(06-19-2022 11:24 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(06-19-2022 07:02 AM)BigChilla Wrote:  This roster is so well put together that I am not sure there is even a guy who can ruin our chances this year if he goes down.

Say rocky does go down…this team was built to run with a stable of running backs and big kids on the OL they can stand some losses. The quarterback is nice, but literally any of the kids on the roster can hand it off.

I like this team, you pick any 1 position and you can find 2 or 3 guys who can perform at near the same level. It’s wild.

Maybe at receiver you could have an issue if one of the top 4 goes down…but even then…we run so passing isn’t a “huge” deal.

So kicker or punter injury is something that can hurt. That’s what I landed on.

I think Rocky’s passing could be replaced, but that kid is the heart and soul of the team. There’s something to being a leader and having the 10 other guys believing in you. I think your statement will be more accurate next season. This year, if we lost Rudolph it would be a big blow. No proven deep threat or even consistent wr to step in. Same with Pugh(inevitability ?). Need that leader on D. Even Joiner going down would basically remove the TE position from the passing game. The depth on this team is going to be outstanding. It’s just not quite there right now.

If the one game he missed last year was any indication, his passing could absolutely not be replaced.

(06-21-2022 09:41 AM)7 Wrote:  If the one game he missed last year was any indication, his passing could absolutely not be replaced.

Hampton was not ready to be a starter. We’ll see that reflected when the depth chart comes out. But we still have to be honest when we evaluate Rocky’s passing. 58% isn’t great. It was 90th in the country. And there’s no excuses. Great O-line. Great RB’s. For most the part his WRs were Richie, Rudolph and Tucker. That’s a very good trio. Lynch completed 57% of his passes as a freshman on that crappy Temple squad.

Rocky brings a ton more to the game than stats. But when we talk about him taking that next step, it’s about his accuracy. If he can get his % up to around 64 (that just squeeks him into the top 1/3 in the country.) his game would be unstoppable.

The good news is Rocky may be there already. First five games of last year his completion percentage was around 57%; last eight (he missed WMU) including the MACC and bowl game, he was just a hair under 63%. Richie was basically out the last 5 games (counting first KSU match up when he went out in the first quarter), so Rocky's main targets were Rudolph and Tucker for the most important part of the schedule. He really isn't far off from Rabid's 64% barometer. Best thing is, the coaches seemed to learn how to put him in a better position to succeed as the season wore on. In the BGU game when Ducker broke out, he only passed 8 times! Against KSU in the MACC, just 15 throws (compared to 57 in the loss to KSU during the regular season). He also had just 3 interceptions in the final 8 games. I'm not suggesting that Rocky is Tom Brady or anything, but if plays this entire season the way he played in his last 8 games last year, it's going to be a fun season.

(06-21-2022 10:54 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(06-21-2022 09:41 AM)7 Wrote:  If the one game he missed last year was any indication, his passing could absolutely not be replaced.

Hampton was not ready to be a starter. We’ll see that reflected when the depth chart comes out. But we still have to be honest when we evaluate Rocky’s passing. 58% isn’t great. It was 90th in the country. And there’s no excuses. Great O-line. Great RB’s. For most the part his WRs were Richie, Rudolph and Tucker. That’s a very good trio. Lynch completed 57% of his passes as a freshman on that crappy Temple squad.

Rocky brings a ton more to the game than stats. But when we talk about him taking that next step, it’s about his accuracy. If he can get his % up to around 64 (that just squeeks him into the top 1/3 in the country.) his game would be unstoppable.

There’s some truth to this, but his passing stats were way better the second half of the season.

First 7 games:
83/146, 967 yards, 7 TD, 6 INT

Last 6 games:
117/197, 1,630 yards, 8 TD, 2 INT

But even in the last 6 games he still only completed 59% of his passes.