Of the new recruits, what are your thoughts on who will see the field this fall?
Obviously, all 4 of the JUCOs should play. Of the freshmen I think Gardner, Menet, Jones, Steals, and Pipkins will play. RE hinted this during the various interviews.
I feel a lot better about our DL heading in to 2012. Although they may lack experience the DL we have now may be more talented than what we've had previously. Same with the LB crew. The defense is fully loaded and I expect them to be one of the best, if not the best, defense in the MAC in 2012.
RE referred to a few players as nose tackles. Is this a hint that EMU is switching to a 3-4 defense??? Or was it just a way to describe the players abilities?
(02-02-2012 11:38 AM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote: [ -> ]Of the new recruits, what are your thoughts on who will see the field this fall?
Obviously, all 4 of the JUCOs should play. Of the freshmen I think Gardner, Menet, Jones, Steals, and Pipkins will play. RE hinted this during the various interviews.
I feel a lot better about our DL heading in to 2012. Although they may lack experience the DL we have now may be more talented than what we've had previously. Same with the LB crew. The defense is fully loaded and I expect them to be one of the best, if not the best, defense in the MAC in 2012.
RE referred to a few players as nose tackles. Is this a hint that EMU is switching to a 3-4 defense??? Or was it just a way to describe the players abilities?
I hope you heard English on WTKA yesterday. Virtually went player-by-player.
Lewis and the WRs will play right away.
Lisner is 277, not 250. He and Maughmer will play right away.
No indication of a 3 - 4.
Needed some experienced help at safety (KJ and Cotton are young) and go it with the JUCO safety.
Also expects big things from the JUCO MLB.
Not sure about the latest names at H.s. DL. Maybe they play but I would hope not.
I think it was just a way to describe the players abilities and physical build. I don't believe we are going 3-4.
I think the TE's might see some time, as well as the new DLs, but I think a sleeper pick is one of the receivers (Jones, Dawkins, Creel). Trey Hunter graduates, so a spot opens up for a 3rd receiver to go along with Olds and Reed. It could be Tyler Allen, Donald Scott, or one of the new guys. Maybe the size and speed of Quincy Jones is something that will earn him PT as a true frosh...who knows.
I'm not gonna lie though, I wouldn't be mad if every frosh redshirted. Obviously that won't be the case, but I love our depth coming back. The only position that looks a little shallow is the DL, and this is the potential depth chart we have there, not even counting the freshmen:
DE-Mulumba...Henderson
DT-Kashama...McFarlane
DT-Maughmer...Grimes?
DE-Davis...Linser
That's potentially 8 deep. We only went 7 deep, for the most part, last year. Judging by his film and his stats, Maughmer is an animal and should lock up the DT spot. I think Mulumba is a prime candidate for a big year, and was on the field a lot last year. The freshmen should have to play only in the case of an injury.
(02-02-2012 11:38 AM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote: [ -> ]RE referred to a few players as nose tackles. Is this a hint that EMU is switching to a 3-4 defense??? Or was it just a way to describe the players abilities?
When the first depth chart came out last year, I got tricked by the listing of a nose tackle (and a "RUSH", which I took to be rushbacker) and thought they were switching to 3-4.
In a 4-3, one of the defensive tackles is sometimes referred to as a nose tackle when he lines up in 0-technique (directly across from the center) or sometimes 1-technique (on the center's shoulder). The nose tackle is responsible for both A-gaps (on either side of the center) and is usually bigger and heavier than the other ("normal") defensive tackle. So it's still a 4-3 formation, but the defensive line can be shifted to one side or the other.
(
See this for an in-depth discussion of various defensive fronts.)
Steve, I wonder where the JUCO LB (Tim Brown) is going to see time. We are pretty deep at LB. Unless Kurtz isn't healthy (which I don't think is the case), we go 2-deep at every spot with solid players. I thought Weingrad played very well in the middle last season when English was hurt.
I guess the kids will have to battle it out it the summer. I don't mind some positional competition.
(02-02-2012 11:59 AM)EagleSam Wrote: [ -> ]Steve, I wonder where the JUCO LB (Tim Brown) is going to see time. We are pretty deep at LB. Unless Kurtz isn't healthy (which I don't think is the case), we go 2-deep at every spot with solid players. I thought Weingrad played very well in the middle last season when English was hurt.
I guess the kids will have to battle it out it the summer. I don't mind some positional competition.
Competition could be brutal at a lot of postions and YES the depth at LB is incredible, esp. compared to a couple years ago when LB was a BIG PROBLEM.
I think the competition in practice will lead to great results on the field...
My one caution for 2012, and I know people won't want to hear this, but
I fear that the team could be better across the board, but not have as
good of a record as they did this year.
