Guesstimates on Position Changes

[Stallion]

OK with the recruiting class close to complete and some areas of concern not yet addressed I think some of the coaching staff strategy to make some pretty significant position changes. Here's my guess- Safety Rico Harris will move up to OLB where his adequate speed will become excellent speed for OLB, Tate Wallis(6-3, 237) will be moved to LB where I noticed he was a second team All-District player as a HS Junior-possiby TE,TB Johnie Fitzgerald will be moved to SS clearing the looming logjam at RB(Massey, Henderson, DeMyron Martin and even Cedric Dorsey) where he was a 3 time All-District player in HS, Foy Munlin will play predominately at FB but could also play in a one back formation on passing downs to take advantage of his excellent receiving skills he displayed at Tech, Jamar Bey should be ready to "grow" into a DE position if he adds another 15-20 pounds like he did in the last off-season, I would like to move Rynn Kennedy to an OLM position but I'm not so sure that Mark Hodges is physically ready especially on running downs to assume that position yet and you can't count on a freshman to immediately assume a starting position even if he is as touted as Vincent Chase. You need several TEs with strong blocking skills-but maybe he can be used as an OLM and extra blocking TE on running plays. This may depend on the development of Chase in the Fall. Ashton Nixon will likely be moved but not sure if it will be to WR where he played as a freshman or DB. Has Robert Gilmore regained the skills to play CB since his long term recovery from knee surgery-does he have the speed to play Safety-don't know the answer to that one. I'd like to try Adami as DE in the spring but don't think we'll have the depth at that crtical position, How are Anthony Barnett and Fred Turner progressing at CB-wouldn't be surprised to see one move to Receiver especially if we don't sign a home run threat with the remaining scholarships. Does Dorsey remain at TB with the Kiddie Core coming in-I've heard good things about him there but also think he might be useful at DB. I also think its common for a school like SMU that rarely gets the outstanding DTs to try to beef up their DEs and make DTs out of them-that could be where guys like Clay Glockin, Lucky DeLay(if healthy) and even eventually Dominic Pryor the hearlded walkon who received a scholarship, are headed after after some weight gain. Any comments?

<small>[ 12-26-2003, 06:38 PM: Message edited by: Stallion ]</small>

[Stallion]

...charting the Offensive one still comes to the conclusion that SMU is dreadfully short of talented Offensive Lineman

[Charleston Pony]

I agree with a lot of those possibilities, but would add the names of McGee and Moss to the CB competition. We've got a lot of speed coming in with these RS frosh. Should be interesting to see who steps up to earn playing time.

[No Quarter]

Someone please state the approximate percentage of plays where SMU used a two back formation last seaon with FB and TB.

How many snaps (if any) did Gilmore get last season?

Did Anthony Barnett get on the field only as ST player last year? I think he was generally on the two deep as a safety, although you'd certainly think CB based on his stature.

And where do you see the AF (?) transfer CB who will be a junior? Is he still with the team>

[McAndless]

Tate needs to play TE. He doesn't have anywhere near adequate speed, lateral quickness, etc. to play LB for Bennett. He simply isn't the mold. But he would enjoy some success as a pass catching tight end and will compete the entire game.

[Dement-ed]

OK, here's how I see some of these things shaking out:

I'd never considered Stallion's idea about Rico Harris moving up to OLB. To be honest, I kind of like the idea. A lot. But I don't see it happening, because unless I'm mistaken, such a move would leave Alvin Nnabuife as the only big safety. Besides, people inside the program have made it sound to me like Cory Muse and Avery Cleveland might be hard to keep off the field. And before we go throwing Harris into another position, someone needs to be sure that his recovery is complete and see what kind of speed he can regain.

At cornerback, Ervin McGee, C.D. Moss, Fred Turner, Anthony Barnett and (Air Force transfer) Charles Akinyemi will add a major infusion of speed to the position. Ro Humphrey can fly, but all of these guys are faster than Ruben Moodley, and it's possible they might all be faster than the great Jonas Rutledge, too. Barnett will be a sophomore (he played a little on defense, but mostly on special teams) and Akinyemi will be a redshirt sophomore, I think - the others all will be redshirt freshmen. So the secondary, particularly the CB position, should have a lot more depth and speed than in 2003.

I gather Robert Gilmore has not regained the 4.4 (or better) speed that had coaches all over America beating a path to his door. He practiced all year, and I assume that means his knee is structurally sound. But he doesn't run quite as fast as he did before that vicious injury, and he doesn't have the same explosive first step -- which might be a matter of confidence in the joint. Maybe a second full year of running on it will increase his speed, and therefore his playing time. As it is, he's expected to play strong safety next year.

