Our weakest unit

[kcsu]

At this point my hat is off to Doug and his staff for recruiting. They are doing a very solid job in spite of a horrible finish last year and a total lack of facilities until recently.

In looking at this years team and the recruits for the past few years the one area that still lags is the Oline. I realize that we have been devestated by injury but it is what it is which at this point is our weakest link. I truly believe that our D is going to be very strong this year and that with a healthy Lemon and PTG along with AB, Sales, Nassib, Smith, AAM and others that we have enough weapons to score some points. Lets say 25 or so a game IF the oline can perform. My biggest concern is that out of all of the units on a team that one that has to work in concert together is the Oline. With so many key players missing the entire spring i dont how this unit comes together in time for the opener. I would imagine that Doug would simplify the blocking schemes out of the gate and add more as time goes by. Still it is going to be very difficult for this group to function well together out of the gate given the fact that they didnt get to work together in the spring. Throw in all of the new formations on O and things will be tough at best. At a minimum i hope that our guys are all 100% to go and that our D can keep us in the first few games as the unit gels.

 

[OttoMets]

Until they prove otherwise, weakest unit has to be special teams, no? We just saw an historically bad season as far as punt returns go (as in, we couldn't return punts at all) and we had some difficulty both in in kick coverage and keeping kicks in bounds.

Offensive line is key to our success, but at least they're starting from a respectable baseline. Specials have been pretty much unable to do anything.

 

[orangenirvana]

The more I look at the depth chart, the more clueless I become when trying to determine which units will be good and which will be bad. I simply have no idea who is going to be good on this team. In my nearly 20 years of following this program closely, that's never happened.

I could see this team go 1-11 or 10-2 and barely bat an eye either way (although 10-2 would be pretty cool).

 

[All4SU]

Until they prove otherwise, weakest unit has to be special teams, no? We just saw an historically bad season as far as punt returns go (as in, we couldn't return punts at all) and we had some difficulty both in in kick coverage and keeping kicks in bounds.

Offensive line is key to our success, but at least they're starting from a respectable baseline. Specials have been pretty much unable to do anything.

Special teams requires depth. We just haven't had any the last couple of years. This year, much better, but young depth. Should be improved.

 

[tipphill]

At this point my hat is off to Doug and his staff for recruiting. They are doing a very solid job in spite of a horrible finish last year and a total lack of facilities until recently.

In looking at this years team and the recruits for the past few years the one area that still lags is the Oline. I realize that we have been devestated by injury but it is what it is which at this point is our weakest link. I truly believe that our D is going to be very strong this year and that with a healthy Lemon and PTG along with AB, Sales, Nassib, Smith, AAM and others that we have enough weapons to score some points. Lets say 25 or so a game IF the oline can perform. My biggest concern is that out of all of the units on a team that one that has to work in concert together is the Oline. With so many key players missing the entire spring i dont how this unit comes together in time for the opener. I would imagine that Doug would simplify the blocking schemes out of the gate and add more as time goes by. Still it is going to be very difficult for this group to function well together out of the gate given the fact that they didnt get to work together in the spring. Throw in all of the new formations on O and things will be tough at best. At a minimum i hope that our guys are all 100% to go and that our D can keep us in the first few games as the unit gels.

i don't understand the positive spin on the running back situation?what have they demonstrated ? they are not good enough to distract a defense, or that another team would have to devise a game plan to stop them. my hope is the o-line can protect nassib and the new recruited backs can really run.this does include those that also have not yet been tried--mcfarland and morris--as rightfully pointed out to me by another poster

 

[44PRIDE]

Its the Secondary

At some point during HCDM's tenure, each unit has been considered a strength. DLine, OLine, QB, RB, WR's. All except the secondary. We've always been susceptible to a team with a solid passing attack.

I've yet to go into a season thinking we have a lock down secondary.

 

[OttoMets]

Special teams requires depth. We just haven't had any the last couple of years. This year, much better, but young depth. Should be improved.

Here's hoping. Reason for optimism: when you do some things as badly as we did them last year, even a little improvement will big significant.

Would love to see two deep men on kick returns; Graham and Kobena were pretty good last year, but each wasted energy running laterally to field a kick.

 

[Chip]

The more I look at the depth chart, the more clueless I become when trying to determine which units will be good and which will be bad. I simply have no idea who is going to be good on this team. In my nearly 20 years of following this program closely, that's never happened.

I could see this team go 1-11 or 10-2 and barely bat an eye either way (although 10-2 would be pretty cool).

Sort of agree. I feel like we're deeper than we've been in quite some time. But it's hard to tell who really stands out. That could be a good thing, we'll see. I'd rather have depth and be ok to good everywhere, then be really good in a couple units and really bad/thin in others. That can tank the team. (see Receivers, Wide, 2005).

 

[GoSU96]

At this point my hat is off to Doug and his staff for recruiting. They are doing a very solid job in spite of a horrible finish last year and a total lack of facilities until recently.

In looking at this years team and the recruits for the past few years the one area that still lags is the Oline. I realize that we have been devestated by injury but it is what it is which at this point is our weakest link. I truly believe that our D is going to be very strong this year and that with a healthy Lemon and PTG along with AB, Sales, Nassib, Smith, AAM and others that we have enough weapons to score some points. Lets say 25 or so a game IF the oline can perform. My biggest concern is that out of all of the units on a team that one that has to work in concert together is the Oline. With so many key players missing the entire spring i dont how this unit comes together in time for the opener. I would imagine that Doug would simplify the blocking schemes out of the gate and add more as time goes by. Still it is going to be very difficult for this group to function well together out of the gate given the fact that they didnt get to work together in the spring. Throw in all of the new formations on O and things will be tough at best. At a minimum i hope that our guys are all 100% to go and that our D can keep us in the first few games as the unit gels.

