy-lookin' fugger, much like chris kuper-- that should be a good thing, right? .



My favorite part of the post right here^ and it holds merit.

[broncofaninfla]

I hope he does, just wonder why we didn't try him last year with Hamilton and Hochstien playing so badly?

[Slick]

25 guests viewing either your thread, or your avatar.

I guess the upcoming draft will tell us more about what our coaches think of Olsen's chances of starting for us in his second year. I´ll have to echo what fla said though, it would have been nice to see him get his ears wet a little last year considering how poorly our guards played.

[topscribe]

he's a doofy-lookin' fugger, much like chris kuper-- that should be a good thing, right?


My favorite part of the post right here^ and it holds merit.

Between Seth, Chris, and Kyle, this could get ugly . . .

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[dogfish]

I hope he does, just wonder why we didn't try him last year with Hamilton and Hochstien playing so badly?

i've wondered about that also, but it's not at all uncommon for coaches to stick with veteran players rather than taking a chance making a move to a rookie when they're in the middle of a tight playoff race. . .

[BigBroncLove]

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. . . .

Well you have to hope he'll be up and ready to go when it comes to this following year. I know some people were very high on his play coming out of Iowa and being a part of one of the better running attacks in college.

The comments about Olsen snapping the ball before by McDaniels worry me a bit if he is given consideration there. He played nearly as much at the tackle position as he did at the guard position in College. Eubanks as well as Ferentz considered him a very smart player, so that's always a plus. However, when it comes to the center position, and it may look like one way or the other were going to have a younger guy at that position calling the blocks to the line, I'd prefer a more natural center (even with the fact interior linemen are more apt and able to switch positions). Obviously I think he'll get top consideration at guard unless the Center position proves to be impossible to address with whoever else we have.

Like I said, I'm hopeful for Olsen but as always want to see some proof. He only played in 3 games through the season being week 1, 4, and 17. Regardless I hope they add depth at the position through the draft or otherwise, especially since McDaniels has said how much he wants to promote competition at every position.

[dogfish]

My favorite part of the post right here^ and it holds merit.


Between Seth, Chris, and Kyle, this could get ugly . . .

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http://img532.imageshack.us/img532/2721/imagessizedimage2151534.jpg (http://img532.imageshack.us/i/imagessizedimage2151534.jpg/)

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/9776/nflgolsen01576.jpg (http://img217.imageshack.us/i/nflgolsen01576.jpg/)


tell me these guys weren't born to play O-line. . . . :lol:

[Slick]

Well you have to hope he'll be up and ready to go when it comes to this following year. I know some people were very high on his play coming out of Iowa and being a part of one of the better running attacks in college.

The comments about Olsen snapping the ball before by McDaniels worry me a bit if he is given consideration there. He played nearly as much at the tackle position as he did at the guard position in College. Eubanks as well as Ferentz considered him a very smart player, so that's always a plus. However, when it comes to the center position, and it may look like one way or the other were going to have a younger guy at that position calling the blocks to the line, I'd prefer a more natural center (even with the fact interior linemen are more apt and able to switch positions). Obviously I think he'll get top consideration at guard unless the Center position proves to be impossible to address with whoever else we have.

Like I said, I'm hopeful for Olsen but as always want to see some proof. He only played in 3 games through the season being week 1, 4, and 17. Regardless I hope they add depth at the position through the draft or otherwise, especially since McDaniels has said how much he wants to promote competition at every position.

I didn't realize he played at all...I'm going to have to quit streaming thq games and try to watch on a real TV.


http://img532.imageshack.us/img532/2721/imagessizedimage2151534.jpg (http://img532.imageshack.us/i/imagessizedimage2151534.jpg/)

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/9776/nflgolsen01576.jpg (http://img217.imageshack.us/i/nflgolsen01576.jpg/)


tell me these guys weren't born to play O-line. . . . :lol:


If you're either of these guys wingman, when you swoop in to assist, you´re golden.

[BigBroncLove]

I didn't realize he played at all...I'm going to have to quit streaming thq games and try to watch on a real TV.

He didn't start in any games, but those were the three he subbed into the game and got real playing time.

[WARHORSE]

Seth is a candidate for center for sure where technique and hand placement is a must.

You have to have a brain as well............. we shall see.:salute:

[dogfish]

Well you have to hope he'll be up and ready to go when it comes to this following year. I know some people were very high on his play coming out of Iowa and being a part of one of the better running attacks in college.

The comments about Olsen snapping the ball before by McDaniels worry me a bit if he is given consideration there. He played nearly as much at the tackle position as he did at the guard position in College. Eubanks as well as Ferentz considered him a very smart player, so that's always a plus. However, when it comes to the center position, and it may look like one way or the other were going to have a younger guy at that position calling the blocks to the line, I'd prefer a more natural center (even with the fact interior linemen are more apt and able to switch positions). Obviously I think he'll get top consideration at guard unless the Center position proves to be impossible to address with whoever else we have.

