Colorado prep film review: May 27

As the school year is coming to an end for everyone, many athletes are continuing to work and get ready for high school football in a few months. Today, we take a look at the the film of two more players who submitted their initial films of social media to preview. Here is a look at the film reviews for Douglas County defensive back Aidan Phillips and Castle View offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id="216202" first="Ryder" last="Smith"]. <h3><strong>Aidan Phillips, 2023, 5’9, 160, DB, Douglas County</strong></h3> <strong>2021 stats:</strong> 54 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, 4 pass breakups The versatility in how Phillips can line up on defense makes him a solid player. You can keep him in the back with a two-safety look to take half of the deep field away, you can put him alone as the single high safety, or he can shift to the outside at the corner spot for one-on-one or zone coverage. But if the team needs to load up the box to stop the run, or is looking to get an extra rusher off the edge in passing situations, he will come all the way up to the line of scrimmage as an outside linebacker to rush off the line. He made plays at all levels, so his contributions are all over the field. <strong>Fast athlete:</strong> The speed is there for Phillips on the film. He flies to the football with ease and gets there in a hurry. At the point of contact, he will run through the ball carrier and hit the right target window to make a stop. He also plays with a high motor, never giving up on a play and even making some diving stops to prevent a long touchdown from happening. His speed is a big asset in pass coverage as he can lure a quarterback into a throw with a slight opening and then close the window by either stepping in front of a pass or making contact with a receiver right at the reception to cause an incompletion. <strong>Good coverage and discipline:</strong> Another strength in coverage is the ability to keep his eyes on the quarterback and read him, especially when in zone coverage. He does a good job passing off receivers and knowing if more than one are in his area at one time, which allows him to lure a throw to whichever receiver he can go make a play on quicker. He does not bite on pump fakes or scrambles out of the pocket, showing good zone discipline. <strong>Final thought:</strong> We start to see more of these hybrid safeties who can play all over the field, in large part with their combination of speed and size. Phillips shows he can impact a defense in a variety of ways. His coverage skills are sound, and he will make plenty of plays with make-up speed. He is also taking this offseason very seriously, and with a strong senior season he could see that pay off for his team and his future. You can see his film from Hudl <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14463677/618961789a90e206b0149088">here</a>. <h3><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="216202" first="Ryder" last="Smith"], 2024, 6’0, 240, OL, Castle View</strong></h3> Smith played left guard along the Castle View offensive line in 2021 and showed some great promise. He plays with a solid base and great leverage, allowing him to drive people at the point of contact. When he is able to get under the pads of a defensive player, he has the ability to finish blocks and put people to the ground. And he plays with a bit of a mean streak when engaged as well. If Smith gets his hands on a defender, he can make them pay. <strong>Versatile pull/trap game:</strong> From his guard position, there were many plays Smith made getting to the outside as a lead blocker or coming back to the right side to kick out an edge player. He has good speed and moves well in the open field, which allows him to get to the point of contact at the right time to free his backs. He did a good job of finishing those blocks, getting movement or putting guys on the ground. It also led him to be a lead blocker in the screen game to create a running lane down the sideline. What stood out was not only getting to the spot to make the block, but to also make an impactful block and stop the defender instead of just slowing them down. <strong>Great technique:</strong> In the zone-blocking schemes, Smith stays on his track the entire time. He knows when to provide a quick push before going up to the second level or to keep driving the down lineman off the line of scrimmage. When engaged with a double-team, he stays close to his teammate so the defender cannot split them, and he does a good job of passing off the defender or taking him on his own when they stunt. He shows good hands at the point of contact and continues to drive his feet to create movement. <strong>Final thought:</strong> Smith has a solid film. He showcases his skills in a variety of ways, plays fundamentally sound, and is a true interior offensive lineman. He should only get better as he continues to grow in his frame and bulk up, but the tools are there right now for him to be an impactful blocker on the offensive line. He is also making this a big offseason with plenty of work on display so far. You can see his film from Hudl <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14545977/6197e0b34ba92909c87d9933">here</a>.