Depth Chart Thoughts Part II

[IthacaBarrel]

I have a tough time imagining this team looking all that much different from the past 2- 3 years, that said if they can score a few more points and get off the field on 3rd down a bit more, I see no reason why they can't go to a bowl game. I don't see any huge upgrades anywhere but I don't see anywhere where we lose a TON other than still missing Hogue and Smith. This team was really bad last year and was still 5-7. Don't need miracles, split the Big 10 games, 4-3 in conference, which would require not forgetting how to play the game in November and get Pugh back by 10/1.

I don't see a stout defense nor a prolific/ dynamic offense coming out of the woodwork, we will have much the same problems we always have had until some of the young talent we have gotten the past two years continues to improve, lots of very raw talent IMO. Get astrong class of seniors and we will have some good years

 

[OrangeinBoston]

I have a tough time imagining this team looking all that much different from the past 2- 3 years, that said if they can score a few more points and get off the field on 3rd down a bit more, I see no reason why they can't go to a bowl game. I don't see any huge upgrades anywhere but I don't see anywhere where we lose a TON other than still missing Hogue and Smith. This team was really bad last year and was still 5-7. Don't need miracles, split the Big 10 games, 4-3 in conference, which would require not forgetting how to play the game in November and get Pugh back by 10/1.

I don't see a stout defense nor a prolific/ dynamic offense coming out of the woodwork, we will have much the same problems we always have had until some of the young talent we have gotten the past two years continues to improve, lots of very raw talent IMO. Get astrong class of seniors and we will have some good years

I think we need to moderate expectations greatly at this point. I could see them going 7 - 5. I could also see them tanking the season and going 2 - 10. Way too many question marks, way too many unknowns. In truth, we won't know anything about this team until half-time of the Northwestern game.

 

[Rocco]

Our linebackers are small & light. We need to address this in the very near future...

They are small, but they are fast, which in this system works. And we beefed up the DLine, which should help...

 

[RMH44]

They are small, but they are fast, which in this system works. And we beefed up the DLine, which should help...

Yep, the only way for our current group of LB's (who all play at under 220lbs) to have success is for the DL to keep them uncovered. I really don't see this group shedding blocks to get to ball carriers.

 

[DCCuse]

And it could also end up being the worst. That is the issue right now, we have a lot of question marks. Besides Bromley and Shamarko everything is yet to be determined.

It will not be one of the worst. This is a top 3 defense in the BE at it's worst. I believe strongly it will be the best.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I think we need to moderate expectations greatly at this point.

Historically, our community here isn't good at that. We all talk ourselves into 8 or 9 wins, then when we perform to our level of ability we're reminded that the season isn't a disappointment because revisionist history says nobody thought we'd really be any good or had high expectations.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

I think we need to moderate expectations greatly at this point. I could see them going 7 - 5. I could also see them tanking the season and going 2 - 10. Way too many question marks, way too many unknowns. In truth, we won't know anything about this team until half-time of the Northwestern game.

This team will not go 2-10, they just won't. Frankly, I can't see them being any worse than last year, which as I indicated in my opinion was absolutely horrendous minus USC, WVU, and 4th qt of WF and we were still 5-7, granted the schedule is tougher but I would say anywhere from 4-8 wins but nothing worse than that, I would say between 5 and 7 wins is reasonable.

As I have said numerous times the past two weeks, last years team was horrendous, how they went 5-7 is beyond me, white knuckled several games.

 

[RF2044]

Historically, our community here isn't good at that. We all talk ourselves into 8 or 9 wins, then when we perform to our level of ability we're reminded that the season isn't a disappointment because revisionist history says nobody thought we'd really be any good or had high expectations.

The two big determinants will be: has the defense improved / can they get off the field, and can the offense amass more yardage and are they capable of putting more points on the board?

If both units perform approximately as well as last year, we're in for a long year. If one or both show improvement, we will contend for a bowl berth.

Simple as that.

 

[kingottoiii]

It will not be one of the worst. This is a top 3 defense in the BE at it's worst. I believe strongly it will be the best.

The front 7 needs to prove that it can stop the run and get pressure on the QB. Without that, the D will struggle mightily. We were not able to do either last year in our base D. It is a concern.

 

[DCCuse]

The front 7 needs to prove that it can stop the run and get pressure on the QB. Without that, the D will struggle mightily. We were not able to do either last year in our base D. It is a concern.

Fair enough, but I believe this front four is deeper and will be a lot more stout vs the run and get more pressure on the QBs helping the secondary and pass defense.

 

[RF2044]

Fair enough, but I believe this front four is deeper and will be a lot more stout vs the run and get more pressure on the QBs helping the secondary and pass defense.

