QB - Maloney, Johnson, Adams

RB - Obese, Hamilton, Palmer, VanHorse

WR - Dean, Brown, Ravanel, Thornton

TE - Painter, Cheatham

OL - Bethea, Wilson, Hubbard, Kidwell, Fornadel, Glavin, Timming

DE - Green, Uwku, N-Okonji, Colclough

DT - Greene, Atariwa, Groulx, Thurston

LB - Tucker-Dorsey, Jackson, Benezema, Ayamel

Spur - Davis, Reid

CB - McCormick, Carroll, Drew, Currence

S - Amos, Norwood, Hampton, Chukweneke

K - Ratke

P - O Kelly

KR - Hamilton

PR - Amos




This is off the top of my head, probably missed a bunch. Hopefully some freshman stand out and can help (AJ Webb, CB).

To me, biggest question marks are QB, LB, DB. I'm thinking Que Reid might find his way onto the field in the Spur position he backed up, allowing us to move Wayne Davis to the Perimeter.

Kris Thornton could be key, 1000 yard receiver at VMI.

QB and LB are the biggest concerns IMO.

and maybe WR to a lesser extent.

(01-14-2020 11:12 AM)Duke Dawg Wrote:  QB and LB are the biggest concerns IMO.

and maybe WR to a lesser extent.

I think we will be fine at QB. I think we have enough arm talent in Gage or CoJo....whoever wins the job.

I think the freshman from Indiana will be pretty good, but prefer red-shirting him.

I'm not seeing the LB being as big an issue as you guys.

Tucker-Dorsey, Azanama, both played a good amount and played well enough last year that if they continue to progress like most people do from this season to next then I am comfortable they will be solid. In fact by the end of the year aside from Holloway and Tabb Patrick the Senior LBs (Maginley and Word) were pretty much role players and the other senior (Cobb) was a spot player at best. That's all we lost.

Julio Ayamel and Taurus Jones are both supposed to be big time as is Mateo Jackson and they all largely sat out, so we'll see how far they come along in the offseason.

(01-14-2020 11:26 AM)JMaddy Wrote:  I'm not seeing the LB being as big an issue as you guys.

Tucker-Dorsey, Azanama, and don't forget Tabb Patrick, all played a good amount and played well enough last year that if they continue to progress like most people do from this season to next then I am comfortable they will be solid. In fact by the end of the year aside from Holloway, the Senior LBs (Maginley and Word) were both pretty much role players and the other senior (Cobb) was a spot player at best. That's all we lost.

Julio Ayamel and Taurus Jones (Fr) are both supposed to be big time as is Mateo Jackson (So) and they all largely sat out, so we'll see how far they come along in the offseason.

I think the defensive line last year was GREAT. I think this year they will be good.

I also think our receivers were GREAT last year. I hope they are good, but I think there will be a big drop off.

I don't think anyone we put a QB will just automatically work. I'll have to see them on the field. Hopefully we have a Lee or Rascati caliber transfer.....

(01-14-2020 11:26 AM)JMaddy Wrote:  I'm not seeing the LB being as big an issue as you guys.

Tucker-Dorsey, Azanama, and don't forget Tabb Patrick, all played a good amount and played well enough last year that if they continue to progress like most people do from this season to next then I am comfortable they will be solid. In fact by the end of the year aside from Holloway, the Senior LBs (Maginley and Word) were both pretty much role players and the other senior (Cobb) was a spot player at best. That's all we lost.

Julio Ayamel and Taurus Jones (Fr) are both supposed to be big time as is Mateo Jackson (So) and they all largely sat out, so we'll see how far they come along in the offseason.

Agree with that LB assessment. I am not worried about that position.

My main concern is CB, which was really no different than the entire 2019 season. I think this position group will be no worse that this past season.

Safety will be fine with Amos/Hampton & young players there.

