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Message: [QUOTE="sutomcat, post: 330237, member: 27"] Well, let me start by stating that this was the first day of practice with pads. It is really early in the preseason, and you can't make definitive statements just watching one practice regardless. Yes, Hickey struggled some, but he has barely played since he was in high school a couple of years ago. It shouldn't be a surprise he is rusty. Still, he has NFL size and NFL measureables (strength and speed). He has everything needed to be a major success except experience. I think the dropoff from Nassib to the other QBs is a big one. Loeb has been, IMHO, a slow study, but it looks like he is making progress and has distanced himself from Kinder and Hunt. Hunt has a certain cockiness I like, but I don't think he will be ready this year. Hope we don't have to find that out. I can't remember the last time we had so little experience coming back at RB. But I like the talent of the players we have, and I think it is highly likely we will be better there in 2012 than we were in 2011. The biggest difference between this team and DM's other teams is depth. We have two talented and experienced CBs in Lyn and Anderson, and Reddish looks ready to play as well. Morgan does not appear to be far behind him, and I was also very impressed with Whigham. George looks promising as well. We were using walk ons on the two deep a year ago. Big difference. Same thing at linebacker, where we have talked at length on this board about having 5 or even 6 talented players who appear ready to contribute and do well. We had walk ons in the two deep here as recently as last season. The DL has had huge issues with depth for the last 10 years or more. I agree with Go that there are no major stars on this unit (though I think Goggins might make all conference), but if Goggins, Bromley, Crume and Pierce-Brewster end up starting, man, that is our most athletic defensive line since the mid 1990s. They all run really well and I think there is reason to believe this unit, aided by Sharpe and Simmons, can put some pressure on the QB in passing situations. There are a bunch of other at least serviceable options at DE with players like Robinson and Welsh and at DT with Jones and Sloan, et al. We are even showing signs of depth on the OL, where when Pugh gets back, we will have at least 3 OTs who are solid. Phillips is also still around, has played some and knows the assignments as well as anyone. Between Chibane, Foy, Trudo and Robinson, we should be able to come up with 2 serviceable guards, and Macky and Jason looked good at center yesterday. My biggest concern is our size on defense. Assuming Wilkes and Diabate start at FS and MIKE respectively, assuming Crume starts at NT, we are still undersized up the middle. Crume is at best 6 foot tall. Diabate is under 6 feet. Wilkes is around 5'9. Shamarko is 5'10. We are surely going to start Sharpe or Pierce-Brewster at one of the DE positions. MPB is only 230 pounds or so. Sharpe is a little heavier but will give away 50 pounds or more every week he plays. Bromley is bigger and stronger than he was, and I think it will help moving Goggins to DE, but the other LBs, regardless of whether they are Vaughn, Davis, Spruill or Lynch, are also going to be undersized. I don't think UConn or UL will have the same big, experienced power OL they have had, and WVU is gone now, so our weakness should be less exposed, but these guys have to prove they can stop the run without played 9 in the box and as mentioned before, they have to show they can pressure the QB without blitzing. The other big concern I have is with our offense. I think we are slowly getting better in terms of talent and I think we will be better this season, but the scheme needs to be better too. We can't try all season to hold the ball all game long with a power running attack, especially when the other team knows exactly what is coming. The staff should know change is needed, they have experience at QB and WR, there is no reason why things can't be opened up. Call me a doubting Thomas but I am going to have to see it to believe it. I want to believe. I really do. [/QUOTE]

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