(03-02-2023 06:45 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 06:02 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  The two positions this staff hasn't had a problem finding good players for are running back and D tackle. Everything else has been pretty terrible over the last four years. Honestly, I think this staff is worse at recruiting than the Carey regime and that's saying something. Hoping for better with a retooled coaching staff this year.

You mean the Carey regime that produced all Americans and NFL draft picks? That Carey regime?

Sutton Smith
Shawun Lurry
Daron Brown
Kenny Golladay
Max Scharping

Rod had an orange bowl team to use as a springboard on recruiting…he kind of flopped. Some nice players for sure, should have been better.

Hammock had less as a springboard - still terrible at recruiting.

Carey was better than hammock at recruiting. Carey couldn’t really find a QB and that did him in.

I will add Hammock’s team is still “young” in terms of eligibility left. He could have some NFL guys.

(03-02-2023 11:05 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 06:45 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 06:02 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  The two positions this staff hasn't had a problem finding good players for are running back and D tackle. Everything else has been pretty terrible over the last four years. Honestly, I think this staff is worse at recruiting than the Carey regime and that's saying something. Hoping for better with a retooled coaching staff this year.

You mean the Carey regime that produced all Americans and NFL draft picks? That Carey regime?

Sutton Smith
Shawun Lurry
Daron Brown
Kenny Golladay
Max Scharping

Rod had an orange bowl team to use as a springboard on recruiting…he kind of flopped. Some nice players for sure, should have been better.

Hammock had less as a springboard - still terrible at recruiting.

Carey was better than hammock at recruiting. Carey couldn’t really find a QB and that did him in.

I will add Hammock’s team is still “young” in terms of eligibility left. He could have some NFL guys.

Carey's teams were more unconventional in terms of size. Super short corners who could ball (Paris Logan, Shawun Lurry, Mayomi Olootu), super effective passing running backs turned DE (Sutton Smith and Perez Ford). Skinny dudes TE looking guys to play OT (Max Scharping was 250 coming to NIU). RB sized linebackers (Kyle Pugh, Vero Beach, Juwan Johnson, Jordan Cole). Tiny scat WRs (Chad Beebe, Michael Love, Fotis Kokosioulis).

Hammock's recruits are definitely bigger in size and height, but they aren't as fast or athletic as Carey's were in my opinion. I think Carey's strategy realized that in the MAC, you aren't gonna get fast and athletic guys with size. Because those guys get scooped up by the Power 5. You'll get kids who can ball, but don't have that D1 appropriate size, and that's okay.

Then again, maybe Carey just had a better supporting staff. Because Jeff Knowles was an amazing coach. As a linebacker coach and a Defensive coordinator, he got guys in position.

(03-02-2023 11:29 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 11:05 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 06:45 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 06:02 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  The two positions this staff hasn't had a problem finding good players for are running back and D tackle. Everything else has been pretty terrible over the last four years. Honestly, I think this staff is worse at recruiting than the Carey regime and that's saying something. Hoping for better with a retooled coaching staff this year.

You mean the Carey regime that produced all Americans and NFL draft picks? That Carey regime?

Sutton Smith
Shawun Lurry
Daron Brown
Kenny Golladay
Max Scharping

Rod had an orange bowl team to use as a springboard on recruiting…he kind of flopped. Some nice players for sure, should have been better.

Hammock had less as a springboard - still terrible at recruiting.

Carey was better than hammock at recruiting. Carey couldn’t really find a QB and that did him in.

I will add Hammock’s team is still “young” in terms of eligibility left. He could have some NFL guys.

Carey's teams were more unconventional in terms of size. Super short corners who could ball (Paris Logan, Shawun Lurry, Mayomi Olootu), super effective passing running backs turned DE (Sutton Smith and Perez Ford). Skinny dudes TE looking guys to play OT (Max Scharping was 250 coming to NIU). RB sized linebackers (Kyle Pugh, Vero Beach, Juwan Johnson, Jordan Cole). Tiny scat WRs (Chad Beebe, Michael Love, Fotis Kokosioulis).

Hammock's recruits are definitely bigger in size and height, but they aren't as fast or athletic as Carey's were in my opinion. I think Carey's strategy realized that in the MAC, you aren't gonna get fast and athletic guys with size. Because those guys get scooped up by the Power 5. You'll get kids who can ball, but don't have that D1 appropriate size, and that's okay.

