RF2044
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It's slow, and I'm chomping at the bit for some football recruiting news, so I decided to post something to generate discussion about the team during a slow time.
Last year was an amazing finish, after a poor start. Won the bowl, but lost the majority of the coaching staff to the NFL. So how will this year's team perform?
I see five major problem areas heading into the season. How well the question marks get answered under each category will go a long way towards determining how the season unfolds.
QB
This sounds obvious, but quarterback is the most important position on the field. Not only did Nassib put up the most prolific season in program history last year, but he was the reason that we were able to GET to a bowl, producing some late game heroics in several wins.
Replacing a player of his caliber will not be easy. Terrell Hunt looked strong in spring ball, but has yet to take a snap in a regular season game. Charlie Loeb--considered by many to be the prohibitive front runner heading into the off-season before the coaching changes--looks like he's out of contention.
And the staff added Drew Allen, a transfer from Oklahoma who has one year of eligibility. Will Allen seize the reins and solidify the QB position post-Nassib? Or will Hunt not relinquish the spot he earned in spring ball? And will either player be "good enough" to help the team win and get back to a bowl?
OL
We saw how important having above average OL play can be to running a potent offense last year. We lost Justin Pugh and Zach Chibane to the offseason, both to the NFL, with Pugh translating his high level of performance into a first round selection.
This year, we return three starters. Hickey shifts from RT to LT, replacing Pugh. He performed well there early last season while Pugh was out, and should give us a standout at LT. Rob Trudo really came on at G after being inserted into the starting lineup. And Mackey is bigger / stronger, and ready to build off a great season last year.
After that, there are loads of question marks. Can untested Nick Robinson solidify the interior of the offensive line, and help open holes for the powerful run game? Can Ivan Foy--who started last season at RG before being supplanted by Trudo--make the shift to RT, and does he have the lateral mobility to effectively counter pass rush?
Behind that group, depth is also a question mark. Omari Palmer [G], Jason Emerich [C], and Kyle Knapp [OT] all redshirted last year, and will need to produce this season--even in a reserve capacity. Will JUCO recruits John Miller [interior lineman] and Michael Lasker [OT] provide depth and give us a full second unit?
BIG question marks here--figuratively and literally. We need the OL to not falter and continue the strong play from last year, which will help provide a safety cushion to the inexperienced QBs.
WR
Neither Alec Lemon nor Marcus Sales were burners, yet both turned in outstanding 1000 yard caliber seasons. Lemon in particular was highly attuned to Nassib, and was unstoppable at times at the end of games. That's a lot of productivity to replace.
Of the returnees, only Jarod West has significant playing time. He'll be relied upon to step into a bigger role this year, and I think he's up to the challenge.
Jeremiah Kobena flashed some at the beginning of last year before getting hurt. Can he stay healthy, and more importantly emerge as a deep threat playmaker? Chris Clark played some in a reserve capacity--can he demonstrate a bigger impact this year?
Speaking of "big," Qunita Funderburk [transfer from Arkansas] is a former four star recruit who hasn't seen much PT thus far in his career. Will he emerge as a difference maker, or will his potential go unfulfilled? And last year's frosh--Cornelius and Lewis--looked strong in preseason, but were subsequently redshirted. Will either [or both] emerge and give the new QB additional options?
Perhaps most importantly, who's the go-to guy in this group?
DE
We return a LOT of defensive talent / experience from last year's team. The interior of the DL looks loaded, and our linebacking corps has better depth than in a long time. Even though we replace important pieces in our secondary, the depth there should solidify that unit, as well.
The lone area of questionable performance on D appears to be at defensive end. Micah Robinson is a proven commodity at strongside defensive end. And Robert Welsh made big strides in spring--but was his performance a sign that he's coming on, or just indicative of him playing against a shaky offensive line [namely, ours]? Will either player be able to get upfield and make plays behind the line of scrimmage or pressuring the QB?
What [if anything] does Donny Simmons bring to the table? Does JUCO transfer Trejo get into the mix, or will he need a year to acclimate? How about Ron Thompson, a four star TE recruit who got shifted to DE this spring--will he be an impact player? Lastly, does Luke Arcinega--a JUCO linebacker with size--find a home at DE?
Big question marks at DE--the MPB situation really hurt the team.
Coaching
I'm very excited about our new staff. It is refreshing to see new blood, with tremendous enthusiasm on the recruiting trail, and the foundation of the class of 2014 they've begun to put together is impressive. But can these guys get it done on game day?
When Marrone and staff took over, they took a team comprised of mostly the same players that GRob struggled with and made them instantly tougher and more competitive. Will this staff prove to be cut from the same cloth, or will they struggle on the field despite the off the field [read: recruiting] promise?
