Rabid Squirrel
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2017 starters leaving and their 2018 replacements
The 2017 senior starters and their likely 2018 replacement. Better, worse, or same:
Safety:17 Allen - 18 Foster = Worse Allen was consistently one of the top tacklers on D. Coverage at times was so-so.
WR: 17 Beebe - 18 DJ Brown = Same. We all love Beebe, but you have to be on the field to make an impact.
WR: 17 Blake - 18 Wesley = Better. Multiple options for this spot. I went with Wesley even though he could end up in the slot. If he does, then the Beebe spot goes to Better and Parchment is here and it is Same with a good possibility of better.
RB: 17 Huff - !8 Harbison = Better. Same reason as Beebe. Huff was great at times, but you gotta stay on the field to produce. Harbs may be a star in the making.
LB: 17 Jones IV - 18 Deveaux = Worse. Big drop off here. Very young and unproven. This will be a camp battle for the new starter.
DT: 17 - Lee - 18 Heflin/Kramer = Same. Such a rotation here I just grabbed the best young guys. Lee was very solid. Heflin or Kramer may prove to be better. Was close to going better here.
CB: 17 Lurry - 18 Embry = Worse. Lurry was special. He gambled and lost at times, but he could change a game.
TE: 17 Wimann - 18 Brinkman = Worse. TD machine. Hopefully next season we have a better WR group and the TE won't need to be such a big part of the passing game.
While there are more Worse than Betters, I think theres a lot of talent that just isn't proven. Some other positions will improve as unproven players get a chance. I think 2 true freshman CBs play in '18 as that position is really thin.
Others leaving who played : Abresch, Olootu, Saffold, Sanders, Schwab.
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01-04-2018 11:04 AM |
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NIU1981
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RE: 2017 starters leaving and their 2018 replacements
Saffold is coming back.
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01-04-2018 11:38 AM |
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Rabid Squirrel
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RE: 2017 starters leaving and their 2018 replacements
(01-04-2018 11:38 AM)NIU1981 Wrote: Saffold is coming back.
I did not realize he got an extra year. Some experienced depth at the slot will be good.
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01-04-2018 11:55 AM |
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houstonhuskie
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RE: 2017 starters leaving and their 2018 replacements
I’m assuming the kicking evaluation is a “to be seen”.
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01-04-2018 01:11 PM |
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NIU1981
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RE: 2017 starters leaving and their 2018 replacements
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01-04-2018 01:33 PM |
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HuskiePride12
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RE: 2017 starters leaving and their 2018 replacements
(This post was last modified: 01-04-2018 01:41 PM by HuskiePride12.)
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01-04-2018 01:38 PM |
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Rabid Squirrel
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RE: 2017 starters leaving and their 2018 replacements
A good kicker would be such a needed boost for this offense. I didn't list Hagan because I just don't have any analysis of kickers or his replacement. With the condition of the offense it's an important positioning 2018.
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01-04-2018 01:58 PM |
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HuskieJ
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RE: 2017 starters leaving and their 2018 replacements
Doesn't the Middle LB come back too to soften the Jones loss?
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01-04-2018 03:36 PM |
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RedandBlackAttack
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RE: 2017 starters leaving and their 2018 replacements
(01-04-2018 03:36 PM)HuskieJ Wrote: Doesn't the Middle LB come back too to soften the Jones loss?
Yes Pugh will be back. He had to be the biggest loss this past season. Hopefully he remains healthy and continues to play well because the defense will need it. He was the 2nd best player on the defense by Sutton.
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01-04-2018 04:17 PM |
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the_instigator
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RE: 2017 starters leaving and their 2018 replacements
Daniel Isom will also be back in the secondary. He was forced into play last year and did real well.[/i]
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01-04-2018 04:28 PM |
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Rabid Squirrel
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RE: 2017 starters leaving and their 2018 replacements
(01-04-2018 03:36 PM)HuskieJ Wrote: Doesn't the Middle LB come back too to soften the Jones loss?
Absolutely. As good as Jones was, when Pugh and Johnson are on the field he's the third best LB.
