2019 Football Concerns

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Originally Posted by ShotgunDawg

Here's my opinion on this season:

Until we know if Tommy is Tommy Boy or Tommy Gunn, we don't know shit about this team.

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We know Stevens is more familiar than Fitz with the offense. We know Zuber is an accomplished wr. We know the team has had an extra spring and will have had an extra August learning it.

Offense will be better. Now how much better is certainly a question. You and I agree about chemistry being the wild card variable. Defense might be our adventure.

Recruiting feels better but admittedly I can?t get a sense of it until Joe has 3 year recruits on the field.

Maybe it?s a slice more than shit.

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Originally Posted by preachermatt83

JoeVester... lol. I like it.

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You would. What happened to y?alls new board?

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Originally Posted by Coach34

Hello guys- just stopping by to talk some ball and deliver my football concerns heading into this CFB season:

1. The DT position. We are going to have a significant drop at this position in 2019. We lost the best pass-rushing DT in all of college football in Simmons- along with 2 very good DT's in Hoyett and Thomas. I think our talent here will be ok- but the lack of experience in 2019 and talent drop makes this the top concern of 2019.

2. QB pressure- we were 12th in the country in 2018 in sacks at 39. We lost Simmons, Sweat, and Green- who were the major forces in those numbers. I'll be shocked if we reach 25 in 2019. That puts alot more pressure on the LB's and Secondary as well as makes some play-calling easier for our opponents.

3. Every Play is an RPO- the SEC is the premier league in the country on defense. It's D-Line heaven. You have to adjust your offense to combat SEC defenses because of the excess athletes and the commitment of SEC DC's to play man coverage. Today's response to the RPO is to play man coverage and force the QB to run the ball. That wont change in 2019. The Big Ten didnt exactly play D that way- neither does the Pac-12. The SEC dont play. I'm curious to see if JoMo adapts or does he continue to let Tommy get about 185 carries in 2019. Something to watch fo sho.

4. How does the Secondary perform? The pass rush wont be close to last season. We lost our Safeties and CB's. How does the new Secondary perform with half the pass rush in 2019?

5. Should be a very good OL in 2019. Experience and depth. Should be a good run-blocking crew. Do we rely on that strength?

6. We have 2 TB's. Can Hill and Gibson stay healthy and handle the load? Defenses will force alot of Tommy carries- but if JoVester adapts and hands the ball off- can they handle the load?

7. Will the WR's be better in 2019? They have been shitty. Can they catch the Tommy fastball or will this year just be more of the same? Athletes that remain inconsistent?

8. Will the team unite behind Tommy or will we have a divided lockerroom like we did in 2016? That makes a big difference and the longer it drags- the more it hurts your season.

9. We play at Auburn and at A&M- those teams will be hard to beat on the road. As will Tennessee in year 2 with their new coach. Kentucky is solid and could win 8 games. LSU is damn good. Our schedule aint as damn easy as some people try to say. Add in K-State playing against an inexperienced State QB

Just some searing questions for our team heading into 2019....I'm excited about this Fall because it will answer alot of questions about our HC hire. He will have had 2 years with the most talent he will have had during his time at State. If he cant get it done with these 2 teams- its not going to get any better in his time in Sville. 2019 will be very exciting. HailState

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I pretty much agree on all points...I know last year was Joe's first year in the SEC but man the offense looked like shit in several games. The UK, UF and Iowa games come to mind. Last year we had posters claiming we would go 11-1 and 10-2 but yet we lost 5 games. Joe hasn't proven anything to me and tbh, I have no expectations this year, I will wait and see...I would assume 7/8 wins max due to the key loses on the defense. For some reason, several people on this board skip over the fact that we will have a drop off on defense, how can any rational person not realize this? We WILL give up more big plays this year and more points! Will Joe's offense be able to be productive is the question...

