2020 Schedule
@ Va. Tech
N.C. A&T
@ WKU
FIU
@ Bowling Green
La. Monroe
@ Syracuse
S. Miss
@ UConn
W. Carolina
@ N.C. State
UMass

I’ve heard anywhere from 6-8 wins for next season.

Key Player Loses
QB - Buckshot
WR - AGG
WR - Damien King
RB - Franky Hickson
RG - Dontae Duff
RT - Sam Isaacson
OG - Ethan Crawford
TE - Zac Foutz
DE - Jessie Lemonier
DT - Vincent Elefante
LB - Solomon Ajayi
LB - Elijah Benton
LB - Brandon Tillman
CB - Bejour Wilson

That is a whole lot of production to replace.

(12-24-2019 09:17 AM)army56mike Wrote:  2020 Schedule
@ Va. Tech
N.C. A&T
@ WKU
FIU
@ Bowling Green
La. Monroe
@ Syracuse
S. Miss
@ UConn
W. Carolina
@ N.C. State
UMass

I’ve heard anywhere from 6-8 wins for next season.

Key Player Loses
QB - Buckshot
WR - AGG
WR - Damien King
RB - Franky Hickson
RG - Dontae Duff
RT - Sam Isaacson
OG - Ethan Crawford
TE - Zac Foutz
DE - Jessie Lemonier
DT - Vincent Elefante
LB - Solomon Ajayi
LB - Elijah Benton
LB - Brandon Tillman
CB - Bejour Wilson

That is a whole lot of production to replace.

I say 7-5 but I think 5-7 to 10-2 is the range.

I think any drop in experience will generally be replaced by higher talent by being FBS. In addition, Freeze missed so much valuable time at the start of the year that the team really improved once he came back. Having him there for the whole time after his initial season should provide more room for growth.

I look at the schedule and think 6 wins minimum. Should be easily bowl eligible.

ASOR: Liberty’s 2020 Football Depth Chart

https://www.aseaofred.com/libertys-2020-...pth-chart/

"On offense, the Flames will lose 6 players that started in the Cure Bowl. They will lose Buckshot Calvert, Antonio Gandy-Golden, Frankie Hickson, Dontae Duff, Zac Foutz, and Sam Isaacson."
"On defense, the Flames will lose 5 players that started in the Cure Bowl – Jessie Lemonier, Vincent Elefante, Solomon Ajayi, Bejour Wilson, and Elijah Benton."
"The Flames will have their kicker, punter and returners back on Special Teams in 2020."

I think Buckshot's replacement is likely a better fit for Freeze's O system. I think QB is in a decent place. Losing AGG hurts a lot but I'm hopeful the overall talent, on the 2020 team, will rise. I also expect better depth with more true FBS players.

(12-27-2019 10:31 AM)WesternSkillet Wrote:  ASOR: Liberty’s 2020 Football Depth Chart

https://www.aseaofred.com/libertys-2020-...pth-chart/

"On offense, the Flames will lose 6 players that started in the Cure Bowl. They will lose Buckshot Calvert, Antonio Gandy-Golden, Frankie Hickson, Dontae Duff, Zac Foutz, and Sam Isaacson."
"On defense, the Flames will lose 5 players that started in the Cure Bowl – Jessie Lemonier, Vincent Elefante, Solomon Ajayi, Bejour Wilson, and Elijah Benton."
"The Flames will have their kicker, punter and returners back on Special Teams in 2020."

I think Buckshot's replacement is likely a better fit for Freeze's O system. I think QB is in a decent place. Losing AGG hurts a lot but I'm hopeful the overall talent, on the 2020 team, will rise. I also expect better depth with more true FBS players.

I think AGG won’t hurt as bad as we think. He is a great player but we have a ton of talent at WR. I think a mobile qb will allow a lot of 1on1 for the WRs.

2020 Schedule (with 2019 regular season results).

@ VTech (8-4)
N.C. A&T (9-3 FCS)
@ WKU (8-4)
FIU (6-6)
@ Bowling Green (3-9)
ULM (5-7)
@ Syracuse (5-7)
S. Miss (7-5)
@ UConn (2-10)
W. Carolina (3-9 FCS)
@ NC State (4-8)
UMass (1-11)

Such a stark difference between the first half of the schedule and the second. Tough games up front. More winnable games at the end.

Also read we will have 8 QBs on the roster next spring.

Will we be the second highest rated independent next season behind only Notre Dame? I guess we’ll probably be third, behind BYU also.

(01-09-2020 08:34 AM)army56mike Wrote:  Will we be the second highest rated independent next season behind only Notre Dame? I guess we’ll probably be third, behind BYU also.

+1

(12-27-2019 11:57 AM)WesternSkillet Wrote:  2020 Schedule (with 2019 regular season results).

