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Topic: Looking towards next year.....

Topic: Looking towards next year.....

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BuddyLee
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Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 12/29/2012 6:31:00 PM

So after the euphoria of watching a solid bowl game performance and seeing what we have coming back do you see bigger things in store for next year? Schedule looks like it sets up great for us again also. But I have some concerns especially on defense, though the injuries this year did give a lot of guys experience. I think next year might really test our last few years of recruiting to to fill the shoes of these seniors.

Need help on a projected starting lineup please (LC this is directed at you):

QB - Tettleton
RB - Blankenship (we should be pretty loaded at this position again)
WR - Foster
WR - Cochran (kid is turning into a gamebreaker)
WR - L. Smith (looked like a stud early in the year)
TE - Hill (we're pretty thin here)
LT - McQueen
LG - Lechner
C - ?
RG - ?
RT - Prior

DT - Crutcher (should be potential all Mac)
DT - ?
DE - ?
DE - ?
OLB - J. Johnson (speedy guy on the outside)
MLB - Moore (leader of the defense for sure)
OLB - ?? (losing Woseley will hurt)
CB - Carrie (huge key here. we need him to be healthy)
CB - Fisher (there's a lot of choices for our 2nd CB)
SS - Kristoff
FS - Carpenter (would much rather have him as our nickel back though)

P - Venham
K - ? (I believe we got a walk on last year, but this could be another area of concern)

Last Edited: 12/29/2012 6:32:10 PM by BuddyLee

Bucho
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 12/29/2012 7:05:00 PM

At TE, Derek Roback has shown some skills. I always thought he'd step in at some point.

Ohio69
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 12/29/2012 7:18:39 PM

Bucho wrote:

At TE, Derek Roback has shown some skills. I always thought he'd step in at some point.

Needs to lose weight at TE. Or keep it and move to Dline or Oline.

Last Edited: 12/29/2012 7:57:00 PM by Ohio69

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

ohio9704
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 12/29/2012 7:49:12 PM

Mark Smith or Sam Johnson at one of those guard positions.

Buster
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 12/29/2012 7:54:50 PM

This is a very good topic. Many people downplayed the bowl game and said we were better off not going. I think it makes a huge difference on how our program is viewed not only by the media and outsiders, but with our fanbase. The excitement should carry over to next season. Hoping there is plenty of green in Louisville next year.

Injuries killed us this year, but it will actually help us next season . Plenty of depth next season and a lot of experience gained, due to so many guys contributing this year off the bench. Young guys like Devin Bass, stepped in this season, when they would normally be learning on the sidelines instead of on the field.

I'll tell ya where we'll go. Someplace warm. A place where the beer flows like wine. Where beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. I'm talkin' bout a little place called... ATHENS.

L.C.
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 12/29/2012 8:03:59 PM

BuddyLee wrote:

...(LC this is directed at you)

Haha - yes, I admit, I've already done a projection for next year. (Red is losses, Bold is starters for at least 3 games)

QB - Tettleton, Vick, Windham, Sprague - Lost, none
RB - Blankenship , Boykin, Patterson, Hammonds - Lost, none
WR-X - Foster, Cochran - Lost=Bussey
WR-F - L Smith, Waters, Dixon - Lost=Futrell
WR -Z - Dovell, S. Smith = Lost=Clark
others at WR are Malik Rodriquiez, Jordan Reid, Alderman, Sawyer, Johan, Hammond
TE - Roback, Hill, Knight (not sure if jr or sr), John Tanner, Davon Henry, Art Jordan, Andrew Pepin - Lost = Thompson
LT - Prior, McQueen
LG - Lechner, Mark Smith - Lost=Carlotta
C - Lucas Powell, Lost=Allen, Bales
RG - Sam Johnson, Mike Lucas, Everhart, Lost=Herman
RT - McGrath, Bryce Dietz
other offensive linemen - Welter, Curtis, Gibbons, Watson
PK - Yazdani, Amicone, Lost=Weller

Offense - At the skill positions more people return who were lost for the season than are lost. The key losses are the interior of the offensive line, Carlotta, Allen, Bales, and Herman, plus the place kicker. Lechner is pretty much on a par with Carlotta, so I don't see a drop there. Sam Johnson has played well, and while he may not quite be as good as Herman, he'll be good....if he can beat out Mike Lucas, who also looks good. The only real question mark is center, where we haven't seen much of Lucas Powell. With all the tackles back, pass protection should be solid, but the run game may not be quite as strong with the changes on the interior. At placekicker, whoever wins between Yazdani and Amicone should be solid. On the whole the offense should be as good or better than 2012.