Last year was an amazing finish, after a poor start. Won the bowl, but lost the majority of the coaching staff to the NFL. So how will this year's team perform?
I see five major problem areas heading into the season. How well the question marks get answered under each category will go a long way towards determining how the season unfolds.
QB
This sounds obvious, but quarterback is the most important position on the field. Not only did Nassib put up the most prolific season in program history last year, but he was the reason that we were able to GET to a bowl, producing some late game heroics in several wins.
Replacing a player of his caliber will not be easy. Terrell Hunt looked strong in spring ball, but has yet to take a snap in a regular season game. Charlie Loeb--considered by many to be the prohibitive front runner heading into the off-season before the coaching changes--looks like he's out of contention.
And the staff added Drew Allen, a transfer from Oklahoma who has one year of eligibility. Will Allen seize the reins and solidify the QB position post-Nassib? Or will Hunt not relinquish the spot he earned in spring ball? And will either player be "good enough" to help the team win and get back to a bowl?
OL
We saw how important having above average OL play can be to running a potent offense last year. We lost Justin Pugh and Zach Chibane to the offseason, both to the NFL, with Pugh translating his high level of performance into a first round selection.
This year, we return three starters. Hickey shifts from RT to LT, replacing Pugh. He performed well there early last season while Pugh was out, and should give us a standout at LT. Rob Trudo really came on at G after being inserted into the starting lineup. And Mackey is bigger / stronger, and ready to build off a great season last year.
After that, there are loads of question marks. Can untested Nick Robinson solidify the interior of the offensive line, and help open holes for the powerful run game? Can Ivan Foy--who started last season at RG before being supplanted by Trudo--make the shift to RT, and does he have the lateral mobility to effectively counter pass rush?
Behind that group, depth is also a question mark. Omari Palmer [G], Jason Emerich [C], and Kyle Knapp [OT] all redshirted last year, and will need to produce this season--even in a reserve capacity. Will JUCO recruits John Miller [interior lineman] and Michael Lasker [OT] provide depth and give us a full second unit?
BIG question marks here--figuratively and literally. We need the OL to not falter and continue the strong play from last year, which will help provide a safety cushion to the inexperienced QBs.
WR
Neither Alec Lemon nor Marcus Sales were burners, yet both turned in outstanding 1000 yard caliber seasons. Lemon in particular was highly attuned to Nassib, and was unstoppable at times at the end of games. That's a lot of productivity to replace.
Of the returnees, only Jarod West has significant playing time. He'll be relied upon to step into a bigger role this year, and I think he's up to the challenge.
Jeremiah Kobena flashed some at the beginning of last year before getting hurt. Can he stay healthy, and more importantly emerge as a deep threat playmaker? Chris Clark played some in a reserve capacity--can he demonstrate a bigger impact this year?
Speaking of "big," Qunita Funderburk [transfer from Arkansas] is a former four star recruit who hasn't seen much PT thus far in his career. Will he emerge as a difference maker, or will his potential go unfulfilled? And last year's frosh--Cornelius and Lewis--looked strong in preseason, but were subsequently redshirted. Will either [or both] emerge and give the new QB additional options?
Perhaps most importantly, who's the go-to guy in this group?
DE
We return a LOT of defensive talent / experience from last year's team. The interior of the DL looks loaded, and our linebacking corps has better depth than in a long time. Even though we replace important pieces in our secondary, the depth there should solidify that unit, as well.
The lone area of questionable performance on D appears to be at defensive end. Micah Robinson is a proven commodity at strongside defensive end. And Robert Welsh made big strides in spring--but was his performance a sign that he's coming on, or just indicative of him playing against a shaky offensive line [namely, ours]? Will either player be able to get upfield and make plays behind the line of scrimmage or pressuring the QB?
What [if anything] does Donny Simmons bring to the table? Does JUCO transfer Trejo get into the mix, or will he need a year to acclimate? How about Ron Thompson, a four star TE recruit who got shifted to DE this spring--will he be an impact player? Lastly, does Luke Arcinega--a JUCO linebacker with size--find a home at DE?
Big question marks at DE--the MPB situation really hurt the team.
Coaching
I'm very excited about our new staff. It is refreshing to see new blood, with tremendous enthusiasm on the recruiting trail, and the foundation of the class of 2014 they've begun to put together is impressive. But can these guys get it done on game day?
When Marrone and staff took over, they took a team comprised of mostly the same players that GRob struggled with and made them instantly tougher and more competitive. Will this staff prove to be cut from the same cloth, or will they struggle on the field despite the off the field [read: recruiting] promise?
