Coach34
01-02-2016, 02:03 PM
Let's take a quick look at how 2016 looks heading into Spring:
We return 6 starters on offense...8 starters on defense...14 starters plus All ST's Specialists
1. QB- New era begins with the loss of Prescott. Fitzgerald looks to be the leader heading into Spring- but Staley is very talented. Does Staley make a move? Does basketball hinder his chances? Tiano will figure into it- but to see him as anything other than 3rd at this point would be very surprising.
2. RB- Ugh. So much for when you have ever seen State not have a good RB? 2015 ended that streak. The good news? Everybody is back and some talented guys redshirted for maturity. The bad news? This position is a jumbled group and it may be Game 5 before Mullen trusts the younger RB's to pass protect. We need DLee to straighten up off the field and Aeris to keep working. Moving Dear here would make the most sense to me. He could run the ball and catch passes out of the backfield. Have to get Holloway into a part time role here. Lots of work to do here- especially because once August gets going- only the top 3 guys get most of the reps.
3. OL- 3 starters return. Clayborn is not bad at Center. Desper works hard but is limited in ability. Senior will be starting for the 3rd straight season- most likely at RT. Calhoun is physical and will be one of the OG's for sure. Who is going to be the 3rd OG? Back-up Center? Who wins the LT spot- Rankin or Jenkins??? This group could be improved- but wont be a "strength" by any means.
4. TE- Huge hole here. Justin Johnson will be a good pass catcher from this position- but he's not there as a blocker. Who the hell else is gonna play here? Walley could likely be done as he has been harder than Troy Aikmen and hear's train whistles at night. Lots of questions here and few answers
5. WR- strength of the team. Losing Wilson hurts a little- but Gray and the two Fred's will be a damn good starting line-up. Should AJ Brown sign as believed- it will add another top-notch WR to the rotation. Gabe Myles, Dear, Jackson also give us plenty of depth. By far the strongest group on the team
6. DL- got to see questions answered here. Nick James and AJ Jefferson return to hold down the right side of the DL- making that side a strength. What are we going to get out of Nelson Adams, Hoyett, Cory Thomas, and Fletcher Adams next year??? This group needs to step up with Jones gone. Our juco signee is projected as depth- so there's that. Calvin will be the other DE- and he will be decent. What other DE's are going to step up? Way too many questions here- losing Joseph Jr was a huge blow to this group. Need Simmons to be added to this group for 2016.
7. LB- another strength of the team. Should Benni stay- then the colorful group of the Browns and Green make a very good starting line-up. JT Gray is another good player in the rotation. Jung and Lewis will also factor in the mix for 2016. Kelan Chairs was decent this past season.
8. CB- Starters are going to be Jiles and Cleveland- get ready for it. Smitherman, Durr, Smokey, Rayford will all battle for Nickle DB to start 2016. Still no idea why our people cant see Cleveland is a Safety. Jiles isnt bad if he can remain healthy- but this group has a long way to go. At least they willget to go against one of the nation's best WR groups everyday in practice.
9. Safety- Coman and Brandon Bryant will be your starters here. Peters and McLaurin added in make this 2 Deep a helluva lot better than its been lately. Safety will finally be more of a strength than CB for us. Evans works in with this group also.
More questions heading into 2016 than we have had lately. But we do have some talent. As I have stated- my concerns on the OL, DL, and at CB scare the hell out of me for the Fall. The West is going to be loaded next year.
Bama is Bama
A&M returns 15 starters- but has a QB question to answer.
Auburn returns 15 starters- including their entire OL and backfield- but has huge questions at WR and LB
UPig return 16 starters unless Skipper leaves early- has to answer questions at QB and RB. Returns all their WR's and almost all their D- 20 of 22 on 2-deep
OM started 12 Sr's last night they said- with 2 Jr's leaving early. That's 8 starters returning. Losing 4 of 5 starters on the OL. Lots of questions also on D- we'll see just how good Freezus has been Crootin in 2016.
LSU returns 17 starters- 10 on offense. This will be Les Miles best team since 2011. 2016 is Lester's legacy season- either he underachieves and sent packing- or he gives a big F.U. to their fans and beats Bammer in BR. They are a 10 win team at worst.
