Todd4State's football thoughts.

[War Machine Dawg]

and he could potentially go after this year...

Obviously you're on the Redmond bandwagon. You'll understand if I don't think you can be objective when evaluating Redmond.

He'll be very, very good. But as of right now, he hasn't earned a starting job or shown me he's clearly better than either Love or Calhoun. He has his chance this season. But he apparently didn't do enough to unseat either of those guys in the spring. I'm going to trust Collins on this one. That said, Redmond is going to play a ton.

[War Machine Dawg]

Let's go back and look at this that shows Redmond is better. Corner back is the hardest position to play on the field and it was obvious with Calhoun, Jiles, and pretty much everyone placed there with the exception of Love while Redmond was out. It took them unto the end of the year to adjust and get it. Enter Will Redmond whose never played in the SEC and starts making plays immediately as if he's played all year. He's essentially a redshirt freshman making plays like a junior from day one. His mechanics, instincts, speed, intellects on the field make him the best we have. Had he not been suspended he was the starter. This is straight from the coaches. The coaches have been fair and allowed the others to maintain their spot over him but he's the best corner on the team. The kid is an NFL talent right now and if given the opportunity will be in the league longer than any corner on the current MSU roster.

FAIL. That would be OL. But thanks for playing.

[Bo Darville]

Let's go back and look at this that shows Redmond is better. Corner back is the hardest position to play on the field and it was obvious with Calhoun, Jiles, and pretty much everyone placed there with the exception of Love while Redmond was out. It took them unto the end of the year to adjust and get it. Enter Will Redmond whose never played in the SEC and starts making plays immediately as if he's played all year. He's essentially a redshirt freshman making plays like a junior from day one. His mechanics, instincts, speed, intellects on the field make him the best we have. Had he not been suspended he was the starter. This is straight from the coaches. The coaches have been fair and allowed the others to maintain their spot over him but he's the best corner on the team. The kid is an NFL talent right now and if given the opportunity will be in the league longer than any corner on the current MSU roster.

This is a well thought out defense of your position. I might agree and I might not, but you make a strong case. It's the part where you said "it's not even close" that I think is crazy.

[Coach34]

We are very lucky in that we have 3 starting CB's- Love, Calhoun, and Redmond. All of them can play. Jiles is no doorknob either, but he aint as good as those first 3. Calhoun is a straight up playmaker with great instincts- essentially another JBanks-while Love and Redmond are slightly better cover guys. Redmond needs to also be allowed to make an impact in the return game.

The good thing about the OL- and why I havent been worried- is that we have 8-9 guys that can play. And thats all you really need. Clausell, Day, Malone, and Beckwith are known players. Clayborn had a good Freshman year and a good Spring going H2H with Jones day after day. Senior, Robinson, and Flowers give us 3 more guys to make 8.
What Hev has to decide- are we better starting Malone and Beckwith at G and rotating Clayborn in constantly to keep the G's fresh- while letting Clausell hold down LT...then letting Robinson and Senior play RT? Or are we better with starting Clayborn and Beckwith at G with Flowers rotating in, moving Malone to RT with Robinson backing him up, and Senior resting Clausell?

It's nice to have actual depth with bona fide options.

[Johnson85]

Obviously you're on the Redmond bandwagon. You'll understand if I don't think you can be objective when evaluating Redmond.

He'll be very, very good. But as of right now, he hasn't earned a starting job or shown me he's clearly better than either Love or Calhoun. He has his chance this season. But he apparently didn't do enough to unseat either of those guys in the spring. I'm going to trust Collins on this one. That said, Redmond is going to play a ton.

But that's not how this staff works. Don't really have a dog in this hunt, but the fact that Redmond isn't starting at this point doesn't tell us much with this staff. I don't think Chris Jones is really second string and I hope Damien Robinson isn't really first string. If you are doing things the right way, you will see your 'back-up' get starter reps before you lose your starting position. For Redmond to have been named starter at this point would have pretty much required that somebody else screw up, although if he was dominating such taht him starting was inevitable, there would probably have been some rumors about it.

