(08-06-2015 10:30 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  Fuente is a straight shooter. While he keeps things close to the vest, he praises when it is deserving, is critical when necessary and is honest about the good and the bad.

Spot on

If Coach Fuetne is confident that is good enough for me. We saw a lot from the 2nd unit last season. There never really seemed to be a drop off. He has also brought in some great speed/talent AND don't forget about those talented players that were red shirted we haven't seen yet.

(08-06-2015 11:40 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 11:06 AM)Stammers Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 11:05 AM)tnzazz Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 10:30 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  Fuente is a straight shooter. While he keeps things close to the vest, he praises when it is deserving, is critical when necessary and is honest about the good and the bad.

Bingo.

Do you expect the defense to be just as good as it was last year?

My takeaway--

Memphis is pretty much replacing 2* and 3* guys. A couple of these guys-- Jakes, Ifedi, McCain blossomed into really good college players.

Memphis is replacing those guys with similarly rated players so the talent (at least from a star perspective) isn't dropping. It's not like Memphis is losing three 4* level linebackers and replacing them with three inexperienced 2*'s.

With McCain, Ifedi, Redden and Jakes last year, Memphis had playmakers on the line, at linebacker and in the secondary. (Redden was the only 3*).

With Dillon and Robinson, that is two 3* at linebacker. Ball will be an anchor in the secondary.

Memphis' D-line went 250, 275 and 281 last year. Suttles has put on 15 pounds to go from 250 to 265. Pennington and Hunter (two possible starters) go 295 and 290 and there are a couple frosh that push 300 lbs.

Size isn't everything, but increasing starting D-line weight from 269 to 283 is a start. Especially when the reserves are as big, or, than the starters.

Again, I agree with everything here and even if the star system/rankings are similar, no doubt that we are signing bigger, faster players. From a practical point of view, the DB's were very solid, but I thought they were susceptible to getting beat long. With a whole new unit and the defensive line maybe not getting as much pressure, I think we have to keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best.

We also obviously can't afford any injuries on defense.

Our Secondary is BETTER with Coach Guy and Coach Reffett....Plus we are gonna be more aggressive on Defense and be even more physical.....The World Is Ours Memphis....

yea. this will be even more of a turning point seeing the talent become more experienced with this staff. we have a 5 star coach that can develop 2 and 3 star talent into something very special.

in fuente we trust

(08-06-2015 11:37 AM)Stammers Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 11:25 AM)tiger2000 Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 10:48 AM)Stammers Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 10:30 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  Fuente is a straight shooter. While he keeps things close to the vest, he praises when it is deserving, is critical when necessary and is honest about the good and the bad.

That's what has me kind of confused on this one. We can assume that the players have all bought in, are going to make the sacrifices and all that stuff. Should we expect the defense to be as good as last year's? If you go by what Fuente is saying, he is claiming that the talent is equal or better than last year.

Agreed that Fuente is a straight shooter and if anything he leans on the conservative side of assessments of individual/offense/defense/team.

While it may be true that the raw talent is better execution is what will matter. you can have better talent than what left as a whole but still be youthful and make youthful mistakes when it matters.

I have all faith in our coaching staff to get the most out of their execution as soon as possible.

I agree with everything here. Just shocked that if true, that our talent level is equal or better than last year's.

There's talent, strength, size, and speed.....

.....and then there's experience.


When you have the physical tools AND experience is when the magic happens.

I would think that the first 4 games will be a learning experience for the D, the middle 4 games for reinforcing what they leaned in the first 4, and the last 4 games, yes I think they will be as good as last year's D.

We shall see.

What if Fuente is 100% correct and the new guys coming in are as good/better than the guys they are replacing, and our defense is actually better than last year?

Whoooaaa Nellie!! I may need to go clean myself up.

(08-06-2015 01:33 PM)oruvoice Wrote:  What if Fuente is 100% correct and the new guys coming in are as good/better than the guys they are replacing, and our defense is actually better than last year?

Whoooaaa Nellie!! I may need to go clean myself up.

We still have to actually play, but we are a good bet to score at least 40 points in 8 games, so that is 8 games where we won't need much defense at all.

We might not put 40 on the board against Ole Piss, Navy, Houston and Temple, but I don't think Houston and Temple are going to be lighting us up either.

(08-06-2015 10:56 AM)oruvoice Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 10:49 AM)EarthBoundMisfit Wrote:  TC predicting a 12-13 win season?
We're dooooooooomed.

He predicted 10 wins last year.

Just sayin'.