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01-04-2018 05:42 PM |
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17Huskies
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RE: 2017 starters leaving and their 2018 replacements
Agree on the LB's, excited to see how they look next year. I don't think I'd give the RB's a 'better' going into the year.
I'm OK with the WR group, Wesley and Tears seemed to grow a lot during the season.
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01-04-2018 06:07 PM |
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142niu
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RE: 2017 starters leaving and their 2018 replacements
Pugh was a monster until that bicep injury against SDSU took him out. Kyle and Sutton will be the leaders of that D next year.
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01-04-2018 06:08 PM |
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Rabid Squirrel
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RE: 2017 starters leaving and their 2018 replacements
(01-04-2018 06:07 PM)17Huskies Wrote: Agree on the LB's, excited to see how they look next year. I don't think I'd give the RB's a 'better' going into the year.
I'm OK with the WR group, Wesley and Tears seemed to grow a lot during the season.
Huff is the better runner. I think he Can make it in the NFL. But between injuries and what ever the issue with Carey was, it muddled the #1 RB spot. So Harbison may not be better. But I think Carey likes him and he gets a clear shot at #1 so the situation is better. I'm merely commenting on the #1 spot, not overall depth.
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01-04-2018 06:14 PM |
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Dtownboys
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RE: 2017 starters leaving and their 2018 replacements
Abresch will be a huge special teams loss. He was under the radar but really came up big on punt block situations. I am not certain how many he ended up with but it was more than we've had in several years.
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01-05-2018 01:13 AM |
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ColoradoSpringsHuskie
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RE: 2017 starters leaving and their 2018 replacements
(01-05-2018 01:13 AM)Dtownboys Wrote: Abresch will be a huge special teams loss. He was under the radar but really came up big on punt block situations. I am not certain how many he ended up with but it was more than we've had in several years.
Abresch (and Lurry) were both aggressive football players with a special talent, for sure. Unfortunately both tried to make open field tackles by diving at the feet of oncoming ball carriers, which is not very effective against strong running backs.
Looking forward to Pugh and Smith on defense in 2018. In my humble opinion, the team needs to forget about the chip on one's shoulder and play like they have a fire in their belly, like Smith does.
When I watch Smith play, I'm reminded of this scene in the movie, "Rudy"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8c6j-LS-ZI
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01-06-2018 01:11 PM |
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VegasHuskie
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RE: 2017 starters leaving and their 2018 replacements
(01-04-2018 11:04 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote: The 2017 senior starters and their likely 2018 replacement. Better, worse, or same:
Safety:17 Allen - 18 Foster = Worse Allen was consistently one of the top tacklers on D. Coverage at times was so-so.
WR: 17 Beebe - 18 DJ Brown = Same. We all love Beebe, but you have to be on the field to make an impact.
WR: 17 Blake - 18 Wesley = Better. Multiple options for this spot. I went with Wesley even though he could end up in the slot. If he does, then the Beebe spot goes to Better and Parchment is here and it is Same with a good possibility of better.
RB: 17 Huff - !8 Harbison = Better. Same reason as Beebe. Huff was great at times, but you gotta stay on the field to produce. Harbs may be a star in the making.
LB: 17 Jones IV - 18 Deveaux = Worse. Big drop off here. Very young and unproven. This will be a camp battle for the new starter.
DT: 17 - Lee - 18 Heflin/Kramer = Same. Such a rotation here I just grabbed the best young guys. Lee was very solid. Heflin or Kramer may prove to be better. Was close to going better here.
CB: 17 Lurry - 18 Embry = Worse. Lurry was special. He gambled and lost at times, but he could change a game.
TE: 17 Wimann - 18 Brinkman = Worse. TD machine. Hopefully next season we have a better WR group and the TE won't need to be such a big part of the passing game.
While there are more Worse than Betters, I think theres a lot of talent that just isn't proven. Some other positions will improve as unproven players get a chance. I think 2 true freshman CBs play in '18 as that position is really thin.
Others leaving who played : Abresch, Olootu, Saffold, Sanders, Schwab.
