Week 1 Depth Chart out

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DudyDawg

Literally the only position that concerns me is safety (not including future injuries of course). And concern is a verrrrry strong word. It's more curiousity. With Hughes coming back from injury, and Cox making the move (neither were our safety last season). I guess that's the only place we don't know what we are going to get. Cox is an elite athlete but can he be an elite safety? I think so, but I'm not sure. Is Hughes back to 100% and improving as a player? We will see. We do have Market, who's solid, so that's why I hesitate saying I'm concerned. I think they will be the key to us having a top 7 SEC defense or the top of the league.

Not really worried about RT due to Daks ability to move and our ability to use misdirection/read options in the run game. Also, it's not his blindside. Think that'll cover up some of our "weaknesses" there

---

We need a pass rush from Ryan Brown's spot.

Also, in a scheme that Mullen says is based on exploiting one on one match ups his depth chart confusion is just one more thing for the opponent to have to figure out. I'm not saying it is hard but make them figure out that their guards are going against Christ Jones and not Curtis Virges or Kaleb Eulles.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pokerdawg44

So our 2 Four star oline recruits turned out terrible.

---

Damien Robinson was a 4 star in the same way that Templeton Hardy and Montrell Conner were 4 stars. In other words, they got an early rating from the recruiting services and it was never updated during or after their senior years.

Interesting -- Coman may have essentially beat out Deontay Evans. Or Evans could be dinged/have a case of moultrie knee for the first game...

Yeah if only we had good backups. At key positions.. Who weren't seniors... Oh well there is always next year.

Lol. In all seriousness, this team has "the makeup" of what a special team is supposed to consist of. It's just up to the players to stay hungry, stay focused, and block all outside noise.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by deltadawg99

Slay was only a juco all american for being a return man. Makes way too much sense to put him back there. Nothing against Banks, but Slay was a good bit faster and more explosive in the return game.

---

I have just made peace with the fact that with all the positives about Mullen he is just a dufus when it comes to evaluating and coaching special teams. Better just to accept it and move on.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pokerdawg44

So our 2 Four star oline recruits turned out terrible.

---

Thomas is a RS freshman and has been moved to OG. We'll see what happens. Hell, you cant just 90% of OL players till their 3rd year anyway

I'm really worried about our OL staying healthy... We can no afford big injuries there. I know others are more confident there, but we're very thin IMO. Love the first 6, but after that I'm not so confident.

I like everything else I see. I don't have a problem with WR at KR and PR... Ball security is WAY more important that a few extra yards per return and maybe one TD... Catch the ball and put it back in Dakattack's hands, it's that simple.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jimbo352

I'm really worried about our OL staying healthy... We can no afford big injuries there. I know others are more confident there, but we're very thin IMO. Love the first 6, but after that I'm not so confident.

---

How many teams are confident in linemen 7-10 on their OL's? Can you name 1?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Coach34

How many teams are confident in linemen 7-10 on their OL's? Can you name 1?

---

****ing Exactly! thank you. There aren't many teams, maybe none that can say that they feel ok about their o-line with more than one injury. Most teams are in trouble with one injury. i.e OM

Does this mean Hutcherson is redshirting?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Coach34

How many teams are confident in linemen 7-10 on their OL's? Can you name 1?

---

I understand what you're saying, but it's all relative to what you have in front and what expectations are... Alabama may be concerned with guys 7-10, but I'd take their 7-10 any day of the ****ing week over ours... They may not feel confident in them to make a run for a NC, but their still 4 and 5 star guys with a boat load of potential, who would likely push for starting positions on our squad. A key injury on the OL for us is WAY more devastating than a key injury on Bama's OL.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jimbo352

I understand what you're saying, but it's all relative to what you have in front and what expectations are... Alabama may be concerned with guys 7-10, but I'd take their 7-10 any day of the ****ing week over ours... They may not feel confident in them to make a run for a NC, but their still 4 and 5 star guys with a boat load of potential, who would likely push for starting positions on our squad. A key injury on the OL for us is WAY more devastating than a key injury on Bama's OL.

---

This why they are starting a true freshman at tackle?

They have just as many 4 and 5* busts on the OL as we have 2 and 3* busts. Nature of the beast. They have had one truly elite OL season there. Several other good ones. The one they had last year that got absolutely destroyed by a mediocre OK front 7 and prettymuch got pushed around by ours? Let me keep ours pls.

Here's the thing about the OL -- VERY few of us know what is actually going on there with the "eyeball test". We use a different ideal than practically any of us played in. It's not about road grating. Coach has spelled this out already on the zone scheme.