Then again, maybe Carey just had a better supporting staff. Because Jeff Knowles was an amazing coach. As a linebacker coach and a Defensive coordinator, he got guys in position.

Exactly. Carey recruited athletes and moved them into positions they were slightly undersized for. It worked on the level that it created play makers. Hammock has almost zero playmakers but he has size. The only player by positions I’d take from Hammock’s entire recruit history over Carey’s[/b] is obviously Rocky. There’s not a single D player Hammock got that Id take over Carey’s D recruits. No o-lineman. No TE. Brown maybe but at this point I’d take Huff in a heartbeat. You can certainly argue for Rudolph but you’d have to take him over 4 of these: Golladay, Beebe, Blake, Richie, Tucker and Tears.

Hammocks lack of playmakers is just painfully obvious and IMO his biggest weakness(player wise).

(03-03-2023 12:08 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 11:29 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 11:05 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 06:45 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 06:02 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  The two positions this staff hasn't had a problem finding good players for are running back and D tackle. Everything else has been pretty terrible over the last four years. Honestly, I think this staff is worse at recruiting than the Carey regime and that's saying something. Hoping for better with a retooled coaching staff this year.

You mean the Carey regime that produced all Americans and NFL draft picks? That Carey regime?

Sutton Smith
Shawun Lurry
Daron Brown
Kenny Golladay
Max Scharping

Rod had an orange bowl team to use as a springboard on recruiting…he kind of flopped. Some nice players for sure, should have been better.

Hammock had less as a springboard - still terrible at recruiting.

Carey was better than hammock at recruiting. Carey couldn’t really find a QB and that did him in.

I will add Hammock’s team is still “young” in terms of eligibility left. He could have some NFL guys.

Carey's teams were more unconventional in terms of size. Super short corners who could ball (Paris Logan, Shawun Lurry, Mayomi Olootu), super effective passing running backs turned DE (Sutton Smith and Perez Ford). Skinny dudes TE looking guys to play OT (Max Scharping was 250 coming to NIU). RB sized linebackers (Kyle Pugh, Vero Beach, Juwan Johnson, Jordan Cole). Tiny scat WRs (Chad Beebe, Michael Love, Fotis Kokosioulis).

Hammock's recruits are definitely bigger in size and height, but they aren't as fast or athletic as Carey's were in my opinion. I think Carey's strategy realized that in the MAC, you aren't gonna get fast and athletic guys with size. Because those guys get scooped up by the Power 5. You'll get kids who can ball, but don't have that D1 appropriate size, and that's okay.

Then again, maybe Carey just had a better supporting staff. Because Jeff Knowles was an amazing coach. As a linebacker coach and a Defensive coordinator, he got guys in position.

Exactly. Carey recruited athletes and moved them into positions they were slightly undersized for. It worked on the level that it created play makers. Hammock has almost zero playmakers but he has size. The only player by positions I’d take from Hammock’s entire recruit history over Carey’s[/b] is obviously Rocky. There’s not a single D player Hammock got that Id take over Carey’s D recruits. No o-lineman. No TE. Brown maybe but at this point I’d take Huff in a heartbeat. You can certainly argue for Rudolph but you’d have to take him over 4 of these: Golladay, Beebe, Blake, Richie, Tucker and Tears.

Hammocks lack of playmakers is just painfully obvious and IMO his biggest weakness(player wise).

Carey's tight ends were small too. 6'2 - 6'2...no more than 230. This dudes like all of his recruits could ball, but had no size. And that's the reality of recruiting in the MAC.

Any mods around? Can we please get this thread pinned?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

We definitely lack playmakers on both sides. Lombardi, Brown and Rudolph is all we have on offense that are known playmakers. Either of them get injured on offense and we are looking at another terrible season. This team has little depth and doesn't help that one of our playmakers (Waylee) transferred to another G5. Kind of sad when you lose your best players to other G5s like Memphis and Wyoming.

(03-03-2023 09:01 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  We definitely lack playmakers on both sides. Lombardi, Brown and Rudolph is all we have on offense that are known playmakers. Either of them get injured on offense and we are looking at another terrible season. This team has little depth and doesn't help that one of our playmakers (Waylee) transferred to another G5. Kind of sad when you lose your best players to other G5s like Memphis and Wyoming.

We got the running back from Iowa. We are fine. The offensive line should be okay. Even with Cox out.

