8A All Offensive Team: 2020 Preview

With the postponement of the 2020 season, we wanted to continue previewing some of the top skill position players that will be performing this spring. Quarterbacks [player_tooltip player_id="20226" first="Ryan" last="Saxe"] (Fremd HS)- Adequate height and weight, slender, trim, proportioned with some definition. Smooth footwork off snap in order to square base. A rhythmic thrower with a tight, short motion and good release. Solid pocket presence, can move to elude pressure, but also shows the willingness to take a hit to make a throw. Solid play strength, with hip and core torque. He is going to be at his best working the short to intermediate areas of the field. Possesses enough zip to fit the ball into tight windows in those areas. Good accuracy, allows WR to pick up YAC with good ball placement. Good mobility and eye discipline when working outside the pocket. Good speed and agility, coupled with a physical running style allows him to move the chains when needed. As a passer, keeps eyes downfield and can generate enough torque to throw off platform. To reach his full potential he will need to develop more patience in the pocket, he likes to hit his back foot and get the ball out. When initial read isn’t there he looks for escape lanes instead of continuing to let the play develop. Overall, a good player that still needs some work but has the tools to be successful. JT Thomas (Loyola HS)- Adequate height with good weight, thick, proportioned with solid definition. Very good footwork and eyes off the snap. He gets through reads quickly and displays the ability to get to his second and third options. Good pocket presence, uses short, quick lateral and vertical movements to elude, while keeping eyes downfield. Very good motion and release, short, quick, and the ball comes out clean. Good play strength, generates majority of his power from his core, and can push the ball down the field, while also being able to complete throws from the far hash. Very good spot thrower, leads WRs and hits them in stride. Anticipates the break very well, and gets the ball out on time. Good accuracy and touch, in order to not only protect WRs, but also throw a very catchable ball. Solid mobility, enough to keep defenses honest with zone read concepts, but isn’t going to be real effective with his legs unless he is just moving to throw. Overall, a very good player that is a bit undersized height-wise, but has all the tools and traits. Running Backs Vaughan Pemberton (Loyola Academy)- Good height and weight, buff, trim, proportioned with definition. He’s a North/South, downhill runner, with power. Good get off, little wasted movements, coupled with solid vision. Trusts eyes and will hit hole hard. Good play strength at the LOS and second level, consistently runs through arm tackles, and can lower shoulder. Solid foot quickness, one speed runner, who was capable of being a chunk runner. Will finish runs, and consistently fell forward. Good hands, hands catcher who was able to adjust to the football. Good transition and could generate YAC. Overall, a good prospect is is best working between the T. He will be able to work out of both a Pro style offense or a Spread. [player_tooltip player_id="20360" first="Armani" last="Moreno"] (Neuqua Valley HS)- Good height and weight, trim, proportioned with definition. Good get off, little wasted movements with good vision. Displays the ability to both cut off the backside of OL, and also use one cut to set up the next. Solid burst and acceleration into the second level. Good play strength, plays behind pads and with good upper and lower body strength. Good lateral COD in order to elude both around the LOS and when into the open field. Solid foot quickness, a chunk runner who will be a consistent chain mover but won’t consistently be a home run threat. Good hands, hands catcher who can adjust to the football. Good transition upfield post catch and maintains his power on the perimeter. A good prospect who can play in either a Pro style or Spread offense, and be successful. Wide Receivers Darien Jackson (Elgin HS)- Solid height and weight with a slender overall frame. Good foot quickness and burst off LOS. Very good straight line speed, and can maintain speed into stem, which allows for separation once to the top of route. Possesses home run speed and shows good catch to run transition, to allow for a lot of YAC. Solid hands, tends to let the ball get into chest and cradles at the catch point. He will need to add more routes to his arsenal, to reach overall potential, but has the capability to do so. Garrett Stare (Neuqua Valley HS)- Solid height and weight with average frame. Good burst off LOS, uses a combination of quickness and acceleration to eat up Off coverage. Shows solid mental processing to settle routes in honey holes and allow QB a lane to fit the ball in. Good ability to stretch the field, and can work shallow, intermediate, or deep. Solid YAC ability, will engage contact in order to pick up extra yardage. Overall, a solid slot WR who has the ability to continue developing in 2020, and see production take off this season. Aiden Brownlee (Loyola Academy)- Adequate height, solid weight with a solid frame. He’s a multidimensional athlete who is at his best when lining up in the slot and working the shallow to intermediate areas of the field. Good quickness and speed allows him to get a clean release vs. Press, along with the ability to eat up cushion vs.Off coverage. Uses very good COD to create separation out of break, and shows good acceleration/burst to pull away from defenders. Natural hands, catches the ball out in front and has a fluent catch to run transition. He possesses home run ability each time he touches the football, and also displays big play ability in the return game. He lacks height, but is a natural football player who will be able to come in and contribute right away in a variety of ways at the next level. Tight Ends David Loch (Taft HS)- Good height with solid weight and a slender frame. He was used both in-line as a TE and split out at the numbers as a WR. Body size and leg drive allow him to get off Press. Solid COD allows him to create separation vs. Off. Hands catcher, soft hands and is fluent at the catch point. His greatest ability is as a redzone target, high points very well and has a willingness to go get the football. He lacks ability to seperate at top of routes vs. tight man to man coverage. He is a tweaner, and his potential at the next level will most likely be adding weight and transitioning to TE.