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Originally Posted by BogeyGolfer

I pretty much agree on all points...I know last year was Joe's first year in the SEC but man the offense looked like shit in several games. The UK, UF and Iowa games come to mind. Last year we had posters claiming we would go 11-1 and 10-2 but yet we lost 5 games. Joe hasn't proven anything to me and tbh, I have no expectations this year, I will wait and see...I would assume 7/8 wins max due to the key loses on the defense. For some reason, several people on this board skip over the fact that we will have a drop off on defense, how can any rational person not realize this? We WILL give up more big plays this year and more points! Will Joe's offense be able to be productive is the question...

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I wouldn't say "several" people are saying we won't have a drop off on defense. Just Coach007 that I've seen. In fact most have repeated often that we WILL have a drop off at defense, the question is just how much. The counter balance to that is most people also expect some offensive improvement.

Back to defense, the drop off depends on how quickly our inexperienced DT's can adjust to significant playing time and how healthy we can stay with our starters in the back 7. I'm comfortable with our starters back there but the depth is questionable. People keep repeating that we have quality depth at linebacker and it's just not true, not that we know of at least.

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Originally Posted by BogeyGolfer

I pretty much agree on all points...I know last year was Joe's first year in the SEC but man the offense looked like shit in several games. The UK, UF and Iowa games come to mind. Last year we had posters claiming we would go 11-1 and 10-2 but yet we lost 5 games. Joe hasn't proven anything to me and tbh, I have no expectations this year, I will wait and see...I would assume 7/8 wins max due to the key loses on the defense. For some reason, several people on this board skip over the fact that we will have a drop off on defense, how can any rational person not realize this? We WILL give up more big plays this year and more points! Will Joe's offense be able to be productive is the question...

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Pretty optimistic given the questions. 9 wins seems doable though

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Originally Posted by BogeyGolfer

I pretty much agree on all points...I know last year was Joe's first year in the SEC but man the offense looked like shit in several games. The UK, UF and Iowa games come to mind. Last year we had posters claiming we would go 11-1 and 10-2 but yet we lost 5 games. Joe hasn't proven anything to me and tbh, I have no expectations this year, I will wait and see...I would assume 7/8 wins max due to the key loses on the defense. For some reason, several people on this board skip over the fact that we will have a drop off on defense, how can any rational person not realize this? We WILL give up more big plays this year and more points! Will Joe's offense be able to be productive is the question...

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You do realize we had a top 10 strength of schedule last year and you are saying that because some people said 10-11 wins that is a huge disappointment? So a first time SEC coach with a QB that doesn't fit his system is supposed to have at minimum the 2nd best season in school history? It seems most people are angry we didn't go on the road and beat any top 10 teams which is insane when you say it out loud. We returned a top 15 defense that was prone to give up big plays.

This same team was shutdown by UGA and Auburn the previous year but now is supposed to not let that happen. I don't know if Joe's offense will work against great teams but I do know Mullen's didn't do it as consistently as people now think it did.

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Originally Posted by RiverCityDawg

I wouldn't say "several" people are saying we won't have a drop off on defense. Just Coach007 that I've seen. In fact most have repeated often that we WILL have a drop off at defense, the question is just how much. The counter balance to that is most people also expect some offensive improvement.

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I have never stated that we would not have a drop off. I stated that it won't throw us off the map on defense. What I have stated is I expect the defense to be top 15.

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Back to defense, the drop off depends on how quickly our inexperienced DT's can adjust to significant playing time and how healthy we can stay with our starters in the back 7. I'm comfortable with our starters back there but the depth is questionable. People keep repeating that we have quality depth at linebacker and it's just not true, not that we know of at least.

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True. The DTs will be the ones to watch.

I dont know many or anyone that have said the defense won’t take a step back. How far back we will see. I don’t think it will be near as far as most think
Again we cant replace Simmons and not but a handful of schools can. But he didn’t play every snap last year nor did Sweat. I think we can all agree replacing Thomas and Hoyette will easily be done

And yes theres is still a bad taste in everyones mouth with a couple of games we lost. Do you all not think that same taste in this staffs mouth and players ?
And those four loses 3 played in NYE6 games and UK did play and beat PSU in the citrus bowl
Its not liked we lost to South Alabama or OM...

