(02-07-2020 11:11 PM)prairiedawg Wrote:  

(02-07-2020 06:54 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  I'm only aware of three senior O linemen: Patton, Olson and Perez. Warner, Hawn and Gueths hung it up after last season.

Boo...hate to hear that. NIU needs bruisers that stay and are tough guys!!!!

2 of those 3 players who left had serious injuries.

Most important for OL is games played "together". I'd take 5 sophomores who all started as freshman over 5 seniors being together for the first time. Cox, Olsen, Perez and Patton. Those guys will get it done.

I think next year is getting over looked. Getting a - few years away - vibe. Next year is that good mix of youth and experience (no depth though).

Offense Srs
Bowers
Brinkman
Crawford
Patton
Perez
Richie

Defense Srs
Heflin
Kramer
Pugh
Devaux
Lorback

2 years from now you wont have many seniors on the field. The 2018 class brought very little except O-line. There's no reason next years isn't a huge year.

(02-08-2020 10:34 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Most important for OL is games played "together". I'd take 5 sophomores who all started as freshman over 5 seniors being together for the first time. Cox, Olsen, Perez and Patton. Those guys will get it done.

I think next year is getting over looked. Getting a - few years away - vibe. Next year is that good mix of youth and experience (no depth though).

Offense Srs
Bowers
Brinkman
Crawford
Patton
Perez
Richie

Defense Srs
Heflin
Kramer
Pugh
Devaux
Lorback

2 years from now you wont have many seniors on the field. The 2018 class brought very little except O-line. There's no reason next years isn't a huge year.

The offense has a chance to be good. Bowers and the O-Line need to stay healthy first and foremost. With Tucker, Richie, Robinson, Love, Toure (3rd rated 2019) & McCray (#1 rated 2019) we should have plenty of talent at WR. TE of course is STACKED with Crawford, Brinkman & Lersch. RB should be good as well with Nettles, Collins and Ducker.

The defense worries me. We have basically zero experience at safety. The CB's that we do have with playing time are coming off injuries. (exception of Thomas who hasn't been at CB for a full year yet) We have 3 really quality LB's but all have had frequent injury issues. We have 8.5 career sacks returning at DE. That is all very worisome. Pretty much the only spot that isn't a major question mark is DT with Heflin and Kramer.

(02-08-2020 02:53 PM)TXHuskieJA26 Wrote:  The offense has a chance to be good. Bowers and the O-Line need to stay healthy first and foremost. With Tucker, Richie, Robinson, Love, Toure (3rd rated 2019) & McCray (#1 rated 2019) we should have plenty of talent at WR. TE of course is STACKED with Crawford, Brinkman & Lersch. RB should be good as well with Nettles, Collins and Ducker.

The defense worries me. We have basically zero experience at safety. The CB's that we do have with playing time are coming off injuries. (exception of Thomas who hasn't been at CB for a full year yet) We have 3 really quality LB's but all have had frequent injury issues. We have 8.5 career sacks returning at DE. That is all very worisome. Pretty much the only spot that isn't a major question mark is DT with Heflin and Kramer.

It’s not that the 2020 team will be great, but it will be good on both sides of the ball. Between this years team and 2021-22, this years team may be the best. I do really like the recent recruits but i doubt those teams in the next couple years will have equally replaced Heflin,Kramer, Lorback, Pugh,Devaux,Brinkman,Crawford. Those are really good players. No doubt better players will emerge at other positions than this year’s team, but experience may still be an issue.

I think we fall in love with recruiting classes that have high rated Skill position players. And there’s no doubt the team needed some. I just hope we stay strong up the middle on D.

(02-08-2020 06:04 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(02-08-2020 02:53 PM)TXHuskieJA26 Wrote:  The offense has a chance to be good. Bowers and the O-Line need to stay healthy first and foremost. With Tucker, Richie, Robinson, Love, Toure (3rd rated 2019) & McCray (#1 rated 2019) we should have plenty of talent at WR. TE of course is STACKED with Crawford, Brinkman & Lersch. RB should be good as well with Nettles, Collins and Ducker.

The defense worries me. We have basically zero experience at safety. The CB's that we do have with playing time are coming off injuries. (exception of Thomas who hasn't been at CB for a full year yet) We have 3 really quality LB's but all have had frequent injury issues. We have 8.5 career sacks returning at DE. That is all very worisome. Pretty much the only spot that isn't a major question mark is DT with Heflin and Kramer.

It’s not that the 2020 team will be great, but it will be good on both sides of the ball. Between this years team and 2021-22, this years team may be the best. I do really like the recent recruits but i doubt those teams in the next couple years will have equally replaced Heflin,Kramer, Lorback, Pugh,Devaux,Brinkman,Crawford. Those are really good players. No doubt better players will emerge at other positions than this year’s team, but experience may still be an issue.

I think we fall in love with recruiting classes that have high rated Skill position players. And there’s no doubt the team needed some. I just hope we stay strong up the middle on D.

I am really excited about Matt Schooley, I think he'll go from walk-on to all conference DT.

https://www.hudl.com/video/3/7632280/5db...0cec478053