Arik Armstead

[Quack U!]

This kid was the #1 rated offensive lineman in the country in high school and talent compared to that of Michael Oher of the Ravens except Arik is 4 inches taller with a wider wingspan. That is some amazing praise! It wasn't till last night watching him play basketball for the Ducks that I realized it's time for Coach Greatwood to have a fatherly talk with Arik. This conversation ties directly into words I heard Big Suke say on the radio one day and few years ago. Suke basically said in a Suke sort of way, " I don't care if Armstead thinks he's a kicker he's an O lineman and that's what he's meant to be. I'm an O lineman and we know our own. He's an O lineman!" In the basketball game last night Arik was supposed to come in and be the muscle and the glass man, the intimidator if you will, but just like with his football on the D line he doesn't have that impose my evil on you mentality. It's hard to see that with a helmet on but in hoops very clear.

This kid is a protector, not an instigator, and on defense you have to live for the attack, it's in you or it's NOT!

O lineman are big, good technique guys who understand their blocking schemes and for Oregon that means run blocking down the field. Arik is BUILT for this role!

Coach Greatwood needs to say to Arik especially with "Tyler Johnstone rehabbing his knee". " Arik, it's time for you to ask yourself a question? Do I want to be an undrafted DE and an undrafted NBA hopeful, or do I want to go #1 in two years to the NFL as an O lineman? You're a once in a decade O lineman, I don't think you came to Oregon to ride the pine on the basketball team and be unremarkable on the football field, did ya? Time to come on over to where you belong!"

Think about the line with Arik on it protecting Marcus alongside Grasu and Hunt? Marcus would have weeks back there to make decisions and Arik is fast enough to run block like a man among boys too.

I'm fine with letting the young bucks have their dreams of two sports and such, but at some point AA is going to want to get paid. The only way that's going to happen for him at the next level is on the O line. There his skill will stand out!

 

[Natebishop3]

I agree 100%. I've been extremely disappointed with him thus far. Doesn't seem like much of a difference maker at all on defense.

 

[Quack U!]

Just imagine if Kyle and Arik both started last year on the O line? WOW!

 

[Natebishop3]

Just imagine if Kyle and Arik both started last year on the O line? WOW!

We wouldn't have had any problem running the ball on Stanford, that's for sure.

 

[PapaG]

I agree 100%. I've been extremely disappointed with him thus far. Doesn't seem like much of a difference maker at all on defense.

LOL

Watch some film and see what Buckner and Armstead are asked to do on defense. He's not playing the Dion Jordan role, if that's what you thought he'd be.

 

[Natebishop3]

LOL

Watch some film and see what Buckner and Armstead are asked to do on defense. He's not playing the Dion Jordan role, if that's what you thought he'd be.

I was hoping for this player. Not Jordan.

[video=youtube;Zah9wc3n9cI]

 

[Quack U!]

I agree what they've asked AA and Buckner to do in a two gap against teams like Stanford is ridiculous especially with a pretty green LB crew backing them last year! Buckner is a D line guy for sure, AA on the other hand is an O line superstar who talked himself into playing defense and the coaches were scared to lose him to another school so they acquiesced. His ability is clearly on the other line.

 

[PapaG]

Armstead quit the basketball team today to focus on academics and football. Saying he's been a disappointment is funny to me, but whatever, this gives him more time in the weight room.

 

[Wheels]

I was hoping for this player. Not Jordan.

[video=youtube;Zah9wc3n9cI]

everyone wants a Ngata, but that wasnt ever going to be the role Armstead was going to play here.

Best case I remember "HEARING" about was a Richard Seymour comparison

 

[PapaG]

everyone wants a Ngata, but that wasnt ever going to be the role Armstead was going to play here.

Best case I remember "HEARING" about was a Richard Seymour comparison

Armstead is best-suited as a 4-3 DE. Never was he supposed to play over center, like Ngata. In the 3-4, his job is to basically eat up blocks and let the LBs make tackles.

