Moffitt is Baaack!

I took a quick look at the tape tonight, focusing on Moffitt. #74 came into the game at right guard with the second unit and moved a step left to play center at the end of the 3rd quarter. He rocked both positions.

In his early play, Moffitt was a bit slow to the second level and the timing and positions weren't exactly right for him to make the blocks. After that, he focused on the first level and dominated. Yeah, it was against the Raider's 2nd unit, but still, our starting right guard from last year looked as strong as ever. As the game progressed, Moffitt started getting better contact in the 2nd level and was able to apply some cut blocks. It was just a quick film study, but what I saw looked good.

Moffitt looked good at center too. What? You didn't notice that he was playing the position. Yes. Exactly. Moffit was able to get clean snaps, was quick in his transition into the block, and was able to keep a clear enough head to move to the second level after some nice combo blocks.

All in all, he looked better than Sweezy, once he got going. Moffitt was able to grade some road and looked more purposeful when going after linebackers. The main difference is once he makes contact in the 2nd level, he's able to sustain it.

I applaud Cable for leaving Sweezy in with the 1st team. He was playing with familiar teammates and he gets the support of Unger and Giacomini to get him in the right position and into the right plays. Moffitt played a lot with the 2nd unit this pre-season, at least when he was developing his skills as a center, so having him play with those guys was also familiar.

But come Week 1, I'd put Moffitt in as the starter. He looked strong as ever and quickly knocked off any rust. This was just a tune up though. He wasn't playing against a 1st unit defense with a real game on the line.

Sweezy makes a great story, learned the basics of the position amazingly quickly, and has a great natural ability, but he doesn't have the experience and skills of Moffitt. What he does offer is immediate depth and a very high ceiling. Again, Schneider strikes gold at the long end of the draft.

If Moffitt wants to keep the job next year, he can't stand still. But as of the end of August, 2012, Moffitt is our best player at right guard. He's my pick to be our 2012 starter.