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For the most part Fleck is stacked at several positions.

Oline, QB, RB, LB, DE has plenty of depth and talent

DT should be an upgrade with Evan Winston coming in from Mizzo, Findley, Curle, Matich, Aguirre, And Simpkins.

DBs is a concern. Fleck has not brought in a lot of proto type corners and safeties, but rather went after athketes who could fit in at WR, S, LB, or CB.

If Tranquill is healthy than he should be fine at Atkins spot. Beals is a big corner who could replace Zamort. Brown has regressed. Ferguson, the ND transfer has never lived up to the hype. Stone, nor Thomas look like can't miss DBs. Might end up seeing a RS or true freshmen starting. Not great in a pass happy league.

What we haven't seen since Delmas is a player on defense that opponents had to plan for like as Ameer Ishmail, Delmas, Babin. Even a disruptive type like Hazel or Boles.

Phillips will be back, right?

(11-21-2015 08:53 PM)Dirty Ernie Wrote:  Phillips will be back, right?

Yeah, Phillips is solid at corner. Brown is not. Ian Thomas, Ferguson, Stone, nor Stone Davis have shown they are better than what we have. Beals will likely start, but not sure what he brings to the table.

The one position that we should always hit Florida on is DB. The state has more than DI football can handle.

Brown made a couple of mistakes in the NIU game, but besides that, I think he's been fine. Some of his "issues" have had more to do with a couple of our linebackers (not going to single anyone out) missing gaps and poor tackling, which in turn has put Brown is unfavorable position.

I am more concerned about our defensive line than our secondary. We still seem to struggle stopping the run and getting in the backfield to pressure opposing quarterbacks.

(11-21-2015 09:29 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  Brown made a couple of mistakes in the NIU game, but besides that, I think he's been fine. Some of his "issues" have had more to do with a couple of our linebackers (not going to single anyone out) missing gaps and poor tackling, which in turn has put Brown is unfavorable position.

I am more concerned about our defensive line than our secondary. We still seem to struggle stopping the run and getting in the backfield to pressure opposing quarterbacks.

Brown got lit up in the BG game as well.

Everybody got lit up in the BG game. Brown actually led the team in tackles, though

Led the team in tackles against Michigan St. and Ohio St.
Forced 2 turnovers in the CMU game
INT against EMU
Sack and a FF against Miami

He's arguably made a bigger impact than Atkins.

Brown is good. He is a safety and his cover skills for that position are above average. We had 4 All-MAC DB's starting at once under Cubit, and I think the DB's from the past 2 season played better than that group did. I still remember when CMU's back up QB sliced that group up in Mt. Pleasant. We will be fine at DB.

Do you think Boyd will play as a true freshman?

Kicker and Punter.

Much maligned Andrew Haldemann graduates. The "Great Scanlon" departed and there is a verbal from a kicker in Texas. Maybe the former minor league baseball player can fill the role. But if AH was so bad and the program elite that the switch would have been made long ago. No?

Kickers are like putters. It's between the ears. When confident and dialed in they play the wind and angle like a Stradivarius. Other wise it's like Don Knotts as Barney Fife with a loaded gun and ammo belt. Katy bar the door and huge the floor.

Schroeder has been very solid and like most good punters they go unnoticed unless .... Well Don Knotts. A 4 yr guy that could be hard to replace. Field position with a defense that plays like Jekyll and Hyde is paramount. You cant put them into a short field position and expect good things.

Oline has depth and experience but does that mean they improve? Hopefully. They have been playing like a sieve lately.

Brown supports run like a CB. I think they'd be ok if the secondary if they weren't put is such exposed situations. Our D asks a lot.

Getting lit up has a lot to do with the DC as it does the players themselves. Breakdowns and missed assignments is on the players of course, the coaches have some say in that, I'm talking when you see basics like an overload putting these guys in man or worse, confused states, then that's on the DC and DB coach.

Punter will be Mitchell. KOS will be Mitchell as well. The Placekicker will be either Blaze Watson or Butch Hampton.

I assume James Kristof might be able to play next year, thats why he was shut down this year. Would love if a reporter could ask about Boyden and Kristof (Both had season ending injuries very early).

The staff is red shirting a lot of freshmen this year because they had a luxary of doing it. A lot of talent will be a year better and a year stronger and be able to fill in nicely for the seniors that are leaving, just like Bogan is doing this year. He wasn't quite ready last year, but is doing a great job now.

Honestly, I don't think there's a lot of areas of concern. DBs I guess...Zamort and Atkins are graduating. But we have a ton of young guys that got redshirted. Someone should be ready to step up. Plus we've got Rucker, the transfer from Iowa.

DL should be fine. Smith and McKinney are graduating, but Winston (Missouri transfer, 6'3" 300) will be available. This unit hasn't been great this year, but they've been decent and we return 8 of our top 10 guys. Add in Winston and that's 9. They'll all be a year more experienced and the line should be improved.

Linebackers will be good. DePalma is the only one graduating.

O-line will be interesting. I'd like to see Kristof get another year. If that were the case, we would only graduate Beavers and Jackson, and 4 out of 5 starters would return.

QB, RB, WR are all set.

TE...will Boyden get another year? Kind of irrelevant since we barely utilize our TEs. They're essentially extra blockers.

Special teams will also be interesting with both Haldeman and Schroeder graduating.

We are gonna have a ton of guys transfer. We have 26 verbals and only about 18 spots. Boyden and Kristof are question marks. I guess Redshirt Juniors might not be given a 5th year of a scholorship, but I don't think very many guys fall under that distinction.

(11-22-2015 07:05 PM)jubbasubba Wrote:  We are gonna have a ton of guys transfer. We have 26 verbals and only about 18 spots. Boyden and Kristof are question marks. I guess Redshirt Juniors might not be given a 5th year of a scholorship, but I don't think very many guys fall under that distinction.

My first guess for transfers would be the secondary. We've got a ton of freshmen/sophomores in that group. Gotta think some of them are going to pack their bags.

After that I would look at RB/WR. There are talented guys getting buried at those positions. Some of them will look elsewhere.

And then TE, simply because we barely use them. Can't think of many guys that want to come in for a few plays per game just to be an extra blocker.

You guys think the inexperienced DB's won't be a concern?

Concern as to what? Bottom of the league? Bottom of the country? I can tell you they will be a lot better if we can stop the run and get pressure on the QB.

If the DB's are the most inexperienced/biggest concern group on your football team, you will have a pretty good season.

I am more concerned with the front 7 on both sides of the ball. Even with the tougher schedule, I still thought they would play better than they have this year.

I don't know for sure, but I would think that Kristoff played too many games this year to get a redshirt year. And he walked with the seniors at last home game. So did junior DB Motley.

(11-22-2015 08:10 PM)rtletterman Wrote:  You guys think the inexperienced DB's won't be a concern?

If I had to pick a group, it would be the DBs. But I wouldn't really say I'm concerned. Phillips, Brown, and all the transfers should be capable of staying afloat.

Zamort and Atkins are talented, but they have both played very inconsistently this year.

a list of players that have been here 4 years...

Henry
JaKevin Jackson
Fabian Johnson
Jason Meichtry
Alec Moulton
Justin Sears-Motley
Braverman
Juston Ferguson
Moton
Jason Sylva
Terrell
Thompson

The guys in bold are guys that wouldn't shock me if the staff didn't offer them the 5th year.