Dak comments

[smootness]

I'm willing to say we will be far better on offense next year.

This is just insane.

Moton isn't on the team, btw.

I do think our young talent is better than our older talent on the whole. But that young talent is going to need some time. They're not going to step right in and take over. And there are a couple positions where we won't be as talented, either...mainly DT and CB.

[defiantdog]

That, I can buy:

QB - Staley/Fitz as juniors
RB - Shump (Sr)/ Williams (Jr)/ Lee (Jr)/ Kylin Hill? Cam Akers?/ Gibson
WR - Donald Gray (if he doesn't leave after next year)/ AJ Brown/ Jesse Jackson/ Deddrick Thomas
Slot - Myles/ Dear/Mixon
TE - Justin Johnson
OL - Rankin/ Lashley/ Calhoun/ Cochran/ Jenkins

DE - Joseph/ Mullins/ Simmons?/ Grant Harris
DT - Cory Thomas/ Fletcher Adams/ Kobe Jones/ Hoyett
LB - Gerri Green/ Leo Lewis/ JT Gray/ Washington/ Dez Harris
CB - Graham/ Rayford/ Stamps/ Smitherman/ Knott?
S - Peters/ McLaurin/ Bryant

That has the makings of a pretty beastly team.

I want those lb's with B. Brown and those safeties playing now.

[Really Clark?]

I want those lb's with B. Brown and those safeties playing now.

Those safeties are not ready now against Northwestern State. What makes them ready for the SEC? They are a year away. If we are lucky may be they are ready at the end of the year for some time.

[smootness]

I want those lb's with B. Brown and those safeties playing now.

No, you really don't.

[Todd4State]

Those safeties are not ready now against Northwestern State. What makes them ready for the SEC? They are a year away. If we are lucky may be they are ready at the end of the year for some time.

Safety is a HUGE weakness for us. The BEST thing to do is to play Peters, McLaurin, Bryant and mix them with Coman and Market. It's not like Coman and Market aren't making mistakes out there and it's not like Bryant, Peters, and McLaurin aren't performing at all when they are out there. Why does it have to be rigid first string/second string with Dan?

Are the freshmen going to make some mistakes? Sure. But they will make some plays as well- and it will benefit them and us going forward. If you pick any combination of two of our freshmen safeties, they had just as many tackles as Coman and Market COMBINED. And Coman led the team in tackles yesterday (thanks Richie!). I LOVE how our freshmen have to be perfect- but the starters get a pass for screwing up repeatedly.

At least by mixing guys up we aren't having all youth or having practice all-stars with poor instincts or coming off of a devastating leg injury out there.

[Really Clark?]

Safety is a HUGE weakness for us. The BEST thing to do is to play Peters, McLaurin, Bryant and mix them with Coman and Market. It's not like Coman and Market aren't making mistakes out there and it's not like Bryant, Peters, and McLaurin aren't performing at all when they are out there. Why does it have to be rigid first string/second string with Dan?

Are the freshmen going to make some mistakes? Sure. But they will make some plays as well- and it will benefit them and us going forward. If you pick any combination of two of our freshmen safeties, they had just as many tackles as Coman and Market COMBINED. And Coman led the team in tackles yesterday (thanks Richie!). I LOVE how our freshmen have to be perfect- but the starters get a pass for screwing up repeatedly.

At least by mixing guys up we aren't having all youth or having practice all-stars with poor instincts or coming off of a devastating leg injury out there.

Todd I love your consistantcy and I know you are going to keep harping on and on about Dan playing certain players. But you are dead wrong about the freshman safety's right now. They are not ready to hardly play a complete series last Sat. What do you think will happen against SEC speed and athletes? It's not just one or two mistakes in a game we are talking about. Peters made some nice plays at the line of scrimmage. Good for him and he showed his speed and ability. But they are not ready in coverage or to be able to make calls. Even if it was Calhoun or Redmond in coverage on that play that Smokey was pointing at McLaurin on. In the SEC that's 7 and it's not even a difficult coverage scheme we were using and it was a pretty simple offensive design if I remember correctly. They have the ability that when they know what to do and react they will be good and it may be in a month they are ready. Once things start clicking it can compress really fast. But not right now. This is not a playing older guys over younger talent issue. Last Sat showed they are not ready for even 2nd team play. Unless you have something very specific that they can do and do consistantly.

