Temple center Hennessy ready to adapt
As he cycled through three head coaches, offensive line coaches and strength coaches apiece during his four years at Temple, center Matt Hennessy figured the constant change would benefit him.
“Being able to adapt to the different systems has been my biggest strength,” he said. “As soon as I’m introduced to something (in the NFL) and get to looking at it, I’ll probably have been exposed to it.”
Playing for Temple coaches Matt Rhule, Geoff Collins and Rod Carey will help Hennessy as soon as he’s drafted next month. He could be the top center selected, and if available in the second round, he makes a lot of sense for the need-a-center Broncos.
Hennessy, Michigan’s Cesar Ruiz, LSU’s Lloyd Cushenberry and Washington’s Nick Harris are regarded as the draft’s top centers.
What separates Hennessy?
“I think the first thing people see when they turn on my film is probably the athleticism, the ability to reach people after the first level and getting out on screens,” he said.
That athleticism was on display against North Carolina in the Owls’ bowl game.
On the Owls’ first drive, Hennessy got downfield to block on a screen pass. On a run play to the left, he helped out on a double team before sealing out a
second-level linebacker. Befitting his experience, he showed an ability to stay on his feet and also an understanding of angles, when sealing or detouring a defender is the best blocking option.
Hennessy declared for the draft after the bowl game.
“It was a decision based on a number of factors,” he said. “Academically, I got done what I wanted to (and graduated). And (then) just a readiness to go to the NFL. I felt I was there mentally and physically to go there and play right away.”
Although a 35-start center, Hennessy’s first college start was at left guard and he worked at both guard spots during Senior Bowl Week.
“That’s something I would be comfortable doing,” he said. “I don’t have a lot of experience there, but I definitely think I have the skill set to do it.
“One of the more significant differences (between center and guard) is making all of the calls at center and not having your snapping hand free for the first halfsecond of the play.”
During the coaching changes, Hennessy could lean on his technique and experience to aid the transition. And there were transitions.
“It changed a good amount,” he said. “A combination of man, zone and gap schemes (in run game). The (pass) protections were all over the place. Coach Rhule my freshman year, it was more of a pro-style and when I’ve met with (NFL) teams, a lot of those concepts come up.
“In 2017-18 (for Collins),
it was a spread offense with some pro-style concepts. And this past year, it was more of a college-style offense.”
Hennessy used Atlanta Falcons center Alex Mack’s game video as helpful in building his foundation.
“When I first got to Temple, my offensive line coach (George DeLeone) had just come from the Browns when Mack was there so all of our install film was the Browns,” Hennessy said. “I
found that he was an awesome player to watch and I learned a tremendous amount from him.”
The learning curve for Hennessy will be steep if he’s starting at center right away. But again, he leans on his body of work as the main reason why he will embrace the opportunity.
“That’s something that has become a part of who I am,” he said. “I really like being in control at the line of scrimmage.”