The unofficial online home for fans of the Old Dominion University Monarchs. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Brace yourselves, everyone: someone is not enthusiastic about ODU football this season.

7. Old Dominion Monarchs
With starter Blake LaRussa leaving football for divinity school, the offense was able to get former Michigan State Spartan and JUCO transfer Messiah deWeaver to come in and battle for the starting quarterback job. Almost all of the top running backs return, but the top three receivers are gone and two starters are done on the O line.

The D has to replace star DE Oshane Ximines, five of the top seven tacklers, and most of the key safeties, but the linebacking corps should be a major positive.

Final 2018 Record: 4-8 (2-6)
2018 C-USA East Finish: T6
2018 Prespring C-USA Conference Ranking: 11
Biggest Issue To Fix: Run Defense
Biggest Depth Chart Positive: Linebacker
Biggest Depth Chart Negative: Safety

(02-05-2019 05:36 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  Brace yourselves, everyone: someone is not enthusiastic about ODU football this season.

7. Old Dominion Monarchs
With starter Blake LaRussa leaving football for divinity school, the offense was able to get former Michigan State Spartan and JUCO transfer Messiah deWeaver to come in and battle for the starting quarterback job. Almost all of the top running backs return, but the top three receivers are gone and two starters are done on the O line.

The D has to replace star DE Oshane Ximines, five of the top seven tacklers, and most of the key safeties, but the linebacking corps should be a major positive.

Final 2018 Record: 4-8 (2-6)
2018 C-USA East Finish: T6
2018 Prespring C-USA Conference Ranking: 11
Biggest Issue To Fix: Run Defense
Biggest Depth Chart Positive: Linebacker
Biggest Depth Chart Negative: Safety

Par for the course, I imagine.

SB Nation: https://www.sbnation.com/college-footbal...ule-roster

It looks to me like both the CFN and the SBnation assessments are well thought out and realistic.

The assessments are reasonable, given the number of personnel questions the team faces. But I hope for more with new staff, new stadum, better strength, an infusion of experienced players (even if at the JUCO level). This could be one of the most rewarding seasons ever for ODU football.

Or not.

(02-28-2019 04:14 PM)jumpshooter Wrote:  The assessments are reasonable, given the number of personnel questions the team faces. But I hope for more with new staff, new stadum, better strength, an infusion of experienced players (even if at the JUCO level). This could be one of the most rewarding seasons ever for ODU football.

Or not.

I hope you're right, but Im afraid it might get worse before it gets better. I'll be more optimistic when we start recruiting in the top half of the conference.

I have many months to plumb the depths of speculation but I know exactly what I will find.

Is it generally accepted that Stinespring will be the OL coach? And did we forfeit a game somewhere?

(02-28-2019 06:25 PM)Grommet Wrote:  Is it generally accepted that Stinespring will be the OL coach? And did we forfeit a game somewhere?

He's the TE coach and "run game coordinator", whatever that entails

Scott is the OL coach.

Huh. Ya don't say.

Quote:He brought in Bryan Stinespring (26 years at Virginia Tech) as offensive line coach and Galen Scott (defensive co-coordinator at VT until 2018) as DBs coach.

Quote:Stinespring’s first ODU line is in the middle of a makeover as well.

Quote:After a 3-9 season, Wilder loses a ton of last year’s production...

Is SBNation known for their accuracy?

Wolff, Williams out for spring ball due to surgery for each. Smartt had surgery in non-throwing wrist but will compete in spring ball in a cast. Smartt, DeWeaver, Fitzgerald are all listed as QB1 right now.

https://pilotonline.com/sports/college/o...19e6b.html

Both having shoulder surgery? Wow. I wonder if that might be it for Williams. I like that guy, and hope not. Wolff is supposed to be our best recruit, but I doubt he would win the starting job as a true freshman, so missing spring ball isn't the end of the world for him. I heard Smart came in busted up, but didnt know what it was. Non-throwing wrist isn't as bad as it could have been.

(03-14-2019 08:20 AM)monarx Wrote:  Both having shoulder surgery? Wow. I wonder if that might be it for Williams. I like that guy, and hope not. Wolff is supposed to be our best recruit, but I doubt he would win the starting job as a true freshman, so missing spring ball isn't the end of the world for him. I heard Smart came in busted up, but didnt know what it was. Non-throwing wrist isn't as bad as it could have been.

Wolff is redshirting. Stone is in the lead for the starting job heading into spring practice.

ODU football begins needed "overhaul" in spring practice

https://pilotonline.com/sports/college/o...cd12d.html

Congrats to Brandon Addison, who is now the defensive backs coach at Ocean Lakes.

Interesting quote from Ed Miller

Quote:A path to improvement, which could be essential for Wilder to keep his job, is hard to envision.

https://pilotonline.com/sports/college/a...d5a16.html

Thoughts???

(05-17-2019 08:46 AM)ODUBB35 Wrote:  Interesting quote from Ed Miller

Quote:A path to improvement, which could be essential for Wilder to keep his job, is hard to envision.

https://pilotonline.com/sports/college/a...d5a16.html

Thoughts???

I saw that as well. That statement, from our own beat writer, seems to leave little room for hope this year. I think it all depends on how good the Jucos are. But I have to believe Ed knows more about them than anyone outside of the staff, and has factored that into his assessment. I guess we will see.

(05-17-2019 08:46 AM)ODUBB35 Wrote:  Interesting quote from Ed Miller

Quote:A path to improvement, which could be essential for Wilder to keep his job, is hard to envision.

https://pilotonline.com/sports/college/a...d5a16.html

Thoughts???

(05-17-2019 09:22 AM)ODUCoach Wrote:  

(05-17-2019 08:46 AM)ODUBB35 Wrote:  Interesting quote from Ed Miller

Quote:A path to improvement, which could be essential for Wilder to keep his job, is hard to envision.

https://pilotonline.com/sports/college/a...d5a16.html

Thoughts???

True, but it's the first time I've seen someone on the "inside" (so to speak) suggest that Wilder's immediate future with the program could be in jeopardy, opinion or not.

I know many here have called for a change at the top, but I didn't think it was realistic until now. Did we raise enough funds to get a bigger name coach?