(02-02-2012 12:12 PM)KPJ Wrote: [ -> ]I fear that the team could be better across the board, but not have as
good of a record as they did this year.
That's crossed my mind too. When I look at approximate quality, I see...
Illinois State > Howard
Army > Alabama State
Temple > Buffalo
Bowling Green > Akron
Michigan State = Michigan
Purdue < Penn State
Ball State and Western Michigan will probably be at least as good as they were in 2011 (plus they'll be away games in 2012). Kent State will probably be better than they were, but it's at EMU, so call that a wash. Toledo will probably take a step back, but they've been so much better than EMU the last few years that it might not be enough. Northern Illinois has a big hole to fill in their offense with the loss of Chandler Harnish, so that should be a very winnable game.
(02-02-2012 12:34 PM)cmadler Wrote: [ -> ] (02-02-2012 12:12 PM)KPJ Wrote: [ -> ]I fear that the team could be better across the board, but not have as
good of a record as they did this year.
That's crossed my mind too. When I look at approximate quality, I see...
Illinois State > Howard
Army > Alabama State
Temple > Buffalo
Bowling Green > Akron
Michigan State = Michigan
Purdue < Penn State
Ball State and Western Michigan will probably be at least as good as they were in 2011 (plus they'll be away games in 2012). Kent State will probably be better than they were, but it's at EMU, so call that a wash. Toledo will probably take a step back, but they've been so much better than EMU the last few years that it might not be enough. Northern Illinois has a big hole to fill in their offense with the loss of Chandler Harnish, so that should be a very winnable game.
I could see us going 8-4 next season. It will be hard and we must pass the ball..
(02-02-2012 04:43 PM)NUPudge Wrote: [ -> ] (02-02-2012 12:34 PM)cmadler Wrote: [ -> ] (02-02-2012 12:12 PM)KPJ Wrote: [ -> ]I fear that the team could be better across the board, but not have as
good of a record as they did this year.
That's crossed my mind too. When I look at approximate quality, I see...
Illinois State > Howard
Army > Alabama State
Temple > Buffalo
Bowling Green > Akron
Michigan State = Michigan
Purdue < Penn State
Ball State and Western Michigan will probably be at least as good as they were in 2011 (plus they'll be away games in 2012). Kent State will probably be better than they were, but it's at EMU, so call that a wash. Toledo will probably take a step back, but they've been so much better than EMU the last few years that it might not be enough. Northern Illinois has a big hole to fill in their offense with the loss of Chandler Harnish, so that should be a very winnable game.
I could see us going 8-4 next season. It will be hard and we must pass the ball..
"We must pass the ball..." I thought for the receivers we had and the success we had running the ball, the gameplan was right on the money. I think we have greatly upgraded our receivers position, but we are a run first team! The fact that we can control the line of scrimmage and shorten games is going to be a key to our success. However, I think we need to pass the ball more efficiently this year, and I think we will. We have the perfect QB for this year's team.
(02-02-2012 05:36 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote: [ -> ] (02-02-2012 04:43 PM)NUPudge Wrote: [ -> ] (02-02-2012 12:34 PM)cmadler Wrote: [ -> ] (02-02-2012 12:12 PM)KPJ Wrote: [ -> ]I fear that the team could be better across the board, but not have as
good of a record as they did this year.
That's crossed my mind too. When I look at approximate quality, I see...
Illinois State > Howard
Army > Alabama State
Temple > Buffalo
Bowling Green > Akron
Michigan State = Michigan
Purdue < Penn State
Ball State and Western Michigan will probably be at least as good as they were in 2011 (plus they'll be away games in 2012). Kent State will probably be better than they were, but it's at EMU, so call that a wash. Toledo will probably take a step back, but they've been so much better than EMU the last few years that it might not be enough. Northern Illinois has a big hole to fill in their offense with the loss of Chandler Harnish, so that should be a very winnable game.
I could see us going 8-4 next season. It will be hard and we must pass the ball..
"We must pass the ball..." I thought for the receivers we had and the success we had running the ball, the gameplan was right on the money. I think we have greatly upgraded our receivers position, but we are a run first team! The fact that we can control the line of scrimmage and shorten games is going to be a key to our success. However, I think we need to pass the ball more efficiently this year, and I think we will. We have the perfect QB for this year's team.
It is too early into the season for me to comment on our qb situation.. You are correct, we need to be a run 1st team to be successful as a team...
What position do you think we need to get stronger this 2012 year?
Honestly Pudge, I really like our offense a lot. Having an experienced leader at QB is HUGE in college football. We're going to be able to run the ball and I think we are going to see incredible improvement in the passing game. Defensively, we probably have the best linebacking core in the conference, I think with the jucos coming onboard, the DL will be solid, I think if I had to pick one area where we need to improve, it would be the defensive secondary. But overall, I agree with your 8-4 prediction. This year's team learned what it feels like to win last season and I think we're going to make the natural progression to 8-4, which we very easily could have been last year.