On defense....the floor is lava

(03-03-2023 09:33 AM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(03-03-2023 09:01 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  We definitely lack playmakers on both sides. Lombardi, Brown and Rudolph is all we have on offense that are known playmakers. Either of them get injured on offense and we are looking at another terrible season. This team has little depth and doesn't help that one of our playmakers (Waylee) transferred to another G5. Kind of sad when you lose your best players to other G5s like Memphis and Wyoming.

We got the running back from Iowa. We are fine. The offensive line should be okay. Even with Cox out.

On defense....the floor is lava

The Iowa RB has a 471 career rushing yards and 0 TDs in three seasons at Iowa.

Remember Izayah Green-May, the LB turned DE from Wisconsin for last season? He was OK but he didn't transform the defense and I'm not sure I'd call him a playmaker. He had two sacks and 31 total tackles.

(03-03-2023 10:31 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(03-03-2023 09:33 AM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(03-03-2023 09:01 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  We definitely lack playmakers on both sides. Lombardi, Brown and Rudolph is all we have on offense that are known playmakers. Either of them get injured on offense and we are looking at another terrible season. This team has little depth and doesn't help that one of our playmakers (Waylee) transferred to another G5. Kind of sad when you lose your best players to other G5s like Memphis and Wyoming.

We got the running back from Iowa. We are fine. The offensive line should be okay. Even with Cox out.

On defense....the floor is lava

The Iowa RB has a 471 career rushing yards and 0 TDs in three seasons at Iowa.

Remember Izayah Green-May, the LB turned DE from Wisconsin for last season? He was OK but he didn't transform the defense and I'm not sure I'd call him a playmaker. He had two sacks and 31 total tackles.

Not fair to judge any of the defensive players. Coaches and scheme were a dumpster fire last season. Don’t know if hammock corrected that or not. Good luck to everyone on that side of the ball.

(03-03-2023 10:42 AM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(03-03-2023 10:31 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(03-03-2023 09:33 AM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(03-03-2023 09:01 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  We definitely lack playmakers on both sides. Lombardi, Brown and Rudolph is all we have on offense that are known playmakers. Either of them get injured on offense and we are looking at another terrible season. This team has little depth and doesn't help that one of our playmakers (Waylee) transferred to another G5. Kind of sad when you lose your best players to other G5s like Memphis and Wyoming.

We got the running back from Iowa. We are fine. The offensive line should be okay. Even with Cox out.

On defense....the floor is lava

The Iowa RB has a 471 career rushing yards and 0 TDs in three seasons at Iowa.

Remember Izayah Green-May, the LB turned DE from Wisconsin for last season? He was OK but he didn't transform the defense and I'm not sure I'd call him a playmaker. He had two sacks and 31 total tackles.

Not fair to judge any of the defensive players. Coaches and scheme were a dumpster fire last season. Don’t know if hammock corrected that or not. Good luck to everyone on that side of the ball.

While scheme certainly helps the D’s overall success, playmakers win one-on-one’s regardless of scheme. Whether it’s DE’s using a move or hand fighting to get to the QB or DBs recognizing when to jump a route. Id say LBs are maybe the biggest victim of the bad scheme but still, I’d bet if Hammock had Jawuan Johnson, Antonio Jones Davis and Bobby Jones there’d be a ton more plays made by the LBs even in that bogus scheme.

I didn’t want to make this a - Carey was great - thread. He wasn’t. He benefited greatly from several things. Bit I believe he recruited using the right formula for the MAC. The important thing I was trying to impart was that Hammock has recruited a bunch of big bodies who are mostly just adequate. There’s an overwhelming feeling of mediocrity when I look at 95% of this roster

What’s wild is Hammock said the guys he got rid of (the Carey guys) were slow and not athletic enough…

I think Hammock had a bit of an issue judging speed…and seems like he still does. Those DBs he had out there could not run. Period.

(03-03-2023 02:43 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  What’s wild is Hammock said the guys he got rid of (the Carey guys) were slow and not athletic enough…

I think Hammock had a bit of an issue judging speed…and seems like he still does. Those DBs he had out there could not run. Period.

It’s as if Hammock needs a college combine so he can actually see that his secondary recruits are .2 slower than average in the 3-cone and his DE’s are a foot shorter in the broad jump.

It’s much more reasonable to take smaller, good athletes and hope they gain size than to take a player with size and hope he becomes an athlete.

