CAFB_04-12 wrote:

I tend to agree that Manase was a integral part of Unga's success last year. Nothing like having a freight train lead blocking for you. How good is Fui at lead blocking anyway? It seems like I heard he's slimmed down since last year.

Too bad about the academics. I almost failed out of BYU too. Of course, I was a freshman in pre-engineering. Maybe Manase needs to change his major like I did.

There is very little lead blocking in the spread offense, aside from short yardage formations. This is probably just the chance that Fui needs to learn to be a NFL fullback; it's the only position he'd get paid to play, might as well learn it.

byu uses alot of lead blocking (fb and te), and losing both of the primary fb blockers from last years team (the other to graduation: td-joe) is a blow. i read that fui was cross training at fb already, so he will be able to get on the field more. there are also two other fb (bills, and taylor) who now have a chance as well. the problem is that manase was not only perfectly suited for the roll (read big and strong), he was flawless in pass blocking. the inability to pass block is what has kept a number of very talented rb/fb off the field, the most receint being hudson who is now playing in somewhere else.

Maybe they could get Vic So'oto to switch back to offense and fill in. He did a little bit of lead blocking last year.

Fui was downright bad at blocking in 2006 and was OK at best in 2007 (but whenever he was on the field he almost always got the ball--which 1. demonstrates the lack of coaching confidence in his blocking and 2. demonstrates a portion of why he didn't have great numbers last year, high ankle sprain aside. It's tough to run when the OC is telegraphing the play to the defense).

Manase gone will hurt a lot. Losing Joe Semanoff (who was a FANTASTIC blocker) was already bad, losing both starting full backs will certainly hurt. I have no idea what's going on with him, but it sounds like he's got some personal stuff to work out. Something like this can put a lot of strain on a new marriage (married in LA late last August just before the stop sign ticket incident--not a good way to start off).
I predict this costs us at least one spot in the preseason polls, at least initially.

I've never talked with Tonga, but I've watched him during and after games. I like his demeanor and his easy smile. I hope he can pull things together. I'm biased, but in the end I think his education will be a lot more important than his statline.

I cant be bothered to check if it's already mentioned, but if not-
Mas (as the team calls him) is coming back in 2009 for sure. I talked with a member of the medical staff for the team yesterday for an hour about the shape of the team and things, he said Mas does NOT have to re-apply but is working on raising grades and will be throughout the next year, but doesn't have too high a mountain to climb, so i was glad to hear it.