CSNbbs

https://athlonsports.com/college-footbal...aches-2023

"The Sun Belt is arguably the top Group of 5 conference entering the 2023 college football season. Conference expansion has certainly played a role, but a quick look at the coach rankings also shows the programs in the league are doing a good job of hiring new leaders to help elevate their team. Troy hit a home run with its hire of Jon Sumrall last season, while South Alabama nailed its hire of Kane Wommack in the '21 cycle. Clay Helton (Georgia Southern), Will Hall (Southern Miss), and Charles Huff (Marshall) are three other recent hires thriving in the league going into '23."

1. Jon Sumrall (Troy)
2. Kane Wommack (South Alabama)
3. Curt Cignetti (JMU)
4. Charles Huff (Marshall)
5. Shawn Clark (Appalachian State)
6. Clay Helton (Georgia Southern)
7. Shawn Elliot (Georgia State)
8. Will Hall (Southern Miss)
9. Terry Bowden (ULM)
10. Butch Jones (Arkansas State)
11. Ricky Rahne (ODU)
12.Michael Desormeaux (Louisiana)
13. G.J Kinne (Texas State)
14. Tim Beck (Coastal Carolina)

Cig is #1 IMO. On paper JMU didn't have a great deal returning for 2022 and turned out to be the best team in the East and really maybe the whole conference. The more I read about them the more I think they could actually be a little better this year.

I would put Helton ahead of Huff and Clark at #4.

Also, if my school were hiring I would pick Kinne over at least several of the guys ranked over him.

i feel like this list really needs a lot of "ties" and more time to marinate...not sure i can say there is a crap coach in the conference (sorry, maybe Butch, who always seems in over his head...RR made some desperate/odd moves at ODU last year but still like the guy) - looking forward to media days!

I would put Cignetti at #1. Reminds me a bit of when Larry Blakeney took Troy to Division 1A. Experienced coach that really knows what he is doing. I would put Sumrall at #2. We can recalibrate after the Troy / JMU game.

(07-14-2023 02:48 PM)EigenEagle Wrote: [ -> ]Cig is #1 IMO. On paper JMU didn't have a great deal returning for 2022 and turned out to be the best team in the East and really maybe the whole conference. The more I read about them the more I think they could actually be a little better this year.

I would put Helton ahead of Huff and Clark at #4.

Also, if my school were hiring I would pick Kinne over at least several of the guys ranked over him.

I've had a quite a few years watching QBs in Paulson and Centeio ranks very high on the list of outstanding playmakers. Maybe the best QB I've seen in Statesboro in more than a decade. It's a miracle we won that game. Credit to Cig for taking full advantage of his talents but there was a significant drop off without him. Playmakers like Centeio are flat out game changers. Maybe Cig can do it again and if he does he belongs top of the list but until then he's middle of the conference without Centeio. If he does continue to find a way in 2023 JMU looking for another coach before the end of the season. Looking forward to watching how Centeio performs in Orlando.

The huge X factor is QB for the Dukes. Our D will be stout. That's as complete of group as can be assembled. OL is a kick a$$ group. Skilled positions will be good, not great, but a lot of depth and will wear defenses out as we continually rotate fresh legs. I was doubtful about our QB position before the season began last year, though it turned out my only fear was injury. Without our #1 we were a middle of the road team. We need two equally good QB's if we're going to be better than mid-pack.

(07-14-2023 04:46 PM)Oldyeller Wrote: [ -> ]

(07-14-2023 02:48 PM)EigenEagle Wrote: [ -> ]Cig is #1 IMO. On paper JMU didn't have a great deal returning for 2022 and turned out to be the best team in the East and really maybe the whole conference. The more I read about them the more I think they could actually be a little better this year.

I would put Helton ahead of Huff and Clark at #4.

Also, if my school were hiring I would pick Kinne over at least several of the guys ranked over him.

I've had a quite a few years watching QBs in Paulson and Centeio ranks very high on the list of outstanding playmakers. Maybe the best QB I've seen in Statesboro in more than a decade. It's a miracle we won that game. Credit to Cig for taking full advantage of his talents but there was a significant drop off without him. Playmakers like Centeio are flat out game changers. Maybe Cig can do it again and if he does he belongs top of the list but until then he's middle of the conference without Centeio. If he does continue to find a way in 2023 JMU looking for another coach before the end of the season. Looking forward to watching how Centeio performs in Orlando.

