Ryan Moczygemba: LINEBACKER MENTALITY

by **PonyPride** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 1:47 am

The running backs who get the headlines often are the sleek, fast sprinters who end up in the end zone. But SMU head coach June Jones often has had big, tough running backs on his team, partly to fun the ball but largely to aid in pass protection.

Jones made a move to continue that trend this week when he moved former linebacker and special teamer Ryan Moczygemba to running back.

Moczygemba brings his tough, physical style to the offense, and visited with PonyFans.com to discuss his new role, and what he brings to the offense.

http://www.ponyfans.com/features/index.php?id=114

Enjoy!

Webmasters
PonyFans.com

by **Ralph** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 2:07 am

The rb that learns to block will play. It's more difficult to learn to pass block than it is for a player like Ryan to learn the running plays, shovel pass or safety valve pass in the flats. A good blocker will cut down on the qb's number of sacks to sustain drives esoecially without an "H" back helping out against an exceptional DE or OLB with speed. As Kull stated earlier, Regan Mauia was used to neutralize the outside rush of Purdue's DE.

by **kull** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 2:19 am

thanks for the coverage Pride

by **Ralph** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 2:36 am

I notice the rbs are on the small side: Butler (201), Lunday (180), McNeal (190) and Line (238). They got to have good leverage against the DL, quickness and toughness to handle a blitzing LB or DB. Most Lbs are in the 220 to 245 range, so overall they need to check in with Viloria for extra work. Ilaoa weighed about 245, Mauia about 260+, in fact Mauia started as a DT weighing more than 300+ but he worked his butt off to lose 50+ lbs to challenge for PT as a rb. SMU's rbs got to get physically stronger to take the pounding and last the entire season.