DT - Crutcher, McLeod (New Juco), Tautaiuki (New Juco) - Lose Huynh
DT - Purdum, Haser, Davis, Taylor - Lose Carl Jones
DE - Nic Barber, Kendrick Smith, Bennett, Radabaugh - Lose Tremayne Scott
DE - Ty Branz, Kurt Laseak, Price, Buehner - Lose Corey Hastings
MLB - Moore, Russell, Edmond, Blair Brown, Owens, Rider
WLB - Jovon Johnson, Blake Jones, Brandon Atwell, Schany - Lose Woseley
SLB - AJ Grady, Wm Johnson, Storm Timson - Lose Alphonso Lewis
nickle - Carpenter Lose Mose Denton
CB - Carrie, Wells, Scipio, Ray, Anderson Lose Leftwich
CB - Shaw, Fisher, Bass, Terpin, Hairston
SS - Hughes, Kristoff, Macer
FS - Ingol, Devin Jones, Toran Davis Lose Gerald Moore
P - Venham, Teipel

Defense - The good news the secondary should be extremely good, with 8 returning starters for 5 positions. The biggest question mark is up front. The entire defensive line needs to be replaced. Crutcher, Purdum, Barber, and Branz all played a fair amount, but they have big shoes to fill. The center of the defensive line was looking pretty bare, but they signed two Jucos, McLeod and Tautaiuki, who I think should be at Spring practice, to add some immediate help. Replacing the multi-year starters at outside linebackers Woseley and Lewis, won't be easy, either, but there is some talent there to choose from.

Overall conclusion - The offense should be very good. The running game may not be quite as strong, but the passing game should be better. The defense, however, will not be as good. At least, let's say, the defense will not be as good as the defense that stuffed Penn State and ULM, but it should be at least comparable to the wounded defense that played against Ball State, Kent, and BG. Will that be good enough to win the MAC? I don't know. I do think that as the new starters gain experience, the defense will improve as the year goes along.

Barring another disasterous year for injuries, I expect Ohio to be right in the middle of the hunt for a Mac Championship.

Last Edited: 12/29/2012 8:09:42 PM by L.C.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

sargentfan
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 12/30/2012 12:15:39 AM

I agree that the offense for the most part should be fine if not more explosive through the air if TT and the receivers stay healthy. The defense should be really good against the pass, it will really come down to our run defense. Hopefully if we develop some good run blitzes that should help neutralize some of the problem. Will really be interesting to see how the JUCO guys and Freshmen do in camp to see if they can help bring some help to the line. As always I would love to see us develop an actual DE threat to sack the QB; can't remember the last time we had a guy that could disrupt the QB often enough for us.

Doc Bobcat
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 12/30/2012 7:40:07 AM

Your ? marks BL pretty much nail the positions where someone needs to step up....somewhat like what Cochran did at the Indy bowl.

The offense doesn't bother me as well as I look for Powell to work at Center.....RG for Johnson and Lechner at Lg with lots of help from Lucas and McQueen and Smith. At TE true freshman Mason Morgan might even get a look.

The D line is the key.....gonna talk about DE Branz later on.... but he could be the key....Crutcher as well was a stud at Indy....Purdum has played some and Kendric Smith may be the surprise there at DE. At DT/DE it's also the JUCO's and maybe true freshmen Porter and Sayles if they don't decommit.

LBer Moore should stay at MLB after his Indy performance...but don't count out Russell/Schany/Edmond at mlb with Moore to OLB.

