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Topic: 2014 Position by position

Topic: 2014 Position by position

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L.C.
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2014 Position by position

Posted: 3/14/2014 5:24:00 PM

Let's start with the offensive line:
LT - At left tackle you have Mike McQueen. He started a lot of games last year as a Sophomore. How did he fare? He struggled at times. He seems to be focused on improving, however. He slimmed down from 300 to 287 to give him extra quickness. That's important since the LT defends the QB's blind spot, and since as a consequence, he normally faces the opposing team's best pass rusher. Behind him are Justin Haser, who did fairly well last year in limited play, and Zach Murdock, who was out last season win an injury. With another year of experience, this position will be improved.
LG - Mike Lucas had a decent year last year, and should do even better this year. Behind him, they will need to develop some depth.
C- Powell also had a decent year. Again, they need to improve depth behind him.
RG - Last year Gibbons and Wood played most snaps, and both were Freshmen (Wood a true Freshmen). They had their ups and downs, but both should improve this year.
RT - Watson played a substantial portion of the snaps last year. Another Redshirt Freshman, he also struggled at times, but should be improved this year. They also need to work on depth here, with Curtis gone.
OL - Summary - The expected starting line will consist of 3 Juniors and 2 Sophomores. Not counting the bowl game, of the 824 snaps, their snap counts last year were McQueen=643(77%), Lucas=738(88%), Powell=636(76%), Wood=267/ Gibbons=117(46% combined), Watson=390(47%). Overall they had 67% of the snaps for the year. All should improve with another year of experience, so the line should be better.

TE - Mangen returns, but Hill and Talbert are gone. Davon Henry and Mason Morgan should also play, along with JUCO Brennan Boland, and perhaps walkons Devin Saunders and Zach Hawk. Hill and Talbert were solid, so I'd say TE will be a step down.
WR - Most of the receptions from last year are gone. Foster, Waters, and Dovell are all gone. Cochran does return, and there are a lot of young, talented players on the team, some of whom need to step up. Will it be S. Smith, L. Smith, C. Brown, Wyatt, Reid, Rodriguez, Cope or Dixon? Or perhaps one of the walkons, like Sawyer, or a new player such as Cameron Wilson? I don't really know, but there is a lot of talent there. For now I'd say WR will be a step down, but I don't think it will be a big step.
QB - With TT gone, now it seems that the job will belong to Vick, though Sprague, Windham, and Leffingwell no doubt all want to win the job. I think Vick will do fine, if he doesn't get hurt. I think in time Vick will be an excellent QB, but the jury is still out.
RB - Gone are Blankenship and Boykin. The job mostly likely will now belong to Daz Patterson, Dorian Brown, and Tim Edmonds. I think they will be fine, and RB will be at least as good as last year.

On the whole I think the offense will probably be on a par with last year slightly better. The improvement in the line will at least offset the changes at the skill positions.

I will post on defense later.

Last Edited: 3/14/2014 5:54:26 PM by L.C.

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

L.C.
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RE: 2014 Position by position

Posted: 3/14/2014 6:20:22 PM

Now for the defense. Solid defense starts up front, and up front everyone is back with the exception of Nic Barber and Ty Branz, who was injured for much of the year.

DE - The primary starters last year were Basham and Laseak, both of whom were Freshmen. Sayles started one, also, and Kendrick Smith started a few. Both of them are back, too. Add in Trent Smart and another year of experience, and DE should be significantly improved.

DT - Crutcher, Tautuaiki, Purdum, Davis, and McLeod all return, a year older and better. Mix in Redshirt Freshmen Porter and Aloese, and it only gets better. DT should also be significantly improved.

LB - Here you lose Keith Moore, Nieco Teipel, Brandon Atwell, and AJ Grady. You still have Ben Russell, Jovon Johnson, William Johnson, and Blair Brown, plus Quentin Poling who redshirted last year, and Jake Schany who was out with injury last year, plus a number of walkons and a couple incoming Freshmen. Last year LB was not a strength. Right now it's my one question mark on defense. If needed, I think they may move a Safety to LB to bolster the position. I think it will be OK, but it remains to be seen

Nickle - Carpenter, Dyquan Stewart, and Devin Jones all return, as does Blake Scipio who redshirted due to injury last year. With everyone back, and another year of experience, this should be stronger than last year.

