Post spring unit Depth Charts

[cuseincincy]

So does it matter that we don't have the 300 pounders? Are we worrying too much about that?

I think if they wanted more girth they'd have some. I count 7 OL over 280 that aren't starters. I assume they could have moved one if they wanted, or recruited one. That said, you can't coach girth and a 300 guy in the middle at least has to be gone around usually. Good thing our LB and S are so good. Anyone up for a FB/TE/NT Rhino?

 

[ImperialOrange]

I think if they wanted more girth they'd have some. I count 7 OL over 280 that aren't starters. I assume they could have moved one if they wanted, or recruited one. That said, you can't coach girth and a 300 guy in the middle at least has to be gone around usually. Good thing our LB and S are so good. Anyone up for a FB/TE/NT Rhino?

If we had 22 Rhino's I'd be down with a team of him starting every position on both sides of the ball... And we'd win some games

 

[ImperialOrange]

Some interesting things happening and not sure if intentional or not.

Coaches could have allayed majority of our DL fears on this board by simply adding 10-15 pounds to all player profiles. Do we know the listed weights are even accurate? Did we under report for sake of selling transfers? 10-15 pounds of good weight by August isn't much of an ask for most players (sans Linton) IF that's what the coaches ask. Darton at 268, when he's been listed as high as 295, makes me wonder if the coaches even want that. If you take player weight out of the equation and just focus on performance in Spring our DL1 and DL2 looked pretty darn good.

Additionally, O1 base in Spring was Lamson in 5 WR with empty backfield... Which may well be the future. Hilarity will ensue, however, when Shrader lines up vs Lville with Tucker and Price/Allen lined up with him in the backfield with him and Lamson or Villari in motion from the slot. Our coaches are smart, they'll have our playmakers involved from game 1 and Spring game may have already set the trap for what Lville DC will expect.

 

[ImperialOrange]

Also, post Spring game, my opinion of Linton has completely changed. Admittedly thought he was a fringe player at best... He looks like a player you scheme complimentary players around to have on the field as much as possible.

 

[kcsu]

Huh?

I think horrific is a big overstatement. Linton has been a noticeable playmaker when he has played. They have done a good job of recruiting to their profile at DE the last three cycles.

Lockett looked very good for a true freshman last year , I get they are young but that doesn’t equate to horrific

They are not horrific.
They are young
They are undersized
They are thin
They are going to get run over by years end.
They are in need of 2 interior players.

 

[kcsu]

I don' tthink Coley has a ton of upside and I could see Simmons getting replaced as a starter as well. But I don't agree with your last sentence at all. Simmons was OK at covering but I would think he'd be a bit better this year. I wouldn't say Linebacker speed though. Nunn is a primarily a corner right now I think and not a safety. And I don't think speed is a problem for him at all.

Not sure if Alijah ends up as a CB or Safety but he will be in the mix this fall and could possibly work up to a starting safety spot come the fall. SU just really hasn't seen him yet, well unless he has returned this past week. Sounds like he was close to returning.

I woudn't be surprised to see Oliver crack the starting rotation either. We are good at safety depth for sure.

Based on the look test Oliver is going to see the field early and often

 

[kcsu]

I think if they wanted more girth they'd have some. I count 7 OL over 280 that aren't starters. I assume they could have moved one if they wanted, or recruited one. That said, you can't coach girth and a 300 guy in the middle at least has to be gone around usually. Good thing our LB and S are so good. Anyone up for a FB/TE/NT Rhino?

What will his role be in the new O?

 

[0.2 YNdeeR]

I thought the DT walkon from Saranac Lake (Alberga) looked good.

I bet his nickname is Algebra.

I thought Wright and Alberga both looked decent.

 

[money3189]

Also, post Spring game, my opinion of Linton has completely changed. Admittedly thought he was a fringe player at best... He looks like a player you scheme complimentary players around to have on the field as much as possible.

Only guy on the DL that looks like a SEC guy. We need him to step up this year.

