Big Guys on the Big Stage: State Preview

<p>"Games are won and lost in the trenches" </p> <p>This phrase is repeated over and over by football coaches across the country, but very little recognition is ever given to the big guys who pave the way for RB’s and create clean pockets for QB’s to throw from. Well, today that changes. We’re here to take a look at some of the big guys who will take center stage this weekend in the Minnesota State Football Semi-Finals.</p> <p>1. [player_tooltip player_id="116191" first="Ethan" last="Fischer"], OL/DL, Maple River Eagles (6’8" 255lbs)</p> <p>First up we have [player_tooltip player_id="116191" first="Ethan" last="Fischer"] from Maple River. The monster RT for the Eagles has shown steady improvement from his junior season. Fischer looks to have added not only strength but also flexibility heading into his senior year. He plays with a much better pad level than before and shows the necessary hip and knee bend to succeed at the next level. Fischer’s long frame makes it tough for DE’s to beat him with speed around the edge. As a whole, the Eagles have a great OL, who excel in both pass protection and run blocking. This group will be fun to watch as they take on West Central Area on Friday, November 19th at U.S. Bank Stadium. </p> <p><br />2. Jonathan Frank, OL/DL, Chatfield Gophers (6’5" 235lbs)</p> <p>Jonathan Frank is a long and lean OT/DE for the Chatfield Gophers. He plays with a competitive edge and showcases a high level of physicality on both sides of the ball. Even with a tall frame, Frank is able to play with great leverage on the defensive side of the ball. He is able to play through bigger OL, utilizing leverage and physicality to control his gap, while also being able to use his quickness to beat offensive tackles during 1 on 1 pass-rush situations. Watching some of his highlights, Frank’s favorite pass rush move seems to be a quick swim move to beat offensive tackles around the edge. On the offensive side of the ball, Frank has the athleticism to climb to the second level quickly on run plays and has the necessary length and quickness to pass set and block DE’s. </p> <p><br />3. Trayten Johnson, OL, Dassel-Cokato Chargers (6’2" 255lbs)</p> <p>There’s a lot to like about burly LT for the Dassel-Cokato Chargers. Trayten Johnson is the epitome of what OL play should look like. Athletic enough to reach DE’s and get to the second level, strong enough to wash down bigger defensive tackles, and nasty enough to finish most plays with a defender on the ground. The junior does a great job of keeping his hands inside and driving his feet through the defender, leading to highlight after highlight of pancake blocks. His matchup against a stout Esko DL will be one of the things to watch on semi-final Saturday. </p> <p><br />4. Anton Kadlec, OL/DL, Hutchinson Tigers (6’2" 285lbs)</p> <p>Last but not least, we have Anton Kadlec. The sophomore right tackle has a big, powerful frame and he uses it to open holes for the Tiger’s rushing attack. Kadlec plays with an impressively low pad level for a sophomore, and routinely moves bodies out of the way. With a thick lower half, Kadlec is able to anchor against big defensive linemen but still shows enough athleticism to climb to linebackers at the second level. He showcases a strong grip by getting inside hand placement and being able to drive guys downfield. This young OL will be one to keep an eye on over the next few years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->