Completely agree. Crume as a true frosh = a kid not prepared to be a main contributor. This year, I expect him to take to take a big step forward. He alone will help us do a better job against the run. Gachelin the second.

 

[CuseCrew08]

The two big determinants will be: has the defense improved / can they get off the field.

Simple as that.

I think this is the place we need the most improvement. We were last in the BE in Opp 3rd down conversions, and it felt like a lot of those conversions were 3rd and 5+. We need to get off the field on 3rd. down and long, a DE that can get to the QB would help this a lot I think.

OPP 3RD-DN CONVERT​

GConv.Att.Pct.
1.

Rutgers​

13 59 185 31.9
2.

Connecticut​

12 56 172 32.6
3.

Cincinnati​

13 66 202 32.7
4.

Pittsburgh​

13 63 191 33.0
5.

USF​

12 70 197 35.5
6.

West Virginia​

13 73 204 35.8
7.

Louisville​

13 74 193 38.3
8.

Syracuse​

12 72 173
41.6​

 

[PhatOrange]

Fair enough, but I believe this front four is deeper and will be a lot more stout vs the run and get more pressure on the QBs helping the secondary and pass defense.

Agreed, they are all a year more experienced now and the smallest guy inside is 290 pounds. We'll be big on the interior with guys who just can't be manhandled out of the way. We're not undersized anymore and have more experience. I don't know about Sloan or ZJones but nobody else will be fat and out of shape either.

I have big expectations for the front 4 but man so goes them so goes our defense. We'll need them to take pressure off the linebackers and dbs.

I feel a lot better to now knowing that Simmons is in the 240lb range. He's are smallest DE.

 

[RMH44]

Completely agree. Crume as a true frosh = a kid not prepared to be a main contributor. This year, I expect him to take to take a big step forward. He alone will help us do a better job against the run. Gachelin the second.

Plus...keep in mind that Crume and Jones only played a partial schedule due to injuries and word was that Marinovich played hurt all year. We're in far better shape across the DL this year than last.

 

[Orangello]

I think the key to the D will be the line and I am cautiously optimistic here. For the first time in a long time we seem to have some solid depth. Shafer's system relies heavily on shuttling bodies in and out and keeping it coming all game long. If we can get to the QB and stop the crazy third and long conversions, we've got a fighting chance.

 

[kingottoiii]

Completely agree. Crume as a true frosh = a kid not prepared to be a main contributor. This year, I expect him to take to take a big step forward. He alone will help us do a better job against the run. Gachelin the second.

The problem IMO is on paper this D isn't as good as the 2010 D, which IMO was vastly overrated. Our rankings in 2010 were helped by the fact that we played two 1AA teams and then a 1A reg season schedule where the average rank of the Os was 86th. We played 5 teams that were in the bottom 25% on O. That is half of our 1A games. And only ONE team we played was in the Top 50% of Os. That means 90% of our games were vs below avg Os. And the one team that was above average (Cincy) happened to be without their starting QB when we played them. You really cannot ask for a more favorable schedule as a DC.

In our five 1A Ws we gave up 245.2 ypg and 8.6 ppg. Those are awesome numbers. The D flat out won us two games that year. However in our 5 Ls we gave up 345.6 ypg and 30.6 ppg. That IMO is wildly inconsistent. A D shouldn't be feast or famine. A 22 ppg swing should never happen. Especially since four of those Ls were at home where noise should be a factor and help the D. Yet we lost to the #71 (with a backup walkon QB), #72, #96, and #109 (without their starting RB) offenses at home. How the hell did the D allow 315 ypg and 28 ppg to those crappy Os, which contributed to an 0-4 home record vs 1A teams?

I like Shafer and like his style. I think he matches up well against Spread teams. But thus far through three years his D has be very inconsistent. He has looked great against WV and RU, but really under performed against everyone else. It seems everyone focuses on the WV and RU games making him into a genius, and ignore the many stinkers we have had on D.

 

[RF2044]

I think this is the place we need the most improvement. We were last in the BE in Opp 3rd down conversions, and it felt like a lot of those conversions were 3rd and 5+. We need to get off the field on 3rd. down and long, a DE that can get to the QB would help this a lot I think.

Spot on. Being stout up the middle combined with pass rush means not only sacks, but also hurrying the QB into making bad throws, or potentially disrupting plays some other way.

I'm confident that Sharpe is going to have a good senior year and lock down one DE position, but we desperately, desperately need another DE [MPB is my guess] to step up. If we have bookend DEs who can get upfield and make plays in the backfield, then the entire defense will come together. If not...it is going to make things tough on our improved secondary.

