I havent been to any practices or anything, just wondering what the news was. Anybody showing out? Players underachieving? Are we getting diaz's system well?
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I havent been to any practices or anything, just wondering what the news was. Anybody showing out? Players underachieving? Are we getting diaz's system well?
yes.
maybe a few bodies on the OL.
Not yet.
Donald Gray and Gabe Myles look like they could game changers for us on offense. Nick James has slimmed down and has better motor than in the past.
I heard you can't find Nick James without a jump rope in his hands. He's been working out non-stop. I think the light may have finally flipped all the way on for him.
Who?Quote:
Originally Posted by Political Hack
Our starters on the OL?
Its still early but that aint good. To our credit it is totally opposite than cover 2 and corner blitz sorry i meant geoff collins system
I hope you guys remember manny corner blitzed a good bit too. So hope you don't stroke if you don't like the corner blitz.
Manny will come from anywhere.
We're not as strong in the trenches on either side right now based on what I was told. The 2nd team DL has a significant drop off across the board... DT and DEs.
Finding 7-8 OL to rotate in SEC play could be difficult too, but I have a feeling (my own thoughts) that it will work out fine on this side of the ball. Having Dak and thumper at RB will help alleviate some of the OL issues.
Manny's scheme defies what most kids are taught. If you blitz you take a way the first option and trust them to get to the QB. Manny takes away the big play, blitzes, and trust his defense to "strike gold" at least once well enough to disrupt a drive. It's different conceptually than what these kids have been taught since they put on pads, so there's going to be some wide eyed bewilderment at first. I think that's natural, but once they see it start to work, they'll buy in quickly.
For the OL Rufus Warren & Deion Calhoun have been the 2 biggest surprises. I feel like Rankin will still take the LT job in fall camp but Rufus is playing like a SEC LT. If Rankin isn't starting it isn't bc he's a bust Rufus just wouldn't let go of the job. Our starting DL will be fine. Brown, Jones, Adames, & Jefferson. Between Calvin, Coleman, Dale, James, Thomas, Hoyette, F. Adams, & Moton I believe we'll fine 3 or 4 more guys who can give us some good snaps.
Nothing about the offense should worry anyone... Will be as good or better than it was last year..
I agree DL depth will be an issue.. But with Mannys scheme and the depth we have at LB and how good they are I am guessing we will see lots of different looks to make up for this.. Plus we all be getting a lot of DL help coming in with the 2015 class although they will be freshman I think a few will get snaps this year..
I've been a big fan of the Warren move. Converted TEs tend to have really good feet, which is crucial at the Tackles. If he's putting it all together, that could be a huge boost to the OL.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ifyouonlyknew
Hopefully, he's the next eric fisher. No pressure, Rufus hahaQuote:
Originally Posted by War Machine Dawg
What year is Warren now?Quote:
Originally Posted by War Machine Dawg
SeniorQuote:
Originally Posted by Johnson85
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ifyouonlyknew
good luck getting the internet geniuses to believe this Dan.
Yea it won't happen but it is the truth. If I was betting money I'd still put it on Rankin but Rufus is a diff player this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by jumbo
Warren's ability has never been in question- it's motivation and grasp of scheme. Seems like he may be coming around
Why has DE been such a problem for us to find depth. Seems like we are always thin there. Maybe Green can play some rush end snaps on passing downs
It's wild to me that RBs and LBs grow on trees in Mississippi, but we can't find a DE to save our lives. It took us 4 years to develop Preston Smith, only had McPhee for 2, etc., etc...Quote:
Originally Posted by Irondawg
Or the fact that he gained a good bit of weight and was learning a new position in a short period of time?Quote:
Originally Posted by Coach34
We've bulked up and moved most of our most talented guys inside. It's been a problem at times.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irondawg
Some were naturally going to get bigger, but not every 250-pound HS kid becomes 300 with a better strength program.
Not to mention we have in the recent past gone to a huge front 7 on defense and emphasized size and length over speed. On the flip side, teams like OM have smaller front 7s and more DBs and emphasize speed. Guys that are 6'2+ and 230+ (BMac, Green, Harris, Wright, etc) in our defense play LB, whereas in other defenses they might would play DE (OM's CJ, Haynes, Shackleford).
We seem to prefer huge run-stopping DEs with length (Smith, Autry, Brown) over pure pass rushers. Whether that is the best theory is debatable.
That is fantastic news. He has the potential to be elite.......it's just a matter of getting his talent to translate to the field.Quote:
Originally Posted by Political Hack
[QUOTE=smootness;356503]Or the fact that he gained a good bit of weight and was learning a new position in a short period of time?[/QUOTE
he didn't gain that much weight and was already doing a lot of the same blocking drills before moving full time to OT. TE's work with the OL on blocking drills every day at practice.
