Are we better?

[CuseMan4]

I think we will be a lot better this season for 3 main reasons. Angeli is back. If he’s healthy we saw what he could do. And even though he wasn’t practicing he’s been watching film, able to get in the playbook more so he’ll be even better for this offense. We literally did not have a capable QB him last season and the offense ranked because of it. I bet if he stayed healthy we would have been 5-7 or 6-6 last year. Still not great but a hell of a lot better than 3-9 and probably the worst FBS team.

We actually have a legit OL coach. He has the resume to back it up. The last few OL coaches did not have great resumes and the teams they were coming from were happy they moved on from their last teams. That’s not the case here. Our new OL coach is actually respected. I think after QB, OL coach is the second most important position to actually have a good X’s and O’s coach. We have that this year.

Our DC is a massive upgrade this year. We for sure upgraded at every position this off season on defense. Other than probably safety on paper. I think the defense takes a huge leap forward this year. I think we’ll be middle of the pack on defense in the FBS. Which that alone is a huge upgrade and what we should expect.

Nixon is a lot better play caller with a competent QB as any OC would be. We know what he’s capable of. He was a very good play caller when he had McCord and the first few games of last year when he had Angeli. I think both sides of the ball will take a leap forward. I think the offense will be pretty close to McCord level. He have a good QB in Angeli, should have a better O-Line, I think Miller will be an upgrade at RB. We have a lot of talent at WR, ALOT, granted not experienced but I’ll take the talen we have there any day. And the WKU transfer we got at TE is a good receiving TE, and you have Clement as a plus blocking tight end. I think we’ll be fine. Schedule is still tough but nowhere near as tough as last years. I think this team goes 7-5, 8-4

 

[HRE Otto IV]

I’m sorry but I’m more optimistic than some about next season but some of the positions you listed are not a “push” or “better” on paper right now. Wide receiver game 1 last year looks better than this year on paper. Running back I think last year was better on paper because more experienced depth. Tight end wise villari was playing great till Steve went down, still in the air if Meyers can have a better season. And safety even though chestnut wasn’t what he used to be and grant was hurt more, the guys taking there spots were there backups last year so I’d wait to call that one a push… the rest I agree with.

Portal makes things different in terms of returning production. It isn't as big as it used to be. But still...

We lost our top 2 in rushing yards.

We lost our top 7 in receiving yards.

The 6 skill players we brought in via the portal had a combined 1149 receiving yards last year.

 

[shu 49]

Portal is closed now minus some last minute entries needing to be processed. What are everyone’s thoughts? To be honest, I expected a few bigger names. Maybe we were spoiled by Fran’s magic right after he was hired.

I like some pieces we got on defense, productive guys from smaller conferences. I would have preferred we retained our guys on offense, think we got worse at WR. Yasin can be replaced by the committee of guys we brought in.

I don’t know where I stand, but I guess I expected more. Time will tell how it shakes out. Biggest upgrade by far was the coaching staff.

Needed 3 shade to dominate d line, needed starting safety to help implement newcomers and number 1 receiver and we got 0 of these. Spend a mil plus on each guy and we are cooking. Do what we did and it may be rough this year. Can we get a few guys in next portal in spring or isn’t there one

 

[shu 49]

You have no idea what we can or can't afford.

I agree but why not grab a dline oline safety or wr that we really need. Both teams in playoffs have stud dline and oline. I’m ok with our oline but we need a stud at dline no ? We need a gill also.

 

[shu 49]

I see what you are saying. But the guys I’m about to list were pretty significant adds that we should be very happy about

1) Odom- we saw last year how important the back up QB is in this offense. Odom was a 1st team all conference player at an FBS school that Missouri wanted too. Great get
2) Weaver- very underrated add here. Weaver was crushing it at Miami (OH) before they lost their starting QB and then everyones production went way down once the back up played (very similar to here) has great size, athletic ability and ball skills
3) Flounoy- we needed some serious help on the inside of the D-line. Good size, very productive player as a freshman at GA St. Will have 3 years here and followed his position coach. Very good get
4) Miller- will be RB1 here opening day. Doesn’t have burner speed but above average speed. He’s MEAN. Can run between the tackles and isn’t afraid of contact. Can catch out of the backfield as well. Was extremely productive at Jackson State. Great add
5) D’Appolonia- followed the DC over. Obviously the DC thinks highly of him. Great size for the position, good speed and coverage ability for the position. Was very productive at Toledo and All-MAC. He is the exact linebacker we needed. Great add
6) Keyshawn Johnson- Probably my favorite add. This kid has game wrecker potential. Was uber productive at his last school and defensive player of the year in his conference. Double digit sacks. A ton of TFLs and Clemson wanted this kid. He has Sunday potential after this year. He is reallllly good. Great get
7) Fontus- great size for the interior of the D-line. Once again a position of huge need. Was a starter at Maryland so comes over with a ton of experience. He’ll be a starter or at the very least the 3rd DT and first off the sideline in the rotation. Doesn’t have huge stats but he’s a big dude and his role is to fill gaps and let linebackers do their things behind him. Which we missed big time last year. Good get
8) Ward- was extremely productive at WKU. He’ll likely be the third corner behind Samuels and Peal. Good size and speed at the position. Good numbers at WKU. Good add
9) Adeleye- was very productive at UNLV. Good sack numbers from last year, good Paso rusher along with Johnson. Adeleye and Johnson are likely our starters at DE this year. Both would have been our best pass rushers if they were on the team this year. He was a wanted man in the portal. Great get
10) Outten- this kid is uber talented at Versatile. He’s different than any receiver we have on the roster. Wouldn’t be shocked if he finishes second or Third in receiving yards by the end of the year. He can be used in multiple ways. He’s also just scratching the surface. He was a big time add. Expect big things from him this year. Great get
11) Meyers- productive at WKU last year. Good size, speed and athleticism for a tight end. If we didn’t get the New Mexico State tight end. This kid was my second favorite we were going after. I think he’s going to be a good part of this offense. He’s good and I think he’ll put up even bigger numbers than he did last year at WKU. Good add

