Kroul Conversion
JohnC(TX)
It worked with Moore. It sticks with me that John Madden said that when he
was coaaching he thought it took 5 years for an OL to be ready.
http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2011/08/jets_see_matt_kroul_as_ideal_t.html
Jets see Matt Kroul as ideal to jump from one side of the ball to the other
Published: Tuesday, August 09, 2011, 9:20 PM Updated: Wednesday, August
10, 2011, 2:44 AM
By Conor Orr/The Star-Ledger
Saed Hindash/The Star-LedgerLast season, Matt Kroul was a defensive lineman,
seen here sacking Eagles quarterback Mike Kafka in a preseason game. The
Jets have moved him over to the offensive line.
From Jets coach Rex Ryan's vantage point, Matt Kroul had all the attributes
to complete a position change.
For nearly a decade of high school, college and pro football, Kroul toiled
on the defensive line, soaking up all the tricks offensive linemen could
throw at him. He wrestled at his Iowa high school, learning what Ryan
referred to as "body control."
The conversation to make Kroul a hybrid offensive and defensive lineman went
down Friday. He didn't hesitate when Ryan asked.
"If that allows me to make the 53 (man roster), I said, 'Yeah, let's do the
thing,'" Kroul said.
Kroul spent Saturday - the team's off day - learning the terminology used on
the offensive side of the ball. By Sunday, his number changed from 98 to 66.
His practice jersey switched from defensive green to offensive white. He
worked out on the opposite end of the field from his former defensive
colleagues.
"It was a different experience, obviously," Kroul said. "Eight years of my
life I've been playing defensive line. It's a change, but you just take it
in stride and learn as fast as you can, get thrown in there and do the best
you can."
There is a precedent, one Kroul takes comfort in during this transition
period. Jets starting right guard Brandon Moore made the same change early
in his NFL career and is considered one of the best players in the NFL at
his position.
Amid the shuffle, Kroul said Moore already came to him and told him he could
stop by for advice whenever needed.
The thought was Kroul would understand how to block a defensive lineman
naturally. He would have an idea of attack points and know how to cloak a
play so as not to give away its direction by his movements.
He could also save a roster spot by serving as a backup on both sides of the
ball, allowing the team to pad other positions.
"It's a completely different perspective. You're just looking at things from
the other side of the line," said Kroul, a second-year player out of Iowa.
"As a defensive lineman, you know where your guys are at, now it's a lot
more reading, a lot more knowing where guys are at."
He is not yet ready to say which Jets defensive linemen are the toughest to
block, mostly because he is not yet ready to block them.
"So much stuff is going on right now," he said. "I'm just kind of sitting
back and absorbing it."
But he is prepared to let his mind wander. If it worked for Moore, maybe it
could work for him. The goal, Kroul said, is to keep moving up the food
chain one way or the other.
"This almost provides me with the better chance," he said. "Last year I was
always kind of one guy off on the defensive line. It's kind of like you're
almost there but you're not. This change will hopefully bring me to that
point."
Michael
> Papa, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts.
>
> It worked with Moore. It sticks with me that John Madden said that when he
> was coaaching he thought it took 5 years for an OL to be ready.
>
I'm not Papa, but... :-)
I have seen Kroul play in pre-season games. Kroul wont even been a
good back-up for the o-line. Not now... Not ever. This transition
was motivated for two reasons, IMHO... Kroul can not be valuable as a
pro d-line guy because he does not have moves or leverage and the Jets
are in major need for depth at o-line now. Hunter is the clear
starter at RT and Vlad is clueless. Vlad is so clueless, he may remain
clueless despite his ideal build, strenght and foot speed. That
leaves only Turner as an o-line back up for right now. Hence, the
Kroul experiment. Kroul will be off the roster next season, I'd say.
Papa Carl
"JohnC(TX)" <johnctx...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:4e428791$1...@news.x-privat.org...
It's a Hell of a lot easier going that way than the other. He has to have
shown some athletic ability to have been on defense all those years. Still,
that is a huge change. It works in high school, maybe some college, I have
no idea what happens at that level. He should have some "feet" though which
is more than some appear to have.
Papa Carl
"Michael" <mjd...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:1b3a6fd3-8af3-4256...@h9g2000vbr.googlegroups.com...
_______________________________________________________
There you go...Michael knows a lot more about him than I do apparently. I
barely remember him.
Michael
> "Michael" <mjd1...@verizon.net> wrote in message
>
> - Show quoted text -
papa.. he is a big dude... 310 lbs or so... but gets little push off
the ball for his size, does not seem to be able to torque and twist
offensive line guys and he and has heavy feet. i'd bet he does good in
the weight room, can learn the play book and has excellent over all
strength. since he lacks "moves" and technique for d-line, may be
they think he can be a good guy to "get in the way" of someone. if
they do convert him to o-line, he'll be a "one and done" player I
think. he probably wont be able to recover or adjust after first
contact.
Papa Carl
I really do not feel I can evaluate a player unless I really get to see him
play...a lot. When did this guy ever play in games?
John C TX
> papa.. he is a big dude... 310 lbs or so... but gets little push off
> the ball for his size, does not seem to be able to torque and twist
> offensive line guys and he and has heavy feet. i'd bet he does good in
> the weight room, can learn the play book and has excellent over all
> strength. since he lacks "moves" and technique for d-line, may be
> they think he can be a good guy to "get in the way" of someone. if
> they do convert him to o-line, he'll be a "one and done" player I
> think. he probably wont be able to recover or adjust after first
> contact.
I am not an expert in any way on OL but I have to believe he is
probably quicker than most OL. He had 4.83 time in the 40.