Like I said, I'm hopeful for Olsen but as always want to see some proof. He only played in 3 games through the season being week 1, 4, and 17. Regardless I hope they add depth at the position through the draft or otherwise, especially since McDaniels has said how much he wants to promote competition at every position.

i agree that on the surface, keeping olsen at OG would seem preferrable to playing him at center-- but that's just based on prior experience. . . if the coaching staff feels olsen's best long-term position is center, then by all means get him started at it now. . . if nothing else, having him learn the position increases our options-- i don't want to see us dislocate our arms reaching for pouncey at #11, and anything that lessens the chance of that is a GOOD thing! for that matter, pouncey isn't very experienced or technically sound snapping with a QB under center either, and he reportedly didn't do much in terms of adjusting protections at florida-- at least olsen is familiar with our terminology and playbook. . .

i would also like to see some proof, of course, but we have as much on olsen as we do on iupati, JD walton, or any of the other top interior OLs we might take. . . i certainly don't think we'd be wise to just pencil him in-- you're always better off with as much competition as possible-- but i just have a feeling that we may not be as totally devoid of decent options as it seems at first blush. . . my ideal scenario would still probably be to draft walton and let olsen compete for the starting OLG spot, but i won't go into panic mode if we enter TC with olsen looking like the potential starter at the pivot. . . .

[BigBroncLove]

i agree that on the surface, keeping olsen at OG would seem preferrable to playing him at center-- but that's just based on prior experience. . . if the coaching staff feels olsen's best long-term position is center, then by all means get him started at it now. . . if nothing else, having him learn the position increases our options-- i don't want to see us dislocate our arms reaching for pouncey at #11, and anything that lessens the chance of that is a GOOD thing! for that matter, pouncey isn't very experienced or technically sound snapping with a QB under center either, and he reportedly didn't do much in terms of adjusting protections at florida-- at least olsen is familiar with our terminology and playbook. . .

i would also like to see some proof, of course, but we have as much on olsen as we do on iupati, JD walton, or any of the other top interior OLs we might take. . . i certainly don't think we'd be wise to just pencil him in-- you're always better off with as much competition as possible-- but i just have a feeling that we may not be as totally devoid of decent options as it seems at first blush. . . my ideal scenario would still probably be to draft walton and let olsen compete for the starting OLG spot, but i won't go into panic mode if we enter TC with olsen looking like the potential starter at the pivot. . . .

Well IMO Pouncey at #11 is not really a reasonable consideration. If somehow we land the #14 he has a bit more value there and I could understand a reach there since we'll have #11 to address other issues.

The problem is how will we know the coaching staff is making the decision to put Olsen in Center because they see him as the best fit or will they be doing that out of sheer necessity? We really won't know until we get to see him take some snaps which is what I want to see before I make any real decision as a fan. The coaches have that luxury, I do not :). In the games he played during preseason he looked good, but that's preseason. Still I'd like to have someone with experience in the Center position.

The fact Olsen has always been considered a smarter player with sound football knowledge makes one believe if he's thrown there he would be capable of handling it. And it's not unknown for a Guard to help out a newly starting center make the proper adjustments. I believe the year Nalen went down for the season Hamilton called out the adjustments from the guard position for the better part of the year.

Personally I think with the depth of the draft we don't have to reach or take a guard in the first two rounds to compete with the existing players. I think we could find some solid players outside of it. However when it comes to the Center position I'd prefer a little more security then a patch work decision unless the coaching staff sees something concrete.

[Carl]

I didn't realize he played at all...I'm going to have to quit streaming thq games and try to watch on a real TV.




If you're either of these guys wingman, when you swoop in to assist, you´re golden.

Where do you stream from?

[TXBRONC]

http://img532.imageshack.us/img532/2721/imagessizedimage2151534.jpg (http://img532.imageshack.us/i/imagessizedimage2151534.jpg/)

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/9776/nflgolsen01576.jpg (http://img217.imageshack.us/i/nflgolsen01576.jpg/)


tell me these guys weren't born to play O-line. . . . :lol:

Hell convince me they aren't twins separated at birth. :lol:

[JONtheBRONCO]

I'll take any Iowa player.

[Slick]

Where do you stream from?

Wherever I can Carl. We used to start a thread on gamedays but we don't want the site getting in trouble, or the streams to get shut down because they usually do. Now those of us outside the viewing areas end up PMing each other with a stream. Look me up on gamedays, I usually find something.

[Elevation inc]

im pretty confident they belive hochstein to be the center fall back plan.....i would imagine fry and a rookie will battle and olsen might see reps there, but my guess is if fry or the rookie dont win, hochstein will be our starting center next year...it aint great but it is a upgrade over weigman for the PBS....

I also am pretty confident that olsen is our future LG....but lets be real it is only march...:lol:

[SBboundBRONCOS]

kuper looks sooooo much like slimer from ghostbusters its insane

http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/2008/10/16-22/Slimer.jpgkuper looks sooooo much like slimer from ghostbusters its insan

[topscribe]

Kupe or Kupe's Dad, if you're reading this, it's all in good fun. *heh* http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh256/AZDynamics/Smilies/thnervous.gif

:couch:

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[dogfish]

Kupe or Kupe's Dad, if you're reading this, it's all in good fun. *heh* http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh256/AZDynamics/Smilies/thnervous.gif

:couch:

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i know, i was thinking about that earlier. . . :lol:

it is indeed all in good fun! besides, i highly doubt either of 'em care what we think about kupe's looks, as long as we're happy with the way he plays. . . and dude's been my adopted bronco the last three years for a reason. . .