 

[Wheels]

Armstead is best-suited as a 4-3 DE. Never was he supposed to play over center, like Ngata. In the 3-4, his job is to basically eat up blocks and let the LBs make tackles.

yep. Hopefully the LBs coming off RS and and further maturation of our LBs who already play can handle it. It looks really good with guys like Kiko and Clay back there.

 

[Natebishop3]

Armstead is best-suited as a 4-3 DE. Never was he supposed to play over center, like Ngata. In the 3-4, his job is to basically eat up blocks and let the LBs make tackles.

Why would he want to take on a role that would hide his talents, instead of playing on the OLine which would highlight them? He could have been a first round pick as an O Lineman. Is he a first rounder right now as a defensive lineman?

 

[Wheels]

Why would he want to take on a role that would hide his talents, instead of playing on the OLine which would highlight them? He could have been a first round pick as an O Lineman. Is he a first rounder right now as a defensive lineman?

some guys just have different preferences. Budda Baker for example in an interview since he decommitted says he prefers to play Defense, while Oregon wanted him on Offense.

 

[PapaG]

Why would he want to take on a role that would hide his talents, instead of playing on the OLine which would highlight them? He could have been a first round pick as an O Lineman. Is he a first rounder right now as a defensive lineman?

I don't think his talents are being hidden. In the NFL, a lot of teams are going back to 3-4, and learning 2-gap is something that is necessary. If he goes to a 4-3 team, then it's not that hard to have a guy play 1-gap.

 

[Natebishop3]

Well, I think this is a perfect example of why I stopped getting into recruiting. It built up unrealistic expectations for kids, half of which didn't even stay with the team (Seastrunk, Blackmon, Sumler, etc) and the other half never really lived up to. Only DAT really met my expectations when we first signed him. I just find it's better if I have no idea who they are coming in, so I can be pleasantly surprised when they do well.

 

[PapaG]

Well, I think this is a perfect example of why I stopped getting into recruiting. It built up unrealistic expectations for kids, half of which didn't even stay with the team (Seastrunk, Blackmon, Sumler, etc) and the other half never really lived up to. Only DAT really met my expectations when we first signed him. I just find it's better if I have no idea who they are coming in, so I can be pleasantly surprised when they do well.

I had higher expectations for Armstead, too, until I saw where they were going to play him. As a 3-4 end, he can still get sacks on passing downs, and hopefully improves on it next year. He doesn't have the same skills as Dion Jordan or even Tony Washington Jr., and I too think Arik would be a lock for the first-round at OL. Think Kyle Long...

 

[PapaG]

Armstead also got a lot of extra attention after Tosh blew up the Cal program, and really was only a 4* recruit at DE, compared to perhaps the best 5* OL recruit in the country. I think we all had huge expectations for Armstead, and he still has 2 years to live up to them. Meanwhile, Buckner is the much better 3-4 DE at this point, and he came in with much less fanfare.

 

[Natebishop3]

I had higher expectations for Armstead, too, until I saw where they were going to play him. As a 3-4 end, he can still get sacks on passing downs, and hopefully improves on it next year. He doesn't have the same skills as Dion Jordan or even Tony Washington Jr., and I too think Arik would be a lock for the first-round at OL. Think Kyle Long...

I've never understood why someone would throw away a lottery ticket like that. He could still go to the NFL, but I think he would have been a lock on the OL. Never made sense to me.

 

[Quack U!]

It may be simply Arik thought that if he played O line he'd never make basketball weight for hoops. Something tells me at his size and skill at the O line a pro scout may have said.... "Hey BIG GUY ya want to go pro or go home?" Maybe that's why he's stopped hoops now, and who knows maybe by spring he announces he'll be on the O line next year! It's a WIN WIN for Arik and the Ducks!!