[confucius say]

Peters needs to play more now. He was all over the field. No blown coverages. Find a way to simplify it for him, because he is always around the ball. Kid makes plays, bottom line.

[Really Clark?]

Peters needs to play more now. He was all over the field. No blown coverages. Find a way to simplify it for him, because he is always around the ball. Kid makes plays, bottom line.

He can't play up all the time. You see his TFL and sack. Great job but if that's all he can do, he is a liability as a safety. Wrong calls from his position as well I believe and what coverage did you see him in? How many different coverages? Sure lets simplify the defensive coverages with Auburn and A & M the next two games. Make it easier to get him the field, maybe. But to what end? Just so he is on the field? His ability won't do much good when we are in few coverages for Sumilin to work over for an entire game. And that's if he plays a perfect game and doesn't miss any calls and if someone else makes all of the secondary calls. Which is also different because each safety is suppose to call their side of the field. Not that big of deal really but just one more change so we can play him. They are not ready people. Great talents but are not ready.

[Spiderman]

I'm willing to say we will be far better on offense next year.

That sounds like dumbass Ole Miss fans saying there would be no drop off after Eli left because of Spurlock.

Dak type players don't come through here often.

[Todd4State]

Todd I love your consistantcy and I know you are going to keep harping on and on about Dan playing certain players. But you are dead wrong about the freshman safety's right now. They are not ready to hardly play a complete series last Sat. What do you think will happen against SEC speed and athletes? It's not just one or two mistakes in a game we are talking about. Peters made some nice plays at the line of scrimmage. Good for him and he showed his speed and ability. But they are not ready in coverage or to be able to make calls. Even if it was Calhoun or Redmond in coverage on that play that Smokey was pointing at McLaurin on. In the SEC that's 7 and it's not even a difficult coverage scheme we were using and it was a pretty simple offensive design if I remember correctly. They have the ability that when they know what to do and react they will be good and it may be in a month they are ready. Once things start clicking it can compress really fast. But not right now. This is not a playing older guys over younger talent issue. Last Sat showed they are not ready for even 2nd team play. Unless you have something very specific that they can do and do consistantly.

You could make a strong argument that Coman and Market aren't SEC ready either based on their missed tackles and being out of position themselves.

Don't be Dan Mullen concrete. That's why I said play BOTH Coman and Peters at the same time. Coman knows the plays (allegedly) and Peters has the athleticism to make plays- and actually HAS made plays when given the rare opportunity. It doesn't have to be Coman and Market or Peters and Bryant/McLaurin.

Just like Shumpert and Lee- I don't think Shumpert shouldn't play. But I do think that Lee should play and be used more than he has.

But let's continue to demand perfection from the freshmen while at the same time giving the upperclassmen a complete pass for mistakes. Despite the fact that the freshmen continue to make plays and despite the fact that the SEC is run heavy this year given the struggles of Bama, Auburn, Arkansas, Mizzou and most other on our schedule other than Ole Miss and Texas A&M- making for the PERFECT time to play freshmen safeties moreso than any other time in years.

[Todd4State]

He can't play up all the time. You see his TFL and sack. Great job but if that's all he can do, he is a liability as a safety. Wrong calls from his position as well I believe and what coverage did you see him in? How many different coverages? Sure lets simplify the defensive coverages with Auburn and A & M the next two games. Make it easier to get him the field, maybe. But to what end? Just so he is on the field? His ability won't do much good when we are in few coverages for Sumilin to work over for an entire game. And that's if he plays a perfect game and doesn't miss any calls and if someone else makes all of the secondary calls. Which is also different because each safety is suppose to call their side of the field. Not that big of deal really but just one more change so we can play him. They are not ready people. Great talents but are not ready.

How many different coverages do we run? I know Peters isn't a rocket scientist but damn. If simplifying what we do makes us better as a team, then by all means YES we should do it. Ole Miss literally runs every play to the TE side- and they're doing OK right now.