@ VTech (8-4)
N.C. A&T (9-3 FCS)
@ WKU (8-4)
FIU (6-6)
@ Bowling Green (3-9)
ULM (5-7)
@ Syracuse (5-7)
S. Miss (7-5)
@ UConn (2-10)
W. Carolina (3-9 FCS)
@ NC State (4-8)
UMass (1-11)

My super early guess.

Likely loss
VT
SU
NCSU

Toss ups
WKU
FIU
ULM
S. Miss

Likely wins
N.C. A&T
W. Carolina
UMass
UConn
BGSU

The likely categories mean the team goes 5-3. 4 are toss up games IMO. I think it is very possible to, at minimum, split the toss up category. That mean 7-5. Go 3-1 which is also possible means 8-4.

I think the QB situation is the biggest difficulty to determine the record. A breakout year is 9-3 winning all toss up games or stealing a win against a P5 team. No doubt the overall team talent is upgrading and it will show next year.

(12-24-2019 09:17 AM)army56mike Wrote:  2020 Schedule
@ Va. Tech
N.C. A&T
@ WKU
FIU
@ Bowling Green
La. Monroe
@ Syracuse
S. Miss
@ UConn
W. Carolina
@ N.C. State
UMass

I’ve heard anywhere from 6-8 wins for next season.

Key Player Loses
QB - Buckshot
WR - AGG
WR - Damien King
RB - Franky Hickson
RG - Dontae Duff
RT - Sam Isaacson
OG - Ethan Crawford
TE - Zac Foutz
DE - Jessie Lemonier
DT - Vincent Elefante
LB - Solomon Ajayi
LB - Elijah Benton
LB - Brandon Tillman
CB - Bejour Wilson

That is a whole lot of production to replace.

I honestly think that the biggest loss is going to be Lemonier or Ajayi. Lemonier was such a power on that line, what with having the 3rd most sacks this season in all of FBS, & Ajayi’s leadership on the D will be hard to replace if someone isn’t already set up to succeed him.

I will be sad to not see AGG or Hickson on that sideline anymore, but we are loading up heavily on the Offense this year, despite the heavy losses.

Only thing I did not get why Liberty moved UVA instead of buying out one or the FCS teams. You can only count one FCS win. It appears UCONN has 7 home games, seems like UCONN needed Liberty more than Liberty needed them. The most important thing is for Liberty is to get two more bowl elgible seasons before next round of bowl tie-ins. That would allow Liberty to get Primary tie-ins like BYU an Army

(01-11-2020 01:51 PM)msm96wolf Wrote:  Only thing I did not get why Liberty moved UVA instead of buying out one or the FCS teams. You can only count one FCS win. It appears UCONN has 7 home games, seems like UCONN needed Liberty more than Liberty needed them. The most important thing is for Liberty is to get two more bowl elgible seasons before next round of bowl tie-ins. That would allow Liberty to get Primary tie-ins like BYU an Army

UConn did need Liberty more than Liberty needed UConn but if both are going to be working together for the foreseeable future, it is best not to rake the other over the coals. You mention Liberty needing to get bowl eligible as many times as possible but I think they made it easier by replacing Virginia with UConn. Look at that 2023 schedule now that UVA was moved: https://fbschedules.com/ncaa/liberty/ It's hard to tell who will be good in four seasons but it looks pretty winnable even by adding a pretty solid, up and coming P5 school.

So if Liberty tried to take UConn to the woodshed, maybe UConn doesn't add any future games with Liberty after these initial two are over. Or maybe they influence UMass to avoid playing Liberty and LU loses another late season matchup. Athletic directors/departments are such a small club that essentially everyone knows everyone.

(01-12-2020 03:52 PM)GE and MTS Wrote:  

(01-11-2020 01:51 PM)msm96wolf Wrote:  Only thing I did not get why Liberty moved UVA instead of buying out one or the FCS teams. You can only count one FCS win. It appears UCONN has 7 home games, seems like UCONN needed Liberty more than Liberty needed them. The most important thing is for Liberty is to get two more bowl elgible seasons before next round of bowl tie-ins. That would allow Liberty to get Primary tie-ins like BYU an Army

UConn did need Liberty more than Liberty needed UConn but if both are going to be working together for the foreseeable future, it is best not to rake the other over the coals. You mention Liberty needing to get bowl eligible as many times as possible but I think they made it easier by replacing Virginia with UConn. Look at that 2023 schedule now that UVA was moved: https://fbschedules.com/ncaa/liberty/ It's hard to tell who will be good in four seasons but it looks pretty winnable even by adding a pretty solid, up and coming P5 school.

