Top 5 Looking for in camp

[1979jacket]

1. QB duh!!!- I don't think MJ has it wrapped up given injury, competition, and most important position on team.
2. Can a freshmen move his way in to playing time at LBer? I believe there is an opportunity. Swilling?
3. Who is going to end up at DT with the starting position? Adams vs Henderson. I assume Branch will start but maybe not.
4. The Aback subs. Lynch, Searcy and JJ are sure things but a couple of other spots that will likely play also are available. Gantt, Cottrell, Freshman?
5. What freshman will come out of the blue and impress.

Honorable mention - Can Devine get going so he could help.

 

[Longestday]

In order....

1. No Injuries!
2. Find the best LBs (will the experienced guys step up and stand out and can any of the new LBs break into the 2 deep)
3. DL improved pass rush and depth
4. Solidify the starting QB
5. Develop the 2 deep OL

Least worried about DB and skilled positions on offense... Interested hearing about Howard, Benson, and Mills as well as Nathan

 

[Milwaukee]

1-5 - more exotic blitz packages. Let's turn the guys loose and let them raise hell.

We have intelligent athletes, we shouldn't have to dumb down the defense in order for them to be able to play fast. Never understood that narrative from PJ and/or Roof.

 

[dressedcheeseside]

Still wanna see Nate on the rocket to the house!

 

[AE 87]

1-5 - more exotic blitz packages. Let's turn the guys loose and let them raise hell.

We have intelligent athletes, we shouldn't have to dumb down the defense in order for them to be able to play fast. Never understood that narrative from PJ and/or Roof.

"Shouldn't have to" and "Have to" are not mutually exclusive.

For whatever reason, the fact is that we've had the same problem with each DC needing to simplify what we are doing.

And it's not just a narrative from our coaches. One of our DB's in the interviews this week explained that basically there were too many checks for the same motion that ended up having our guys not on the same page (ultimately in the u[sic]nc game).

Now, I'm not convinced that there isn't a better way to design a D to alleviate this problem because I also find it hard to believe that our guys can't handle what other teams can handle in this regard. However, when you have the same issue with three different DCs running three different kinds of D, you have to wonder what's up.

 

[redmule]

1. One DL to make The Step Up.
2. One LB to make The Step Up.
3. One OL to make The Step Up.
4. One FR to make The Step Up.
5. One kicker to make The Step Up.

 

[Oldgoldandwhite]

With the exception of a couple of spots, the entire starting Defensive lineup should be up for grabs. I know the last time I was assured our secondary was our strength, we lost four or five games on fourth quarter passing come backs.

 

[tech_wreck47]

1-5 - more exotic blitz packages. Let's turn the guys loose and let them raise hell.

We have intelligent athletes, we shouldn't have to dumb down the defense in order for them to be able to play fast. Never understood that narrative from PJ and/or Roof.

Actually the players went to Roof and asked to make things simpler. They felt they weren't able to play fast with so many check downs etc. I do agree we should be able to get more exotic with blitz packages and stuff. I see no reason why we shouldn't be able to run some of the things VT does, and they do it with guys that aren't highly rated like the factories.

 

[stech81]

1) No injuries
2) No injuries
3) No injuries
4) No injuries
5) Improvement

 

[Longestday]

Simplify defense.... could it be because most coaches are used to having more time for students to spend learning their system. CPJ said the GSU players were always around watching tape... not so for GT.

 

[Milwaukee]

Actually the players went to Roof and asked to make things simpler. They felt they weren't able to play fast with so many check downs etc. I do agree we should be able to get more exotic with blitz packages and stuff. I see no reason why we shouldn't be able to run some of the things VT does, and they do it with guys that aren't highly rated like the factories.

It baffles me.

 

[Milwaukee]

Simplify defense.... could it be because most coaches are used to having more time for students to spend learning their system. CPJ said the GSU players were always around watching tape... not so for GT.

Nope.

 

[jayparr]

In order....

1. No Injuries!
2. Find the best LBs (will the experienced guys step up and stand out and can any of the new LBs break into the 2 deep)
3. DL improved pass rush and depth
4. Solidify the starting QB
5. Develop the 2 deep OL

Least worried about DB and skilled positions on offense... Interested hearing about Howard, Benson, and Mills as well as Nathan

very good reply on all!!!

 

[Whiskey_Clear]

"Shouldn't have to" and "Have to" are not mutually exclusive.

For whatever reason, the fact is that we've had the same problem with each DC needing to simplify what we are doing.

And it's not just a narrative from our coaches. One of our DB's in the interviews this week explained that basically there were too many checks for the same motion that ended up having our guys not on the same page (ultimately in the u[sic]nc game).

Now, I'm not convinced that there isn't a better way to design a D to alleviate this problem because I also find it hard to believe that our guys can't handle what other teams can handle in this regard. However, when you have the same issue with three different DCs running three different kinds of D, you have to wonder what's up.

Actually having to study for difficult classes.

