Spring Game thoughts

[GTHOM]

We are going to be pretty good on defense folks dont let anyone fool you, we've got depth on the DL and at LB. Our safeties are NFL type players and our corners looked better than what I expected and from what I've seen and heard this spring they are much improved. Still gotta prove it on Sept. 3 but very promising. I cant wait to see us turn the dogs loose on D. We wont have to be as good offensively if the D can hold it down. You could really start to see Jonathan Calvin and Will Coleman figure it out down the stretch last year they are gonna give us production and depth on the DL. Our front 7 can play with and stop anyone.


Offensively I think Tiano stood out to me the most he looks solid and composed. He can also tote the rock. Fitz, Tiano, Williams, Staley in that order at QB. I think we will see Fitz start and do some good and bad things like a young QB will do but he will do more good than bad. I expect us to run our QBs more, hopefully get back to a true read option back there. We've got several RBs that can play, Alec Murphy looked good so did Nick Gipson. Still think Aeris will be the guy but we'll see. OL looked improved run blocking but not so much pass blocking. It was hard to get a good read on them because we were mixed and matched up front. I think it will be Clayborne at C, Desper at a G (hes not very good) Calhoun at the other G, Rankin at LT and Senior at the other. Would really love to see Elgton Jenkins take Desper or Seniors spot because Jenkins has some dawg in him. At WR we were missing our best 2 in Gray and Ross but I thought we looked okay. Mixon was up and down, Thomas may be the new stonehands and Jesse Jackson looks really polished. Malik Dear is a beast still think hes out of position but he can play wherever and play well. Holloway is gonna be a good weapon for us, he takes a lot of crap on this board but hes a good football player and is tough as hell.


All in all if we stay healthy no reason to think we cant win at least 8 games. Just my opinion. It will hinge on the OL and as always Dan.

[Coach34]

Inconsistent at QB
OL is not very good
Little depth at WR
Secondary looked better because of the lack of talent at WR

6 win team fighting for its life

[GTHOM]

Inconsistent at QB
OL is not very good
Little depth at WR
Secondary looked better because of the lack of talent at WR

6 win team fighting for its life

We're just gonna have to agree to disagree

[SDDawg]

Inconsistent at QB
OL is not very good
Little depth at WR
Secondary looked better because of the lack of talent at WR

6 win team fighting for its life

It's a 7 win team coach, provided that Fitz progresses and steps up to be the starter we need him to be. Totally different offense with Ross and Gray and their ability to make plays so I don't think you can judge too much based on today.

OL is a question, and I think it's a question of mentality and toughness in addition to personnel. The group just didn't play at the level I would expect in the first half, looked a bit better later in the game. That group needs to know that they are the difference between this team winning 5 or 8 games, it's really that big. They absolutely have to step up and be better. It's one thing to struggle against the Bamas and LSUs of the world, but this group has got to show some dominance against USCe, Auburn (still struggling), A&M and we have to win a couple of these games. I won't even mention the Egg, that should just be a given regardless of where it's played.

[CadaverDawg]

Our O should look much better when Gray & Ross return. I worry about our WR blocking and red zone production without Bear's size out there though. RB looks to be much improved, but the OL looks meh again.

We'll go as far as our OL & QB can take us.

Our D looks solid, but slow. Peters and McLaurin are hitters, but they take poor angles when in pursuit, and get run past frequently....can't have that on your back line.

I really like Tiano. He looks like a guy that could win the QB job by 2017

[NCDawg]

Inconsistent at QB
OL is not very good
Little depth at WR
Secondary looked better because of the lack of talent at WR

6 win team fighting for its life

I think you are pretty much correct. Our obvious downfall will be the OL, as it has been for the past several years.

[SDDawg]

A few thoughts on QB:

1. Williams was a lot more productive than the stat line showed. Had a couple of poor reads, but also multiple drops that should have been big gains. I like his toughness and I'm glad we have him for another year (I expect him to grad transfer after this one barring something unusual). I think he'll push the other guys and will make a run at the backup spot.
2. Where was Staley? I don't feel like he's really showing up and competing for the job. He's coming up on his 3rd year rapidly and I don't see what I'd expect to see from him. All kinds of problems and not showing a lot of progression. At some point, we're going to need to stop talking about his potential and start talking about his lack of progression and production.
3. Tiano looked really good. He showed some flashes that make him look competitive as the #2 this year. I will not be surprised if he makes a strong run at the #2 spot.
4. Dan needs to not screw around and try to platoon with these guys. Pick a guy by week 2 and go with him. If there's a bit of competition with USA still and some rotation I can live with that (gotta win the damn game of course), but beyond that don't screw around. 2013 was a year that Dan needs to learn from, he trotted out 2 guys far too often and it hurt us a bit although it worked out by end of the season. No repeats from 2013.