 

[Chip]

I suspect by the middle of the season we'll all realize (myself included) that we were overthinking the DL depth chart.

I hope so.

To me, it's not necessarily the size (that's what she said), it's the strength (she may have said that too).

These guys are young, they just haven't had enough time in the weight room. They'll be up against really good offensive linemen, who in most cases will be in their 3rd to 5th year in their programs.

A couple transfers would help. What also will help is it's one of the best combinations of starting LB/CB that we've had in a while, can mask some of it. Safety has potential as well with the transfers.

 

[FrancoPizza]

They are not horrific.
They are young
They are undersized
They are thin
They are going to get run over by years end.
They are in need of 2 interior players.

Is that a haiku?

 

[ImperialOrange]

Only guy on the DL that looks like a SEC guy. We need him to step up this year.

I liked the way 54, 90, and 93 got after it in the Spring game as well but 54 and 90 still a year away experience wise to be officially counted in the convo at this point.

 

[Chip]

I liked the way 54, 90, and 93 got after it in the Spring game as well but 54 and 90 still a year away experience wise to be officially counted in the convo at this point.

I like that there's a talented young #54 on the field.

#90 is our primary DT right now. Backed up by a walk-on, although one who has probably seen enough snaps to get a scholarship if one ends up being available.

 

[money3189]

I liked the way 54, 90, and 93 got after it in the Spring game as well but 54 and 90 still a year away experience wise to be officially counted in the convo at this point.

I wasnt talking spring game performance. I was referring to body physique and athleticism. Its SEC level. Not sure how many snaps his body will be able to take but Linton will make some plays at the WDE. They will do a lot of crash and loops on the weak side that will generate some explosive plays in the backfield. 90 is going to get a lot snaps

 

[721Comstock]

I wasnt talking spring game performance. I was referring to body physique and athleticism. Its SEC level. Not sure how many snaps his body will be able to take but Linton will make some plays at the WDE. They will do a lot of crash and loops on the weak side that will generate some explosive plays in the backfield. 90 is going to get a lot snaps

Our DL is ridiculously young.

Caleb O is the oldest, and he was sidelined for forever with his illness.

144% agreed that 90 (Lockett) is gonna be a mainstay.
He got a lot of run even last year, as a true Frosh, and played well.

Who do we think will be the 3rd starter, along with 90 & 93?
Geer? Darton?
Or ideally a really Goode portal guy?

Just for the extra beef, we might need Hough on DL.
(as much as I was really looking forward to seeing him as a RB, the DL is a position of much greater need right now).

 

[money3189]

Our DL is ridiculously young.

Caleb O is the oldest, and he was sidelined for forever with his illness.

144% agreed that 90 (Lockett) is gonna be a mainstay.
He got a lot of run even last year, as a true Frosh, and played well.

Who do we think will be the 3rd starter, along with 90 & 93?
Geer? Darton?
Or ideally a really Goode portal guy?

Just for the extra beef, we might need Hough on DL.
(as much as I was really looking forward to seeing him as a RB, the DL is a position of much greater need right now).

Agree. Darton seems to be the next interior guy. I dont know how the rotation will go. Im not going to guess until August. After off season development and transfers.

 

[Chip]

Our DL is ridiculously young.

Caleb O is the oldest, and he was sidelined for forever with his illness.

144% agreed that 90 (Lockett) is gonna be a mainstay.
He got a lot of run even last year, as a true Frosh, and played well.

Who do we think will be the 3rd starter, along with 90 & 93?
Geer? Darton?
Or ideally a really Goode portal guy?

Just for the extra beef, we might need Hough on DL.
(as much as I was really looking forward to seeing him as a RB, the DL is a position of much greater need right now).

We definitely need Hough on the DL

Kind of an after the fact hot take, but I wasn't all that excited about Hough playing RB and was hoping he'd get moved. Pretty sure Pitt and others offered him for D. The big, bruising style RB has its place, but just not sure this offense is it. The new guys fit the profile better.