Stay tuned.

MonroeClassmate
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 12/30/2012 7:55:57 AM

How is it a for sure that T. Carrie will return as a Bobcat? Reasoning: he must already have a degree and if all the hype is realistic could fit in elsewhere and start a masters at another quality institution and play in front of 60,000 plus crowds every Saturday. Several programs saw how important it was to have surplus corners so I'd imagine the interest from some very good programs would be intense for a one year fix with a high quality young man.

I

bobcat28
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 12/30/2012 8:08:41 AM

L.C. wrote:

BuddyLee wrote:

...(LC this is directed at you)

You might want to factor in the minimum 8-10 season ending injuries we seem to suffer each year.

L.C.
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 12/30/2012 1:28:43 PM

bobcat28 wrote:

You might want to factor in the minimum 8-10 season ending injuries we seem to suffer each year.

There have certainly been more than a few years with excessive injuries. I remember 2005 where three starting linemen went down in 1 five minute period against BG. Then 2007 was another year with high injuries. Neither was as bad as last year, and in fact, I've never seen it that bad, anywhere. Let's hope that 2013 is a more normal year, with only a few serious injuries.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

mf279801
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 12/30/2012 2:00:59 PM

Whatever happens later in the season injury wise, I share the thoughts mentioned above that Louisville looks like its going to be a very tough game, tougher than penn state I think. I guess in part this will depend on Terry Bridgewater making a full recovery, but he played well enough while hobbled the last couple games of the season.

The one striking thing that I find in our favor, and I must emphasize that this is based on having watch a single game (Louisville vs. Kentucky last year), was that they seemed to have small D-Linemen. Small enough that even Kentucky was able to average 6.3 yards per carry against them. That yards/carry is excluding runs/attempts by UK's QB, 3 attempts for negative 8 yards. I excluded the QB's rushing yards because (a) the long was 5 yards and (b) I think they were basically sacks, not real rush attempts (the NCAA doesn't differentiate between sack-yards and runs for loss in their official stats). With the caveat that the season long stats DO include the QB, the adjusted 6.3 yds/carry would be their highest of the season. Even using the unadjusted numbers, UK's 4.89yards/carry were their 2nd highest of the year against FBS opponents.

This is basically a long round about way of saying that I think we will be able to run against them, and make them over commit to stopping the run. This does assume that we come out of spring/summer ball healthy and with our new O-Line starters working well together.

BuddyLee
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 12/30/2012 3:32:38 PM

Thanks for filling in some of the gaps there LC. But wouldn't you expect Mcqueen to be a starting tackle? I think he showed a lot this year and has the most upside. On the DL we look like we could be much smaller inside - unless those Juco lineman are ready. Do you think we have enough depth at the LB position?

Last Edited: 12/30/2012 5:14:50 PM by BuddyLee

L.C.
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 12/30/2012 4:28:05 PM

McQueen has upside, for sure, but I don't see him displacing either of the returning starters at tackle, Prior or McGrath, both of who had decent seasons. One never knows, but I do see him starting in 2014. I know that Mike Lucas had some troubles, but charges against him seem to have been dropped as he was playing in the bowl. I don't know of any issues with Powell, but then, I'm not up to date on all that stuff.

Both Jucos are over 300 lbs, so I expect both will come in and play right away. Without them the interior would have been questionable, but with them it looks solid. There are also a lot of Freshman-Sophomore defensive tackles and defensive ends, and hopefully some of those are ready. With those positions, and at linebacker, there are a lot of players, and a lot of highly rated recruits. While I don't know who the answer will be, I expect there will be players who will step up and show they can handle it.

The front 7 on defense is the big question, for sure. How solid they end up being will determine how good next year's team will be.

Last Edited: 12/30/2012 4:29:45 PM by L.C.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

BuddyLee
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 12/30/2012 5:16:45 PM

Whoops, you're right I got my names mixed up with Lucas Powell and Mike Lucas.