I'll be the first to admit -- It's hard as hell to evaluate if you aren't an OL guy(I'm not). It's obvious when it's really bad -- but otherwise hard to tell. But easy to rely on what stats tell us. I just see 3-4 true "OL guys" that I've relied on for info in the past(jmoss @ 247, coach57, and 34 among a few others) here and elsewhere that are saying it will be our best OL yet under Mullen and the best depth under Mullen. Hard to argue with those guys even if we don't "see" it...

I do know -- I feel better about the 2s on the OL this year than I have at any point in the past. Based on practice reports, I wouldn't bat an eye playing Deion Calhoun after a couple of injuries -- provided we surrounded him with a little experience. People are looking at the 5 "#2s" on the depth chart and getting worried -- when in reality, it's about 8-9 guys that are going to play and play a bunch.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jimbo352

I understand what you're saying, but it's all relative to what you have in front and what expectations are... Alabama may be concerned with guys 7-10, but I'd take their 7-10 any day of the ****ing week over ours... They may not feel confident in them to make a run for a NC, but their still 4 and 5 star guys with a boat load of potential, who would likely push for starting positions on our squad. A key injury on the OL for us is WAY more devastating than a key injury on Bama's OL.

---

ok- so Bama? The team that has been number 1 in the nation in recruiting the last 3 years???

The point is that nobody is happy about their 7-10 OL guys playing significant snaps. We are no different than anybody else outside of teams that are top 5 schools.

What I love about this conversation concerning the "fears" of our OL is that just a few short years ago, we were worried about OL #s 1-5. Now we have a group that has fear over 7-10. Just a few things stand out to me with this that should help all y'all scaredy cats-
1 - we have 6 guys that are really good (maybe not all American but good) OL that we can count on.
2 - we have 4-5 OL under them that have not had the chance to gain experience and prove themselves as of yet. AMAZING WE HAVE QUALITY DEPTH!!!!!
3 - most everyone on this board knows that our 2 & 3 deep on the DL is legit SEC depth across those positions. All of our guys on the OL are gaining critical experience and knowledge going against that unit in practice every day. That counts for something.
4 - we are complaining most about players like carter and Thomas who are RS frost and the fact that they haven't been able to crack the starting rotation or have experience to know what they are capable of.....it's about dang time we had that much depth to finally have idiots say this!!!!
5 - we have a strong contingent that is upset because Damien was said to be a starter when Senior was obviously better, then Damien gets hurt for the year and ppl are upset because Senior may not be good enough and we have to slide Malone over and that warren is playing out of position and has not any experience at RT. If any of y'all complaining had been watching warren you would have noticed that he was used primarily almost always as an extra blocker. He is used to going against the DE and outside rush. He has great lateral movement wide reach and very good footwork. I said a couple years ago that they should have moved him to OT becAuse it was a more natural position for him. Fact is, he is a tweener for those two positions. I honestly think he will do well there.
Personally I love what we have at the OL as starters, 2 deep, and beyond. I hope we blow these first 3 games out so all of those guys can get live game experience and help to show everyone what we have and I for one think it is quality depth and future studs.

I just don't see how a team as deep and senior laiden as ours got overlooked by the top 25 polls ?!?!?? Hope the players carry a chip on their shoulder because of it... Win and the rankings will take care of themselves I guess.

And Clayborn is a road grater, a Gabe Jackson clone in my opinion running 2nd team. We have depth on the OL.

I also believe Jake Thomas and Cole Carter will step up now that they are truly in the mix for playing time.

Warren, Desper, and Flowers are linemen 7, 8, and 9...we'll be fine

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Coach34

Warren, Desper, and Flowers are linemen 7, 8, and 9...we'll be fine

---

Yeah see, there are even three better than the ones I mentioned. I believe people with some talent perform when the lights come on and it's game time.

Forgot About Desper having such a good camp and Flowers is big. I knew Warren would end up at Tackle the day he committed.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Westdawg

What I love about this conversation concerning the "fears" of our OL is that just a few short years ago, we were worried about OL #s 1-5. Now we have a group that has fear over 7-10. Just a few things stand out to me with this that should help all y'all scaredy cats-
1 - we have 6 guys that are really good (maybe not all American but good) OL that we can count on.
2 - we have 4-5 OL under them that have not had the chance to gain experience and prove themselves as of yet. AMAZING WE HAVE QUALITY DEPTH!!!!!
3 - most everyone on this board knows that our 2 & 3 deep on the DL is legit SEC depth across those positions. All of our guys on the OL are gaining critical experience and knowledge going against that unit in practice every day. That counts for something.
4 - we are complaining most about players like carter and Thomas who are RS frost and the fact that they haven't been able to crack the starting rotation or have experience to know what they are capable of.....it's about dang time we had that much depth to finally have idiots say this!!!!
5 - we have a strong contingent that is upset because Damien was said to be a starter when Senior was obviously better, then Damien gets hurt for the year and ppl are upset because Senior may not be good enough and we have to slide Malone over and that warren is playing out of position and has not any experience at RT. If any of y'all complaining had been watching warren you would have noticed that he was used primarily almost always as an extra blocker. He is used to going against the DE and outside rush. He has great lateral movement wide reach and very good footwork. I said a couple years ago that they should have moved him to OT becAuse it was a more natural position for him. Fact is, he is a tweener for those two positions. I honestly think he will do well there.
Personally I love what we have at the OL as starters, 2 deep, and beyond. I hope we blow these first 3 games out so all of those guys can get live game experience and help to show everyone what we have and I for one think it is quality depth and future studs.