 

[RF2044]

The problem IMO is on paper this D isn't as good as the 2010 D, which IMO was vastly overrated. Our rankings in 2010 were helped by the fact that we played two 1AA teams and then a 1A reg season schedule where the average rank of the Os was 86th. We played 5 teams that were in the bottom 25% on O. That is half of our 1A games. And only ONE team we played was in the Top 50% of Os. That means 90% of our games were vs below avg Os. And the one team that was above average (Cincy) happened to be without their starting QB when we played them. You really cannot ask for a more favorable schedule as a DC.

In our five 1A Ws we gave up 245.2 ypg and 8.6 ppg. Those are awesome numbers. The D flat out won us two games that year. However in our 5 Ls we gave up 345.6 ypg and 30.6 ppg. That IMO is wildly inconsistent. A D shouldn't be feast or famine. A 22 ppg swing should never happen. Especially since four of those Ls were at home where noise should be a factor and help the D. Yet we lost to the #71 (with a backup walkon QB), #72, #96, and #109 (without their starting RB) offenses at home. How the hell did the D allow 315 ypg and 28 ppg to those crappy Os, which contributed to an 0-4 home record vs 1A teams?

I like Shafer and like his style. I think he matches up well against Spread teams. But thus far through three years his D has be very inconsistent. He has looked great against WV and RU, but really under performed against everyone else. It seems everyone focuses on the WV and RU games making him into a genius, and ignore the many stinkers we have had on D.

That's fair, but I'll also submit that our DTs in 2010 were servicable but not impact players. It remains to be seen whether Bromley and Crume [or Sloan or any of the JUCOs] can be impact players in their own right. But the key is being able to hold up at the line of scrimmage and doing a reasonable job of stopping the run.

If that happens--IF--then we need the linebackers to play in space and make plays while the DTs occupy blockers and keep them off of the LBs. The LBs have shown flashes and I understand people's skepticism, but we return our top 4 performers, so I expect them to take a step forward this year.

The secondary also has the potential to be much improved. As others have stated in this thread, a lot will depend on pass rush. If they are left on islands every play, they are going to struggle. But if we can generate a reasonable pass rush [and that isn't all contingent upon just DEs], then I think that the secondary could be the best group we've had in a long time, with solid depth providing us reasonably talented nickel / dime packages.

There's no question that there are some question marks on how the defense will perform entering into the season, but the personnel make me personally optimistic. We have a LOT of talented athletes on that side of the ball, and the interior of the line seems significantly improved over what we've had the past two years.

 

[PhatOrange]

I like Shafer and like his style. I think he matches up well against Spread teams. But thus far through three years his D has be very inconsistent. He has looked great against WV and RU, but really under performed against everyone else. It seems everyone focuses on the WV and RU games making him into a genius, and ignore the many stinkers we have had on D.

The wild inconsistancy could be attributed to few bodies and no depth though.

On paper this season we're better numbers/depth wise and have legit size on the DLine and the secondary could be pretty darn good to. The best numbers/depth since Schaf has been here.

 

[RF2044]

The wild inconsistancy could be attributed to few bodies and no depth though.

On paper this season we're better numbers/depth wise and have legit size on the DLine and the secondary could be pretty darn good to. The best numbers/depth since Schaf has been here.

That's what I'm counting on, as well. If a player or two steps up at DE, this will be the best front seven we've fielded in a long time, with better depth.

The LBs might not individually be as good as Hogue / Smith, but the talent / experience was thin behind those two [in 2009, we started Gillum and then the kid who transferred to NC State. Spruill was a true frosh in 2010]. We can go at least 6 deep this year at LB, with four experienced guys who can play multiple positions.

Question marks abound in the secondary, but again--we have better talent / depth than we've had in a long time. The Lyn / Reddish duo might prove to be as good as Holmes / Merkerson were in 2010. If Eskridge brings it, the safeties could be very good, too.

And an injury or two--while clearly undesirable--won't ransack our depth like it would have in 2009, 2010, and 2011.

 

[orangenirvana]

As I have said numerous times the past two weeks, last years team was horrendous, how they went 5-7 is beyond me, white knuckled several games.

 

[SU2NASA]

100 of those calls won't make up for the one against Tennessee that cost us that game.

 

[SUalldway]

They are small, but they are fast, which in this system works. And we beefed up the DLine, which should help...

A 210 lb. starting middle linebacker in D-1 is asking for trouble. Diab has skills, but that's a very tall order.

 

[upperdeck]

still hard to factor in how much the D issues were caused by an offense that could never stay on the field. and much of the D's issues are above the neck not talent related. so many big plays happened because one player would quit on his assignment. thats what we have to hope experience does for the D..