Speculation on depth chart

[hpfan]

Before I ask the question do we all agree the grounds keepers should be shot for the condition of the field this past week....Highland parks Charly Berry is getting looks from SMU. He had a terrific game against Lincoln last week....Will some of the more aware fans speculate on the 1-2 depth chart for next season. It would appear from listening to the coaches they are very excited with many players that have been kept in the wings and are ready to let them out. This new season may be one where the incoming recruiting class may be allowed to red shirt w/o the threat of using a year of eligibility. What do you all think...

[PK]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by hpfan:
<B>Before I ask the question do we all agree the grounds keepers should be shot for the condition of the field this past week...</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think the real reason for the condition of the field is that we have had a number of high school games played there recently in addition to our own games which has exceded the ability of the turf to rebound. Heard somewhere recently that Bennett wants to install "Real Grass" (the artificial turf they just put into Texas Stadium)so that we can have more high school games played at Ford for recruiting purposes.

I only hope there is something we can do to make the field better in time for the NCAA Mens Soccer finals in mid-December....even rye grass would be better than nothing.

[Pony4Life]

The field did look like the 12th-hole bunker at Dallas Country Club. I watched players running through the middle of the field, and there were clouds of sand and dust kicking up as they ran. Awful.

Berry is a defensive lineman (plays inside in HS, but likely will bump outside to DE in college. He's listed at 6-3, 240, but he looks bigger than that up close. He's really fast for a DT, and that might translate well to a pass-rushing DE. He had 8 tackles against Lincoln, and has been in on 77 tackles, has 3 sacks, 7 tackles for loss and 8 QB hurries this year.

[Guest]

The turf will have a couple weeks to rebound for the College Cup. I hope Bennett is serious about the RealGrass. That would really be a classy addition to Ford Stadium.

[Sonic]

I couldn't disagree more. I think artificial turf has no place in college sports, or any other sports for that matter. I realize we play on some sort of hybrid turf now, but at least appears to be natural for the most part.

[PK]

I agree with sonic. We may have to find a more durable turf, but I would like to see it stay natural. What fun is football without a little mud???

[Hoofprint]

Gotta have mud. When there's a heavy rain, the tackles into puddles of water/mud are great theater.

Linemen, in particular, need to get dirty. A lineman whose uniform is clean after the game just doesn't look like a lineman.

I don't care how far they've come with artificial turf technology. Don't bring it to Ford Stadium. It's the most beautiful football facility in Texas (except maybe the Houston Texans' new place) - and it needs to stay with grass.

[SMUguy]

OK, here's a guess at next year's depth chart:

OFFENSE

QB: Richard Bartel or JUCO
Ricky Joe Meekos or Richard Bartel

RB: Keylon Kincade
ShanDerrick Charles or Anthony Barnett
Johnny Fitzgerald

FB: Derron Brown
Earl Morris

TE: Darrin Johnson
Trent Hrncir or Ryan Kennedy

WR: Chris Cunningham
Trey Griffin

WR: Daniel Francis
Cedric Vinson

WR: Jay Taylor
James Elliott

LT: Matt Munz
Mike Benson

LG: Brad Kieschnick
Martin Guidry

C: Steve Reindl
Grant Eidson

RG: Townsend Hargis
Grant Eidson

RT: Sterling Harris
Dustin Morton

DEFENSE

LDE: Don Ieremia-Stansbury
Brent Karrington

DT: Allan Adami
Randy Denmon

NG: Marcus Walker
??? ???

RDE: Melvin Williams
Clay Glockzin

SLB: Brian Bischoff
Reggie Carrington

MLB: D.D. Lee
Zach Hall

WLB: D.D. Johnson (if he's coming back) or Jarrian James
James or Jamar Bey

CB: Jonas Rutledge
Wesley Medlock

CB: Rolando Humphrey
Wesley Medlock

SS: Rico Harris
Alvin Nnabuife

FS: Jamey Harper
Alvin Nnabuife or Robert Gilmore
Tate Wallis

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK: Chris McMurtray
Trent Stephenson

P: Ryan Mentzel
McMurtray

DS: Grant Eidson
Steve Reindl

Holder: Tate Wallis

PR: Jonas Rutledge
Matt Rushbrook

KOR: Jonas Rutledge
Anthony Barnett

----------------------------------------

OK, there's my guess. (Note: I tried to leave out all incoming freshmen, so they can all redshirt.)
Where am I wrong? Who knows anything about position changes? Or other players who have a chance to crack the lineup?

[PK]

Meeks and Hall will be incoming freshman so I guess they will not be able to redshirt...right?

[SMUguy]

Well, I said I tried to leave freshmen out. But who else will back up D.D. Lee? And if we don't go with a JUCO at QB, is Mark Hodges ready to be the #2 QB? I don't know (and as you saw, I moved Tate Wallis to safety.)

Personally, I hope Meeks and Phillips both redshirt next year. And Hall, too. I'd love to see every one of the new signees wait a year, to get bigger and stronger and learn the schemes.

[PK]

I apologize SMUguy,...I was just giving you a hard time on your semantics. You said "Note: I tried to leave out ALL incoming freshmen, so they can ALL redshirt." (capitalization of "ALL" by me for emphasis). Actually you are probably pretty much right on with your chart.

I do have one question, why move Tate to free safety....has he ever played that position. I know he doesn't seem to mind putting his head down and trying to run over a tackler, but can he tackle a 250 RB or TE or can he catch a speedy WR???



[This message has been edited by PK (edited 11-26-2002).]