Corner - Losing Carrie and Shaw hurts. Bass and Wells do return, along with Jarid Brown, plus there are 3 Freshmen and a Juco coming in. On the whole CB will probably be solid, perhaps not quite as good as last year.

Safety - Hughes is gone, but Ingol and Kristoff return, as do Macer and Toran Davis, plus Leon Alexander and Corey Quallen will be added to the mix On the whole I expect Safety to be somewhat improved.

If the mystery at LB can be solved, and the drop-off at CB isn't too bad, I think that the defense has a very good chance of being improved from last year. Of course, how good the defense is also depends on if they are able to find a solution to the problems last year that left open lanes for opposing rushers. I think they will solve that, so I think the defense will be improved.

Last Edited: 3/14/2014 6:40:26 PM by L.C.

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

fansince49
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RE: 2014 Position by position

Posted: 3/14/2014 9:08:01 PM

Both posts were frank, fascinating, and helpful.
How about special teams?

colobobcat66
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RE: 2014 Position by position

Posted: 3/14/2014 9:11:59 PM

Can't disagree much with what you say, although I don't see RB being nearly as good unless somebody other than who you list shines. We just lost 2 really good backs, by our standards, and while I love Daz's play, I see a step down here by some pretty good margin.

I'm not quite as convinced that players that played a lot last year will necessarily be a lot better this year just because of their experience. Some will improve appreciably, some not so much because they are not ever going to be great players. Don't get me wrong, experience is good, but we had enough problems on defensive and offensive lines that I'm not sure the same guys again are going to improve that much.

Last Edited: 3/14/2014 9:17:30 PM by colobobcat66

L.C.
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RE: 2014 Position by position

Posted: 3/14/2014 9:55:22 PM

colobobcat66 wrote:

I understand your opinion on the running back. I am not knocking Beau or Boykin, but I do think Dorian Brown is going to be a good running back, and I like Daz a lot, though I'm not convinced he's an every down back, nor do I think Edmond is. I just think that between the three they can get the job done. I actually think Irons will ultimately take over the position, but I'm hoping he can redshirt.

As for players who played a lot improving, if they don't get injured, they will surely improve. They all know how much they need to improve, and will work hard in the off-season to try to close that gap. The real question isn't whether they will improve, it's whether they will improve ENOUGH. At some positions the need for improvement is pretty significant. As regards the linemen, I think Wood, Gibbons, and Watson did well for Freshmen (which is a pretty low standard because you should NOT be playing Freshmen on the offensive line), and to me that indicates that by their Senior year they will be very good. Lucas and Powell also played very well for Sophomores.

As regards Special Teams, all three placekickers are back. Yaz has the job, obviously, but if he should falter, he has others who can take over Both punters return, plus a Juco, who may take the job from both of them. Thus placekicking should be as good as last year, and punting should be as good or better.

On the return side, you lose a great punt returner in Carrie. I'm not sure who will replace him, but I would expect the replacement to be competent. There are certainly a lot of athletes on the team. As for kick returns, Carpenter and Bass both return, so it should be no worse than last year. I'd rather see a little more explosive potential, though.

All told on special teams I see mostly sideways - a bit better punting, a bit worse on punt returns, and a wash elsewhere.

Last Edited: 3/14/2014 9:58:57 PM by L.C.

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

colobobcat66
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RE: 2014 Position by position

Posted: 3/14/2014 10:23:23 PM

Re: improvement with experience
One problem with the idea is that even after all the experience during the year, it can be argued that during the last few regular season games, both lines took a step back. While we played some better teams, kent did not fall into that category and we quite frankly stunk up the place. You would think that by the end of the year you would see improvement. It seemed to me that there wasn't any great improvement to speak of. So working during the off season will undoubtedly improve the players, but based on the way the year ended, I don't expect huge improvement.