[Political Hack]

So PJ & Eulls are better NFL prospects than Chris Jones because they're starting too, huh?

Calhoun was in the right place at the right time and does a great job keeping his eyes in the backfield, but he's not nearly as good as a true corner cover as Love or Redmond. He's a ballhawk... so was Nickoe... but that don't mean they can cover man up better than anyone else on the field.

[War Machine Dawg]

But that's not how this staff works. Don't really have a dog in this hunt, but the fact that Redmond isn't starting at this point doesn't tell us much with this staff. I don't think Chris Jones is really second string and I hope Damien Robinson isn't really first string. If you are doing things the right way, you will see your 'back-up' get starter reps before you lose your starting position. For Redmond to have been named starter at this point would have pretty much required that somebody else screw up, although if he was dominating such taht him starting was inevitable, there would probably have been some rumors about it.

So PJ & Eulls are better NFL prospects than Chris Jones because they're starting too, huh?

Calhoun was in the right place at the right time and does a great job keeping his eyes in the backfield, but he's not nearly as good as a true corner cover as Love or Redmond. He's a ballhawk... so was Nickoe... but that don't mean they can cover man up better than anyone else on the field.

You guys should check out my defensive preview at FWTCT. But here's the bottom line: This D is so deep, all these guys are going to play and play a lot. Mullen has proven he's like Cohen in that he prefers to reward his veterans with the "starter" title. As for Redmond specifically, I clearly said he's going to be very, very good. But if he's as good as you guys (general "you guys," I realize this is your first post in the thread, 85) make him out to be, it WOULD force Dan's/Collins' hand into naming him a starter. It tells me those 3 are about as even as it gets. Hell, I think all 3 of those guys are going to play in the NFL.

[Political Hack]

there's no doubt about that. There is separation between the CBs though, and it's significant... just like there is at DT. The season will play out and we can revisit this conversation, but I think we're going to see some HUGE things from our "backups" this year defensively.

[War Machine Dawg]

there's no doubt about that. There is separation between the CBs though, and it's significant... just like there is at DT. The season will play out and we can revisit this conversation, but I think we're going to see some HUGE things from our "backups" this year defensively.

I can totally agree with that. Like I said, Redmond has his chance this season. It would be awesome if he steps up and becomes an elite CB. The talent is there, he just needs to capitalize.

[bulldawg28]

FAIL. That would be OL. But thanks for playing.

Lol..that answer shows you have no clue. You could probably go through an SEC roster and find either a true freshman or a redshirt freshman in the 2 deep. Then check and tell me which schools have Corner backs listed that way. If you find it he's either elite or that school is trouble like Hell come fall. Let's use our Ole Miss brethren. They started 2 true freshmen OL and won 8 games. Find any SEC school that has started 2 true freshman corners and didn't finish last in their division.

[whatever]

Lol..that answer shows you have no clue. You could probably go through an SEC roster and find either a true freshman or a redshirt freshman in the 2 deep. Then check and tell me which schools have Corner backs listed that way. If you find it he's either elite or that school is trouble like Hell come fall. Let's use our Ole Miss brethren. They started 2 true freshmen OL and won 8 games. Find any SEC school that has started 2 true freshman corners and didn't finish last in their division.

There are 5 guys on the OL, so based on numbers alone it's a lot more likely that you'll see 2 FR out of a 2 deep of 10 than you will 2 freshmen CB's, since ya know, there are only 2 that start instead of 5.

Also, I believe UGA started 2 freshman in Shaq Wiggins and Brendan Langley last year and didn't finish last, Vernon Hargreaves played pretty well, and Marlon Humphrey and Tony Brown will probably be in Bama's 2 deep if not starting by the end of the year together at CB.

