Can't wait for fall practice to start!

[JasonB]

I don't think we are really going to know anything about the team until the season starts, but it should be really interesting to see how the fall turns out. With McGee leaving, one of the incoming corners will have a shot to play early in nickel and dime packages.

Cornerback, LG, and RT are key positions for us to be able to compete this year. Offensively, I think we have at least marginally upgraded at each skill position, most dramatically at QB. It will be a huge, HUGE improvement to have experience and competition back there, and I believe it will help us to at least a .500 record in conference. But in order to compete against the big boys in the first three games of the season, we have to win the battle in the trenches. I think the DL will be just fine against the run, although we may struggle creating a pass rush. But run defense is very important to start with. On the OL, LG and RT are big positions to fill. DJ will be fine; Harris and BK will be two of the better linemen in the conference (BK is a natural center and will play better this year, Harris was already at a high level before he was injured early last year). But the inexperience at RT and LG is intriguing. Will those players dominate like they did in the spring game? Or will they be overmatched against a first team defense? They have the size and look the part, even though neither was highly recruited. Those positions are big, big questions that probably won't be answered until the Tech game.

Also, anyone else have some concerns about linebacker? With Carrington's injury, does Hall have any shot of beating out Lee for the starting job? Lee does an adequate job at MLB, but it would be nice to see the young guy pushing him for the position.

Does the fact that Harris, a converted saftey coming off a knee injury, is starting over Cleveland give anyone concern that AC isn't playing very well yet?

Will Muse be able to establish himself as the starter at SSLB over Sturdivant?

Linebacker SHOULD be a position we are better at this year. But it will be interesting to see if the talent on paper translates out on the field. My take is that Carrington was good enough in coverage, that combined with Harris's quickness it was going to allow us to blitz the strong side backer a decent amount of the time. Is Lee really quick enough to handle those coverage responsibilities? I seem to recall him getting lost in zone coverage schemes several times last year.

Finally, corner. Bennett has mentioned several times that in the last two years he hasn't played any nickel or dime because of lack of depth and team speed at corner. However, anyone else notice that we stayed in a base package for the entire spring game? Will McGee's departure affect the ability to play coverage schemes? Will Brandon Jones or Barnett be able to step up and perform as a quality nickel back? Or will they be challenged by a frosh? Will a true frosh be part of the dime package?

[Silk]

I don't think we are really going to know anything about the team until the season starts, but it should be really interesting to see how the fall turns out. With McGee leaving, one of the incoming corners will have a shot to play early in nickel and dime packages.

I hear Jonathan Lindley and David Haynes are both going to get a chance to play, as is transfer Brandon Jones.

.... Harris and BK will be two of the better linemen in the conference (BK is a natural center and will play better this year, Harris was already at a high level before he was injured early last year).

You mean Hargis?

.... Also, anyone else have some concerns about linebacker? With Carrington's injury, does Hall have any shot of beating out Lee for the starting job? Lee does an adequate job at MLB, but it would be nice to see the young guy pushing him for the position.

I think it's asking an awful lot to have Hall - a redshirt freshman - replce Lee, who has two years of experience (or is it three?) Hall will play, but in a reserve role.

.... Does the fact that Harris, a converted saftey coming off a knee injury, is starting over Cleveland give anyone concern that AC isn't playing very well yet?

Not at all. Cleveland still needs to get stronger (he looked thin at the Red/Blue game, although not as thin as last fall, of course), and Rico's a senior who I gather has made the adjustment well, and has more experience in the defense. Again, I bet they both play a lot.

.... Will Muse be able to establish himself as the starter at SSLB over Sturdivant?

I thought Muse was being moved to DE? Didn't someone write that? Whether he stays at OLB or moves to DE (or plays both, which I guess is a possibility), he won't face competition from Sturdivant - he's a backup safety.

.... Linebacker SHOULD be a position we are better at this year. But it will be interesting to see if the talent on paper translates out on the field. My take is that Carrington was good enough in coverage, that combined with Harris's quickness it was going to allow us to blitz the strong side backer a decent amount of the time. Is Lee really quick enough to handle those coverage responsibilities? I seem to recall him getting lost in zone coverage schemes several times last year.

I think the LBs will be better if only because we're much more athletic and faster there. And Don Ieremia-Stansbury is a natural LB, so he should help. Bischoff and DD Johnson were nice players, but the new crew (Cleveland, Muse, etc.) is bigger and a lot faster.

[JasonB]

Sorry, I meant Hargis, not Harris, and Stansbury, not Sturdivant. My mistakes on the original post .