bees tomcat.

[igor]

how do we look.

 

[NineOneSeven]

 

[skurey]

we've decided to play strictly zone on defense

 

[Rocco]

Expect a birth in the CFP after we win the ACC. USC and Ohio State will be the last two teams we throat punch before winning the national title.

Shafer wins his first UFC match, which results in WF coach Clawson sucking prune juice out of a straw.

Coyle secures a $150 million gift from the late Al Davis' estate. Somehow.

Hunt and Ishmael finish 1st and 2nd in the Heisman voting.

In all honesty, 15-0. Bandwagoners not welcome.

 

[Cusester]

​

 

[dasher]

Expect a birth in the CFP after we win the ACC. USC and Ohio State will be the last two teams we throat punch before winning the national title.

Shafer wins his first UFC match, which results in WF coach Clawson sucking prune juice out of a straw.

Coyle secures a $150 million gift from the late Al Davis' estate. Somehow.

Hunt and Ishmael finish 1st and 2nd in the Heisman voting.

In all honesty, 15-0. Bandwagoners not welcome.

Is that all?

 

[qdawgg]

The offense will rank higher than last years offense.

It will be deemed a massive improvement and success.

Any movement up in the ranking will be used as evidence of turning another corner on the circle.

 

[rrlbees]

how do we look.

Competitive. 6-6 IMO.

 

[FAL]

Competitive. 6-6 IMO.

With all do respect bees, that avatar is not a good look. Please change it. Otherwise I will have to have Karl (BARF!!!) Rove's as mine. Maybe even Rummy. Just sayin'...

Maybe I should just put my finger down my throat and get it over with.

 

[Scooch]

how do we look.

More talented than Miami.

QB is an NFL lock.

 

[FrancoPizza]

All I ask is that we are looking pretty decent and 3-0 heading into LSU. Would like just one week where there's actually a buildup to a game that people might tune into. if we lose out due to injuries or elm hurst incompetence I can live with it. Just ask for a taste of being relevant and talked about on game day one weekend.

 

[rocklloyd]

All I ask is that we are looking pretty decent and 3-0 heading into LSU. Would like just one week where there's actually a buildup to a game that people might tune into. if we lose out due to injuries or elm hurst incompetence I can live with it. Just ask for a taste of being relevant and talked about on game day one weekend.

Agree 100%.

 

[sutomcat]

how do we look.

Better on offense.

Worse on defense.

Better on special teams.

I don't think we are going to be able to move the ball against good defenses and I don't think we will be able to shut down good offenses. Special teams should be a lot better; the best they have been in many years.

I think we are solidly in the 5-7 to 7-5 range. Unless we get a lot of injuries. Depth is a huge issue, especially on the lines. If we get banged up like last year, expect another 3-9 season.

Will write up something more in depth a few days down the road.

 

[tipphill]

Better on offense.

Worse on defense.

Better on special teams.

I don't think we are going to be able to move the ball against good defenses and I don't think we will be able to shut down good offenses. Special teams should be a lot better; the best they have been in many years.

I think we are solidly in the 5-7 to 7-5 range. Unless we get a lot of injuries. Depth is a huge issue, especially on the lines. If we get banged up like last year, expect another 3-9 season.

Will write up something more in depth a few days down the road.

i agree with the above --- we will get injuries as well as that is our karma.additionally, we may see dungey get some reps. due to hunts passing inacuracy

 

[MSOrange]

Better on offense.

Worse on defense.

Better on special teams.

I don't think we are going to be able to move the ball against good defenses and I don't think we will be able to shut down good offenses. Special teams should be a lot better; the best they have been in many years.

I think we are solidly in the 5-7 to 7-5 range. Unless we get a lot of injuries. Depth is a huge issue, especially on the lines. If we get banged up like last year, expect another 3-9 season.

Will write up something more in depth a few days down the road.

Do you think the improvement on special teams is a result of better depth or does it seem like Steve Gregory might be able to make a difference there or both? I really liked bringing Gregory on and was hoping he would make a difference on specials.

 

[sutomcat]

Do you think the improvement on special teams is a result of better depth or does it seem like Steve Gregory might be able to make a difference there or both? I really liked bringing Gregory on and was hoping he would make a difference on specials.

Both of those things. I also like Murphy and Dixon a lot. Both have talent and experience, especially Dixon, who should be one of the top 10 punters in college football this season.

And no offense to Ritchy but I think Ishmael or Estime is going to be much more effective returning punts. We also have a bevy of guys who should be good returning KOs and a lot more speed and athletic ability with our gunners/blockers, etc.

 

[retro44]

Both of those things. I also like Murphy and Dixon a lot. Both have talent and experience, especially Dixon, who should be one of the top 10 punters in college football this season.

And no offense to Ritchy but I think Ishmael or Estime is going to be much more effective returning punts. We also have a bevy of guys who should be good returning KOs and a lot more speed and athletic ability with our gunners/blockers, etc.

