Manny Returns, Again
August 30, 2010Show Us Your Cleveland Man-Cave
August 30, 2010I went back and watched with great interest the match-up between Browns rookie right guard Shawn Lauvao and Detroit rookie Ndamukong Suh. Suh was the second pick in the draft, but widely considered to be the top player available. Lauvao was making his second preseason start, and looked pretty decent in his first effort against the Rams, but wasn’t tested the way Suh would certainly do. What I saw made me smile. Lauvao certainly held his own against the Nebraska uber-pick.
Before you go crazy remembering the face-twisting body slam Suh laid on Jake Delhomme, make sure you check the tape. Suh lined up across from Lauvao, and despite a wicked inside spin move Shawn kept his feet in the proper position and walled Suh. He then had to engage a stunting LB from the opposite side of the line, passing Suh to the inside. Originally I thought Mack should have picked up Suh, but Mack was also engaged. With the stunt the Lions had brought more rushers on the right side than the Browns had blockers. Lauvao, having stopped Suh’s forward momentum reacts and picks up the hard charging stunt keeping him from Delhomme. The line holds for at least 3 seconds, at which time Hillis disengages and becomes the outlet receiver. Jake is forced to step forward in the pocket because of an outside rusher who gets by Joe Thomas as he stumbles. Delhomme steps up right into Suh.
I wouldn’t lay the blame for that hit on Lauvao. He took on two men on the play.
Suh used a variety of moves against Lauvao and Shawn was ready. I thought his footwork was excellent most of the time, and he used his hips well against the bull rush. In the running game he even got movement on the bigger Suh. Watch Hillis’ touchdown run (if you can find it, I couldn’t online) and see the push Lauvao gets against Suh. It was fantastic.
Now Ndamukong Suh isn’t a polished NFL veteran, but he was the best test of the preseason for Lauvao and in my book Shawn graded out to an A- for the effort. based on what I’ve seen the last two weeks I would be more than comfortable giving that starting RG spot to Lauvao. Will he make a few rookie mistakes through the year? Of course, but he seems to have the physical tools and techniques necessary to play the position. If you recorded the game, there was a play in particular in the first half where Lauvao’s helmet came flying off at the line of scrimmage, but that didn’t deter him from sprinting out to make a cut block on a LB in pursuit.
Tony Pashos didn’t have quite the day that Lauvao did, but overall he didn’t play bad either. Like St. Clair, Pashos was victimized by the edge speed rush once or twice, but certainly nothing that I would classify as ‘turnstyle’ worthy. Pashos also got into a few heads on Saturday by blocking until the whistle blew. On a couple occasions I saw Detroit linemen frustrated and taking shots after the whistle at Pashos, who had the sense not to fall for the ploy.
Could this mean a strengthened right side of the line? If Womack is able to return I would feel much better about the depth heading into this season.
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Today Eric Mangini said that he intends to send tape of the hit to the league for review, but added that the league probably would have looked into it anyways. QB Seneca Wallace said the hit warranted a suspension. “He already face masked him, then he grabs him by the neck, twists it and throws him down. To me, that’s something you can get suspended for, I think.”
9 Comments
Suh would’ve looked more appropriate in a Ravens or Steelers uniform with that tackle. The difference was a penalty was called on him.
Suh’s hit was as deliberate an effort to injure as you’ll ever see. Even after he released his grip on the hemet/facemask, he could have simply forced the QB to the turf in the direction he was already headed, but chose instead to twist him by the head in the opposite direction of his momentum–a move that was intended to do physical harm. There’s no doubt that Suh is an enormous talent, but he won’t build any kind of respect around the NFL with this kind of play. The league needs to send a message to him.
I saw Lauvao doin a good job also, but on that play where his helmet flew off I was thinkin, “who is this lunatic diving at someone’s legs without a helmet?!”
I do think if Womack comes back healthy a good rotation of him and Pashos would make for a good RT and Lauvao should be starting next to Mack.
Lauvao is the reason I am so optimistic about this draft early on. If it turns out we picked three or four solid NFL starters (among Haden, Ward, Hardesty, Lauvao) at positions of need in the first three rounds, it will easily be our best haul in decades. And if Colt develops into anything halfway decent, whether starter or backup, that’s a bonus.
Competent player evaluations: it’s a beautiful thing.
Agree 100% Harv. I am trying to temper my enthusiasm for Ward and Haden, because you know…it’s just the preseason, but I see a lot of potential there. Add a quality starting RG and the wildcard in Hardesty and we could have scored this offseason.
If Lauvao pans out I will be so happy. Just think about it, 3 young offensive lineman in the draft 3 years in a row. Who would of thought during the Couch/Holcomb/Garcia/Dilfer years that we would have anything resembling a NFL offensive life ? Let alone 3 (2 now) young studs anchoring the line.
Just need to find a young replacement for Steinbach (not immediately obviously but, someone to learn under him and develop his game while we have him) and a solid RT and this line will be amazing for years to come.
[…] after the contest, Rick laid out a second-by-second schematicof the play that resulted in the Lions rookie defensive lineman grabbing Delhomme by his facemask, […]
[…] Watch Hillis’ touchdown run (if you can find it, I couldn’t online) and see the push Lauvao gets against Suh. It was fantastic.
It is indeed fantastic.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/cleveland-browns/09000d5d81a15726/Hillis-goal-line-TD-run
Shawn is doing an outstanding job! Saw that great push against Suh! Wonderful!