The Lions' Pride

Zettel looks like he just beat someone up. Intimidating kid.

Zanellato should really benefit from Fitz. I work with computer monitors that are thicker than him.

For a guy that should be a high school senior, Jesse James looks pretty intimidating.

haha Z looked like an average guy, who doesn't lift weights IMO, i think james may push for a lot of time

James does no worst than share time with a co-starter!

Theres a difference in what you said Breneman would do and what dipstick is saying James will do. That said Jesse looks big.

Dont forget with this switch in weight philosophies many times guys lose weight to start and rebuild. It'll be a long process.

Mangiro looks like a Wisniewski build, I like that. Dont need to be fat to be good.

Smith looks like a grown ass man, lets hope his conditioning and responsiveness keep improving.

Barnes looks the part.

Matty Z needs to eat with the OL. Jesus.

Anthony Zettel scares the bejeezus out of me. He's looking the part of a 5 tech and nickel DT right now. He'll gain more as his body adjusts.

Although there are definitely bright spots in there, I'm really interested in what these guys will look like before preseason camp starts. To get an entire summer with the new weightroom and Fitz2 should do wonders. I'm pleased with the progress so far, but really excited as to what we should see going into preseason camp.

Agreed 1000000 percent. Fitzy will have us ready to go and linemen looking as best as they can... Just imagine Mangiro and Smith a couple of years from now after 3 off-seasons with that man.

I agree...i think that Haplea has a lot of potential, but wouldn't be realized if the old staff was here. He could be a decent threat for us in the passing game.

And I'll say this. Coming from his background and his HS film, which was limited, I did not expect this from James. Thats a solid 265, like I expect him to gain more weight. He may eventually grow into a giant TE or athletic OT.

But, the reports and the fact that he showed up in such amazing stature is amazing. I did not believe this kid, with that background, would see much time this year. Well f me if I aint an idiot on that one. Kid is working his arse off, and hopefully he makes a lot of people (we know who we are) who were skeptical (to say the least) about his offer and immediate ability eat some crow. I know I'm firing up the grill.

Some of those kids are walk ons.

Speaking of which, would have been interesting to see where Cabot would have been slotted in the QB mess.

I still get a chuckle that the best players (to some people) on our team of over 100+ are either still in high school or will be arriving in a couple of months. Eric Shrive was a stud, Mike Hull, etc, etc... There is more about being ready to play football as a freshmen than just your gamefilm and measurements. These kids need to transition to living away from home where they were a big fish in a small pond. Just getting though life as a freshmen is hard enough yet alone come in and contribute meaningful mintutes to a D1 top 20 team. Ask Paul Jones.....