Easily my biggest concern headed into next year. It's not the starting DL that concerns me.....it's the depth on the DL.Quote:
Originally Posted by Political Hack
Still a totally different position with different responsibilities. Not a shocker that he didn't move to OT and immediately start.Quote:
Originally Posted by Coach34
Not talking about starting- talking about his overall play as a whole. People are saying he has totally amped up his performance- regardless of position. Light turned on, realizes this is it...whatever description fits- his level of play has raised
I expect JT Gray to be an absolute beast in Manny's system. The guy was a stud in limited action getting in the backfield even in Collin's system.
Yea, we could have really used a JUCO DT. Seemed like we missed on about 4 of them. Gotta hope that the quartet of Chris Jones, Nelson Adams, Nick James and likely Corey Thomas can be a sufficient foursome at DT.Quote:
Originally Posted by sandwolf
Corey Thomas has until Sept 12th for his nuts to drop...we need him to play to his potential on that night and every Saturday thereafter
I'm not worried at all. Spring practice is more learning and technique. If the guys learn the systems and improve technique wise we're athletic enough with plenty of playmakers to dominate. Guys don't like to pulverize teammates consistently unless someone crosses a line. What I'm anxious to see is a leader draw a line in the sand on defense and dare a crossing. That's what needs to emerge this Spring.
This thread reads about the same as it did this time last year, many folks worried about depth on the D-line, O-line cohesiveness, etc. etc.
Relax folks, it is gonna be alright, we will be as good ... no! we will be better on both sides of the ball this coming year.
I don't worry about the offense at all. I worry about defensive depth. Fortunately, we have this Spring and August to find it
It is there and it will be found, just like last year. Might be a not very highly regarded player or two that blow up over the spring and summer, might be some of the new ones coming in, but do strongly believe that the depth is there and it will come out before kickoff next season.
Oh I'm not worried- we're an 8-4 team at worst. I'm just hoping the depth can get there on D and we can run at the West again
If we can find some DL depth and our young Safeties step up, there's no reason for us not to take another run at the West. And I still think Kivon Coman is going to surprise a whole lot of people this year. The kid can flat play. I expect Evans to "start" but be quickly overtaken by Bryant or Peters. Assuming Dan stays out of Manny's way and we don't see more of the upperclassmen loyalty bullshit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Coach34
I'm nervous that we might not win the west.
I was at the scrimmage Friday, and my thoughts are below. For the most part, I watched the offensive skill positions, especially the young guys.
- Not sure if they always practice this way, but the speed at which they ran plays was faster than I've ever seen us run.
- Both Dak and Fitz were in complete control. Fitz was really poised before the play and in the pocket. He was also very accurate. I'm more impressed every time I see him. Not sure that Staley eventually beats him out, but if he does, we are loaded at QB for the near future.
- Didn't run the QB's, so we threw the ball a lot. WR's are obviously deep and talented. I love Ross in the slot.
- Shump is the clear #1 RB. He looked a little quicker than last year. Aeris is thinner but quicker than I imagined. He got better as he got more carries. Could get decent PT later in the year.
- Dear is very good - nobody else like him on our roster. He's built like a tank, but he can move laterally and is explosive up the field. They were creative getting him the ball. He should play this year, even with our WR depth.
Like most others, my primary concerns are (1) defensive depth (except LB); (2) field goal kicking; and (3) Dan getting too cute at times. That said, our offense should be very, very good.
I think Fletcher Adams is a wildcard on the defensive line. I have no idea what he will look like in August or what he will play though- DE, DT, or maybe even both and be a hybrid d-lineman?
I know Dan won't do it, but I would bulk up Gerri Green a little bit and make him a 250-260 pound DE and make him a DE. That way we could get the Brown brothers, JT Gray, and Green all on the field at the same time.
And I hope that Peters and McLaurin are starting by the end of the year at safety.
I really got nauseous watching us try to run a 2 minute drill last season. Dak was painfully slow at it and it made a difference in both the Bama and Ole Miss game when we were down 2 scores in the 4th quarter.Quote:
Originally Posted by Maroons
Please keep underestimating Coman and Bryant. Those two are going to be damn good. If we start 2 true freshmen at safety, we can kiss our season goodbye. One may start, and both may play, but they haven't done shit at the college level yet. It's a BIG jump from HS to the SEC, regardless of how talented you are. I know it's a different position, but look at Fournette: it took him half a season to adjust and he was the consensus #1 HS player in the nation. Peters and McLaurin are highly thought of, but not as highly as Fournette coming out of HS.Quote:
Originally Posted by Todd4State