You do see some freshmen that get to play on the OL, but I'd say that's the toughest spot from a physical standpoint, and likely also a mental standpoint of knowing what to do

[chef dixon]

Redmond has got athleticism and talent that none of our other CB's have. With that said, Calhoun and Love know what it takes and have become very solid players, but I'd be very surprised if Redmond isn't our best DB by the end of the year. Keep in mind he's only gotten to play half a season. I remember watching an interview of Fred Ross who was asked who was the toughest person to block and he said Redmond no doubt about it.

Also, is there anyone besides Jameon and Holloway up for returning kicks? They both kind of make me nervous in different ways. Didn't Redmond or Myles do this type of thing in high school?

[bulldawg28]

There are 5 guys on the OL, so based on numbers alone it's a lot more likely that you'll see 2 FR out of a 2 deep of 10 than you will 2 freshmen CB's, since ya know, there are only 2 that start instead of 5.

Also, I believe UGA started 2 freshman in Shaq Wiggins and Brendan Langley last year and didn't finish last, Vernon Hargreaves played pretty well, and Marlon Humphrey and Tony Brown will probably be in Bama's 2 deep if not starting by the end of the year together at CB.

You do see some freshmen that get to play on the OL, but I'd say that's the toughest spot from a physical standpoint, and likely also a mental standpoint of knowing what to do

He said OL. The only similarity in difficulty is OT because you have very little help. Also, Georgia didn't start 2 freshmen corners. Swain/Swann was a junior. Since you brought up that subject, which position was the weakest for Georgia? You guessed it...Corner. Or the entire secondary for that matter which cost them games with freshmen everywhere.

[gravedigger]

Huh?

[DudyDawg]

I don't see our line running out there and Jamaal not on it. He saw some time last year, as a true freshman, and is a beast. The one true freak on our team, CJ, said Jamaal may be the only player stronger than he is. He had fairly quick feet and pretty decent technique last year for a true freshman (think that has a lot to do with private school coaching, but I won't get into that now). I would be amazed if he didn't end camp as a starter inside.

[Political Hack]

I don't see our line running out there and Jamaal not on it. He saw some time last year, as a true freshman, and is a beast. The one true freak on our team, CJ, said Jamaal may be the only player stronger than he is. He had fairly quick feet and pretty decent technique last year for a true freshman (think that has a lot to do with private school coaching, but I won't get into that now). I would be amazed if he didn't end camp as a starter inside.

agree.

[Coach34]

We have 4 weeks of practice before we play. Give Damien his shot to win the job. With our defensive front- we'll know in 2 weeks who the best 5 are.

The he great thing about our schedule is we get 3 games to get our best 10 guys reps. Our back-ups will get good reps to get some experience that could be huge down the road

[smootness]

A few thoughts for Todd:

1. You don't think Chris Jones will start on the DL?
2. I think safety is the position I'm most excited about this year. Obviously there are some unknowns, but if Hughes can be ready to go at least by a few games in, I love the combination of him and Cox, one physical and one an elite athlete ballhawk, with a seasoned, smart, tough guy like Market ready to fill in where necessary.
3. If any kicker in the country makes 75% from 50, they're almost certainly the best kicker in the country. I think a lot of people expect way too much from kickers.
4. And yes, I think Gerri Green plays, too. A lot.

[smootness]

Preston Smith is our only good pass rusher at DE, that's why I think McKinney will come off the edge more this year in a 4-2-5 look. At least, I hope so. McKinney is definitely not a MLB at the next level.

Not true, Jefferson is a good pass rusher.

And I don't see McKinney coming off the edge much. I'm not that concerned with where he'll play in the NFL; he's most valuable to us at MLB. Collins said that our #1 priority as a defense is to stop the run, and McKinney also is responsible for lining the defense up. He's our MLB all day.

[BiscuitEater]

Mullen has proven he's like Cohen in that he prefers to reward his veterans with the "starter" title. As for Redmond specifically, I clearly said he's going to be very, very good. Hell, I think all 3 of those guys are going to play in the NFL.

THIS team seems to have less "EGO Issues" than any other State team that I can remember. Starting is not a big deal with these guys and this bodes well for this year