We are not going to need a punter this year...case closed kid

 

[donniesyracuse]

For those thinking the defense will be worse, is it because they have replaced so much experience with inexperience or because you think there is less talent?

 

[javadoc]

For those thinking the defense will be worse, is it because they have replaced so much experience with inexperience or because you think there is less talent?

Inexperience IMO. I think the overall talent level has risen. Our DL is going to be sick in a year or two, and we're stocked at LB for a while. All they need is experience. DB should be serviceable but we could definitely use some more bodies there going forward. Would love to have another Eskridge type.

 

[sutomcat]

For those thinking the defense will be worse, is it because they have replaced so much experience with inexperience or because you think there is less talent?

I think the talent is a bit of a dropoff. Reddish is/was far better than any of our returning CBs. He is the biggest loss.

I think Eskridge has more talent than the people replacing him. Kelly probably has more talent than the new safeties too. Davis was our best athletic LB and Crume our most athletic DT. But all of these guys tended to blow assignments pretty regularly and were hurt a lot too. Lynch was a good athlete but was abused all the time in coverage. So other than Reddish, and Davis, who had experience and athletic ability and was solid as a senior, I don't consider the rest huge losses.

We are getting an upgrade in talent at DE but Welsh and Robinson played pretty smart assignment football. Thompson and Simmons in theory anyway should be a lot more capable of getting pressure on the QB than their predecessors.

The young safeties have to play smart. At least one of the CBs needs to step up. Between Whigham, Morgan, Winfield, Dowels and Hudson, at least two need to have solid seasons. I think Morgan is more than capable if he stays healthy. Whigham has size, talent and a lot of experience. Winfield is a really good athlete and I think Dowels is going to be excellent at some point. Ellison has been taking some snaps at CB and might end up here too if there are injuries or if others can't produce.

Anyway, I think in terms of athletic ability, there is a small dropoff. In terms of experience, there is a big one. The biggest indicator of success for the defense since Shafer arrived has been the number of returning players with experience. It is probably smaller this year than for any year since Scott has been on campus. That disturbs me.

We have a good staff of defensive coaches. They are going to have to earn their money this season.

 

[TheCusian]

I think the talent is a bit of a dropoff. Reddish is/was far better than any of our returning CBs. He is the biggest loss. I think Eskridge has more talent than the people replacing him. Kelly probably has more talent than the new safeties too. Davis was our best athletic LB and Crume our most athletic DT. But all of these guys tended to blow assignments pretty regularly and were hurt a lot too. Lynch was a good athlete but was abused all the time in coverage. So other than Reddish, and Davis, who had experience and athletic ability and was solid as a senior, I don't consider the rest huge losses. We are getting an upgrade in talent at DE but Welsh and Robinson played pretty smart assignment football. Thompson and Simmons in theory anyway should be a lot more capable of getting pressure on the QB than their predecessors. The young safeties have to play smart. At least one of the CBs needs to step up. Between Whigham, Morgan, Winfield, Dowels and Hudson, at least two need to have solid seasons. I think Morgan is more than capable if he stays healthy. Whigham has size, talent and a lot of experience. Winfield is a really good athlete and I think Dowels is going to be excellent at some point. Ellison has been taking some snaps at CB and might end up here too if there are injuries or if others can't produce. Anyway, I think in terms of athletic ability, there is a small dropoff. In terms of experience, there is a big one. The biggest indicator of success for the defense since Shafer arrived has been the number of returning players with experience. It is probably smaller this year than for any year since Scott has been on campus. That disturbs me. We have a good staff of defensive coaches. They are going to have to earn their money this season.

For sure agree that there might be a talent drop off in the secondary. (Although Whigham might end up surprising. He's got more upside than Reddish, IMO.) Not agreeing on the line however. I think the front 7 are better athletically and just lack experience. They will be the strength of the defense.

 

[FrancoPizza]

I think the talent is a bit of a dropoff. Reddish is/was far better than any of our returning CBs. He is the biggest loss.

Sounds like we'll be seeing a lot of cover 2 and CBs playing 50 yards off the line, bend but dont break. :noidea:

 

[jekelish]

Better on offense.

Worse on defense.

Better on special teams.

I don't think we are going to be able to move the ball against good defenses and I don't think we will be able to shut down good offenses. Special teams should be a lot better; the best they have been in many years.

I think we are solidly in the 5-7 to 7-5 range. Unless we get a lot of injuries. Depth is a huge issue, especially on the lines. If we get banged up like last year, expect another 3-9 season.

Will write up something more in depth a few days down the road.

So basically, dead center in the middle of the road.

 

[donniesyracuse]

A better offense may compensate for the defensive drop-off. An agressive-Shafer/Bullough defense should thrive with a lead. With better offense, the odds of that happening are better.

 

[sutomcat]

So basically, dead center in the middle of the road.

If we stay healthy, yes, that is how I see it...