State looks like it will be preseason last in the West. I dont think the West will be 2010 good- but it's going to be close.
We return 6 starters on offense...8 starters on defense...14 starters plus All ST's Specialists
1. QB- New era begins with the loss of Prescott. Fitzgerald looks to be the leader heading into Spring- but Staley is very talented. Does Staley make a move? Does basketball hinder his chances? Tiano will figure into it- but to see him as anything other than 3rd at this point would be very surprising.
2. RB- Ugh. So much for when you have ever seen State not have a good RB? 2015 ended that streak. The good news? Everybody is back and some talented guys redshirted for maturity. The bad news? This position is a jumbled group and it may be Game 5 before Mullen trusts the younger RB's to pass protect. We need DLee to straighten up off the field and Aeris to keep working. Moving Dear here would make the most sense to me. He could run the ball and catch passes out of the backfield. Have to get Holloway into a part time role here. Lots of work to do here- especially because once August gets going- only the top 3 guys get most of the reps.
3. OL- 3 starters return. Clayborn is not bad at Center. Desper works hard but is limited in ability. Senior will be starting for the 3rd straight season- most likely at RT. Calhoun is physical and will be one of the OG's for sure. Who is going to be the 3rd OG? Back-up Center? Who wins the LT spot- Rankin or Jenkins??? This group could be improved- but wont be a "strength" by any means.
4. TE- Huge hole here. Justin Johnson will be a good pass catcher from this position- but he's not there as a blocker. Who the hell else is gonna play here? Walley could likely be done as he has been harder than Troy Aikmen and hear's train whistles at night. Lots of questions here and few answers
5. WR- strength of the team. Losing Wilson hurts a little- but Gray and the two Fred's will be a damn good starting line-up. Should AJ Brown sign as believed- it will add another top-notch WR to the rotation. Gabe Myles, Dear, Jackson also give us plenty of depth. By far the strongest group on the team
6. DL- got to see questions answered here. Nick James and AJ Jefferson return to hold down the right side of the DL- making that side a strength. What are we going to get out of Nelson Adams, Hoyett, Cory Thomas, and Fletcher Adams next year??? This group needs to step up with Jones gone. Our juco signee is projected as depth- so there's that. Calvin will be the other DE- and he will be decent. What other DE's are going to step up? Way too many questions here- losing Joseph Jr was a huge blow to this group. Need Simmons to be added to this group for 2016.
7. LB- another strength of the team. Should Benni stay- then the colorful group of the Browns and Green make a very good starting line-up. JT Gray is another good player in the rotation. Jung and Lewis will also factor in the mix for 2016. Kelan Chairs was decent this past season.
8. CB- Starters are going to be Jiles and Cleveland- get ready for it. Smitherman, Durr, Smokey, Rayford will all battle for Nickle DB to start 2016. Still no idea why our people cant see Cleveland is a Safety. Jiles isnt bad if he can remain healthy- but this group has a long way to go. At least they willget to go against one of the nation's best WR groups everyday in practice.
9. Safety- Coman and Brandon Bryant will be your starters here. Peters and McLaurin added in make this 2 Deep a helluva lot better than its been lately. Safety will finally be more of a strength than CB for us. Evans works in with this group also.
More questions heading into 2016 than we have had lately. But we do have some talent. As I have stated- my concerns on the OL, DL, and at CB scare the hell out of me for the Fall. The West is going to be loaded next year.
Bama is Bama
A&M returns 15 starters- but has a QB question to answer.
Auburn returns 15 starters- including their entire OL and backfield- but has huge questions at WR and LB
UPig return 16 starters unless Skipper leaves early- has to answer questions at QB and RB. Returns all their WR's and almost all their D- 20 of 22 on 2-deep
OM started 12 Sr's last night they said- with 2 Jr's leaving early. That's 8 starters returning. Losing 4 of 5 starters on the OL. Lots of questions also on D- we'll see just how good Freezus has been Crootin in 2016.
LSU returns 17 starters- 10 on offense. This will be Les Miles best team since 2011. 2016 is Lester's legacy season- either he underachieves and sent packing- or he gives a big F.U. to their fans and beats Bammer in BR. They are a 10 win team at worst.
State looks like it will be preseason last in the West. I dont think the West will be 2010 good- but it's going to be close.