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Thanks for posting. A little disturbing when JJ says he expects us to take a small step back.

GO PONIES!!!

He's either low balling to get another round of excuses built in for 2012 or he's setting up his successor when he leaves in December.

No, I think he is just telling the truth. That first class was a scramble and actually the second class had a good amount of players that did not get into SMU or were just not that good (like 4 of the 5 O lineman that were in the second class). It will take about 2 years to rebound from all of that IMO if we recruit good IMO.

Well when every class signed was "the best class since the death penalty" and the entire offensive system is designed to utilize inferior talent and close the gap with superior opponents, you think we might not hear that.

Stlhockeyguy02 wrote:Well when every class signed was "the best class since the death penalty" and the entire offensive system is designed to utilize inferior talent and close the gap with superior opponents, you think we might not hear that.

The first class was never proclaimed the best since the death penalty.

No, but we did get this:"The level of these players is as good as any that I signed in my nine years at Hawai'i."

As Mitch might say, that was coach speak. But I do see your point. I always thought that WAC good was not CUSA good when it came to that first class.

I will continue to say that we were a QB away from having something really special this season...

For next year, take a look at the current roster and you will see the number of players who aren't around anymore due to grades or whatever.

Take it position by position going into next year:

QB: If Padron is back, solid CUSA group. If not, this is below average.

RB: BCS worthy starter, good depth, we are fine here.

WR:DJ and JJ are going to be above average in CUSA. Nobody else has proven to be more than just a guy with occasional flashes in CUSA. Worst case is DJ, JJ, Holman, Thompson, which is okay, but not game breakers. I would say they are average, but with upside. Guinyard, Holleman and Sims would be considered lower BCS level recruits.

OL: We will have one proven player, two who seem okay in time provided. 4 players that are around BCS level recruits, and then several solid CUSA recruits. Seems like the players should be here, but significant lack of experience. The last time we replaced an entire offensive line with young, good players was the PB 1-11 season that got him fired. I think you assume below average performance and hope for the upside.

so, overall on offense you have average QB, average WR, great RB, below average OL. That makes for an average to below average offense. Upside potential for better, but lots of unproven entities.

DE: So, Hunt has looked good the last 5 games. But the rest are backup quality or unknowns. The better players are young, and you have to hope they come through. Smith and Wood are lower BCS level recruits. Assume below average CUSA until prove otherwise.

DT: Should be above average CUSA next year with better depth from Wright and O'Guin.

LB: Starters, including Sanders, are known entities. One weak spot. Good depth and two lower BCS worthy recruits who haven't had a shot yet. above average CUSA unit.

CB: Acker is proven solid second corner. BCS transfer, Richardson is a BCS level recruit, Parks and Hubert upper CUSA. Potential for the depth to be better than it has been, but you have to assume below average because exchange Crawford for an unknown.

S: Smith and Scott are a solid tandem in CUSA. Average to above average in CUSA. Lots of unknowns in the depth chart, not a lot of good recruits.

Overall on defense, I think you start the year with a couple of above average units and a couple of below average units. Lots of upside potential here, but I think it is an average CUSA defense to start the season, with potential for better play. But a step down from this year's defense.

I think that overall it is a very average team in CUSA. The talent level is much better than it has been, and there is good potential for growth as the season moves along, but there just isn't a lot of experience on the team.

If everyone stayed on the roster and academically sound, we would be in a position where there would be several BCS caliber players fighting for the open positions and at least one of them wouldn't be a bust and would come through. But as it stands, you hope that the 2 BCS level WR can step in to the two open spots. You hope the 4 BCS OL recruits step in around McJunkin. You hope the one BCS level recruit at CB can fill the opening. Your odds are better at DE and LB with two BCS level recruits for one open spot at each position.

All of those odds are a heck of a lot better than a few years ago, when we were just hoping that one of the 8 unknown recruits on the DL would be a diamond in the rough. But with all of the attrition, we just aren't to that level of depth though.

And before anyone goes throwing Jones under the bus for that attrition, realize we are doing the same thing TCU did - take some chances on some great athletes and hope that they can make it through the ringer. The strategy has gotten us a lot better, faster than expected, but it is going to cost us a little bit this upcoming season.

JJ get healthy get confidence go win

think juco

I liked the analysis but I think KP can be a great QB. I think when he goes out senior year, he will have confidence, and will be connected with his teammates. I think also he will show he has alot to prove. Im not sure about Gilbert, I hope we get his 2 years ('13 and '14).