Returning Contributors: The Passaic County Tech Bulldogs Linemen

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It has been quite the run the last severals season for PCTI. A tremendous class of 2024 is set to graduate in June with a combine record of 24-4 record the last two years and two consecutive North, Group V championships under their belt that includes a 13-0 start this season. Unfortunately both times the Bulldogs were stymied in the Group V State Championship game against eventual champion Toms River North.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With loads of talent now off their depth chart, how will PCTI look to get over the proverbial “hump” this year, and accomplish the hardest thing to do in our sport? They will be looking to the following set of players to do so.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Returning Contributors Series</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/03/returning-contributors-the-bayonne-fighting-bees-linemen/">Bayonne Fighting Bees' Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-bayonne-fighting-bees-skill-players/">Bayonne Fighting Bees' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-bridgewater-raritan-panthers-linemen/">Bridgewater-Raritan Panthers' Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/03/returning-contributors-bridgewater-raritan-panthers-linemen-ii/">Bridgewater-Raritan Panthers' Line, Part 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-bridgewater-raritan-panthers-skills/">Bridgewater-Raritan Panthers' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/03/returning-contributors-the-clifton-mustangs-linemen/">Clifton Mustangs' Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-clifton-mustangs-skill-positions/">Clifton Mustangs' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/03/returning-contributors-the-east-orange-jaguars-defensive-skills/">East Orange Jaguars' Defensive Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/03/returning-contributors-the-east-orange-jaguars-linemen/">East Orange Jaguars' Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/03/returning-contributors-the-east-orange-jaguars-offensive-skills/">East Orange Jaguars' Offensive Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-elizabeth-minutemen-big-men/">Elizabeth Minutemen Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-hackensack-comets-skill-positions/">Hackensack Comets' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/03/returning-contributors-the-linden-tigers-linemen-2/">Linden Tigers' Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-linden-tigers-skill-positions/">Linden Tigers' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-montclair-mounties-skill-positions/">Montclair Mounties' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-morristown-colonials-big-men/">Morristown Colonials' Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/03/returning-contributors-the-morristown-colonials-skill-positions/">Morristown Colonials' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/03/returning-contributors-the-montclair-mounties-linemen/">Passaic County Tech Bulldogs' Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-passaic-county-tech-bulldogs-skills/">Passaic County Tech Bulldogs' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/03/returning-contributors-the-phillipsburg-stateliners-linemen/">Phillipsburg Stateliners' Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-phillipsburg-stateliners-skills/">Phillipsburg Stateliners' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/03/returning-contributors-the-piscataway-chiefs-linemen/">Piscataway Chief's Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-piscataway-chiefs-skill-positions/">Piscataway Chiefs' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-ridgewood-maroons-skills-line/">Ridgewood Maroons' Skills &amp; Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/03/returning-contributors-st-joseph-metuchen-falcons-linemen/">St. Joseph (Metuchen) Falcons' Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-st-joseph-metuchen-falcons-skills/">St. Joseph (Metuchen) Falcons' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-st-thomas-aquinas-trojan-skills-line/">St. Thomas Aquinas Trojans' Skills &amp; Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-union-farmers-linemen/">Union Farmers' Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/03/returning-contributors-the-union-farmers-skill-positions/">Union Farmers' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-union-city-soaring-eagles-skills/">Union City Soaring Eagles' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-watchung-hills-warriors-linemen/">Watchung Hills Warriors' Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/03/returning-contributors-the-watchung-hills-warriors-skills/">Watchung Hills Warriors' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-westfield-blue-devils-linemen/">Westfield Blue Devils' Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/03/returning-contributors-the-westfield-blue-devils-skills/">Westfield Blue Devils' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/returning-contributors-the-west-orange-mountaineers-skills/">West Orange Mountaineers' Skills</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1214782"],"_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='1214782' first='Justice' last='Anderson'] is an interior lineman who, despite not being much on the heavy side of the scale, does more than hold his own in the trenches. Last year Anderson was credited with 25 tackles (1o solos), 2 tackles for loss, and 1 sack. The first thing that caught my attention about Anderson's tape was that he was slanted away from the play, yet was able to u-turn on the heel of the offensive lineman very quickly, redirecting himself and getting into the action near the line of scrimmage. Similarly, we see Anderson keep working when offensive linemen quit or give up on a play and also gain leverage by working under the pads of bigger linemen who cannot bend to get lower than him. Because Anderson gets his hands on the man in front of him he is able to work across the face of back-blockers to get himself  in position to pursue. There were even a few instances of Anderson getting off the ball so quickly he was trailing pulling guards behind the line. Should Anderson put in the requisite amount of work to add mass and muscle during this offseason, he will be even harder to move, give opposing linemen fits, and make himself a two-way power/athleticism threat during 2024.