If Coman has to call of the plays- so what?

[Really Clark?]

You could make a strong argument that Coman and Market aren't SEC ready either based on their missed tackles and being out of position themselves.

Don't be Dan Mullen concrete. That's why I said play BOTH Coman and Peters at the same time. Coman knows the plays (allegedly) and Peters has the athleticism to make plays- and actually HAS made plays when given the rare opportunity. It doesn't have to be Coman and Market or Peters and Bryant/McLaurin.

Just like Shumpert and Lee- I don't think Shumpert shouldn't play. But I do think that Lee should play and be used more than he has.

But let's continue to demand perfection from the freshmen while at the same time giving the upperclassmen a complete pass for mistakes. Despite the fact that the freshmen continue to make plays and despite the fact that the SEC is run heavy this year given the struggles of Bama, Auburn, Arkansas, Mizzou and most other on our schedule other than Ole Miss and Texas A&M- making for the PERFECT time to play freshmen safeties moreso than any other time in years.

Look we are not going to agree. They are not ready. Even C34, who is a big proponent of Mullen playing more of our younger guys right now see's it. He is with you mostly but they are not ready and he is saying the same thing. Not demanding perfection at all. Just don't limit what we can call defensively and from the safety position. Heck the number of all world 5 star safety's from complex high schools that actually start from day one is probably less than 30%. Which means only a few a year at these big programs you keep talking about playing freshman. It's very few at the safety position from day one. LSU needed safety help last year and Allen didn't get heavily involved until what? 6-7 games in. And another thing what have our safety's given up this year in big plays? Yeah yeah I know competition level. Of which the freshman screwed up much bigger than anything Coman and Market have this year. But at least we have kept it in check so far. We are at 100 yards less per game this year compared to last so far. I don't expect it stays that way but for other than injuries, God forbid, they both are not out there heavily against Auburn or A & M unless they make big steps. May be they will and they show out. I think it's only a matter of time. Just not sure that it's not really next year or late this before that point. Which is very much par for the course for most highly rated safety's across the country.

[Really Clark?]

How many different coverages do we run? I know Peters isn't a rocket scientist but damn. If simplifying what we do makes us better as a team, then by all means YES we should do it. Ole Miss literally runs every play to the TE side- and they're doing OK right now.

If Coman has to call of the plays- so what?

Your right. Let's go to Auburn and A & M with simple coverages while we are still at the beginning of the season still. Let's give Malzhan and Sumiln simple coverage looks for them to pick apart. Are you going to embrace Dan for doing that or bash him for those losses because those teams score more than maybe we could have prevented because we couldnt run but a few coverages. And you seem to forget something, it's not just what we run but he has to determine the correct read for the plays the offense is running against us. And Auburn and A & M are not exactly simple offenses to recognize.

[GreenheadDawg]

No, you really don't.

yeh cause Zach Jack, Richie, Coman, and Market are ****ing awesome!!**

[Todd4State]

Look we are not going to agree. They are not ready. Even C34, who is a big proponent of Mullen playing more of our younger guys right now see's it. He is with you mostly but they are not ready and he is saying the same thing. Not demanding perfection at all. Just don't limit what we can call defensively and from the safety position. Heck the number of all world 5 star safety's from complex high schools that actually start from day one is probably less than 30%. Which means only a few a year at these big programs you keep talking about playing freshman. It's very few at the safety position from day one. LSU needed safety help last year and Allen didn't get heavily involved until what? 6-7 games in. And another thing what have our safety's given up this year in big plays? Yeah yeah I know competition level. Of which the freshman screwed up much bigger than anything Coman and Market have this year. But at least we have kept it in check so far. We are at 100 yards less per game this year compared to last so far. I don't expect it stays that way but for other than injuries, God forbid, they both are not out there heavily against Auburn or A & M unless they make big steps. May be they will and they show out. I think it's only a matter of time. Just not sure that it's not really next year or late this before that point. Which is very much par for the course for most highly rated safety's across the country.