 

[InsideLB]

My Top 5:
1. PASS RUSH. Lack of pass rush has been the bane of our defense. Ranking 110th in sacks don't get it.
2. PUNTERS, KICKOFFs/KICKOFF COVERAGE, and FGs. Can the two new specialists be solid as tr-fr? Butker made covering kickoffs--something we've historically struggled with--a nonfactor, and he was fairly consistent kicking FGs while canning some crucial long FGs in his career. Rodwell rounded out into a decent punter in his senior year and produced several boomers. Shanked punts and big kickoff returns shorten the field and lead to easy scores, so this is an important area.
3 CENTER: If Cooper and Morgan can lock down #1 & #2 centers then Marshall can stay at tackle where we are thin, and we begin to look REALLY solid and physical up the middle on offense; The five "up the middle" positions (G-C-G, QB, & BB ) would be laced with physical specimens in Braun, Cooper, Bryan, Jordan, & Dedrick Mills. Devine is a beefy back up to have as well.
4. DEPTH & ROTATION ON THE DL: There are now some pretty promising guys on the DL who have been in the program awhile. At DE, Simmons, Freeman, St Amour. At DT Branch, Adams, Cerge-Henderson, & Glanton. Can these guys be solid enough to rotate without dropoff, stay fresh, etc. Can a new face or two emerge at DE or DT (Martin maybe). There is potential.
5. TACKLE: It's thin. Can Jahaziel keep the fire burning and not sophmore slump now that he's established? Can guys like Stickler, a Morgan brother, Zach Quinney, or a tr-fr push Jahaziel adequately? Marshall is a good tackle. Health and depth will be a concern.

For me backers are less worrisome. I like what Terrell Lewis and Brent Mitchell bring and there are some promising younger guys on the roster who I believe will emerge. The DL can make linebackers look good or bad, so for me LBs didn't make the top 5.

QB is a big position and while I don't think Jordan is going to equal Justin Thomas in the air any time soon, I also think he is capable and has been around awhile. He's tall and should be able to see better, and he has a talented corps of skill guys to work with. The OL will need to be able to protect him, but with the power game looking strong play action should be devastating, and the solid skill players running routes/making correct reads/not dropping balls will be huge. So I think these things will boost Jordan's confidence so where he'll be able to stand back there and develop. Plus there are guys there to push him and fill in in case of injury. So it didn't make my list.

 

[InsideLB]

Actually the players went to Roof and asked to make things simpler. They felt they weren't able to play fast with so many check downs etc. I do agree we should be able to get more exotic with blitz packages and stuff. I see no reason why we shouldn't be able to run some of the things VT does, and they do it with guys that aren't highly rated like the factories.

My belief is that in today's game offenses go fast and use a ton of formations to run a more limited number of plays. This is confusing for a defense, and when offenses go fast, defenses get fatigued. It's harder to concentrate, communicate, and react to get into position. It makes defenders think a lot and the uncertainty slows them down. Since everything is spread out it's easier for the QB to quickly identify misalignments/blown assignments and exploit them. So it puts a lot of pressure on defenders.

This is pretty much UNC's offensive strategy, so it makes sense to me that our system may have been too complicated to keep up with the frenetic pace and the array of formations they throw at you. It would seem that UNC "exposed us", the players gave Roof some feedback, and he listened and changed things so where the guys could more just play. And the defense appeared to respond by playing better.

Now, one could argue that we should have gone into the UNC game with a simpler game plan to begin with. It's not like it's the first time we've played that offense. But I guess you are also trying to match the experience and capabilities of your defenders to your gameplan and sometimes what you come up with doesn't work. Then you have to find a way to fix it and get better. So at least we did do that and saw modest improvement after that game.

 

[AE 87]

My belief is that in today's game offenses go fast and use a ton of formations to run a more limited number of plays. This is confusing for a defense, and when offenses go fast, defenses get fatigued. It's harder to concentrate, communicate, and react to get into position. It makes defenders think a lot and the uncertainty slows them down. Since everything is spread out it's easier for the QB to quickly identify misalignments/blown assignments and exploit them. So it puts a lot of pressure on defenders.

This is pretty much UNC's offensive strategy, so it makes sense to me that our system may have been too complicated to keep up with the frenetic pace and the array of formations they throw at you. It would seem that UNC "exposed us", the players gave Roof some feedback, and he listened and changed things so where the guys could more just play. And the defense appeared to respond by playing better.

Now, one could argue that we should have gone into the UNC game with a simpler game plan to begin with. It's not like it's the first time we've played that offense. But I guess you are also trying to match the experience and capabilities of your defenders to your gameplan and sometimes what you come up with doesn't work. Then you have to find a way to fix it and get better. So at least we did do that and saw modest improvement after that game.

"Today's game" applies to every team. It makes no sense to use it to explain our poor D ranking relative to other tems, imo.

 

[Milwaukee]

Actually having to study for difficult classes.

A lot of schools have difficult classes, thats a copout from our coaching staff. What has changed in our curriculum since Tenuta left is what I would like to ask Paul.

Btw I love Paul and want him to stay for another decade, but defense under him for the past decade has been an embarrassment.

 

[Whiskey_Clear]

A lot of schools have difficult classes, thats a copout from our coaching staff. What has changed in our curriculum since Tenuta left is what I would like to ask Paul.

Btw I love Paul and want him to stay for another decade, but defense under him for the past decade has been an embarrassment.

Tenutas D excelled in spite of it. Maybe his scheme was the "perfect fit" for our school. I dunno. Current Ds need to excel in spite of it also. But it's still a handicap many other programs don't have.

 

[AE 87]

A lot of schools have difficult classes, thats a copout from our coaching staff. What has changed in our curriculum since Tenuta left is what I would like to ask Paul.

Btw I love Paul and want him to stay for another decade, but defense under him for the past decade has been an embarrassment.

APR started in 2006 iirc