Returning Contributors: The Westfield Blue Devils’ Linemen

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Jim DeSarno era in Westfield started way back in 2006. Since he took control of the program it has experienced unprecedented success. Entering his 19th season at the helm DeSarno's tenure has been highlighted by a 38-game winning streak and consecutive North II, Group V sectional championships in 2015, 2016, and 2017. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All that said, most programs would be celebrating a 6-5 season and the #7 seed in the North V playoff bracket. Not Westfield though. Below are a handful of prospects who are coming back to build upon an already stellar campaign by most standards in hopes to compete for a state championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1181814"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1181814' first='Zac' last='Wragg'] is one of two defensive ends returning for the Blue Devils. One thing the tape shows that Wragg does exceptionally well is get hands on the man in front of him, strain, and separate. This allows Wragg to always be in position to control his gap and rip into his adjacent gap. Wragg also is the beneficiary of Westfield's signature line stunts, where he often comes through to sack the quarterback (five last season) or be in position to bat a pass attempt down. The returning defensive end also does a nice job of making kick out blockers whiff and finishing those plays. Wragg also plays with his head on a swivel, eliminating running back flare patterns with his savviness. An area Wragg can improve on is his hip mobility. Should he work to twitch and flip his hips through he will inevitably find himself routinely making plays in the backfield.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65cc247f50cba"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16530384/65667349d468d904ec4a173b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e ","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65cc247f50d7f"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1181816"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Bookending Wragg as the end on the opposite side of the defensive line is [player_tooltip player_id='1181816' first='Lincoln' last='Meyers']. Meyers' season was highlighted by 1 sack and 1 fumble recovery. One thing is clear after watching his film: Meyers has a motor. Aided by his ability to redirect and pursue with ease, Meyers also does a great job fighting for half-man leverage with the offensive linemen. This makes him a difficult matchup to reach block. He has shown numerous times to play into his adjacent gap with ease. Perhaps a scrappy player, we see Meyers consistently keep playing as he fights and works to make plays. His best move is the snatch move, which he uses to shed would-be blockers at any point during the play. Aware of situational football, I noticed Meyers play with his hands above his eyes near the goal line en route to make a solid, score-stifling play. Meyers would benefit from focus on tackling the ball carrier a bit lower.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65cc247f50de2"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19753403/65680ed83df53405104d3dab' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65cc247f50e02"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1181811"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The only sophomore on this feature, [player_tooltip player_id='1181811' first='Jake' last='Zemsky'] is a prospect who looks to rise from the JV ranks. His sub-varsity film shows that the offensive lineman does a nice job climbing to the second level of the defense. Perhaps more importantly, Zemsky u003cemu003esticks u003c/emu003eto those second-level defenders like white-on-rice. When run blocking the young trenchman maintains a solid base so he is never off balance. This, combine with his ability to place his head on the correct shoulder, makes him an effective run blocker. What I happen to think Zemsky does best is pull; however, what he does even better than that is move in space. As he prepares to win a varsity job this fall, Zemsky should look to improve his foot quickness, which will aid him in pass protection.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65cc247f50e58"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18000501/6554e4860660d304081f296d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65cc247f50e89"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1181817"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"One of three returning offensive lineman from last year is the man-in-the-middle, center [player_tooltip player_id='1181817' first='Brenton' last='Hatch']. Hatch has all the size to consistently win against nose tackles on a 1-on-1 basis. Hatch also does a solid job of finding a way to obstruct the path of linebackers when he climbs to the second level. Likely the most impressive play on his highlight film, we see that the Blue Devils' center keeps his head up and has the power to totally de-cleat blitzing linebackers. The big mauler of an offensive lineman can improve his game by cleaning up his footwork. He will be in better position should he commit to avoiding false steps.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65cc247f50ed9"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16525456/656cb78ed226310af81d8652' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e ","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65cc247f50ef5"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1181818"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"As Westfield has bookend defensive ends returning in 2024, they also have bookend offensive tackles set to return, the first of which is [player_tooltip player_id='1181818' first='Patrick' last='McGovern']. The fluidity that McGovern pulls for single-back power was something I marveled at. Coming across on film as a cerebral player, it is evident that McGovern knows his assignment in any situation. Right now I would probably consider McGovern a better drive/down/on blocker than reach blocker, as he benefits from angles and locks his arms in the chest plate of a defender like a ram locking horns. If there is one bit of advice I would impart McGovern with as he prepares for the fall is to remember to u0022win with his head.u0022 As he continues to fight for his head to line up on the correct shoulder, he will build on his current level of success.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65cc247f50f47"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16530142/656954c5d2259e08c0ac08a8' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e ","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65cc247f50f65"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1174153"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eLining up at the far end of the offensive line, four gaps away as the other offensive tackle from McGovern is [player_tooltip player_id='1181819' first='Jack' last='Martin']. Martin is a double-team ace, getting a great deal of horizontal displacement on the down-lineman in front of him. Part of what contributes to this ability are a few coaching points that have been engrained into Martin's head: keep your feet moving and maintain a solid base. Martin is blessed with tremendous size that allows him to turn people simply by getting his big body in their way. Eliminating false steps would, again, be something for Martin to clean up, as I noticed he got beat by a backside slant across his face.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65cc247f50fb6"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16539685/65656676d45e7a03d41438c1' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65cc247f50fd5"} /-->