Doc Bobcat
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 12/30/2012 10:00:46 PM

BuddyLee wrote:

Thanks for filling in some of the gaps there LC. But wouldn't you expect Mcqueen to be a starting tackle? I think he showed a lot this year and has the most upside. On the DL we look like we could be much smaller inside - unless those Juco lineman are ready. Do you think we have enough depth at the LB position?

JMHO but it looks like RB for the offense and LB for the defense will be 2 of OUr deeper positions.

At times last year I thought Moore should be moved to OLB. His performance in the Indy Bowl means he can do the job at either position. If he would move to OLB there are 3 very talented MLB's waiting to compete....Russell and Schany and Edmond.

If Moore stays at MLB we might have OU's fastest other 2 OLB's. Grady and Javon Johnson both played some safety in high school. Last years freshman William Johnson and Blair Brown did well in scrimmages. I never want a true freshman to lose his redshirt but the 2 verbals so far Poling and Quallen could really excel at OLB.....Poling is a ferocious hitter and Quallen could play safety.

71 BOBCAT
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 1/2/2013 1:33:16 PM

Injuries, that's the key word for next year.
If we are fortunate to have the pendelum swing the other way next year then even if we have some weakness in certain areas at least being at full strength will be a plus.
We are do a no major injury year.

GO BOBCATS

Mark Lembright '85
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 1/2/2013 5:19:12 PM

71 BOBCAT wrote:

FROM YOUR LIPS TO GOD'S EARS!!!!

allen
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 1/2/2013 6:27:09 PM

I am going to be Frank, I hope I don't hurt anybodies feelings. Nobody should have a guaranteed starting position on defense except for Travis Carrie and maybe Crutch. Nobody was reliable and warrant a guaranteed position, not even Keith Moore. There were too many blown coverages , missed tackles and explosive plays surrendered by the defense. The coaches need to clamp down on the fundamentals and put the best 11 players on the field if you have to move Ian Wells and Jamil Shaw to safe so be it. This was by far the worst year of tackling I have seen from the bobcats, I have only followed since 96. On offense the two positions of concern are center and guard. Tyler has to buy in to what the coaches want and perform at an All-American level because he has that ability. Blankenship and the rest of the backs and receivers must get a step faster. We are on the verge of greatness but we the fans and coaches must call a spade a spade and stop settling for mediocrity. A bowl appearance and a Mac East title is not enough for a team with this much talent.

Nobody despises to lose more than I do. That's got me into trouble over the years, but it also made a man of mediocre ability into a pretty good coach. Woody Hayes

L.C.
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 1/2/2013 7:19:23 PM

71 BOBCAT wrote:

Injuries, that's the key word for next year. If we are fortunate to have the pendelum swing the other way next year then even if we have some weakness in certain areas at least being at full strength will be a plus.
We are do a no major injury year.

Contrary to popular opinion, not every year has been horrible for injuries. I remember that 2005 was bad, but have only some approximate records for years after that. I do not make any claims that this list is complete or accurate:
2006 (2) - Jordan Meyers, Bryson Bush (also Everson hurt his ankle, but still played)
2007 (5) - Ferrainolo (back), Matt Donahue (thumb), Paul Johnson (knee), Ejike (foot), Harden (shoulder)
2008 (13) - Jordan Meyers (back, neck, shoulder, knee), Morsillo (shoulder), Kenkle (shoulder), Mooney (knee), Shussler (knee, Foot), Gatling (elbow), Posey (ankle), Theo Scott (collarbone), Sweeney (shoulder), Harden (shoulder), Laudermilch (not sure), Michael Brown (hamstring), Michael Mitchell (shoulder)
2009 (11) - Hilton Dawson (ACL), Steven Jackson (turf toe/hip/groin), Gonzales-Santos (knee), Luchsinger (ankle), Curt Meyers (MCL), Jay Edwards (knee), Brandon Weaver (foot), Boo Jackson (shoulder), Laudermilch (broken leg), Dunlop (shoulder), Matt Brittain (back/discs)
2010 (4) - Laudermilch, Flowers, Keller, Brazill
2011 (1) - Matt Pritchard (knee)
2012 (18) - McGrath, Carlotta, Pritchard, Tanner, Thompson, Roback, Sam Johnson, Boykin, Landon Smith, Sebastian Smith, Dovell, Yazdani, Carl Jones, Huyhn, Scott, Carrie, Shaw, Hughes, plus many other injuries where people kept playing (Herman, Tettleton, Gerald Moore, etc.)