I think Linton is clearly the 3rd DL starter. If we land Goode, he becomes NT rotation with Lockett I think.

We need at least 6 who are game ready, probably more as injuries (even minor) will pile up.

 

[Doc5120]

I remember hearing names called for all of the first 9 on the DL from the spring game. Collectively, they did a pretty good job.

The backs broke 2 or 3 long runs, but there was pressure at times, and there was some hard hitting at times. I didn't feel like the DL got clearly outplayed in that game. Good sign.

Keep in mind the 1's were playing against the 2's. And since Bergeron, Bleich and Ellis all did not play, they were essentially playing against a couple 2's and the 3's. I'm still in the camp of being very concerned about DLine. We have a few players there, but it's hard to convince me the DLine is serviceable at this very point in time.

 

[ImperialOrange]

I wasnt talking spring game performance. I was referring to body physique and athleticism. Its SEC level. Not sure how many snaps his body will be able to take but Linton will make some plays at the WDE. They will do a lot of crash and loops on the weak side that will generate some explosive plays in the backfield. 90 is going to get a lot snaps

Yeah I get it, I was talking athleticism on display. We have very few (any?) that are SEC physique on the dline currently. Next 4 months of S & C will be crucial.

Those young Florida guys look promising as well but neither are within 4 months of physically ready. We'll be discussing them next preseason though I'd bet

 

[money3189]

Yeah I get it, I was talking athleticism on display. We have very few (any?) that are SEC physique on the dline currently. Next 4 months of S & C will be crucial

That was my point. Linton is the most athletic guy on the D line. Just needs to gain weight.

 

[blizz]

Lockett looked really good to me. He's got an incredible motor and is one of the most active NT's I've seen. He made one play in the spring game where he spun his guy around, shed and then came from behind and tackled the ball carrier. That's very rare.

I think Jatius Geer is also getting overlooked here. He displayed some great get-off and playing strength. I expect he'll get a fair amount of snaps this year, definitely a player who will be in the rotation to my eye.

Count me as another one who's really suspect of the listed playing weights. I'm just not buying a lot of them.

 

[money3189]

Lockett looked really good to me. He's got an incredible motor and is one of the most active NT's I've seen. He made one play in the spring game where he spun his guy around, shed and then came from behind and tackled the ball carrier. That's very rare.

I think Jatius Geer is also getting overlooked here. He displayed some great get-off and playing strength. I expect he'll get a fair amount of snaps this year, definitely a player who will be in the rotation to my eye.

Count me as another one who's really suspect of the listed playing weights. I'm just not buying a lot of them.

Yup I can see Geer splitting snaps with Linton at WSE. I think he will play on the strong side as well.

 

[rrlbees]

No way Simmons is one of our fastest players. Maybe he is savvy, but gets blown by by even MAC talent. I'm fine with Coley playing, even starting. But he shouldn't get Buddy Boeheim minutes, not with the new talent brought in.

My gripe with Dino is he gives the incumbents the benefit of the doubt; then our chances for a successful season are gone because we have a front loaded schedule.

Do you think incumbents get the benefit of the doubt because they better understand schemes, reading routes, etc?

 

[Cuse'91]

Do you think incumbents get the benefit of the doubt because they better understand schemes, reading routes, etc?

Probably. But here's the thing. If a player knows what to do, but can't do it physically in the ACC, what's the point? Safeties that know where to go to get bowled over by an opposing running back, or blown by by a tight end, are pointless. Rather have the new kids with athletic talent like Oliver and Clark on the field right away, even if they don't know the scheme as well.

 

[money3189]

Rather have the new kids with athletic talent like Oliver and Clark on the field right away, even if they don't know the scheme as well.

They still have to know what they are doing. They will lose games because of missed assignments as well. One player can mess up a whole unit if they are consistently out of position. The staff is not purposely holding the better athletes back from playing. Coley is one of the slowest DB's they have but you rather have him out there?