Cig enters the 2023 season (his 6th at JMU) with a complete question mark at QB. Over his first 5 seasons at JMU, Cig coached/developed 3 QBs, all of whom excelled.

Last year, Todd Centeio was the third JMU QB in a row who performed at a high-level. Prior to Centeio, Cole Johnson put up 3779 yards passing and 41 TDs with only 4 INT in his senior year. Prior to Johnson, Ben DiNucci (now on the Denver Broncos roster) threw for 3441 yards, 29 TDs with 6 INTs in his senior year. He also rushed for 569 yards, 7 TDs on a 4.7 YPR, and led the nation with a 70.9% completion avg.

Odds favor Arizona transfer Jordan McCloud winning the 2023 starting role. McCloud spent two injury shortened years at Arizona, and spent three previous years at USF. With some combination of injuries and a Covid exception, McCloud still retains two years of eligibility. In his 5 year college career, McCloud has only played in 23 games, starting 19. McCloud was originally a 3 star recruit out of Tampa, and is the prototypical duel threat QB. At 6’ 190# McCloud is not as physically large as DiNucci (6’3” 210#), or Centeio (6’ 220#), and his biggest college game was a 404 yard passing, 4 TD effort against UCF (a game USF lost).

If MCCloud remains healthy (questionable), and Cig works his QB magic to rejuvenate McCloud’s potential coming out of Florida, JMU might well pick up where it finished the 2022 season. Having an excellent and experienced OL (all starters from 2022 return) will help McCloud, but the majority of JMU’s WRs are going to be new in ‘23.

Should Cig (a backup QB at West Virginia), hit paydirt with McCloud, his rep as a “QB whisperer” will be solidified. That shared, I doubt Cig’s success will make him a a hot commodity to coach elsewhere.

Never say never of course, but Cig’s age and comfort in his present position makes it unlikely he’ll leave JMU. The only exception might be a call from WVU should they fire former Troy head coach Neal Brown. Still, even after the 2023 season, Brown would be owed $13 million if he was fired, plus there are younger up-and-coming HC’s who would be sexier hires than a 63-64 year old with 2 years of FBS experience.

(07-14-2023 04:46 PM)Oldyeller Wrote: [ -> ]

(07-14-2023 02:48 PM)EigenEagle Wrote: [ -> ]Cig is #1 IMO. On paper JMU didn't have a great deal returning for 2022 and turned out to be the best team in the East and really maybe the whole conference. The more I read about them the more I think they could actually be a little better this year.

I would put Helton ahead of Huff and Clark at #4.

Also, if my school were hiring I would pick Kinne over at least several of the guys ranked over him.

I've had a quite a few years watching QBs in Paulson and Centeio ranks very high on the list of outstanding playmakers. Maybe the best QB I've seen in Statesboro in more than a decade. It's a miracle we won that game. Credit to Cig for taking full advantage of his talents but there was a significant drop off without him. Playmakers like Centeio are flat out game changers. Maybe Cig can do it again and if he does he belongs top of the list but until then he's middle of the conference without Centeio. If he does continue to find a way in 2023 JMU looking for another coach before the end of the season. Looking forward to watching how Centeio performs in Orlando.

Our defense is why we won last year. It’s easier to put together a potent fbs offense. Not so easy on defensive side, especially for a first year fbs program.

You deserved to beat us but you were the only team all year that did much against our D. Bad day for us, good scheme by you, whatever. Doesn’t matter. You got us that day. But go watch the rest of our games and you’ll see why we were very succesful. Toddy was great, but the D was nasty.

(07-14-2023 08:32 PM)Duke Dawg Wrote: [ -> ]

(07-14-2023 04:46 PM)Oldyeller Wrote: [ -> ]

(07-14-2023 02:48 PM)EigenEagle Wrote: [ -> ]Cig is #1 IMO. On paper JMU didn't have a great deal returning for 2022 and turned out to be the best team in the East and really maybe the whole conference. The more I read about them the more I think they could actually be a little better this year.

I would put Helton ahead of Huff and Clark at #4.

Also, if my school were hiring I would pick Kinne over at least several of the guys ranked over him.

