Know the dust is still settling from the 2014 campaign, but wanted to take an early look at prospects for 2015. Three early concerns as we move towards spring football:

1) Get healthy - Eight projected 2015 starters and two back projected back-ups were unable to start or finish the UR game. Don't know the extent of all these injuries, but hopefully most of these guys back for spring and everyone back for the fall.

2) DE - Thinnest position on the team. Lose two multi-year starters. Peyton Gryder had a good year and will be a solid starter. Very uncertain after that. Roscoe could be good if he can add strength and weight. Hicks has some experience, but needs to improve against the run and get stronger too. I could see a healthy Chris Donald moving out to DE. Picking up a transfer would certainly be warranted to add depth.

3) WR - Graduate two multi-year starters here as well. Devonte will be the new go-to receiver. Hart and Reeves provide some options with game experience. Need to develop depth and a reliable number 2 to compliment Dedmon.

Looks about right, 90, but I'd add TE and SS as an area of concern assuming Velasquez slides back to FS.

I'm excited to see how our o-line looks next year. Everyone got playing time this year due to injury and the only player we lose in Baron Goodman. If we stay healthy I think it could be one of the best in the conference.

WM90,
I am curious...does anyone just put their 4 best DL out there and play football anymore, or is everyone in college football running 8 guys into the game on defense every other play?
Serious question.

Injuries killed us. I am sure most/all of them are legitimate. But we've got to become more durable or run away from the training staff when you come out (kidding...sort of).

(11-24-2014 11:40 AM)Tribal Wrote:  Looks about right, 90, but I'd add TE and SS as an area of concern assuming Velasquez slides back to FS.

I'm actually not overly worried about TE. Hensley really improved and Caskin looked good for a Freshman prior to his injury.

SS worries me more. Who moves in here? Reuben? A young guy? No matter what it's going to be someone that has not seen game time at SS.

On the other side, position groups I'm excited about:

1) RB - we get MAS for a senior year. He should be a Payton watch list guy imo. We graduate some backups, but Weidinger is solid, Green is an exciting prospect, and Anderson will continue to improve.

2) CB - H-C is a beast, Reed grew as the year went on, Swinton looked great when he had to step up, and Dykes has a lot of potential.

3) OL - They had challenges this year both in skill and in injuries. But a lot of young guys got a lot of solid experience. They've got tons of size and showed flashes of skill. In theory, they should really improve next year.

Oh - and it's nice that we can lose a guy as skilled as Airek Green and I'm not at all worried about the LB group.

You do know you can update posts rather than make another post every time you have a thought, right?

Bwahahahahaha

(11-24-2014 12:28 PM)Tribal Wrote:  You do know you can update posts rather than make another post every time you have a thought, right?

Bwahahahahaha

Sure, but that's no fun!

I could see Barta or DiPietro playing SS next year. Or Reuben if we move him

What is Mosley's timeline for recovery? Will he be ready to go in spring practice? Would be great to see he and Cluley really push each other.

(11-24-2014 11:40 AM)Tribal Wrote:  Looks about right, 90, but I'd add TE and SS as an area of concern assuming Velasquez slides back to FS.

Not really worried about TE. Caskin was really coming on before being injured. I thought he played really well for a true freshmen. Played with some tenacity, which I liked too. Sheetz and Hensley got valuable experience and add quality depth.

Not sure who plays SS and FS, but I like the safety group of Velasquez, Tomakloe, DiPeirto (sp) and Rueben.

Starting spring LBs are probably Harvey, Rhodes, and Haislip.

(11-24-2014 12:39 PM)WMTribe90 Wrote:  Not sure who plays SS and FS, but I like the safety group of Velasquez, Tomakloe, DiPeirto (sp) and Rueben.

I think Tomakloe is graduated

(11-24-2014 12:21 PM)Hail Indians Wrote:  WM90,
I am curious...does anyone just put their 4 best DL out there and play football anymore, or is everyone in college football running 8 guys into the game on defense every other play?
Serious question.

Injuries killed us. I am sure most/all of them are legitimate. But we've got to become more durable or run away from the training staff when you come out (kidding...sort of).

You need a bare minimum of six DL to rotate and eight is optimal. If you don't rotate, the DL won't be effective in the 4th quarter. Just simple physics of DL expending more energy than OL over the course of a game and wearing down.

(11-24-2014 12:42 PM)WMTribe90 Wrote:  

(11-24-2014 12:21 PM)Hail Indians Wrote:  WM90,
I am curious...does anyone just put their 4 best DL out there and play football anymore, or is everyone in college football running 8 guys into the game on defense every other play?
Serious question.

Injuries killed us. I am sure most/all of them are legitimate. But we've got to become more durable or run away from the training staff when you come out (kidding...sort of).

You need a bare minimum of six DL to rotate and eight is optimal. If you don't rotate, the DL won't be effective in the 4th quarter. Just simple physics of DL expending more energy than OL over the course of a game and wearing down.

Right. Makes sense.

(11-24-2014 12:40 PM)zablenoise Wrote:  

(11-24-2014 12:39 PM)WMTribe90 Wrote:  Not sure who plays SS and FS, but I like the safety group of Velasquez, Tomakloe, DiPeirto (sp) and Rueben.

I think Tomakloe is graduated

You're correct. Thought he had one year left. Still think we'll be okay at safety. With the depth at CB, I'm guessing one of the freshmen (Smith or Goodwyn) move to safety for next year to provide depth. I think Rueben is going to be really good.

(11-24-2014 12:47 PM)WMTribe90 Wrote:  You're correct. Thought he had one year left. Still think we'll be okay at safety. With the depth at CB, I'm guessing one of the freshmen (Smith or Goodwyn) move to safety for next year to provide depth. I think Rueben is going to be really good.

I agree I think our secondary will be even stronger next year despite the loss of Tagoe

On offense, the key is to spread the ball. This year the opponent could zero in on Abdul-Saboor and McBride. Cluley did fine and protected the ball well, but he seems more of a game management style QB than a game changer QB. Maybe he will be more agressive in 2015 or Mosley will provide stiff competition or take over.
On defense, DL worries a bit as the depth is thin. I am not sure who will step in but DL needs to be addressed. On LB, we will miss Airek as he was a playmaker. Overall this defense needs to be more agressive like they were under Coach Shoop.

(11-24-2014 12:53 PM)tribeintexas Wrote:  Overall this defense needs to be more agressive like they were under Coach Shoop.

I will soft sell what I said yesterday.

We need a new defensive gameplan, period. It's become too vanilla and too cautious.

Unfortunately I doubt we spread the ball much at all on offense next season. With a senior Abdul-Saboor and a more experienced o-line I'd expect a heavy dose of ground and pound