[Coach34]

It's a 7 win team coach, provided that Fitz progresses and steps up to be the starter we need him to be. Totally different offense with Ross and Gray and their ability to make plays so I don't think you can judge too much based on today.

OL is a question, and I think it's a question of mentality and toughness in addition to personnel. The group just didn't play at the level I would expect in the first half, looked a bit better later in the game. That group needs to know that they are the difference between this team winning 5 or 8 games, it's really that big. They absolutely have to step up and be better. It's one thing to struggle against the Bamas and LSUs of the world, but this group has got to show some dominance against USCe, Auburn (still struggling), A&M and we have to win a couple of these games. I won't even mention the Egg, that should just be a given regardless of where it's played.

You have made a good post- but here is what I see are the problems with our OL being like it is:

Our toss-up games are at home- Auburn, A&M, and UPig. All 3 of those teams will be really good on the DL. Auburn has one of the SEC's best DL's- and just signed 3 Jeffrey Simmons level players in Feb. A&M has a top 5 draft pick at DE, a good Secondary, and a good DC in Chavis, and UPig returns 7 of 8 off their 2 deep on the DL. They will be vastly improved after being young last year.

2016 is just going to be a struggle. We'll have the chance to grind thru some wins- we'll see if we are able to

[maroonwhitedawg3ddd]

I agree Coach gonna be a long year if the OL doesn't make great strides over the summer and early fall!!!

[Tripp McNeely]

Inconsistent at QB
OL is not very good
Little depth at WR
Secondary looked better because of the lack of talent at WR

6 win team fighting for its life

I don't have much V-cash coach, but I'd bet it ALL on 7+ wins

[Reason2succeed]

I just don't see an offensive identity that can work. Relf 2.0 requires a good OL and dependable RB of which we have neither.

All the WR talent doesn't mean squat if our QBs are on track to throw 5 INTs per game.

Defense looked good but it would have been hard for them not to.

My present STATE of mind is full fledged panic.

[UMCDawg16]

Do you really think that the best we have out of the 4 QBs is equal to Relf? Come on bro, that's plain silly.

[BoomBoom]

I just don't see an offensive identity that can work. Relf 2.0 requires a good OL and dependable RB of which we have neither.

All the WR talent doesn't mean squat if our QBs are on track to throw 5 INTs per game.

Defense looked good but it would have been hard for them not to.

My present STATE of mind is full fledged panic.

If you could time-warp that Relf offense to now and play them now, they wouldn't be half as effective. The zone read was new then, but now teams know how to defend it. I'm afraid Mullen doesn't realize that, I know most of this board doesnt.

[defiantdog]

Our offense is in trouble this year. I expect to give up the most sacks in the SEC this year with a poor OL and an inexperienced QB. There's going to be a lot of popcorn to pass around ED after our games in the fall. Here's to stocking up on bourbon now.

[drunkernhelldawg]

We're going to be competing against teams with more depth. We've got a chance to beat any of them, but every mistake we make can be magnified. This season will either be one with a team that wins by pulling together or a team that lets games slip away late. This is more like the teams that state has "traditionally" had. Like the quarterback possibilities, the D, and the running backs. Not crazy about the O line or the WR's. But we've got a shot, so time to start getting excited.

[Madisonmd]

I saw it like C34. Receiver depth was glaring(lack). QB play is worrisome. We have spent 3 years watching Prescott bail us out of bad situations and now we will not have that luxury.

[mic]

To be honest..
We looked better this spring than we did last spring..

[Coach34]

To be honest..
We looked better this spring than we did last spring..

I disagree

[HoopsDawg]

To be honest..
We looked better this spring than we did last spring..

LOL.

[GTHOM]

If we dont beat USCe we suck. We will find out pretty quick I for one think we will be a lot better than some are expecting. As its been stated though if the OL is trash we will get trashed and win 6 games, go to the liberty bowl and no one will care. Honestly no excuse for that in your 8th season with a HC