 

[STOMP]

I've never understood why someone would throw away a lottery ticket like that. He could still go to the NFL, but I think he would have been a lock on the OL. Never made sense to me.

roughly how many of his HS games did you watch him play on the OL to come to this locked for the NFL conclusion? Recruiting services had him rated highly there, but they've a well documented hit & miss factor that should dissuade anyone paying attention from taking their ratings as gospel. Unless someone is claiming OL guru status, facts are we don't know how he'd be doing on Oregon's OL right now let alone if he was fast tracking it for the NFL.

honestly, I'm not disappointed in his play at all probably because I formed most of my opinion of his ability after seeing him at Oregon. Sure it was exciting landing a highly rated prospect, but haven't you seen enough of those produce zippo to know to keep your hopes in check? I appreciate him for what he is, a pretty decent DLman. After a while you have to blame yourself for falling for the same things over & over

STOMP

 

[Natebishop3]

roughly how many of his HS games did you watch him play on the OL to come to this locked for the NFL conclusion? Recruiting services had him rated highly there, but they've a well documented hit & miss factor that should dissuade anyone paying attention from taking their ratings as gospel. Unless someone is claiming OL guru status, facts are we don't know how he'd be doing on Oregon's OL right now let alone if he was fast tracking it for the NFL.

honestly, I'm not disappointed in his play at all probably because I formed most of my opinion of his ability after seeing him at Oregon. Sure I was excited when they landed him & that they were getting a highly rated prospect, but I've seen enough of those produce zippo to know to keep my hopes in check. I appreciate him for what he is, a pretty decent DLman. After a while you have to blame yourself for falling for the same things over & over

STOMP

Did you read this?

Well, I think this is a perfect example of why I stopped getting into recruiting. It built up unrealistic expectations for kids, half of which didn't even stay with the team (Seastrunk, Blackmon, Sumler, etc) and the other half never really lived up to. Only DAT really met my expectations when we first signed him. I just find it's better if I have no idea who they are coming in, so I can be pleasantly surprised when they do well.

 

[STOMP]

Did you read this?

yup. Sounds like you're starting to curb some unrealistic expectations. Still you're expressing "extreme disappointment" in Armstead and claiming he'd be dominant on the OL if he only were to switch sides of the ball... which makes it seem like you've a ways to go. We don't know "for sure" that UO could run the ball vs Stanford if he were there. It would be fun to see how he might fare, but really we don't know how he'd do based on high hopes

STOMP

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

AA has been a bit of a bust on the D-Line. But that was the agreement to get him in school.

 

[Quack U!]

Arik was brought in to Oregon to play D line and hoops, very true. He was also 18 and youthfully dreaming, now two years later he's looking at his life more realistically, thus why he stopped with basketball because he knows his future isn't on the hardwood. On top of that it's very hard to drop football weight or play "light" in football to become basketball productive in under a month in between seasons especially as a line player. Also bowl season is not a time for basketball weight loss, we need Arik at his football best. Now throw in next years playoff system and you can add another month to the season. For Arik to be successful in two sports he'd need Dion Jordans body type on the D line. Arik doesn't have Dion Jordan's frame or quickness and he's 2 1/2 inches taller than Dion and considerably thicker. That moves him to more of a D tackle. At that position with his weight he's gong up against 300 pound O lineman, some at the same height as he projects.

Now with a 3-4 defense Arik's size and lighter weight gets used against him in the trenches. When the ball is snapped he's stood up and is 2 guard pull blocked right out of effective positions. Of course Arik knows this oh to well cause he had a PHD in pancaking smaller DT's and was quick enough to take on all types of DE's in high school. Now as for how good of an O lineman Arik was, his height, speed and technical knowledge was the best in the entire country coming out of high school. I'd say he's a more athletic and technically sound version of this years Cameron Robinson who's going to BAMA.

At some point Ariks going to realize he's not crazy enough for the D line. For those of you who have played defense you know what I mean! This may be the biggest weakness in Ariks armor, he's not willing to break his own helmet to get through the gap and hit the QB! When you're giving up two-four inches to O lineman as a "TYPICAL" D line player does, you better have the evil aggression to make them pay for that size arrogance and that's done through brute force and angry attacking never quitting motor on the highest gear!