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f99a8080da0"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"https://share.qwikcut.com/64ea54a2488cbd157ccd8251/Justice%20Anderson-%20Junior%20Season%20Highlights","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f99a8080eb9"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1214780"],"_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":"10 (4) 1 tflrnrnJahmir Joyner was a contributor last year at defensive tackle to the tune of 10 tackles (4 solos) and 1 tackle for loss. I was unable to find film from last year on Joyner; however, older clips show that at the JV level two seasons ago he times the snap very well. Part of his ability to get off so quickly - aside from reaction time - is that he has a good stance that translates to a good jump. He also has shown the ability to easily defeat a reach block, ripping and using his speed to get into his assigned gap in a hurry to pursue plays nicely. Based on the film I watched, an area for Joyner to focus on is focusing on his backfield depth. At times he got a little bit too far where he, instead, should look to break down and stay square to the line of scrimmage once he is behind it.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/16473414/Jahmir-Joyner/highlights?_gl=1*1pnv5m7*_ga*MTUxNjYwNTM5LjE3MTAzMzkzMzM.*_ga_29LPHS2HWC*MTcxMDc3OTkyNS4yNTQuMS4xNzEwNzgwMTA1LjAuMC4wu0022u003eu003cstrongu003eHudl Filmu003c/strongu003eu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f99a8080f3e"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1214781"],"_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":"Offering versatility along the Bulldogs' offensive line is [player_tooltip player_id='1214781' first='Zamir' last='Jones']. Appearing at both left guard and right tackle, Jones effectively pulls and drives through contact, exploding in a low-to-high fashion. As a result of the momentum and force he brings forward, many of his assignments end up on their backs. When on-blocking Jones works his hands to refit under the defense's breast plate. Understanding angles, he also seals defender's angles to the ball by using correct head placement at times. Jones has also shown the ability to get displacement on his double teams while keeping his eyes up, and picking up, scraping backers. One grow for Jones as he enters his final campaign is to work on his ability to bend. Often the hardest ask of lineman and what separates them from one another, with many of the requisite skills, solid film, and good technique, Jones as the potential to totally dominate along the line if he improves flexibility.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f99a8080fbc"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"https://share.qwikcut.com/65d799eb5ea493e4d0787393/Zamir%20Jones%20-%202025%20OL%2FDT%20-%20Passaic%20County%20Tech%20(NJ)","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f99a8080fed"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1214783"],"_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":"For the third time this week we have unearthed a long snapper. This time around the honor goes to PCTI's [player_tooltip player_id='1214783' first='Craig' last='Heyward']. Heyward's snaps are very solid as they possess a tight spiral and are within the vertical catch radius of the holder or punter. There is typically not much time between when his teammates get set and when he snaps the ball. I want to see more of Heyward as a gunner on punt. Having that third gunner beating his kick to the returner will go a long way in terms of controlling field position.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f99a8081059"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"https://share.qwikcut.com/6569cd0fc1c31099d5e7c93d/Junior%20year%20-Playoff%20tape","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f99a8081080"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1214784"],"_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":"Strapping up one final time with Jones is fellow offensive lineman and 2025 graduate [player_tooltip player_id='1214784' first='Abraham' last='Ballesteros'], who played blindside tackle for the Bulldogs last fall. Ironically, I noticed a lot of similarities in their respective games. Ballesteros finishes his blocks low-to-high when kicking out, always looking to finish and add to his highlight reel. It is also hard for kick out targets to squeeze inside of his blocks, for Ballesteros runs a tight track to his destination. In once instance, doing this allows him to block two men at once. Also effective on straight-ahead blocking Ballesteros maintains a shoulder-width base. This allows him to get movement both vertically and horizontally on his down-lineman. Adequate at double teams, linebackers flying up often get caught by Ballesteros near-or-around the line of scrimmage. Also a member of the kickoff and punt teams, Ballesteros was credited with 6 tackles (4 solo) last year. One thing Ballesteros should focus on his is foot speed. The sooner he gets to the point of attack with speed, the bigger impact his block will have, and the quicker the ball carrier can hit the hole at u003cemu003ehis u003c/emu003efull speed.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f99a80810fa"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"https://share.qwikcut.com/65e090a3b0739e83342f861d/Abraham%20Ballesteros%20Junior%20Year%20Highlights","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f99a808112a"} /-->