What may really help us is all of the frosh who played as true frosh last year.
Plus we will get some real IMPACT players as frosh (e.g., Lewis, WRs, etc.).
(02-02-2012 07:53 PM)emu steve Wrote: [ -> ]What may really help us is all of the frosh who played as true frosh last year.
Plus we will get some real IMPACT players as frosh (e.g., Lewis, WRs, etc.).
Right! I don't know how you keep Lewis off the field. The guy is a big time recruit and he's ready now. I've heard nothing but great things about Dawkins, Jones, and Creel. I also think Menet could have a chance to make an impact at TE. We really are loaded with excellent young talent.
(02-02-2012 08:12 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote: [ -> ] (02-02-2012 07:53 PM)emu steve Wrote: [ -> ]What may really help us is all of the frosh who played as true frosh last year.
Plus we will get some real IMPACT players as frosh (e.g., Lewis, WRs, etc.).
Right! I don't know how you keep Lewis off the field. The guy is a big time recruit and he's ready now. I've heard nothing but great things about Dawkins, Jones, and Creel. I also think Menet could have a chance to make an impact at TE. We really are loaded with excellent young talent.
and as I have long maintained, RBs and WRs can get to the field faster than OL and DLs.
Amazing but English indicated that he likes to have 6 RBs. That's a lot of RBs to keep happy.
(02-02-2012 08:12 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote: [ -> ] (02-02-2012 07:53 PM)emu steve Wrote: [ -> ]What may really help us is all of the frosh who played as true frosh last year.
Plus we will get some real IMPACT players as frosh (e.g., Lewis, WRs, etc.).
Right! I don't know how you keep Lewis off the field. The guy is a big time recruit and he's ready now. I've heard nothing but great things about Dawkins, Jones, and Creel. I also think Menet could have a chance to make an impact at TE. We really are loaded with excellent young talent.
Incredible running back depth:
Sherrer, Greene, White, Brumfield and Hill
Add Lewis and Jackson
It's nice to see we have some backs with size now in place for a power running game.
(02-03-2012 09:44 AM)EMU03 Wrote: [ -> ]Incredible running back depth:
Sherrer, Greene, White, Brumfield and Hill
Add Lewis and Jackson
It's nice to see we have some backs with size now in place for a power running game.
Incredible o-line depth too; should be able to redshirt all the incoming frosh. Eagles are set up for a dominant power running game though 2016.
(02-03-2012 10:02 AM)cmadler Wrote: [ -> ] (02-03-2012 09:44 AM)EMU03 Wrote: [ -> ]Incredible running back depth:
Sherrer, Greene, White, Brumfield and Hill
Add Lewis and Jackson
It's nice to see we have some backs with size now in place for a power running game.
Incredible o-line depth too; should be able to redshirt all the incoming frosh. Eagles are set up for a dominant power running game though 2016.
And we can add LB as an area where there is very good players and depth for '12 and going forward.
One helluva job recruiting in '11 and '12.
(02-03-2012 10:02 AM)cmadler Wrote: [ -> ] (02-03-2012 09:44 AM)EMU03 Wrote: [ -> ]Incredible running back depth:
Sherrer, Greene, White, Brumfield and Hill
Add Lewis and Jackson
It's nice to see we have some backs with size now in place for a power running game.
Incredible o-line depth too; should be able to redshirt all the incoming frosh. Eagles are set up for a dominant power running game though 2016.
And as we saw in 2011 a dominant run game can only help the defense by shortening the game. I don't think EMU will be invloved with any of those UT, NIU, WMU, etc type of games with 1200 total yards and over 100 total points.
I would like to see just a little more of a deep threat for the passing game. Something to keep the defense honest. It'll only enhance the running game.
(02-03-2012 11:05 AM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote: [ -> ] (02-03-2012 10:02 AM)cmadler Wrote: [ -> ] (02-03-2012 09:44 AM)EMU03 Wrote: [ -> ]Incredible running back depth:
Sherrer, Greene, White, Brumfield and Hill
Add Lewis and Jackson
It's nice to see we have some backs with size now in place for a power running game.
Incredible o-line depth too; should be able to redshirt all the incoming frosh. Eagles are set up for a dominant power running game though 2016.
And as we saw in 2011 a dominant run game can only help the defense by shortening the game. I don't think EMU will be invloved with any of those UT, NIU, WMU, etc type of games with 1200 total yards and over 100 total points.
I would like to see just a little more of a deep threat for the passing game. Something to keep the defense honest. It'll only enhance the running game.
Need to throw more on first and second down.
Throwing on 3rd down is... not something we are going to succeed at.
Maybe WMU can do it given their polished aerial game.