"Next Year"
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 9:33 pmSo, I think most of us felt like 6-6 or 7-5 this year (anything more was gravy) and that's pretty much on schedule. Explosive offense (still young in places) and defense not even starting a rebuild yet (that's my opinion). So, why do we think next year is going to be some big jump? Here's my case, ladies and gentlemen, of the jury:
#1. Richard Moore. He's the inside LB we've always wanted since Tank Reed. He will be the Trey Quinn of our defense (not THAT good, but a similar impact). I don't want to put this all on one player, but he fills such a HUGE need.
#2. More experience in the secondary and Star (J. Williams has played well at times, with more strength/size and experience, he'll be solid. Onu/Wyatt/C. Davis. I still think C. Davis will be okay at corner. I also think K. Johnson just needs a bit more experience and should move to corner. We need someone like McQueen (whose undersized at safety) to step up at the other safety spot.
Ok, that's defense. We just need them to be better. Not top 50 better, but better than 125+. We lose Lawler and that's huge, I don't know what we have at DEs in the wings. I don't think D. Scott is the answer. I do like Badejo and Neals. IF, and it's a big IF, McLaurin and Jones can fill in where Williams leaves, our DL will be ok still with Gary, Pono, Biggurs. Big "if" there. Also have Toby Ndukwe, will be interesting to see where he comes out next year. I think Kemon Smith will be good, but I think we want to redshirt/develop most freshmen who play in the trenches unless they are just THAT good (damn sad what happened to Leonard Parks and we got a decommit from the other DL whose name I can't remember who looked really good). Christian Jones has great size (similar to Gentry according to scout and Terrance Newman will probably be a player eventually).
Offense. Yes, losing Sutton is huge but we might be able to go to WR as a committee there with Honey/Bell. We still have Quinn and Proche and I think Becker is coming along at TE. Kaufman is solid, not great hands, but solid. Then there's Benson and K. Thomas (maybe K. Thomas will have a senior year like Keenan Holman, who always looked all world to me but never really did much until his senior year). But here's the BIG deal: offensive line! Howerton will replace Brown and we will watch Ali and Huhn battle. Pursley is solid, Natour is back and Todora and Kadarius HAVE to start showing their worth (Todora, I think, did just fine in the run game).
So big improvement in linebackers and offensive line IMHO. Running backs are all back. QBs are all back. WRs, minus Sutton, are all back. Secondary more experienced (need to find that other safety) and other edge rushers to replace Lawler. That might get us 2 more wins (8 to 9 win season). Pure conjecture on my part but I rest my case.
#1. Richard Moore. He's the inside LB we've always wanted since Tank Reed. He will be the Trey Quinn of our defense (not THAT good, but a similar impact). I don't want to put this all on one player, but he fills such a HUGE need.
#2. More experience in the secondary and Star (J. Williams has played well at times, with more strength/size and experience, he'll be solid. Onu/Wyatt/C. Davis. I still think C. Davis will be okay at corner. I also think K. Johnson just needs a bit more experience and should move to corner. We need someone like McQueen (whose undersized at safety) to step up at the other safety spot.
Ok, that's defense. We just need them to be better. Not top 50 better, but better than 125+. We lose Lawler and that's huge, I don't know what we have at DEs in the wings. I don't think D. Scott is the answer. I do like Badejo and Neals. IF, and it's a big IF, McLaurin and Jones can fill in where Williams leaves, our DL will be ok still with Gary, Pono, Biggurs. Big "if" there. Also have Toby Ndukwe, will be interesting to see where he comes out next year. I think Kemon Smith will be good, but I think we want to redshirt/develop most freshmen who play in the trenches unless they are just THAT good (damn sad what happened to Leonard Parks and we got a decommit from the other DL whose name I can't remember who looked really good). Christian Jones has great size (similar to Gentry according to scout and Terrance Newman will probably be a player eventually).
Offense. Yes, losing Sutton is huge but we might be able to go to WR as a committee there with Honey/Bell. We still have Quinn and Proche and I think Becker is coming along at TE. Kaufman is solid, not great hands, but solid. Then there's Benson and K. Thomas (maybe K. Thomas will have a senior year like Keenan Holman, who always looked all world to me but never really did much until his senior year). But here's the BIG deal: offensive line! Howerton will replace Brown and we will watch Ali and Huhn battle. Pursley is solid, Natour is back and Todora and Kadarius HAVE to start showing their worth (Todora, I think, did just fine in the run game).
So big improvement in linebackers and offensive line IMHO. Running backs are all back. QBs are all back. WRs, minus Sutton, are all back. Secondary more experienced (need to find that other safety) and other edge rushers to replace Lawler. That might get us 2 more wins (8 to 9 win season). Pure conjecture on my part but I rest my case.