(03-03-2023 03:52 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(03-03-2023 02:43 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  What’s wild is Hammock said the guys he got rid of (the Carey guys) were slow and not athletic enough…

I think Hammock had a bit of an issue judging speed…and seems like he still does. Those DBs he had out there could not run. Period.

It’s as if Hammock needs a college combine so he can actually see that his secondary recruits are .2 slower than average in the 3-cone and his DE’s are a foot shorter in the broad jump.

It’s much more reasonable to take smaller, good athletes and hope they gain size than to take a player with size and hope he becomes an athlete.

Very true. Game speed is something you should see on film. If we are being honest this defense was slow at just about every level. The D-Line probably has the best athleticism on that unit. I don’t understand how he can’t recruit speed in the secondary. It doesn’t make sense. Lots of transfers who can run too. He couldn’t get either. I will say Dabney appears to be fast enough, he was on the field at Kansas and looked fine out there. The safety transfer appeared fast, level of competition concern - same with aramgatcher (the other corner transfer.). We already know our safeties can’t run.

To bring this full circle I am going to be keeping an eye on the overall speed of the 2024 class.

(03-03-2023 04:55 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(03-03-2023 03:52 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(03-03-2023 02:43 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  What’s wild is Hammock said the guys he got rid of (the Carey guys) were slow and not athletic enough…

I think Hammock had a bit of an issue judging speed…and seems like he still does. Those DBs he had out there could not run. Period.

It’s as if Hammock needs a college combine so he can actually see that his secondary recruits are .2 slower than average in the 3-cone and his DE’s are a foot shorter in the broad jump.

It’s much more reasonable to take smaller, good athletes and hope they gain size than to take a player with size and hope he becomes an athlete.

Very true. Game speed is something you should see on film. If we are being honest this defense was slow at just about every level. The D-Line probably has the best athleticism on that unit. I don’t understand how he can’t recruit speed in the secondary. It doesn’t make sense. Lots of transfers who can run too. He couldn’t get either. I will say Dabney appears to be fast enough, he was on the field at Kansas and looked fine out there. The safety transfer appeared fast, level of competition concern - same with aramgatcher (the other corner transfer.). We already know our safeties can’t run.

To bring this full circle I am going to be keeping an eye on the overall speed of the 2024 class.

We can all agree, that Carey knew how to win in the MAC and how to pick off low hanging power 5 teams.

With that being said, look at all the secondary talent Ham is bringing in. Those guys are more prototypical in size. But definitely can't run like the little slot corners Carey used to bring in. Again corners or any athlete with size and speed, will go Power 5 before ending up here. The ones with just size will come here. Whereas Carey opted for just speed with guys like Paris Logan, Mayomi Olootu and Shawun Lurry.

(03-02-2023 11:05 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 06:45 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 06:02 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  The two positions this staff hasn't had a problem finding good players for are running back and D tackle. Everything else has been pretty terrible over the last four years. Honestly, I think this staff is worse at recruiting than the Carey regime and that's saying something. Hoping for better with a retooled coaching staff this year.

You mean the Carey regime that produced all Americans and NFL draft picks? That Carey regime?

Sutton Smith
Shawun Lurry
Daron Brown
Kenny Golladay
Max Scharping

Rod had an orange bowl team to use as a springboard on recruiting…he kind of flopped. Some nice players for sure, should have been better.

Hammock had less as a springboard - still terrible at recruiting.

Carey was better than hammock at recruiting. Carey couldn’t really find a QB and that did him in.

I will add Hammock’s team is still “young” in terms of eligibility left. He could have some NFL guys.

Stop it……his team is not young anymore. He’s into his 4th year which makes his first recruiting class seniors. How is this young? Covid year messed things up giving athletes an extra redshirt so it appears they are younger.

(03-03-2023 11:36 PM)JoeNovak Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 11:05 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 06:45 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 06:02 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  The two positions this staff hasn't had a problem finding good players for are running back and D tackle. Everything else has been pretty terrible over the last four years. Honestly, I think this staff is worse at recruiting than the Carey regime and that's saying something. Hoping for better with a retooled coaching staff this year.

You mean the Carey regime that produced all Americans and NFL draft picks? That Carey regime?

Sutton Smith
Shawun Lurry
Daron Brown
Kenny Golladay
Max Scharping

Rod had an orange bowl team to use as a springboard on recruiting…he kind of flopped. Some nice players for sure, should have been better.

