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Orange Blooded [2507]
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Let's take a loook at next years possibly Defense (Long)
Jan 12, 2016, 2:46 PM
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I'm writing this from a worst case scenario standpoint meaning that I'm assuming Aleander, Kearse, Green, Tankersly, Carlos Watkins and Kevin Dodd all leave for the NFL Draft.
DE: We return Austin Bryant, Richard Yeargin, Dane Rogers, Clein Ferrel while bringing in Xavier Kelly and LaSamuel Davis.
There is talent here. Bryant and Yeargin definitely got much better as the year went on and both are ready to step up and play. Kelly is a borderline 5 star talent and he's more polished right now in HS then Bryant was and will definitely play. Ferrell was a higher rated DE then Bryant and could actually have played this year. As long as that knee is healthy he's going to be a stud. Rogers is servicable at best but he's played some good snaps and will provide depth. Davis will be a 3rd down specialist like Beasley was and his athleticism jumps off the film. He'll be a good one once we coach him up a bit.
DT: We return "War Daddy" Wilkins, The "Hawaiian Hulk" Pagano, Jabril Robinson, Albert Huggins, Gabe Cervanka, Sterling Johnson(who could move to SDE) and we're bringing in Dexter Lawrence and Nyles Pickney.
We're loaded at this position. Wilkins and Lawrence are going to ruin many an ACC interior OL. Running up the middle against us will be foolhardy at best in the coming years. We are soo deep I wouldn't be surprised to see Johnson move to SDE and Cervanka possibly move to OG. A five deep of Wilkins, Lawrence, Robinson, Huggins and Pickney is deadly enough as is. If Johnson and Cervanka remain then that's gravy on top. This group will be elite very soon.
LB: we bring back Ben Boulware, whom I can't say enough about as a player and great young man, O'Daneil, Kendel Jospeh, Chad Smith, Jalen Williams and are bringing in Shaq Smith, Tre Lamar and Jamie Skalski.
This group loses experience in BJ but the talent is about to go through the roof. Some services consider Tre Lamar a 5 star LB just like Smith and both are like Anthony and Steward, they are ready made commodities that will fill in the MIKE and WILL positions perfectly. Lamar will thrive in the middle and Smith will be a terror at WILL where Venables can blitz him any way he wants. Skalski is a tough hard nosed player and will find PT. Chad Smith is very smart and can play either position. O'Daniel is finally going to get the chains taken off next year and I think he'll thrive. He's perfect at SAM. Depending on how fast Lamar, Smith and Kendal Joseph mature this group could be better next year.
DB: We return Van Smith, Gibson, Jadar Johnson, Fields, Baker, Edmonds, Carter, Wiggins, Denzel Johnson, Dawkins Jr. Amar Trapp, Kaleb Chalmers, and Tanner Muse.
Losing our entire secondary will hurt, a lot. However Smith, Baker, Fields, Carter, Wiggins, and Jadar Johnson have plenty of experience between them. Wiggins can play NB or Safety so that helps. We will need Reed to really get these boys ready fast. Teams will attack them a lot and until we develop an effective pass rush these guys will be picked on. Fields and Baker at CB is solid and both have gotten good game experience in big games. They'll be ready. Smith, Johnson, Wiggins and Gibson have played and will be ready. The talent is here but there is not a lot of experience and as we saw last night when guys miss assignments it can kill.
This defense next year has the talent on it to be top 25-30. It will fall to the coaches to make that happen and I have complete faith in Marion Hobby, Dan Brooks, Mike Reed and Brent Venables to make that happen.
Thoughts?
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Orange Blooded [3413]
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We may MAY get Tank back
Jan 12, 2016, 2:49 PM
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Which would be huuuuuggggeee
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Orange Blooded [3568]
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Re: We may MAY get Tank back
Jan 12, 2016, 2:53 PM
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I think green and Tankersley come back.
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Orange Blooded [2507]
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I hope so. Green blew assignments but he's a good player***
Jan 12, 2016, 2:56 PM
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Walk-On [148]
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Re: We may MAY get Tank back
Jan 12, 2016, 3:31 PM
[ in reply to We may MAY get Tank back ] |
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Good synopsis for worst case. Hopefully reality will be a little bit better than the worst case too!
Our line will be beastly next year and insane if we somehow get R. Gary to come onboard and play SDE next year (even moreso if Dodd stays).
Secondary is definitely the most worrisome group. Getting any of Tank, Green, Kearse, or Alexander to stay would be huge. Wiggins coming back is huge as well.
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CU Guru [1832]
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You failed to mention we still have a shot at Gary
Jan 12, 2016, 2:50 PM
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I wouldn't be surprised to see him in orange and purple next year. Mark it down.
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Orange Blooded [2507]
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If we geet Gary I'll be over the moon
Jan 12, 2016, 2:55 PM
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He's a hard Michigan lean but if we can get him on campus, he'll be taking an official soon, we definitely have a shot.
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Commissioner [982]
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Re: If we geet Gary I'll be over the moon
Jan 12, 2016, 3:11 PM
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I think we'll be ok at corner safety is my concern but we've played a lot of players.Jadar has logged a lot of snaps. I would play Van Smith like the honey badger close to the line coverage etc. Denzel Johnson is a talent that might surprise many
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Orange Blooded [2441]
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Wasn't Wiggins going to start at SAM this year?
Jan 12, 2016, 3:09 PM
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Would have to think he will be the starter there next season.
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Orange Blooded [2721]
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Re: Let's take a loook at next years possibly Defense (Long)
Jan 12, 2016, 3:26 PM
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I really don't think we drop to the 25-30 range. Honestly I think 10-15 at worst. I think our interior line p Any will be vastly improved. I think our pass rush may be improved. We should be a little more athletic there. LB will also see a vast increase in athleticism and we still have enough leadership there that I think we will be improved. I agree with your assessment of the secondary if guys don't return. Hope Reed gets them coached up.
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Athletic Dir [865]
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Re: Let's take a loook at next years possibly Defense (Long)
Jan 12, 2016, 4:18 PM
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Great analysis our blown coverages in the secondary are our biggest problem. The next step to greatness is more mental than physical.
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Orange Blooded [2507]
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Yeah and that comes down to coaching***
Jan 12, 2016, 4:54 PM
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Orange Blooded [2002]
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Re: Let's take a loook at next years possibly Defense (Long)
Jan 12, 2016, 4:41 PM
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I think C Watkins will be back and who would've imagined before the year that we would be discussing Kevin Dodd going pro after his junior year. Amazing job by him this year.
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Orange Blooded [2507]
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I think Watkins should return but we'll see
Jan 12, 2016, 4:52 PM
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I've heard rumors that he was leaning on leaving
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Heisman Winner [111553]
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Re: Let's take a loook at next years possibly Defense (Long)
Jan 12, 2016, 4:46 PM
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a lot of us were debating over the summer whether or not we would be a top 15 defense again this year. I will not put anything past this coaching staff again.
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110%er [6280]
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Re: Let's take a loook at next years possibly Defense (Long)
Jan 12, 2016, 4:55 PM
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I say top 5 D!! Shaq and Dodd hurt and our secondary may at first but has potential to be even better!! DT is solid possible better if Watkins comes back then dang!! LB will be even better I believe!! Depth all around will improved and we know wat our O has!! Fill in 2 spots on the OL and we are an improved team from this year!! We can't get any worse on ST lol.
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