agree. I think people are worried about the back four when we should be worried about the front four. We're one sprained ankle away from being very, very thin up there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Coach34
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agree. I think people are worried about the back four when we should be worried about the front four. We're one sprained ankle away from being very, very thin up there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Coach34
? Is this a new nickname? What are mourners?Quote:
Originally Posted by Coach34
Auto correct struck again
This year the real questions are pretty much the same as last year; offensive line, place kicking, and the secondary. Last year the first one did well, the second didn't hurt us, and the third on was the difference in us being really good and great. In going to wait and see a game or two before I get my hopes up or down.
I disagree with one of those. I think DL is our biggest question mark right now outside of kicker. You could argue TE, but we've got enough of a mix of talent and experience to patch that together.Quote:
Originally Posted by Liverpooldawg
I agree. The defensive line is my biggest concern going into next season. Preston Smith, Kaleb Eulls, and PJ Jones are going to be tough to replace. We really need Jonathan Calvin to not require the 1 year adjustment period that almost all of our JUCO signees require. And hopefully Will Coleman will be able to contribute.Quote:
Originally Posted by Political Hack
If Nick James can play a lot of snaps, Chris Jones buys into DT and stays healthy, and Ryan Brown can become what I think he should become, we may be pretty decent. Also, I've been waiting for years to see Torey Dale in action. I think he's got a lot of natural ability that you just can't coach. Hopefully he'll be fully healthy this year and emerge out of nowhere.Quote:
Originally Posted by sandwolf
I think Dale will get passed up in the spring, I just don't think he ever makes it. Probably a special team or 3rd team player for his career. It happens.Quote:
Originally Posted by Political Hack
Im really interested to see how the LB corps shake out. The Browns will start. Im really interested to see who gets the 3rd spot.
As for the DL, it all comes down to how healthy Chris Jones is, as well as the shape he is in. I know some on here think that he is simply a "big guy", but he really needs to lose 15-20 lbs this offseason. I firmly believe he was playing this year at 315-320 lbs, at least. I just think that extra weight can lead to being more injury prone. I just us to unleash him this year, because everything I have heard is that this is our last year with him.
I do not worry about the O-Line. Seems like we lose a few someone else is coached up.
I think we see a Fletcher Cox type Jr year from Chris Jones this season. Combine that with a breakout year from Ryan Brown (not Preston Smith season but very good) & our DL will be solid. We have a lot of talent it is just more unproven. Calvin, Cory Thomas, Fletcher Adams are all talented just don't have experience.
Wasn't Cory Thomas a beast in practice last year? I think we are going to be better on the DL than people think. Having seniors limited snaps for a lot of young talent. Safety will have more talent than several years. Hopefully Diaz uses our experience at CB to help cover for our youth. By the end of the year, we will be better at safety than the last few years.
From what I was told- Thomas, Calhoun, and Jenkins could have played some snaps last year had they been needed. Should make for some good battles this Spring
Jenkins actually dressed out a couple of games so there was a definite thought of playing him last year. I'm glad they decided against it.
I've heard that while Hev hates all Freshmen- he has been surprisingly complimentary on Jenkins and Calhoun
This is where the 1B stuff pays off.Quote:
Originally Posted by Political Hack
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ifyouonlyknew
Yep. I said all year I really liked what I saw from Coman. He's going to be good.Quote:
Originally Posted by Coach34
I also like that we're moving Cleveland to S. I fully expect him to start and be a big factor back there. He's a damn good football player. Everyone needs to pump the breaks a little on Peters and McLaurin. Brandon Bryant is going to be a factor in the S mix, too. Wouldn't surprise me to see some combination of Cleveland, Coman, and Bryant start all season. I expect Peters to play, though.
And I hate to say it, but I think Market will be the odd man out at S this season. I love the kid. It's no secret he and I are both from SP, and any kid that defies The Pipeline is automatically going to be one of my personal favorites. Plus he's a football player in every sense of the word. But much like I said about Nickoe & Hughes, I expect his Achilles injury to be a major hindrance. He'll lose at least a step and maybe two. He's got a high football IQ that should help him offset that a little, but so did Hughes. And Hughes was faster than Market.
I will go on record that I wish we would keep Graham on offense and move Myles to defense, if we're going to move one, though Myles started there so he might just not have been very effective at CB.
I just think Graham's potential in the slot is off the charts.
That said, he absolutely can become a great CB as well. His speed and quickness are bordering on elite. His hips are very good; he makes cuts while still moving at top speed. The only thing that will hold him back there is learning the basics of the position. Once he gets that down, he will take off.
It definitely does help our depth at CB. I could see him being the #4 guy there immediately.
I think McLaurin will redshirt, I'll be very surprised if he doesn't.
I do think Coman will start at one safety spot, and the other spot will be a Cleveland/Bryant battle initially.
But I don't think it's any secret that Bryant and Peters are our two most talented guys there (McLaurin, too, but again, I just don't see him playing). So it's just a matter of how long it takes them to get the defense down and get some experience. I wouldn't be surprised if they're both starting by the end of the year, and I'll be extremely surprised if neither of them are.
Myles is the man and should have started over Lewis except he was hurt himself towards the end of the year.Quote:
Originally Posted by smootness
Cleveland is staying at CB.