re: LSU offers OG Kimo Makaneole

YOU have never even seen this kid play and you have already passed judgement. This kid is good enough to not only make this team but start as well. Besides that, OL is a position of need and there is not many beating the door down to join on. Definitely not a project, 34 other programs must know something. Even though he is verbally committed to FSU, he is still leaving the door open to LSU.

quote:

---

Just out of curiosity, how can you tell if a kid is a project??

Honest question, not trying to be a smart arse...

---

Just like the term "bust", "project" is way over used here. And it needs to be used in the context of position... a project WR is way different than a project OL.

Besides, you don't recruit project WRs, you do recruit project OL/DL for sure.

I'll give you my definition (for big uglies):
A project is where you hope to develop traits and/or skills you would normally recruit.

For example, agility. Agility can be enhanced fairly easily. It can be improved. It is hard to create from zero (or less than zero).

As I said in another post, ALL OL are projects... to varying degrees. No OL comes from HS 80% ready to play for a P5 team. Playbook wise, speed of the game wise, competition level, and body development wise an OL has a long way to go starting that first spring.

The word "project" is often used here to describe something else. While very real, and worthy of note, "project" is an inaccurate term. Many here use it when they see someone so far behind others he'll never earn a starting position. That is a real thing, but a true project is someone that has a lot of positives but a few real big negatives (that you are going to try and erase). The "never gonna start" player is more than likely to be someone lacking in the positives; he's average or below average across the board. Even if he improves in all those areas someone will later be recruited who can quickly jump him.

That being said, those guys are important to a team. You can't practice against air. An "average guy" working hard is what makes practices go and allows you to prep. HOWEVER, with the recruiting rules today (especially the 25 yearly limit) you don't want to be recruiting them. You want to be recruiting the next guy up and let him be that guy #1 goes against.

ETA: oh, and by no means are neither Makaneole or Cade a project. No way no how. Neither stars or timing (such as a late pickup) define a project. Seems many assume if we get hot and heavy on an OL late in the process they are automatically a project. Manuel, if we were to flip him, he's a project because he doesn't move real great.

LINK

I thought the link works, but it’s Kimo doing the Haka

Yeah I don’t either so it’s switched to his Twitter page.