O lineman play as a complete line and are effective through strong movement technique and unity.

D Line is a completely different beast and mind set. One that I don't think Arik possesses.

Ariks destined to be in the NFL just not on the D line! Hope he figures that out before it costs him real money and round picks.

That said Arik on the O line next year would be like bringing back Kyle Long.

Let Balducci and Levi get under pad level, and have Buckner coming off the end to disrupt everything on the D.

 

[Natebishop3]

yup. Sounds like you're starting to curb some unrealistic expectations. Still you're expressing "extreme disappointment" in Armstead and claiming he'd be dominant on the OL if he only were to switch sides of the ball... which makes it seem like you've a ways to go. We don't know "for sure" that UO could run the ball vs Stanford if he were there. It would be fun to see how he might fare, but really we don't know how he'd do based on high hopes

STOMP

I guess it's extreme disappointment because he had been billed a difference maker. I really haven't seen it.

I do think he'd be dominant, or much more dominant, if he switched to OL. The guy was the #1 ranked OL in the country. I would be shocked if he switched sides and was a bust on the OL.

Also, that statement about Stanford had a lot to do with still having Pro Bowler Kyle Long on our team.

 

[STOMP]

I guess it's extreme disappointment because he had been billed a difference maker. I really haven't seen it.

I do think he'd be dominant, or much more dominant, if he switched to OL. The guy was the #1 ranked OL in the country. I would be shocked if he switched sides and was a bust on the OL.

again, the sources you're siting and pinning high hopes on are proven to be very inaccurate every single year. You should know this by now.

STOMP

 

[Natebishop3]

again, the sources you're siting and pinning high hopes on are proven to be very inaccurate every single year. You should know this by now.

STOMP

Well isn't that what I said in that other post? I'm not really sure what you're hammering home. I said that I've stopped paying attention to recruiting because I feel like it builds unrealistic expectations. Many of our best players weren't even highly ranked, so at this point I'd rather just watch the games and enjoy the players as they develop. I can't help how I felt though about AA. That damage is done. The expectations were already there. The disappointment already happened. I'm just saying that I've been extremely disappointed in him

 

[STOMP]

you're saying you know there opinion isn't worth much, but then in the next sentence that you're sure Arik would dominate if he switched sides of the ball because they say so. It doesn't make much sense

STOMP

 

[Natebishop3]

you're saying you know there opinion isn't worth much, but then in the next sentence that you're sure Arik would dominate if he switched sides of the ball because they say so. It doesn't make much sense

STOMP

No, I said I think he'd be dominant or more dominant. Think is very different from being sure. The reason why I think that is because he was supposedly the best offensive lineman in the country in high school. I would assume that's because he was pretty good. I just think he's been somewhat underwhelming as a defensive lineman, so why not go back to what was his strength in high school?

 

[Quack U!]

For me Arik's worth didn't come from any recruiting site in high school but rather that every O line coach in America was basically sleeping in his front yard for two years. You didn't see that same attention from the defensive side of the coaching ranks.

As for Kyle Long, he's a rare Duck in my eyes in the sense that he's got a nasty streak in him you often see in DT's and LB's. What makes him so damn effective on the O line is he's to tall and athletic and uses his leg and hips so freaking well to keep balance and leverage. I saw him many times block guys 5 yards down the field than pancake them into the ground. To think how good Kyle will be in a few years considering with one year for the Bears where he started, he's only had one year of top tier competition and a year at a JUCO. Pretty damn impressive and great pedigree for sure!

With all that said AA is more technical on the O line than Kyle and has "enough" of a mean streak to keep MM protected in style.

Tell ya something else, if AA is rock solid on staying on the D line he'll probably go second/third round to the pros on his size and they'll flip him to the O line instantly. Staying on the D line if you think about it is really just hurting his wallet and giving some NFL team a steal on a future O line pro bowler.