Interesting post, Squirrel. Good analysis. My initial reaction was to disagree with your RB declaration, however after giving it a think, you are probably correct. I don't necessarily think Harbison will ever be more talented than Huff, however for reasons none of us will ever know, Carey just didn't like Huff. Lets hope that Harbison gets the opportunity to produce and prove you correct.
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01-06-2018 11:57 PM |
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NIUfrank
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RE: 2017 starters leaving and their 2018 replacements
We know Smith will regress stat-wise but hopefully he can disrupt and command double teams. Hoping lorbeck gets more time on opposite edge..i don't want to see his time wasted backing up Smith for 3 years.
We have great lb depth with lersch, Gregory, so red shirt Jennings and look good for 2019.
I think Ben Leroy will have breakout year.
I'm also hoping Haney starts instead of embry.
(This post was last modified: 01-07-2018 11:21 AM by NIUfrank.)
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01-07-2018 09:38 AM |
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Rabid Squirrel
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RE: 2017 starters leaving and their 2018 replacements
(01-06-2018 11:57 PM)VegasHuskie Wrote: (01-04-2018 11:04 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote: The 2017 senior starters and their likely 2018 replacement. Better, worse, or same:
Safety:17 Allen - 18 Foster = Worse Allen was consistently one of the top tacklers on D. Coverage at times was so-so.
WR: 17 Beebe - 18 DJ Brown = Same. We all love Beebe, but you have to be on the field to make an impact.
WR: 17 Blake - 18 Wesley = Better. Multiple options for this spot. I went with Wesley even though he could end up in the slot. If he does, then the Beebe spot goes to Better and Parchment is here and it is Same with a good possibility of better.
RB: 17 Huff - !8 Harbison = Better. Same reason as Beebe. Huff was great at times, but you gotta stay on the field to produce. Harbs may be a star in the making.
LB: 17 Jones IV - 18 Deveaux = Worse. Big drop off here. Very young and unproven. This will be a camp battle for the new starter.
DT: 17 - Lee - 18 Heflin/Kramer = Same. Such a rotation here I just grabbed the best young guys. Lee was very solid. Heflin or Kramer may prove to be better. Was close to going better here.
CB: 17 Lurry - 18 Embry = Worse. Lurry was special. He gambled and lost at times, but he could change a game.
TE: 17 Wimann - 18 Brinkman = Worse. TD machine. Hopefully next season we have a better WR group and the TE won't need to be such a big part of the passing game.
While there are more Worse than Betters, I think theres a lot of talent that just isn't proven. Some other positions will improve as unproven players get a chance. I think 2 true freshman CBs play in '18 as that position is really thin.
Others leaving who played : Abresch, Olootu, Saffold, Sanders, Schwab.
Interesting post, Squirrel. Good analysis. My initial reaction was to disagree with your RB declaration, however after giving it a think, you are probably correct. I don't necessarily think Harbison will ever be more talented than Huff, however for reasons none of us will ever know, Carey just didn't like Huff. Lets hope that Harbison gets the opportunity to produce and prove you correct.
I want this team to get back to a featured RB circa 2015 when Bouagnon had 280 carries to Huff's 80 (those numbers should have been reversed, but that's another story). And while Hare was healthy, he was only rushing about 10 carries a game that year. Give Harbs 20+ carries a game. Let Mister be his clear Back-up with a few carries just to give Harbs a rest. Make Milton you change-of-pace back for 7 or 8 carries and have Jones be his back up. Limit Childers to 8 carries a game just to keep the defense guessing.
I want the O-line to be a down hill blocking group that can fire off the snap and be aggressive. Make things easier for Childers until he improves.
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01-07-2018 11:22 AM |
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NIUfrank
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RE: 2017 starters leaving and their 2018 replacements
I'm still hoping it's open qb battle, but will Carey do this?
Also I think if they open up right tackle Isaac hawn should beat out Roberts. Then move hawn to left 2019 and roberts can start at RT again in 2019 for his final season.
(This post was last modified: 01-07-2018 11:29 AM by NIUfrank.)
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01-07-2018 11:27 AM |
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