---

Top notch. Best post I have seen in a while. Kudos.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Radddawg

I just don't see how a team as deep and senior laiden as ours got overlooked by the top 25 polls ?!?!?? Hope the players carry a chip on their shoulder because of it... Win and the rankings will take care of themselves I guess.

---

Gotta get a win versus lsu or bama before that happens.

Just curious why Dak is still the place holder on kicks???

Couldn't they find someone else to be Lucy to our Charlie Brown?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by joedog

Just curious why Dak is still the place holder on kicks???

Couldn't they find someone else to be Lucy to our Charlie Brown?

---

Only other person we tried back there during camp was bell, and the kickers preferred Dak for one reason or another.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by engie

This why they are starting a true freshman at tackle?

They have just as many 4 and 5* busts on the OL as we have 2 and 3* busts. Nature of the beast. They have had one truly elite OL season there. Several other good ones. The one they had last year that got absolutely destroyed by a mediocre OK front 7 and prettymuch got pushed around by ours? Let me keep ours pls.

Here's the thing about the OL -- VERY few of us know what is actually going on there with the "eyeball test". We use a different ideal than practically any of us played in. It's not about road grating. Coach has spelled this out already on the zone scheme.

I'll be the first to admit -- It's hard as hell to evaluate if you aren't an OL guy(I'm not). It's obvious when it's really bad -- but otherwise hard to tell. But easy to rely on what stats tell us. I just see 3-4 true "OL guys" that I've relied on for info in the past(jmoss @ 247, coach57, and 34 among a few others) here and elsewhere that are saying it will be our best OL yet under Mullen and the best depth under Mullen. Hard to argue with those guys even if we don't "see" it...

I do know -- I feel better about the 2s on the OL this year than I have at any point in the past. Based on practice reports, I wouldn't bat an eye playing Deion Calhoun after a couple of injuries -- provided we surrounded him with a little experience. People are looking at the 5 "#2s" on the depth chart and getting worried -- when in reality, it's about 8-9 guys that are going to play and play a bunch.

---

One thing I've noticed that the recruiting gurus consistently miss when they rate o-linemen is I suspect that they look at their weight way too much. For example, we get a guy like Cole Carter and he weighs 260-270 his senior year in high school and then they totally fail to account for the fact that we are going to get him in a good S&C program and those guys that are 250 at HS graduation are going to be 300-310 with good weight while retaining their athleticism.

They'll rate a guy like a Damien Robinson who is like 300-320 already a five star guy because he has "SEC size" already but they fail to take into account that a lot of guys like that are either already developed as much as they are going to get or are likely going to have weight issues in college.

In other words, the recruiting guys can't see projection with offensive linemen.

I thought Mullen couldn't recruit OL?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jimbo352

I understand what you're saying, but it's all relative to what you have in front and what expectations are... Alabama may be concerned with guys 7-10, but I'd take their 7-10 any day of the ****ing week over ours... They may not feel confident in them to make a run for a NC, but their still 4 and 5 star guys with a boat load of potential, who would likely push for starting positions on our squad. A key injury on the OL for us is WAY more devastating than a key injury on Bama's OL.

---

We have three solid guards, so we can lose one guard and still feel pretty good about our two starters.

We have co-starters at RT. So an injury there will leave us with basically an equivalent player.

If we lose our center, we will be hurt, but mainly because of snaps. We have a good blocker to put back there.

If we lose Clausell, I assume that'd be a pretty stiff hit, but Senior did play a game there last year.

We could lose a Guard and a RT and be almost unaffected other than lacking a sub to spell people. I would say most teams don't have that kind of margin of safety for injury on the OL.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by engie

I do know -- I feel better about the 2s on the OL this year than I have at any point in the past.

---

This is the first time we've had a complete set of 2s to my knowledge. If we put our two's out there, we know we'd have a good guard in Clayborne and a RT that is basically equivalent to our starter (Warren or Senior). At left Tackle, we'd have Carter, who allegedly had beat out Senior as of the spring practice, so he's presumably capable even if he'd be a good bit of drop off from Clausell. We'd have Desper at RG, who is an unknown but at least we've been getting favorable practice reports on him. The only huge hole is at center, with Muniz. I don't think we've had a year where we've had 4 capable backups on the OL.