Looking at this list, it's quite clear that the number of injuries varies widely, and also is strongly related to whether the season turns out as well as expected:
2005 - lots of injuries, and after a good start, things did not finish strongly
2006 - very few bad few injuries, and turned out well, though Everson was not the same after his ankle injury
2007 - Average year
2008 - Major injury issues, season was a definite disappointment
2009 - Lots of injuries, but few were to starters. Primarily the DE position was hit hard, losing Luchsinger, Meyers, and Weaver, but Notestine emerged as a force, and Connor Reilly and Tremayne Scott also picked up the slack, so the season turned out well anyway.
2010 - Not many injuries, but they were to key players, Keller and Brazill. Season was good.
2011 - Very few injuries, very good season
2012 - Massive injuries, disappointing finish to what could have been a great year

After last year, the Bobcats are definitely due for another year like 2006 or 2011.

Last Edited: 1/2/2013 7:27:38 PM by L.C.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

Bcat2
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 1/2/2013 8:26:49 PM

allen wrote:

Here we go again. The seniors of the 2012 season will leave as the winningest group in Ohio history, have the only two bowl wins in school history and beat Penn State at Beaver Stadium and they are "mediocre." Well allen if you have been around since 96 you have seen the program steadily rise because no one associated "settles" for what they have, where they are. Yes the talent level is rising, however, like the SEC has a top group it is special to be a part of the MAC is developing an elite like the MAC has never seen. "Mediocre," I suggest you take this up personally with Tyler or Beau.

"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men." JFK

L.C.
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 1/2/2013 9:01:37 PM

I watched the Independence bowl again, and I didn't notice even one missed tackle. Why is it that the team tackled so well in this game, and against Penn State, yet so poorly in the middle of the season? Also, I didn't notice any DB's getting beaten, yet I saw that a lot during the season. I posit that it was related to the fact that the DBs were playing hurt all season long, and were a step slow.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

perimeterpost
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 1/2/2013 9:17:00 PM

allen wrote:

I am going to be Frank, I hope I don't hurt anybodies feelings. Nobody should have a guaranteed starting position on defense except for Travis Carrie and maybe Crutch. Nobody was reliable and warrant a guaranteed position, not even Keith Moore. There were too many blown coverages , missed tackles and explosive plays surrendered by the defense. The coaches need to clamp down on the fundamentals and put the best 11 players on the field if you have to move Ian Wells and Jamil Shaw to safe so be it. This was by far the worst year of tackling I have seen from the bobcats, I have only followed since 96. On offense the two positions of concern are center and guard. Tyler has to buy in to what the coaches want and perform at an All-American level because he has that ability. Blankenship and the rest of the backs and receivers must get a step faster. We are on the verge of greatness but we the fans and coaches must call a spade a spade and stop settling for mediocrity. A bowl appearance and a Mac East title is not enough for a team with this much talent.

I say we let Frank be Frank.

MY STATE. MY TEAM.

Ohio football
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 1/2/2013 9:49:47 PM

The defense actually played really well in the Kent game too. 14 points came off turnovers and the rest were a result of horrible field position. I came away from that game surprised at how inspired the defense played when they had nothing to play for.

allen
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RE: Looking towards next year.....

Posted: 1/3/2013 6:12:39 PM

I am happy that the seniors will leave with winning records but they deserve 100% gratification. Stop settling for less. Believe and be relentless and encourage the players to do the same.

Last Edited: 1/3/2013 6:14:09 PM by allen

Nobody despises to lose more than I do. That's got me into trouble over the years, but it also made a man of mediocre ability into a pretty good coach. Woody Hayes

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