Regardless, we have a long way to go to cure the problems we had on both interior lines.

Last Edited: 3/14/2014 10:24:38 PM by colobobcat66

L.C.
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RE: 2014 Position by position

Posted: 3/14/2014 10:36:53 PM

I agree that there is a long way to go. I expect improvement this year, and more next year. That's why I'm looking towards 2015 for the big improvement. In 2014 the line will improve, but the offensive skill players will all be replaced, with a net of mostly sideways. In 2015 the line will improve again, but the skill players will also return, for a net big jump upwards.

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

JerseyArnie
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RE: 2014 Position by position

Posted: 3/16/2014 7:23:16 AM

During the last two years we have lost two games due to special teams, 2012 BG punting, and last year C Michigan, punt return. It would be great to see a non eventful year on special teams for a change.

Great job LC, very insightful.

Valley Cat
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RE: 2014 Position by position

Posted: 3/16/2014 9:38:16 AM

L.C. Great stuff. Like me you obviously find yourself playing these things out in your head. I thought it was interesting the other day in the picture Chris Rodgers tweeted that McQueen was on the right side. I am sure they are experimenting with things. Spring is the time to do that.Thanks for the analysis.
I expect Devin Jones to have a huge year at safety rotating with Ingol and Kristoff. I also expect Blair Brown to have a big year moving to outside linebacker. Impressed with his speed last season in the spring game.

Diamond Cat
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RE: 2014 Position by position

Posted: 3/16/2014 12:11:41 PM

Good reads, LC!

I'll hope for a defense that doesn't give up 40+ points/game down a 3 game stretch that buried our chances.

I realize the offense and special teams put the D in some tough situations but we need to produce a defense that can turn the field.

L.C.
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RE: 2014 Position by position

Posted: 3/16/2014 12:40:34 PM

Diamond Cat wrote:

...I realize the offense and special teams put the D in some tough situations but we need to produce a defense that can turn the field.

That worked both ways. For example, when the D gave up touchdowns two of the first 3 plays, and all of the first four possessions against BG, that takes the offense out of its game.

�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: 2014 Position by position

Posted: 3/17/2014 12:07:03 AM

Valley Cat wrote:

I only count McQueen, Watson and Haser among the tackles I would expect to see vs Kent. All three should show up familiar with either side. I expect to see the best blocking TE on the field most snaps. Bowling Green took the MACC from NIU with a 180lb RB who ran for 1600 yards. I know with all the WRs we expect to see passing but the formula remains; "run the ball - stop the run - win the game." Where Ohio faltered most in 2013 was failing to "stop the run." I hope coaches Williams and Collins fix this. I does no good to pile up sacks while allowing big yards on the ground. Later in the season Vick might be dropping back into a pocket with FR at the tackles, but, I would be very uneasy seeing that first game vs a MAC opponent. If it happens it should only be a sign the FR is "that good."

Last Edited: 3/17/2014 9:08:11 AM by Bcat2

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

Doc Bobcat
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RE: 2014 Position by position

Posted: 3/29/2014 7:28:29 PM

These spring practices so far have produced the customary good news/bad news scenarios.

On the plus side it looks like that if the QB can get the ball out that WR Wilson and Cochran could create some havoc. It's also nice that Cope looks like a decent possession type receiver like Waters last year.

The defensive plus side has produced the usual suspects like Basham but it also looks like Tent Smart can put some pressure on the QB. I was a little worried about OLB but Johnson returns and Brown and Grilliott have looked good in practice.

My biggest concern on offense has been the OL. Depth is slim and we may need to turn to true freshmen for that. Right guard especially is thin with Gibbons out for maybe the year and Wood missing spring ball. At least 2 of those freshmen are 3 star guys and Lowery and McCray are big enough to play RG.

We haven't heard much about the RB's but at least so far they are healthy. Irons as a true freshman and maybe even White could see some pt.

Hopefully April 12 will answer some questions.

Speaking of questions is the spring sale still on?

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