Now the other ones I didn’t list. It doesn’t mean I don’t think they are good. I just see these guys making big impacts THIS YEAR. I think a few of the guys are obviously just depth pieces and we are taking fliers on them. But these 11 I think will be high impact players this year (obviously hopefully Odom is not lol) these 11 guys with what we have coming back….I dont think we are going 10-2 I think 8-4 is realistic. I think our new DC was a huge addition and might win us a game or two himself compared to what we had the last two years. Nixon is just a much better play caller with a competent QB. I think we go 7-5 or 8-4 next year

My thing is Perry will be good this year but problem is we didn’t get a guy u need to gameplan for at other spot. I like the Georgia state kid but he will need a year to get up to speed. Again no where near playoffs without someone at dline position.

 

[2B20Again]

We are better at the most important spots on the team.
QB
Coaching.
D is going to be much improved. We didn't get any pressure last season and our edge position is 100x better. DL is a push or better.
LB better. CB better S push.
Not even close as far as Coaching goes.

QB. Steve will be fine and better.
QB 2 won't even be close.
RB push
OL going out on a limb but much better talent and Coaching. Center is a concern.
Wr push or better. Definitely more physical
TE sorry Dan but better
Special teams call it a push
Schedule better.
8-4 is my pick.

agree with most. But vallaría was solid. Did it all. Once Angeli went down. He pretty much could block only. No one was good enough to get him the ball in the right position. Replacement has a lot of OG skills. Let’s se how it works out.

 

[tptcuse]

We are better at the most important spots on the team.
QB
Coaching.
D is going to be much improved. We didn't get any pressure last season and our edge position is 100x better. DL is a push or better.
LB better. CB better S push.
Not even close as far as Coaching goes.

QB. Steve will be fine and better.
QB 2 won't even be close.
RB push
OL going out on a limb but much better talent and Coaching. Center is a concern.
Wr push or better. Definitely more physical
TE sorry Dan but better
Special teams call it a push
Schedule better.
8-4 is my pick.

Is everyone saying the defense is going to be better because of the new coaches, or do we think we got better players? I lean towards the coach, but I'm curious about others' thoughts.

 

[Cuse House]

Is everyone saying the defense is going to be better because of the new coaches, or do we think we got better players? I lean towards the coach, but I'm curious about others' thoughts.

Brought in two good pass rushers, one from a lower level so we will have to see how he adapts to the P4. Antoine, Peal, and Samuel back. That’s a solid core with a better coach.

I think LB is a huge strength and we should be better at pressuring. Still worried about safety and defensive tackle. I think we’re better on defense in both aspects. How much better remains to be seen.

 

[Ttk.gman2]

We are better at the most important spots on the team.
QB
Coaching.
D is going to be much improved. We didn't get any pressure last season and our edge position is 100x better. DL is a push or better.
LB better. CB better S push.
Not even close as far as Coaching goes.

QB. Steve will be fine and better.
QB 2 won't even be close.
RB push
OL going out on a limb but much better talent and Coaching. Center is a concern.
Wr push or better. Definitely more physical
TE sorry Dan but better
Special teams call it a push
Schedule better.
8-4 is my pick.

Agreed

 

[Ttk.gman2]

Brought in two good pass rushers, one from a lower level so we will have to see how he adapts to the P4. Antoine, Peal, and Samuel back. That’s a solid core with a better coach.

I think LB is a huge strength and we should be better at pressuring. Still worried about safety and defensive tackle. I think we’re better on defense in both aspects. How much better remains to be seen.

If Hughes can come in and start for us and hold down one of the safety spots like Samuels did for us last year at corner we will be fine.

 

[Scooch]

Who knows. Anyone saying otherwise is mostly guessing.

 

[orangepassion]

We need to clarify the topic question-Are we better than opening day 2025. It goes without question we're better next year with a healthy Angeli than last year w/o Angeli. Every P4 team is, including last year's 1-10 BC team that came in and spanked us.

 

[kcsu]

Is everyone saying the defense is going to be better because of the new coaches, or do we think we got better players? I lean towards the coach, but I'm curious about others' thoughts.

Both. We didn't have anyone who was a threat to get to the QB. Edge is so much better. LB better. Corners better. I like our DL talent as well. So my answer is both but especially the coaching