So if Liberty tried to take UConn to the woodshed, maybe UConn doesn't add any future games with Liberty after these initial two are over. Or maybe they influence UMass to avoid playing Liberty and LU loses another late season matchup. Athletic directors/departments are such a small club that essentially everyone knows everyone.

That's what came to mind when this action occured. This could even help us with scheduling UCONN in other sports in the future as well. Also, it seems like this negotiation may help with future schedule games from other teams that are not mentioned yet. Having good credentials from the UCONN AD could help make other ADs comfortable with us and establish games with us as well. That's reasonable business negotiation in my opinion.

P.S. McCaw did state that we would do some studies concerning AAC just to see if we would be able to fit. So having a good relationship with UCONN(who's leaving the AAC) could help out with that athletic study (also possibly academic as well).

I think a great way to compare this coming season to 2019 is stats: (out of 130 teams)

2019 Total Offense (32nd) 439.4 ypg
2019 Total Defense (80th) 409.2 ypg allowed

(01-28-2020 01:21 PM)Ewglenn Wrote:  I think a great way to compare this coming season to 2019 is stats: (out of 130 teams)

2019 Total Offense (32nd) 439.4 ypg
2019 Total Defense (80th) 409.2 ypg allowed

I think the D will improve a bit. No sure about the O. The 2020 O must make up for the loss at QB and AGG. It could happen. Keep in mind the SOS was weak last year. Still very optimistic about the 2020 season.

(01-28-2020 07:56 PM)WesternSkillet Wrote:  

(01-28-2020 01:21 PM)Ewglenn Wrote:  I think a great way to compare this coming season to 2019 is stats: (out of 130 teams)

2019 Total Offense (32nd) 439.4 ypg
2019 Total Defense (80th) 409.2 ypg allowed

I think the D will improve a bit. No sure about the O. The 2020 O must make up for the loss at QB and AGG. It could happen. Keep in mind the SOS was weak last year. Still very optimistic about the 2020 season.

I would concur. More than 3/4's of this coming year's squad are FBS recruits, so talent across the board should be more in line with Freeze's coaching than this last year's squad (AGG & Lemonier being notable exceptions).

Add to that that Freeze should be available from Week 1 on the sideline, & it's a perfect storm to give us a shot at an equal or better record.

(01-28-2020 01:21 PM)Ewglenn Wrote:  I think a great way to compare this coming season to 2019 is stats: (out of 130 teams)

2019 Total Offense (32nd) 439.4 ypg
2019 Total Defense (80th) 409.2 ypg allowed

Compared to 2018:

2018 Total Offense (46th) 422.9 ypg
2018 Total Defense (123rd) 485.4 ypg

We were +14 on offense and +43 on defense. This is in line with my feelings towards the defense improvements this year. If we did that again next year we’d have the 19th best offense and the 37th best defense. That would be crazy lol.

(01-29-2020 12:43 PM)Ewglenn Wrote:  

(01-28-2020 01:21 PM)Ewglenn Wrote:  I think a great way to compare this coming season to 2019 is stats: (out of 130 teams)

2019 Total Offense (32nd) 439.4 ypg
2019 Total Defense (80th) 409.2 ypg allowed

Compared to 2018:

2018 Total Offense (46th) 422.9 ypg
2018 Total Defense (123rd) 485.4 ypg

We were +14 on offense and +43 on defense. This is in line with my feelings towards the defense improvements this year. If we did that again next year we’d have the 19th best offense and the 37th best defense. That would be crazy lol.

Teams that had those rankings

37th defense this year was Minnesota 11-2
19th offense this year was Boise State 12-2

So pretty much if they improved like they did last year we’d be a 10+ win team. Obviously it’s highly unlikely to repeat those numbers but it’s good offseason talk.

(01-29-2020 12:49 PM)Ewglenn Wrote:  

(01-29-2020 12:43 PM)Ewglenn Wrote:  

(01-28-2020 01:21 PM)Ewglenn Wrote:  I think a great way to compare this coming season to 2019 is stats: (out of 130 teams)

2019 Total Offense (32nd) 439.4 ypg
2019 Total Defense (80th) 409.2 ypg allowed

Compared to 2018:

2018 Total Offense (46th) 422.9 ypg
2018 Total Defense (123rd) 485.4 ypg

We were +14 on offense and +43 on defense. This is in line with my feelings towards the defense improvements this year. If we did that again next year we’d have the 19th best offense and the 37th best defense. That would be crazy lol.

Teams that had those rankings

37th defense this year was Minnesota 11-2
19th offense this year was Boise State 12-2

So pretty much if they improved like they did last year we’d be a 10+ win team. Obviously it’s highly unlikely to repeat those numbers but it’s good offseason talk.

Defense certainly seems possible. Offense is to be seen.