WR is a wait and see position. Jake Brown will be good and hopefully Dean rebounds. I think we will be fine here, just a new cast of characters and see who steps up.

(01-14-2020 11:26 AM)JMaddy Wrote:  I'm not seeing the LB being as big an issue as you guys.

Tucker-Dorsey, Azanama, both played a good amount and played well enough last year that if they continue to progress like most people do from this season to next then I am comfortable they will be solid. In fact by the end of the year aside from Holloway and Tabb Patrick the Senior LBs (Maginley and Word) were pretty much role players and the other senior (Cobb) was a spot player at best. That's all we lost.

Julio Ayamel and Taurus Jones are both supposed to be big time as is Mateo Jackson and they all largely sat out, so we'll see how far they come along in the offseason.

Maginely was at DE last season.

Yeah Word was 3rd team All CAA, but was he playing even 50% of the snaps playoffs?

(01-14-2020 11:38 AM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(01-14-2020 11:26 AM)JMaddy Wrote:  I'm not seeing the LB being as big an issue as you guys.

Tucker-Dorsey, Azanama, both played a good amount and played well enough last year that if they continue to progress like most people do from this season to next then I am comfortable they will be solid. In fact by the end of the year aside from Holloway and Tabb Patrick the Senior LBs (Maginley and Word) were pretty much role players and the other senior (Cobb) was a spot player at best. That's all we lost.

Julio Ayamel and Taurus Jones are both supposed to be big time as is Mateo Jackson and they all largely sat out, so we'll see how far they come along in the offseason.

Maginely was at DE last season.

Yeah Word was 3rd team All CAA, but was he playing even 50% of the snaps playoffs?

Overlooked aspect, good point BDK. I would say Anazema and Word were basically 50/50.

Passing game is my biggest worry, both the QB and the guys he’s throwing to. Polk and the Stapleton were absolutely huge this year. On the bright side, our running game should be absolutely loaded and open up a lot for the passing game as long as they’re even somewhat capable. But as long as Trey Lance is in Fargo and healthy, we’re going to need to be very strong in all areas like we were this year. Otherwise we’re just hoping we can return to Frisco, forget winning if our offense is too one dimensional.

(01-14-2020 11:51 AM)KickItToScotty Wrote:  Passing game is my biggest worry, both the QB and the guys he’s throwing to. Polk and the Stapleton were absolutely huge this year. On the bright side, our running game should be absolutely loaded and open up a lot for the passing game as long as they’re even somewhat capable. But as long as Trey Lance is in Fargo and healthy, we’re going to need to be very strong in all areas like we were this year. Otherwise we’re just hoping we can return to Frisco, forget winning if our offense is too one dimensional.

oh you mean like the NDSU offense was.....

I think Adams could be a big factor in the QB discussion. Let's not forget Cignetti is not afraid to put a Freshman QB out there to lead the team if he's good enough. I think Adams could be that good.

As for defense, I think the D-line will be just fine. But the strength will be on the inside this year. Greene and Atariwa are already great players and could be a dangerous force on the inside that could help the DE's get pressure.
LB is a position I'm concerned about.
If Cignetti feels like we need any help at a position I'm sure we'll find that out based on any future incoming transfers.

(01-14-2020 11:57 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(01-14-2020 11:51 AM)KickItToScotty Wrote:  Passing game is my biggest worry, both the QB and the guys he’s throwing to. Polk and the Stapleton were absolutely huge this year. On the bright side, our running game should be absolutely loaded and open up a lot for the passing game as long as they’re even somewhat capable. But as long as Trey Lance is in Fargo and healthy, we’re going to need to be very strong in all areas like we were this year. Otherwise we’re just hoping we can return to Frisco, forget winning if our offense is too one dimensional.

oh you mean like the NDSU offense was.....

