Grayson Levine has an official visit this weekend....

[Bob_Loblaw]

Grayson looks pretty good. He shreds blocks, tackles well well and can really shut down the run, especially on a blitz. It appears he can deliver a hit, too. I wish the highlights would have shown some more pass coverage though. Does he have the wheels to be a cover guy? This is where we fell short with the likes of Collado, et al. Best thing Brew did was to put Stoudermire back on defense.

Levine is a fast kid who can tackle and plays tough, but you're right, he doesn't have a ton of experience as a 1 on 1 cover guy which is probably why he hasn't been recruited super hard yet.

This clip has a bit more of him playing further away from the line (offense and special teams too). I think he projects more as a safety than a cb, but he definitely can run.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giIV19e2fLw

 

[TrapperDoo]

I've noticed it too.
It's IMO a strange evolution of the sport locally. I coach track at my HS, in talking to my guys about their football 2adays it became very obvious that the physical drills and live tackling had been drastically reduced from my playing days. No hamburger drill, no oklahoma, no live scrimmages, etc.
I suppose they ended up getting kids hurt before the season and end up hamstrung the rest of the year, but it was a key part of our drillwork along with technique and form tackling practice.
I really hope it's not due to parents complaining or lawsuits and all that nonsense schools end up worrying about nowdays, but I have a deep suspicion it is. I also think it's an issue that isn't considered in other big time football states like texas, where coaches get away with whatever they see fit as long as they win. I dunno, interesting aside topic though.

Its about injury in practice. Gags started it a long time ago at St. Johns. You get a key player injured in practice and it such a waste. Plus the players can heal up from the bumps and bruises of the previous game. At that level his attitude was - you've been practicing technique all your life. If you're not an effective tackler by now we'll spot that right away that and put somebody else in who can tackle. As far as high school goes though -I dunno - maybe at that age those guys still need tackling reps to develop technique. Still, there's a balance between developing technique and avoiding stupid injuries in practice.

 

[50PoundHead]

I think that tackling has changed all the way up through the NFL. You don't see a lot of classical "form" tackling anymore. It's all about torpedoe-ing the guys legs out, or tripping up ankles in the open field. Much of this has to do with running backs being so much bigger than they used to be, I believe. Big trees fall hard.

True. I don't care how good your form is, it's difficult taking down guys like Jerome Bettis and his ilk.

I also think the "Sportscenter Hit" has something to do with it as well. You don't get on the highlight reel with a perfect form tackle.

 

[jovs]

Back in the days of leather helmets you were taught to tackle low because if you have the legs wrapped up the bc ain't going anywhere. Winfield of the Vikes is a great example of technique. Now it seems everyone tackles from the waist up or rather than wrapping up a runner they try to throw a block into him.

Every high school and college kid in the state should be required to watch Winfield on open field tackles. The Gophers should have made a highlight real of Winfield and played it each week.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

A lot of the tackling issues are also a result of the emphasis of causing fumbles. It seems like every game I see guys getting carried all over the field as they are trying to get the ball loose. It's one of those things that looks stupid when it doesn't work but you love when it works.

 

[northerngopher]

Boys going out of state..

I think if we have offers that will go unfilled, it is much better to take a chance on an in state guy (barring they have potential) than any of the guys that Brewster did. I think that Bjorklund, Levine, and Heifort all have a place with the team and could be solid contributors.

Bjorkland had an official visit yesterday at NDSU, Heifort has a visit with Wisconsin soon and they are recruiting him as a TE. Kill better work fast!

 

[KoolAid]

I think that tackling has changed all the way up through the NFL. You don't see a lot of classical "form" tackling anymore. It's all about torpedoe-ing the guys legs out, or tripping up ankles in the open field. Much of this has to do with running backs being so much bigger than they used to be, I believe. Big trees fall hard.

In my opinion, this is all a result of advancements in equipment, specifically the helmet. The evolution of the helmet seemed steady until the last 12-15 years or so. This new generation of head gear enables defenders to do things that were borderline suicide 20 years ago (read - human torpedo).

The irony, of course, is that concussion reducing helmets have led to more concussions as a result of this "tackling trend."

 

[tap]

We have one traitor going to sconnie let's not lose Heifort to brent enema.

Go TCU!

 

[northerngopher]

Want to be a Gopher!!

We have one traitor going to sconnie let's not lose Heifort to brent enema.

Go TCU!

We can not fault these kids or label them as traitors, it has been posted that they want to be a Gopher!! All it would take is Kill to offer them...

 

[sonnygarcia]

Bjorkland had an official visit yesterday at NDSU, Heifort has a visit with Wisconsin soon and they are recruiting him as a TE. Kill better work fast!

There is no way that Hiefort gets a Wisconsin offer, I would open my bank account to the public is that happens. Too stiff and slow for a BT scholly. Now, he may get a preferred walk on spot, but from the tape I've seen he will not be getting a big ten offer out of high school. I would be all for offering him a preferred walk on spot and if he can turn himself into a good DT then give him a scholly, however, Kill likes fast players and Hiefort is not that type to be able to play LB or DE.

Seems like a good kid though, hopefully he walks on. At this point does he even have any offers? Any FBS offers?

 

[KU4LIFE]

I currently coach high school football down in Kansas and I know what you guys means when the lack of emphasis on tackling and all the old classic drills that go with it. This was my first year on this staff and it was a struggle for me at first to see the lack of emphasis on those drills. I finally convinced our head coach to implement some of these drills later in the season. Sure normally the later in the season you do less drills and more team work, but the head coach agreed with me we needed to get back to basics. Not only for the remainder of that year, but for the future.

I should add I coach at a smaller school, so there is that fear amongst coaches using the Oklahoma drill and drills of those likes would cost us injuries. I still think they are needed to teach the toughness and proper tackling forms. So yes, as a whole you don't see these drills or the emphasis on tackling as much as you use to... it really sucks!

 

[RodentRampage]

Part of the problem is the clips the media chooses for highlights. Make a great tackle wrapping the opponent up, you won't make the highlights. But if you just fly with the shoulder, attempting to blast the guy, but making no attempt to wrap him up, then you get highlighted. I remember when a Vikings player tried one of those no hands tackles, he was doing a dance on the sidelines while the Packer player was going in for the TD. It filters down, young players see what is valued, and do that.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

There is no way that Hiefort gets a Wisconsin offer, I would open my bank account to the public is that happens. Too stiff and slow for a BT scholly. Now, he may get a preferred walk on spot, but from the tape I've seen he will not be getting a big ten offer out of high school. I would be all for offering him a preferred walk on spot and if he can turn himself into a good DT then give him a scholly, however, Kill likes fast players and Hiefort is not that type to be able to play LB or DE.

Seems like a good kid though, hopefully he walks on. At this point does he even have any offers? Any FBS offers?

If Heifort becomes more of a strong side DE or DT he could fit the mold of being a fast defensive player. Also, Kill's TEs seem to be pretty much of the Curtis Hughes variety (big and almost like a 3rd tackle), so Heifort could make sense there.

I am not sure if the kid gets an offer. It is probably more likely now that Lacosse has decommitted.

As of now, it doesn't look like Heifort has any offers.

 

[sonnygarcia]

As of now, it doesn't look like Heifort has any offers.

If schools like NDSU, North Dakota, SDSU are not offering, why would the Gophers? Like I said, hopefully he accepts a preferred walk on, he seems to want to be a Gopher, maybe he could earn a scholarship?

 

[SiouxFalls]

I'm not sure about Heifort's football abilities. But one thing is certain: Heifort has an aggressive public relations machine on these message boards.