I've had a quite a few years watching QBs in Paulson and Centeio ranks very high on the list of outstanding playmakers. Maybe the best QB I've seen in Statesboro in more than a decade. It's a miracle we won that game. Credit to Cig for taking full advantage of his talents but there was a significant drop off without him. Playmakers like Centeio are flat out game changers. Maybe Cig can do it again and if he does he belongs top of the list but until then he's middle of the conference without Centeio. If he does continue to find a way in 2023 JMU looking for another coach before the end of the season. Looking forward to watching how Centeio performs in Orlando.

Our defense is why we won last year. It’s easier to put together a potent fbs offense. Not so easy on defensive side, especially for a first year fbs program.

You deserved to beat us but you were the only team all year that did much against our D. Bad day for us, good scheme by you, whatever. Doesn’t matter. You got us that day. But go watch the rest of our games and you’ll see why we were very succesful. Toddy was great, but the D was nasty.

Okay. We'll dismiss the Sun Belt player of the year and give the defense credit. GS's a great example having the most productive offense while at the same time worst defense. 2023 will definitely be more of a challenge due to so many likely not taking a step back and two or three likely taking a step forward. JMU will have to find some magic to repeat. Coaching is solid throughout the conference so not sure how much of an edge that gives JMU. We all have a pretty good since of where we are so no matter the outcome the Sun Belt is just getting more competitive by the year. Bottom dweller flipping to the top in one or two seasons seems to be the trend and points to the Sun Belt's brand working. It's all good.

(07-14-2023 02:29 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote: [ -> ]https://athlonsports.com/college-footbal...aches-2023

"The Sun Belt is arguably the top Group of 5 conference entering the 2023 college football season. Conference expansion has certainly played a role, but a quick look at the coach rankings also shows the programs in the league are doing a good job of hiring new leaders to help elevate their team. Troy hit a home run with its hire of Jon Sumrall last season, while South Alabama nailed its hire of Kane Wommack in the '21 cycle. Clay Helton (Georgia Southern), Will Hall (Southern Miss), and Charles Huff (Marshall) are three other recent hires thriving in the league going into '23."

1. Jon Sumrall (Troy)
2. Kane Wommack (South Alabama)
3. Curt Cignetti (JMU)
4. Charles Huff (Marshall)
5. Shawn Clark (Appalachian State)
6. Clay Helton (Georgia Southern)
7. Shawn Elliot (Georgia State)
8. Will Hall (Southern Miss)
9. Terry Bowden (ULM)
10. Butch Jones (Arkansas State)
11. Ricky Rahne (ODU)
12.Michael Desormeaux (Louisiana)
13. G.J Kinne (Texas State)
14. Tim Beck (Coastal Carolina)

I wonder if we’d landed Keeler (instead of Kinne) where he’d of landed on this list . . .

(07-15-2023 10:30 AM)Bobcat87 Wrote: [ -> ]

(07-14-2023 02:29 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote: [ -> ]https://athlonsports.com/college-footbal...aches-2023

"The Sun Belt is arguably the top Group of 5 conference entering the 2023 college football season. Conference expansion has certainly played a role, but a quick look at the coach rankings also shows the programs in the league are doing a good job of hiring new leaders to help elevate their team. Troy hit a home run with its hire of Jon Sumrall last season, while South Alabama nailed its hire of Kane Wommack in the '21 cycle. Clay Helton (Georgia Southern), Will Hall (Southern Miss), and Charles Huff (Marshall) are three other recent hires thriving in the league going into '23."

1. Jon Sumrall (Troy)
2. Kane Wommack (South Alabama)
3. Curt Cignetti (JMU)
4. Charles Huff (Marshall)
5. Shawn Clark (Appalachian State)
6. Clay Helton (Georgia Southern)
7. Shawn Elliot (Georgia State)
8. Will Hall (Southern Miss)
9. Terry Bowden (ULM)
10. Butch Jones (Arkansas State)
11. Ricky Rahne (ODU)
12.Michael Desormeaux (Louisiana)
13. G.J Kinne (Texas State)
14. Tim Beck (Coastal Carolina)

I wonder if we’d landed Keeler (instead of Kinne) where he’d of landed on this list . . .

Those making the rankings may have placed Keeler higher, but I honestly think Kinne is the better coach.

Keeler talks/whines a lot, and in practice was regularly blown out in the playoffs by large margins. Covid spring season caused enough chaos to give him a good year, but I think Kinne wins 9 out of 10 games between those 2.

lol at muh 'lists'...

y'all some bored mothertruckers...