Ehh yeah that's fair, Lance killed us on the ground but an athletic quarterback that can win you the game with their legs is a little different from getting one dimensional by depending on your runningbacks. We always had to worry about them passing the ball and they did pick up some pretty decent plays through the air. We don't have a Trey Lance/Vad Lee/Rodney Landers type of gamechanger as far as we know, and as long as they do it's going to take a solid offense across the board to keep up with them.

(01-14-2020 11:12 AM)Duke Dawg Wrote:  QB and LB are the biggest concerns IMO.

and maybe WR to a lesser extent.

I'd add CB. Just haven't seen the improvement from McCormick and Carroll. Heck, McCormick even got pulled for Tutt after the 2nd PI. And Drew & Currance are not game tested.

(01-14-2020 11:58 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  I think Adams could be a big factor in the QB discussion. Let's not forget Cignetti is not afraid to put a Freshman QB out there to lead the team if he's good enough. I think Adams could be that good.

As for defense, I think the D-line will be just fine. But the strength will be on the inside this year. Greene and Atariwa are already great players and could be a dangerous force on the inside that could help the DE's get pressure.
LB is a position I'm concerned about.
If Cignetti feels like we need any help at a position I'm sure we'll find that out based on any future incoming transfers.

Is Adams already enrolled? If not I can't see him competing this fall.

CB I think is our weakest position... LB scares me a bit too

Going to need new DL and Safety coaches as well. Hope we can hold on to the rest of the assistants, but this happens at every program every year.

(01-14-2020 03:02 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  Going to need new DL and Safety coaches as well. Hope we can hold on to the rest of the assistants, but this happens at every program every year.

Yeah, given that they're going to ODU and VT respectively, I'm just hoping they're not bringing recruits with them. Bet we see another change or two before the week is out. Really just hope we can keep OC/DC/OL Coaches this time for some consistency.

(01-14-2020 02:25 PM)jmu98 Wrote:  

(01-14-2020 11:58 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  I think Adams could be a big factor in the QB discussion. Let's not forget Cignetti is not afraid to put a Freshman QB out there to lead the team if he's good enough. I think Adams could be that good.

As for defense, I think the D-line will be just fine. But the strength will be on the inside this year. Greene and Atariwa are already great players and could be a dangerous force on the inside that could help the DE's get pressure.
LB is a position I'm concerned about.
If Cignetti feels like we need any help at a position I'm sure we'll find that out based on any future incoming transfers.

Is Adams already enrolled? If not I can't see him competing this fall.

from what I've read and heard, these are the early enrollee's
DL
Mikall Kamara Freshman
Abi N-Okonji Minnesota Transfer

DB
Antonio Webb Freshman
Sammy Malignaggi Freshman
Joseph Norwood UMass Transfer

OL
Charles Hubbard UConn Transfer

WR
Antwane Wells Freshman

(01-14-2020 11:09 AM)dukesfan4010 Wrote:  QB - Maloney, Johnson, Adams

RB - Obese, Hamilton, Palmer, VanHorse

WR - Dean, Brown, Ravanel, Thornton

TE - Painter, Cheatham

OL - Bethea, Wilson, Hubbard, Kidwell, Fornadel, Glavin, Timming

DE - Green, Uwku, N-Okonji, Colclough

DT - Greene, Atariwa, Groulx, Thurston

LB - Tucker-Dorsey, Jackson, Benezema, Ayamel

Spur - Davis, Reid

CB - McCormick, Carroll, Drew, Currence

S - Amos, Norwood, Hampton, Chukweneke

K - Ratke

P - O Kelly

KR - Hamilton

PR - Amos

Bold = starter

Huge holes to fill IMO, can’t help to think of a drop off.

(01-14-2020 03:02 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  Going to need new DL and Safety coaches as well. Hope we can hold on to the rest of the assistants, but this happens at every program every year.

Exactly....if you are a winning program (and often mediocre & non-winning programs) position coaches move around from year to year. Losing 2-3 is almost to be expected and there are numerous reason for he changes. Most position coaches are year to year contracts and this is to be expected.