Hammock had less as a springboard - still terrible at recruiting.

Carey was better than hammock at recruiting. Carey couldn’t really find a QB and that did him in.

I will add Hammock’s team is still “young” in terms of eligibility left. He could have some NFL guys.

Stop it……his team is not young. He’s into his 4th year which makes his first recruiting class seniors. How is this young? Covid year messed up your perception.

I think he means that a lot of players on our team have built up a considerable amount of playing time. Many were thrust in as freshman. With the extra years, they'll be in a unique place as far as experience goes.

(03-03-2023 11:36 PM)JoeNovak Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 11:05 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 06:45 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 06:02 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  The two positions this staff hasn't had a problem finding good players for are running back and D tackle. Everything else has been pretty terrible over the last four years. Honestly, I think this staff is worse at recruiting than the Carey regime and that's saying something. Hoping for better with a retooled coaching staff this year.

You mean the Carey regime that produced all Americans and NFL draft picks? That Carey regime?

Sutton Smith
Shawun Lurry
Daron Brown
Kenny Golladay
Max Scharping

Rod had an orange bowl team to use as a springboard on recruiting…he kind of flopped. Some nice players for sure, should have been better.

Hammock had less as a springboard - still terrible at recruiting.

Carey was better than hammock at recruiting. Carey couldn’t really find a QB and that did him in.

I will add Hammock’s team is still “young” in terms of eligibility left. He could have some NFL guys.

Stop it……his team is not young anymore. He’s into his 4th year which makes his first recruiting class seniors. How is this young? Covid year messed things up giving athletes an extra redshirt so it appears they are younger.

Again…read the post, man. In terms of years left they are “young”. So to compare NFL talent isn’t fair…yet. MAC guys almost never leave years on the table. Maybe the super stars do (Sutton smith) but guys who can sit on an NFL roster a couple of seasons usually have zero eligibility left. So again, read the post, man.

(03-04-2023 10:41 AM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(03-03-2023 11:36 PM)JoeNovak Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 11:05 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 06:45 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 06:02 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  The two positions this staff hasn't had a problem finding good players for are running back and D tackle. Everything else has been pretty terrible over the last four years. Honestly, I think this staff is worse at recruiting than the Carey regime and that's saying something. Hoping for better with a retooled coaching staff this year.

You mean the Carey regime that produced all Americans and NFL draft picks? That Carey regime?

Sutton Smith
Shawun Lurry
Daron Brown
Kenny Golladay
Max Scharping

Rod had an orange bowl team to use as a springboard on recruiting…he kind of flopped. Some nice players for sure, should have been better.

Hammock had less as a springboard - still terrible at recruiting.

Carey was better than hammock at recruiting. Carey couldn’t really find a QB and that did him in.

I will add Hammock’s team is still “young” in terms of eligibility left. He could have some NFL guys.

Stop it……his team is not young anymore. He’s into his 4th year which makes his first recruiting class seniors. How is this young? Covid year messed things up giving athletes an extra redshirt so it appears they are younger.

Again…read the post, man. In terms of years left they are “young”. So to compare NFL talent isn’t fair…yet. MAC guys almost never leave years on the table. Maybe the super stars do (Sutton smith) but guys who can sit on an NFL roster a couple of seasons usually have zero eligibility left. So again, read the post, man.

Focusing mostly on the defense in terms of lack of talent, I think we can see there’s probably no NFL caliber players from hammocks first 2 classes. Maybe O’Malley. You gotta give it up to a D-tackle who has almost 12 sacks in a little over 2 years. I’ve always seen potential in him bc he’s explosive. And that’s sort of the thing with Hammocks classes - there COULD be a great player waiting to emerge but have your eyes identified anyone? Guys like Lurry stood out immediately. Hammock has none of those guys. So what we have is hoping he developes a guy over 4 years who is maybe great by his second senior season. And I think that all gets back to talent/athleticism.

To put it into player example: there’s no sutton smith so we are waiting on a josh corcoran. And if that’s the case, then those players should start to emerge now in year 5. But I still say, damn Ham, can’t you just get lucky and find just 1 stud on defense like you found Rudolph on O?

(03-04-2023 11:16 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(03-04-2023 10:41 AM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(03-03-2023 11:36 PM)JoeNovak Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 11:05 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 06:45 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  You mean the Carey regime that produced all Americans and NFL draft picks? That Carey regime?