Its pretty sad when this fan base cant get behind , create some excitement and create a buzz about a team that the national publications and so called experts feel pretty good about..
lose 3 guys in the first round of the nfl draft and still damn near everyone has us in the top 25

And btw with our starting 22 and 2 deep what positions besides DL and S are we not going to be as good or better at next year ??
And before anyone says QB... trust me it’s going to be an overall upgrade

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Originally Posted by Ari Gold

I dont know many or anyone that have said the defense won?t take a step back. How far back we will see. I don?t think it will be near as far as most think
Again we cant replace Simmons and not but a handful of schools can. But he didn?t play every snap last year nor did Sweat. I think we can all agree replacing Thomas and Hoyette will easily be done

And yes theres is still a bad taste in everyones mouth with a couple of games we lost. Do you all not think that same taste in this staffs mouth and players ?
And those four loses 3 played in NYE6 games and UK did play and beat PSU in the citrus bowl
Its not liked we lost to South Alabama or OM...

Its pretty sad when this fan base cant get behind , create some excitement and create a buzz about a team that the national publications and so called experts feel pretty good about..
lose 3 guys in the first round of the nfl draft and still damn near everyone has us in the top 25

And btw with our starting 22 and 2 deep what positions besides DL and S are we not going to be as good or better at next year ??
And before anyone says QB... trust me it?s going to be an overall upgrade

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well stated

I think of my military career but any training in general. The first sessions and application are pretty much a mixed bag of execution. Then, a rhythm starts to surface. It doesnt make things perfect, but it gets moving parts in sync. If I had to think of an overall upgrade on offense, thats what I imagine.

Some people are banking on six or seven wins to make themselves feel better if we lose a game we are supposed to win.

Some want that 'I told you so" moment. There isnt one. This season is a great unknown. I just think at the end, we will be on a positive track for the future rather than an negative.

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Originally Posted by Ari Gold

I dont know many or anyone that have said the defense won’t take a step back. How far back we will see. I don’t think it will be near as far as most think
Again we cant replace Simmons and not but a handful of schools can. But he didn’t play every snap last year nor did Sweat. I think we can all agree replacing Thomas and Hoyette will easily be done

And yes theres is still a bad taste in everyones mouth with a couple of games we lost. Do you all not think that same taste in this staffs mouth and players ?
And those four loses 3 played in NYE6 games and UK did play and beat PSU in the citrus bowl
Its not liked we lost to South Alabama or OM...

Its pretty sad when this fan base cant get behind , create some excitement and create a buzz about a team that the national publications and so called experts feel pretty good about..
lose 3 guys in the first round of the nfl draft and still damn near everyone has us in the top 25

And btw with our starting 22 and 2 deep what positions besides DL and S are we not going to be as good or better at next year ??
And before anyone says QB... trust me it’s going to be an overall upgrade

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https://media.giphy.com/media/NnGGHE0muVqpO/giphy.gif

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Originally Posted by Ari Gold

I think we can all agree replacing Thomas and Hoyette will easily be done

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Here is where we disagree. I dont think we have a DT on the roster that will be as good in 2019 as those 2 were in 2018. Thomas is expected to make the Dolphins roster and I believe Hoyette ends up on one if he doesnt hold on in Tenn. With Simmons sitting the 1st half of the season- gives Hoyette a good chance there.

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Originally Posted by Coach34

Here is where we disagree. I dont think we have a DT on the roster that will be as good in 2019 as those 2 were in 2018. Thomas is expected to make the Dolphins roster and I believe Hoyette ends up on one if he doesnt hold on in Tenn. With Simmons sitting the 1st half of the season- gives Hoyette a good chance there.

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Experience no.
Talent (minus Simmons) yes.
If we just want to go off stats alone Autry and Harris numbers weren’t far behind Hoyett and Thomas and I’m guessing they prob got half the amount of snaps
Not to mention Trey Brown ate up a lot of those snaps for those guys as well..

Throw in Love ( if eligible), the red shirt guys and maybe Pickering if he is ready and we can for sure get the production up front with these guys as we did when Simmons wasn’t In the game .