Reading about him makes you want to root for him.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/160138-combine-snub-motivates-kroul-toward-nfl
Papa Carl
"John C TX" <johnc...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:595b0c96-fcd8-412b...@l37g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/160138-combine-snub-motivates-kroul-toward-nfl
John, That is a very quick 40 time...and doesn't translate to "heavy feet"
but it also does not translate to a given good D lineman. Still, MOST D
lineman have a lot more athletic ability than the O does. I just want to
see him play. Certainly the attitude is good.
Papa Carl
"Papa Carl" <papa...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:SoKdnUs6m9MMhN7T...@giganews.com...
I should add, Michael you have a lot more patience than I have anymore...I
simply can not watch TV stuff that closely anymore...I have to be there to
see it to feel like I've seen anything about a guy. I'm hoping you are
wrong about this...if you aren't, they have some serious problems in even
having to keep him.
Michael
> "Papa Carl" <papa.c...@verizon.net> wrote in message
>
> news:SoKdnUs6m9MMhN7T...@giganews.com...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > "John C TX" <johnctxj...@gmail.com> wrote in message
> >news:595b0c96-fcd8-412b...@l37g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
>
> >> papa.. he is a big dude... 310 lbs or so... but gets little push off
> >> the ball for his size, does not seem to be able to torque and twist
> >> offensive line guys and he and has heavy feet. i'd bet he does good in
> >> the weight room, can learn the play book and has excellent over all
> >> strength. since he lacks "moves" and technique for d-line, may be
> >> they think he can be a good guy to "get in the way" of someone. if
> >> they do convert him to o-line, he'll be a "one and done" player I
> >> think. he probably wont be able to recover or adjust after first
> >> contact.
>
> > I am not an expert in any way on OL but I have to believe he is
> > probably quicker than most OL. He had 4.83 time in the 40.
>
> > Reading about him makes you want to root for him.
>
>
> > John, That is a very quick 40 time...and doesn't translate to "heavy
> > feet" but it also does not translate to a given good D lineman. Still,
> > MOST D lineman have a lot more athletic ability than the O does. I just
> > want to see him play. Certainly the attitude is good.
>
> I should add, Michael you have a lot more patience than I have anymore...I
> simply can not watch TV stuff that closely anymore...I have to be there to
> see it to feel like I've seen anything about a guy. I'm hoping you are
> wrong about this...if you aren't, they have some serious problems in even
>
> - Show quoted text -
kroul must have somthing going for him or the coaches would not have
him on the roster. who knows... may be he'll work out on the o-line.
i can only comment as a fan. he did not look too swift when i saw
him. last pre season the jest second team defense was getting blown
apprt and kroul was getting handled by second and third string guys.
as for ducasse... holy smokes did he look lost when he was in. he
looked like he was doing a tire drill for lack of a better idea of
what to do with himself. his problems are all mental, though... he's
got ideal physical tools for a RT. perhaps callahan can coach him
up. if not... they may be in big touble on the o-line if they suffer
an injury. i have no idea how brandon moore is doing after hip
surgery either.
Papa Carl
I'm looking at knee surgery soon. I have NO idea how a guy can play pro
ball after serious hip surgery. I has to be painful. I just did too many
things too many times to my knee and I'm super old now :-)
Michael
> "Michael" <mjd1...@verizon.net> wrote in message
>
> - Show quoted text -
knee surgery cant be much fun... i dont know the extent/nature of the
surgery brandon moore had, but i cant imagine it was a *major* surgery
if he's going to be back playing at the start of the regular season. i
guy i work with had hip replacment five hears ago, and he still has
pain all the time.
Michael
john... ghoston ran a faster 40 than kroul. what did gholston do with
his feet on the field ??? we'll get a chance to watch kroul in the
preseason on the o-line i'd expect. i'll be at both jet home preseason
games and i'll watch for kroul. i still think it is a last ditch
effort by the cs to put a good guy to good use and secure some much
needed depth. i really hope it works out. he'd join two outstanding
jet o-line converts in brandon moore and dan alexander.
Michael
> X-No-Archive: Yes
> that because it seemed fast for a tackle. I look at 3 things from
> those test: broad jump, 3 cone drill & shuttle run. I never found his
> pro day times.
>
> I remember the name not his play -- vaguely remember him reminding me
> of Devitio both in size & play. I am sure this is a reach. They will
> d it if jammed up at TE again but if a DL or OL appear to have more
> prospects than him he is done but if not he may slide through.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
i paied attention to him in last year's giants preseason game. he
didnt show much. when i go to those preseason games, i keep the
binoculars trained on the line most of the time. you can get a good
idea of what a new guy can do if you watch even when the ball goes
elsewhere. i remember watching pouha get his first reps and i thought
he was going to be a good player even though i got lambasted :-) very
raw with obvious potentil. rex has really done a nice job with pouha
and devito. i dont think those two guys would have developed so well
under most other coaches. gholston also got a lot of snaps in the
preseason and he looked horrible. not even rex could help there...
Harlan Lachman
"Papa Carl" <papa...@verizon.net> wrote:
> I just did too many
> things too many times to my knee and I'm super old now :-)
Hell Papa, I would like to be super old too. I find myself just old.
Harlan
Papa Carl
"Harlan Lachman" <har...@eeivt.com> wrote in message
news:harlan-CF792E....@news60.forteinc.com...
It's an interpretation of the adjective usage. In this case the "super" is
referring to an advanced numerical value, and not the quality of the person
at that value. My two organ transplants are doing great...the rest of me is
a wreck now. Damn football...knees are killing me.