.8pts more a game, I hope they can get there.

3 or 4 more pts a game would be solid. Would love to see them add one more TD a game.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Some really good posts in this thread that made some interesting posts. I have to agree with OttoMets who mentioned special teams. Putting it nicely they have been a disaster especially Kick and Punt coverage. Go back and watch some of our games last year the opponent always was starting at the 35-40 yard line, our kick coverage was putrid. The only positives are that we have a good FG kicker and our return guy didnt muff a single putt (very refreshing). Hopefully we are lookign to actually set up a couple returns this year where the return guy can have a few seconds before getting drilled.

 

[OrangePA]

Until they prove otherwise, weakest unit has to be special teams, no? We just saw an historically bad season as far as punt returns go (as in, we couldn't return punts at all) and we had some difficulty both in in kick coverage and keeping kicks in bounds.

Offensive line is key to our success, but at least they're starting from a respectable baseline. Specials have been pretty much unable to do anything.

I think you might be right - the poor KO and KOR and Punt units were devastating to the team last year.

Poor field position killed us all year.

 

[OrangePA]

The more I look at the depth chart, the more clueless I become when trying to determine which units will be good and which will be bad. I simply have no idea who is going to be good on this team. In my nearly 20 years of following this program closely, that's never happened.

I could see this team go 1-11 or 10-2 and barely bat an eye either way (although 10-2 would be pretty cool).

If the team were to go 1-11 or 10-2 I would bat many eyes.

 

[kingtidge]

special teams and secondary d-backs...

I can't remotely believe special teams could get worse... that said, the secondary really concerns me this year.

 

[cuseclappy]

If the team were to go 1-11 or 10-2 I would bat many eyes.

if this team goes 1-11 i am going to take a bat to a lot of things

 

[Blaster]

I remember calling the Axeman last year on like trash day and i brought up SU special teams. He ripped out some stats told me i was dead wrong kinda felt like he crushed me on the radio. Then the next week he was ripping the ST's saying they needed to improve alot. I just lol'd, but yea i still think ST.

 

[Crusty]

Let's not forget the blocked PAT in the Rutgers game. Watching the replays of that play will make you ill. The gap is glaring and that is on the staff. The lack of a special teams coach that knows what he is doing really hurts us. That having been said the staff is well aware of all of this and I am sure they will work on everything.

 

[RF2044]

Offensive line. I think we have important question marks at DB and WR, but that we have the personnel for these positional units to emerge as positions of strength--kind of like what happened with LB a few years ago. RB has a lot of question marks, as well, but I'm less confident about that position than DB / WR [hope the RBs prove me wrong].

Special Teams needs to improve significantly--but I agree with the poster above who suggests that better depth [and speed / athleticism] will pay dividends from here on out.

 

[jcuse44]

Our weakest unit is fan support.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Our weakest unit is fan support.

No doubt but your not gonna have much beyond the diehards when you havent been relevant or won in a decade.

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

that said, the secondary really concerns me this year.

I'm the exact opposite. I have high hopes for the secondary this year. Especially if Eskridge supplants Wilkes at FS. And the reason why?

Coaching.

I think Donnie Henderson is turning this unit around. They looked great in the spring, and I expect improvement to continue through the fall.

 

[BlackKnight76]

Special Teams cost us a bowl last year.

I really don't know the answer to this. We have experience at QB and WR so I'm tossing those out.

RB has a lot of inexperience but a number of good athletes including two, Smith and PTG, who have had nice moments in spots.

OL has experience, but it seems like we've been waiting for this unit to take the next step every year. Can they do it this year?

We lost a lot on the DL, but we gained more here than anywhere else in this last class, including a number of guys who should be able to step in right away.

LBs have a lot of young guys who have all played which is nice. Biggest issue here is that they're undersized.

Secondary is just raw potential. This could be the defenses best or worst unit. I'm optimistic though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JeremyCuse]

Special Teams cost us a bowl last year.

I really don't know the answer to this. We have experience at QB and WR so I'm tossing those out.

RB has a lot of inexperience but a number of good athletes including two, Smith and PTG, who have had nice moments in spots.

OL has experience, but it seems like we've been waiting for this unit to take the next step every year. Can they do it this year?

We lost a lot on the DL, but we gained more here than anywhere else in this last class, including a number of guys who should be able to step in right away.

LBs have a lot of young guys who have all played which is nice. Biggest issue here is that they're undersized.

Secondary is just raw potential. This could be the defenses best or worst unit. I'm optimistic though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Agreed with a lot of your post espeically the issues with the OL, undersized LB, and raw Secondary.
To me one position I haven't seen mentioned that I am concerned about this year and big time moving forward is the WR position. Outside of Alec last year we didnt get much from the rest of the WR core and now a lot of fans (not you Knight) are putting a lot of faith in a Kid who hasnt played in two years and who pretty much rode the pine for most of his Junior year. This is without mentioning the fact that we have gotten pretty much nothing out of the WR recruits Marrone has brought in to date and Funderburk isnt going to meet the grade to get enrolled. Maybe I am missing something but if you look at the roster for the 2013 season the WR situation looks downright scary and not in a good way. A juco and 1-2 additional WR's should be brought in or we could be in big trouble in 2013.

 

[jcuse44]

I dont recall our special teams EVER being as bad as they were last year. I remember the days when we were better at special teams than Frank Beamer at vpi. Field position is everything

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Our weakest unit is fan support.

Boo! Boo!

 

[IthacaBarrel]

O Line definitely as BK has said we have been waiting FOREVER for this unit to turn the corner and really have not, I would say this is my biggest bitch with Marrone is the O Line play. I just have no idea what this team will do- NO IDEA. Kind of cool really