Sutton Smith
Shawun Lurry
Daron Brown
Kenny Golladay
Max Scharping

Rod had an orange bowl team to use as a springboard on recruiting…he kind of flopped. Some nice players for sure, should have been better.

Hammock had less as a springboard - still terrible at recruiting.

Carey was better than hammock at recruiting. Carey couldn’t really find a QB and that did him in.

I will add Hammock’s team is still “young” in terms of eligibility left. He could have some NFL guys.

Stop it……his team is not young anymore. He’s into his 4th year which makes his first recruiting class seniors. How is this young? Covid year messed things up giving athletes an extra redshirt so it appears they are younger.

Again…read the post, man. In terms of years left they are “young”. So to compare NFL talent isn’t fair…yet. MAC guys almost never leave years on the table. Maybe the super stars do (Sutton smith) but guys who can sit on an NFL roster a couple of seasons usually have zero eligibility left. So again, read the post, man.

Focusing mostly on the defense in terms of lack of talent, I think we can see there’s probably no NFL caliber players from hammocks first 2 classes. Maybe O’Malley. You gotta give it up to a D-tackle who has almost 12 sacks in a little over 2 years. I’ve always seen potential in him bc he’s explosive. And that’s sort of the thing with Hammocks classes - there COULD be a great player waiting to emerge but have your eyes identified anyone? Guys like Lurry stood out immediately. Hammock has none of those guys. So what we have is hoping he developes a guy over 4 years who is maybe great by his second senior season. And I think that all gets back to talent/athleticism.

To put it into player example: there’s no sutton smith so we are waiting on a josh corcoran. And if that’s the case, then those players should start to emerge now in year 5. But I still say, damn Ham, can’t you just get lucky and find just 1 stud on defense like you found Rudolph on O?

Devin Lafayette....then he got hit with that injury bug

Jaden Dolphin provided some explosive plays as a freshman walk on.

(03-04-2023 11:39 AM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(03-04-2023 11:16 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(03-04-2023 10:41 AM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(03-03-2023 11:36 PM)JoeNovak Wrote:  

(03-02-2023 11:05 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  Rod had an orange bowl team to use as a springboard on recruiting…he kind of flopped. Some nice players for sure, should have been better.

Hammock had less as a springboard - still terrible at recruiting.

Carey was better than hammock at recruiting. Carey couldn’t really find a QB and that did him in.

I will add Hammock’s team is still “young” in terms of eligibility left. He could have some NFL guys.

Stop it……his team is not young anymore. He’s into his 4th year which makes his first recruiting class seniors. How is this young? Covid year messed things up giving athletes an extra redshirt so it appears they are younger.

Again…read the post, man. In terms of years left they are “young”. So to compare NFL talent isn’t fair…yet. MAC guys almost never leave years on the table. Maybe the super stars do (Sutton smith) but guys who can sit on an NFL roster a couple of seasons usually have zero eligibility left. So again, read the post, man.

Focusing mostly on the defense in terms of lack of talent, I think we can see there’s probably no NFL caliber players from hammocks first 2 classes. Maybe O’Malley. You gotta give it up to a D-tackle who has almost 12 sacks in a little over 2 years. I’ve always seen potential in him bc he’s explosive. And that’s sort of the thing with Hammocks classes - there COULD be a great player waiting to emerge but have your eyes identified anyone? Guys like Lurry stood out immediately. Hammock has none of those guys. So what we have is hoping he developes a guy over 4 years who is maybe great by his second senior season. And I think that all gets back to talent/athleticism.

To put it into player example: there’s no sutton smith so we are waiting on a josh corcoran. And if that’s the case, then those players should start to emerge now in year 5. But I still say, damn Ham, can’t you just get lucky and find just 1 stud on defense like you found Rudolph on O?

Devin Lafayette....then he got hit with that injury bug

Jaden Dolphin provided some explosive plays as a freshman walk on.

Lafayette did flash. Let’s hope he fully recovers. Dolphin….myeh. Rayner maybe a little. I’m still waiting for that guy who can take over. Make that big play in crucial downs. Change a game with one play. Talking pick-6, sack with a forced fumble. That stuff. I’ll go back to Rudolph. You always feel he’s one play away from breaking a game open and creating momentum. No one on D is anything like him.