Not arguing it’s for sure our biggest question mark .
Again there is no way we can replace Simmons and his absence will also hurt the DE but Rivers had pretty good numbers And is a Pro. Spencer was a starter as a true freshman.
Kobe had like a half dozen tackles behind the LOS and Fletcher is a solid player and both bring SEC experience
Can Coach Adams be close to the X and O guy that Baker was? that’s a question mark as well, but he is already well ahead on the recruiting side of things over Baker...

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Originally Posted by Ari Gold

And btw with our starting 22 and 2 deep what positions besides DL and S are we not going to be as good or better at next year ??
And before anyone says QB... trust me it’s going to be an overall upgrade

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It's just hard to brush over the fact that 3 of our 4 on the 2 deep at DT haven't played a meaningful snap. 2 redshirt freshmen, and 1 guy who was a center last year. I think everyone can agree we will take a step back at DT, but will it be a disaster? I don't know, but it could be.

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Originally Posted by HoopsDawg

It's just hard to brush over the fact that 3 of our 4 on the 2 deep at DT haven't played a meaningful snap. 2 redshirt freshmen, and 1 guy who was a center last year. I think everyone can agree we will take a step back at DT, but will it be a disaster? I don't know, but it could be.

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Autry, Harris, Love (if eligible)
And I think if we have too we can move Spencer inside some
I wasn’t brushing off the lack of returning depth at DL
And not saying it isn’t an issue .. but we won’t be running Walkons or 2stars out there ..
Just need a couple of young talented kids to step up..

And thanks to the OL recruiting by this staff we are allowed to move Jackson back to the defensive side of the ball.. where he belongs

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Originally Posted by Ari Gold

Autry, Harris, Love (if eligible)
And I think if we have too we can move Spencer inside some
I wasn’t brushing off the lack of returning depth at DL
And not saying it isn’t an issue .. but we won’t be running Walkons or 2stars out there ..
Just need a couple of young talented kids to step up..

And thanks to the OL recruiting by this staff we are allowed to move Jackson back to the defensive side of the ball.. where he belongs

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You have Jones too, but my understanding is Lovett is far better and ready to roll. He, as a RS, will jump Jones

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Originally Posted by Ari Gold

Autry, Harris, Love (if eligible)
And I think if we have too we can move Spencer inside some
I wasn’t brushing off the lack of returning depth at DL
And not saying it isn’t an issue .. but we won’t be running Walkons or 2stars out there ..
Just need a couple of young talented kids to step up..

And thanks to the OL recruiting by this staff we are allowed to move Jackson back to the defensive side of the ball.. where he belongs

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Harris is gone...I like the young talent. But it's unproven and well, young.

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Originally Posted by Coach34

7-5 with a win over OM in the Egg is most likely- an 8th win is possible at Tenn. Big toss-up game there.

Williams, Rivers get drafted along with Gay, Thompson, Hill, and Dantzler declaring early for the draft.

2020 becomes the major rebuild after another year of losing a ton of talent, starters, and draft picks.

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Brian Cole is getting drafted

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Originally Posted by Coach34

Here is where we disagree. I dont think we have a DT on the roster that will be as good in 2019 as those 2 were in 2018. Thomas is expected to make the Dolphins roster and I believe Hoyette ends up on one if he doesnt hold on in Tenn. With Simmons sitting the 1st half of the season- gives Hoyette a good chance there.

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Thomas stayed hurt and never reached his potential imo. Hoyett never made plays consistently. He was a contributor for depth soley on defense.

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Originally Posted by bulldawg28

Thomas stayed hurt and never reached his potential imo. Hoyett never made plays consistently. He was a contributor for depth soley on defense.

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Yet- amazingly- we were one of the best 3-4 DL's in the country in 2018. And very few of the guys returning made that happen- especially at DT

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Originally Posted by bulldawg28

Thomas stayed hurt and never reached his potential imo. Hoyett never made plays consistently. He was a contributor for depth soley on defense.

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I know you know, but DT's in this system don't have to make plays just clog holes and take up blockers and make plays when it presents itself. Hoyett did a good job of that. And the depth part is HUGE. We now have zero. No need to comment on Simmons again, that's been covered. If we end up w a top 15 defense Shoop deserves and award. Hell even top 20.