Not sure about the Wallis-to-OLB idea. I don't know if he's quick enough. He can run, but doesn't necessarily have that initial burst that OLBs need. Instead, how about bulking him up a bit and throwing him in at MLB? He'd run into another numbers game with D.D. Lee, Reggie Carrington and Zach Hall -- unless one of them moves outside -- but he might be best suited there. And I like the idea of trying him at FB, too. He has good hands, I assume (QB, baseball player), and he loves to hit.

I guess DeLay could be a potential DT one day, but there's no way Glockzin or Pryor moves inside. Glockzin, by all accounts, is probably about as big as he's going to get. And Pryor has such special speed, they're not going to let him bulk up so much that he loses that quickness (see Don Ieremia-Stansbury).

[PerunaPunch]

Akenyemi is with the team and will challenge for a starting CB spot in the spring. He's small, but has a powerful build and is wicked fast.

You will never see Delay or Pryor line up as a DT. Bank on it. IMHO, we are in even more desperate need for a moderately-sized DE, and these two guys are the most likely candidates. Stansbury had a bad year and had trouble keeping weight on. Both he and the other starter Melvin Williams are tiny DEs, but are carrying as much muscle as their respective frames can hold. I hope to see Pryor and/or Delay challenging for the starting strong-side DE spot and rotating Don and Melvin on the other side. This last bit is just conjecture, but Delay and Pryor are definitely DEs not DTs.

[Stallion]

....the vast majority of DEs SMU has had in the last 15 years who were bigger than 6-3 have eventually moved inside out of necessity by their junior year. Unless SMU can sign DTs they too will eventually move inside out of necessity. Perhaps with less restraints on recruiting it won't be necessary. Adami shouldn't be playing DT either but there really was no other alternative.

[RGV Pony]

One of the better DEs sack-wise (wouldn't that be nice) was Luke Johnson...& he was usually the smallest guy 'in the box' when he was on the field

[PerunaPunch]

Well, since we're obviously all in the mood for wild-ass speculation today, how about a starting DL of (from L to R): Pryor, Bonds, Jones, Adami?

Other than the fact that would leave us thin at spots and put Adami in a position he hasn't played since high school... Why not? I think that line would certainly slow some offenses down. Assuming that Pryor is up to speed now (and with the possible exception of Don Stansbury who had an off year), that lineup would get our biggest, baddest D linemen on the field all at once.

[Pony Fan]

I think Pryor is going to be a DT as somebody told me he will be 265+ and can really run.

[ALEX LIFESON]

I think the coaches are looking for him to move inside his sophomore year, but ya never know!

[The Q]

I would be surprised if Pryor ever gets up above 260. DeLay might shift inside (he's real strong, and looks like he could be stronger), but there's no way Pryor ever does. He's a 6-foot-5 track star who looks like a coach's dream drawing of a DE. He will offer a speed element the team hasn't had in ages. I hear he's faster than Luke Johnson, faster than Kevin Aldridge (who could run pretty well), faster than anyone I can remember since the team re-started in 1989.

Plus, Pryor has real long arms, and while there's certainly no rule that says a DT can't have long arms, the idea of having a speed guy coming off the edge with the wingspan and athleticism to get up in the air and knock down passes has to make the coaches eager to see what he can really do.

And, before anyone gets carried away .... he hasn't done anything yet. Let's not call him the next Luke Johnson just yet. (But let's hope he blows away all of Luke's sack records!)

[EastStang]

All recruiting season, I've been saying we need more big uglies and I get a litany of other needs. Let me say it again, more big uglies, more missing links, the bigger and uglier the better.

[BUS]

Oh Yeah - I have to post on this thread.


DT's D'end.
Damn we are just SMALL along the whole line.

O'h DT at 265 ( Thats a linebacker )not the BIG mean tackle.

Now Listen... with small dt's ( under 290 ) the O-lain can handle with one blocker... two if at the point of attack. Using few blockers on the Dt's leaves more blockers to wipe out the linebackers. Then Bye Bye to the running back.

Passing play. SMALL dt's do not get PUSH. Making it easy to protect QB.

Face it.
Two DE at 275 plus. We have them if Adami is moved.
Two DT's over 300 Got them.
Now lets fill in the gaps behind that starting line.
OTHERWISE - BAD [deleted] again next year.

I think SMU will get two DT"S this recruiting year and Adamio put at DE.
I think its going to be fun next year.
GSS