Big programs usually have safeties that are good enough where it is not an issue- and therefore have the luxury to redshirt or be more cautious with a freshman safety. If we had good players at safety right now- I would be fine redshirting or having Peters and McLaurin as back ups. But as Coach34 also agrees with me- safety is an issue right now. There is no reason to start freshmen over legitimately competent upperclassmen that are performing.

We have played a lot more run heavy teams this year thus far- and with QB issues combined with schemes of our opponents that is going to continue other than a couple of exceptions like A&M and Ole Miss. That's part of the reason why we haven't given up as many big plays.

[Todd4State]

Your right. Let's go to Auburn and A & M with simple coverages while we are still at the beginning of the season still. Let's give Malzhan and Sumiln simple coverage looks for them to pick apart. Are you going to embrace Dan for doing that or bash him for those losses because those teams score more than maybe we could have prevented because we couldnt run but a few coverages. And you seem to forget something, it's not just what we run but he has to determine the correct read for the plays the offense is running against us. And Auburn and A & M are not exactly simple offenses to recognize.

In that instance I wouldn't bash Dan for how he played the safeties. For example, I praised Dan for the changes he made this week with the two back sets early in the game. If he does what I am asking him to do with the personnel, there is no reason for me to bash him for that and I would be happy to see him try to make some adjustments for the better. If I am wrong I guess I would just eat crow, but so far this year I haven't had to do that yet.

[Really Clark?]

Big programs usually have safeties that are good enough where it is not an issue- and therefore have the luxury to redshirt or be more cautious with a freshman safety. If we had good players at safety right now- I would be fine redshirting or having Peters and McLaurin as back ups. But as Coach34 also agrees with me- safety is an issue right now. There is no reason to start freshmen over legitimately competent upperclassmen that are performing.

We have played a lot more run heavy teams this year thus far- and with QB issues combined with schemes of our opponents that is going to continue other than a couple of exceptions like A&M and Ole Miss. That's part of the reason why we haven't given up as many big plays.

That's has not been the talking point about all of this. It's been well if big time programs play true freshman yards yada because they all go pro and they promise playing time because you can't redshirt 5 stars. Except they do and not all of them play. And I was using that as an example of a highly recruited guy from a bigger more sophiscated program and it just takes a while for 70-80% of these players. And that's just to play as a freshman much less start from day one as a safety. Coach does agree with you but he also states they are NOT ready. Period. If I have not misquoted him he is on point with you on a lot of this. But they are not ready. And he has been adamant about that for a while. Look you are hard headed enough that you are going keep on with this until they play and then probably when they do they will look pretty good and you will say "See, I was right. We should have been playing them all along Dan is an idiot". And you would be just as wrong as you are right now. They will play when they are ready. If by next fall there is an issue of them not playing and they look ready, then I will be right there with you. But, and I know you are not going to listen, you beating this horse every day won't make them ready quicker or get them on the field faster. They are talented but as a sliding scale they cannot over come the other guys experience just yet. Peters looks the closest right now but if McLaurin shakes off his mistakes and learns quickly they both could be right there hitting stride at the same time.

[Really Clark?]

In that instance I wouldn't bash Dan for how he played the safeties. For example, I praised Dan for the changes he made this week with the two back sets early in the game. If he does what I am asking him to do with the personnel, there is no reason for me to bash him for that and I would be happy to see him try to make some adjustments for the better. If I am wrong I guess I would just eat crow, but so far this year I haven't had to do that yet.

Yeah because you know exactly why they haven't had touches all year. You don't all the rhyme or reasons things are done inside the program.

[Todd4State]

Yeah because you know exactly why they haven't had touches all year. You don't all the rhyme or reasons things are done inside the program.

No, I don't know everything inside the program. I do know by watching who the better players are- and have been pretty accurate thus far. I also know that the point of the game is to put the best people out there to give yourself the best chance to win. Not nitpick certain players while giving others a pass.

[Bothrops]

I don't see James going anywhere after this year. I don't think he gets drafted. That's good for us. I also saw F. Adams on the participation list. Didn't know we pulled his redshirt.