A watch with no hands is more accurate than TC

(08-06-2015 10:56 AM)oruvoice Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 10:49 AM)EarthBoundMisfit Wrote:  TC predicting a 12-13 win season?
We're dooooooooomed.

He predicted 10 wins last year.

Just sayin'.

after telling us the season before that he no longer believed in Justin Fuente.
Just sayin

(08-06-2015 03:46 PM)EarthBoundMisfit Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 10:56 AM)oruvoice Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 10:49 AM)EarthBoundMisfit Wrote:  TC predicting a 12-13 win season?
We're dooooooooomed.

He predicted 10 wins last year.

Just sayin'.

after telling us the season before that he no longer believed in Justin Fuente.
Just sayin

The guy can't be right 100% of the time.

(08-06-2015 11:25 AM)tiger2000 Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 10:48 AM)Stammers Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 10:30 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  Fuente is a straight shooter. While he keeps things close to the vest, he praises when it is deserving, is critical when necessary and is honest about the good and the bad.

That's what has me kind of confused on this one. We can assume that the players have all bought in, are going to make the sacrifices and all that stuff. Should we expect the defense to be as good as last year's? If you go by what Fuente is saying, he is claiming that the talent is equal or better than last year.

Agreed that Fuente is a straight shooter and if anything he leans on the conservative side of assessments of individual/offense/defense/team.

While it may be true that the raw talent is better execution is what will matter. you can have better talent than what left as a whole but still be youthful and make youthful mistakes when it matters.

I have all faith in our coaching staff to get the most out of their execution as soon as possible.

We have a new coaching on defense and I think he is working to convince the members of the defense that they can be just as effective if they buy in and listen to the staff.

(08-06-2015 10:48 AM)Stammers Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 10:30 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  Fuente is a straight shooter. While he keeps things close to the vest, he praises when it is deserving, is critical when necessary and is honest about the good and the bad.

That's what has me kind of confused on this one. We can assume that the players have all bought in, are going to make the sacrifices and all that stuff. Should we expect the defense to be as good as last year's? If you go by what Fuente is saying, he is claiming that the talent is equal or better than last year.

Better athletes whether or not better football players remains to be seen

Fuente has earned the respect of his fanbase by following through with his statements and improving each season.

I've got no reason to doubt our D unless I listen to y'all.

(08-06-2015 10:01 AM)Stammers Wrote:  I have been very surprised at how Fuente has been adamant about our defense having players that are bigger, faster, stronger and just as talented/more talented than the players that left.

It is unlike him to throw out praise like that. He more often than not downplays stuff like this. I'm wondering if he is doing it to challenge the players, if he really believes it, or both. He has stressed that they have to work hard, make sacrifices and buy into teamwork, stuff like that, which is normal.

I don't think I believe it that we are as talented, but having said that; there was massive improvement in the defense from 2014 to last year. Maybe the replacements (reinforcements) are going to show the same type of improvement as they did the year before.

After four years of recruiting i would hope that what he says is correct. We are just not as experienced as what left. That is our issue right now.

(08-06-2015 08:17 PM)MileHighTiger Wrote:  Fuente has earned the respect of his fanbase by following through with his statements and improving each season.

100% correct

(08-07-2015 04:19 AM)ncrdbl1 Wrote:  After four years of recruiting i would hope that what he says is correct. We are just not as experienced as what left. That is our issue right now.

I also wonder about defensive depth. How does it compare with last year?

(08-06-2015 01:38 PM)Stammers Wrote:  

(08-06-2015 01:33 PM)oruvoice Wrote:  What if Fuente is 100% correct and the new guys coming in are as good/better than the guys they are replacing, and our defense is actually better than last year?

Whoooaaa Nellie!! I may need to go clean myself up.

We still have to actually play, but we are a good bet to score at least 40 points in 8 games, so that is 8 games where we won't need much defense at all.

We might not put 40 on the board against Ole Piss, Navy, Houston and Temple, but I don't think Houston and Temple are going to be lighting us up either.

This is a major aspect that should help our defense be even better than maybe they should on paper. Our offense should continue improving this year, which is saying a lot. If our defense isn't on the field for majority of games and if the other team gets behind by a couple of scores in the first half, that makes playing defense easier...and a lot more fun. No one likes being dog tired and having a team continue to knock you on your butt to run for six more yards. It's a lot of fun to be fresh and know that the other team is needing to pass the ball down the field to score.

(08-06-2015 12:28 PM)tigerscane Wrote:  Our Secondary is BETTER with Coach Guy and Coach Reffett....Plus we are gonna be more aggressive on Defense and be even more physical.....The World Is Ours Memphis....

Do Guy and Reffett play corner?

The defensive backfield is the big question in my mind.