2006 Depth Charts?

[Charleston Pony]

so...you either plan on beating TTech or winning all our home games and going .500 on the road in CUSA? Now that's optimistic.

[PK]

The difference between a sunshiner and a doom and gloomer is that the former looks for the positives and the latter looks for the negative.

Substitute "optomist" and "realist" for "sunshiner" and "doom and gloomer" and we get back to the old debate that has raged forever on these boards.

A realist looks to the bottom line to determine the state of the program, where 8-9 losses pretty much makes you a bad team, while the optomist ignores the 8-9 losses per year to focus solely on the fact that our running back averaged 85 yards per game in those losses. Unfortunately that running back played on a bad team.

It's interesting that, at least on this board, "realist" are all negatively inclined...reality is reality and is neighter negative or positive exclusively...reality can be either one depending on the situation. Of course it makes one feel better to describe oneself as a "realist" instead of a negative [deleted].

[ALEX LIFESON]

Besides Tech, who on our schedule can we not compete with?

[SoCal_Pony]

Stop bashing JT for speaking the truth.

Since PB became HC there are maybe 2 teams with a worst record than SMU. 2 out of 117. That is unacceptable by any criteria.

Some say we are improving…really?? to me that is debatable….sure, somewhat on the field this year we have improved, but is that really saying much given the depths this team was at? Can anyone here other than unabashed sunshiners say will be THAT much better next year…I think a very compelling argument can be made that we will be a worst team next year given our losses on defense, although our record may improve because Copeland has now scheduled cream puffs (ok…nobody is a cream puff when playing SMU, not even D1-AA).

My biggest concern and a gauge for me just as important as our W-L record this year for answering the question…’Are we improving?’ is recruiting and by that criteria I am not optimistic. Very few on this board have acknowledged PB’s recruiting failure last year, one that if continually replicated will keep us at a 3-win-per-season team to perpetuity. To date we are actually WORSE than last year in recruiting. Not Good. I hope it changes with quality JC infusion but until then I remain skeptical.

So HoopFan, I am not optimistic due to recruiting and CP, your post has some real sunshine….icing on the cake was hoping JF will be an answer…hey who knows…maybe the Rack can save our BB team.

[Hoop Fan]

Our roster and sideline looks a lot better now than it did when Cavan left. That might not be saying much, but Bennett had a long way to go at every position basically. You are right about Bennett having to kick it up a notch after last years recrutiing. He is at a make or break point. Either he will get some recruiting momentum back by posting a solid winning season next year or he won't be here in 2007 most likely.

Every program loses starters, I just dont see the dearth of athletes that we saw a few years ago. There was some real optimism when Shan broke out as a freshman, I know we are all getting more jaded as time goes by, but Demyron Martin has been quite a find this year. He is something to build on and so is Columbus Givens. Put Demyron with Chris Phillips and an improving receiving group of Pellerin, Chase and Givens and we finally look D-1 at the skill positions next year with some experience.

[SoCal_Pony]

HF,

I agree with most of what you say…skill positions on offense are potentially promising, especially if JHenderson and VChase are included in the mix. Not as certain about OL/DL, especially depth. Nacho or Dooby had a good post about this a couple of weeks ago…for some reason I can’t find it. I wish whoever posted it would re-summarize it on a new post.

Personally don’t like to single out players but I will. You mention Pellerin, CP mentions Fitzgerald, neither of which have contributed much on teams that have only won 6 games in the past 3 years…why the heck do you now thing they can help turn us around next year??? To me that is unrealistic sunshine I expect from less sophisticated posters…not you two.

[PK]

SoCal, jt and I have this relationship...of sorts. He gives me a ration and I give him one back. There is actually no malice involved...we just like to [deleted] each other off. No big deal.

As for Pellerin, last year, he played in all 11 games... tied for fourth on the team with 21 catches for 239 yards... ranked second in receiving TDs with three... had a season-best five catches for 70 yards at UTEP... also hauled in a 49-yard scoring pass against the Miners... had four grabs for 32 yards in the season opener against Texas Tech.

This year, he is the second leading reciever behind Bobby Chase. Through 9 games this year, Chase has 29 catches for 501 yds and 3 TD's... Pellerin has 23 receptions for 254 yds and 1 TD. He also has 1 rushing TD against Rice. So I think he is contributing nicely. Zach Sledge, BTW, is the third leading receiver with 23 catches for 201 yds. Pellerin is starting to come into his own and I wouldn't be surprised if he had two more really good games this year.

[SoCal_Pony]

exception noted for you PK…beat him up all you want

[PK]

BTW, I believe Pellerin, if I'm not mistaken, made one if not two great catches on that final drive in the UAB game and got the ball out of bounds to stop the clock.

[PK]

exception noted for you PK…beat him up all you want

Thanks...I believe I will...

[jtstang]

Yes, what PK said....

[jtstang]

Zach Sledge, BTW, is the third leading receiver with 23 catches for 201 yds.

Not to mention being an AMERICAN HERO! Looks like I'm going to have to fund his comic book myself...

[PK]

Zach "the Hammer" Sledge.