Terry Lockett out for the season

[llandz]

They tried very hard, but no one wanted to come.

And this is why #25 is so important whether you think we deserve it or not. Players will be drawn to a ranked team.

 

[AAM62]

Open tryouts on campus! :-0

Really?

 

[NineOneSeven]

Already stated above, but this next game against Wagner is absolutely the time to get anyone we can some run at DT. Rotate as many in as possible in the second half.

 

[PhatOrange]

They tried very hard, but no one wanted to come.

Yep I know this and Dino has repeatedly stated he only recruits portal kids who can be starters (or impact), but sometimes you need warm bodies for depth. You just do. Knowing you literally only have 2 nose tackles ready to play it was a fail to not bring in some kids for depth.

My guess is they move Oke inside but who's been getting the practice reps - we know it isn't just Lockett/Darton/Fuentes practicing against the 1s, 2s and 3s.

Having Curtis Harper would be nice right about now.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Open tryouts on campus! :-0

Chad Powers !!

 

[CuseMan4]

Yep I know this and Dino has repeatedly stated he only recruits portal kids who can be starters (or impact), but sometimes you need warm bodies for depth. You just do. Knowing you literally only have 2 nose tackles ready to play it was a fail to not bring in some kids for depth.

My guess is they move Oke inside but who's been getting the practice reps - we know it isn't just Lockett/Darton/Fuentes practicing against the 1s, 2s and 3s.

Having Curtis Harper would be nice right about now.

Yup, my guess as well. We’ll be fine. We have depth at Defensive end which is good. You start Darton in the middle, who by the way is having a hell of a season. When he needs breaks you move Caleb inside and Fuentes comes in as 3rd string if need be. Obviously Fuentes playing will be spot downs and probably only 5-8 snaps a game but I’m sure he’ll be capable. He was a big get out of high school and he’s a big dude.

 

[RMH44]

IMO, while neither player was a true run-plugger [and I know we aren't targeting players like that in this system], we were squeezing just enough productivity out of Lockett / Darton to enable the DEs and LBs to do their thing. They were both undersized, but compensated with relentless motors.

My fear now is that Darton will get worn down having to platy an inordinately high number of snaps, with Lockett out. All hands on deck at this point, need Fuentes-Cundiff or others to help replace some of what Lockett provided.

I have no idea with a true frosh like Bassette is ready to contribute, whether Fuentes-Cundiff is ready to step into a bigger role, whether it is realistic to expect a walk on [just going from above] to be able to provide some break-glass snaps, etc. -- but it's time to force feed some of those players minutes, because we now need them to be ready. Would be great if we could get Funetes / Bassette both ramped up to play the rest of the way.

We could use a Chris Thorner type to switch from OL to DL. A big body that plugs-up the middle. It would definitely limit DCTW's options when he's in the game, but we need big bodies desperately. What better time for a transition than against Wagner?

 

[Ringostar57]

elijah wright! wake up time to shine.

 

[Cuse12]

As soon as he was on the turf it was obvious he was done. Stinks. But that’s Fball, and we did not stock the cupboard whatsoever. Toughest position to recruit it seems. Well let’s see how we react to this! This is a tough one for us. But, we have to remember we aren’t the only team losing starters in key spots. This is part of the game.

 

[RF2044]

I know that someone made a similar post earlier, but here are the principals [IMO]. Lots of exciting, young talent in the pipeline -- but most are DEs. In a few years, we will probably look at this nucleus and view DL as a universal team strength. Problem is, mot of the talent is true frosh, redshirt frosh, or sophomores -- and we need contributors NOW in light of Lockett's injury.

Here's a listing of the players who could suddenly find themselves in the mix:

---

DE types:

• Elijah Fuentes-Cundiff 6-4 267
• Denis Jacquez 6-4 240
• Francis Nolton 6-4 252
• Chase Simmons 6-4 257
• Kevin Jobity 6-4 247

Notes:

• Fuentes-Cundiff is a second year player [RF], who also is the "heaviest." He's played a little bit, and is the most obvious candidate for increased PT.
• Jacquez got rave reviews in preseason camp, but hasn't seen the field much to date. True frosh, readiness is a question mark.
• Nolton was a highly rated recruit. He's got reasonable size, but is another true frosh, readiness is a question mark.
• Simmons has played. He's a strong kid who was a HS wrestler. Natural DE, but could he shift inside to spell Darton for a few plays per game?
• Jobity is a stud athlete, but another true frosh, readiness is a question mark.

---

True DTs:

• Belizaire Bassette 6-0 260
• Josh Hough 6-3 300+

Notes:

• Bassette is touted as a "true" DT, but he's a bit small- both in terms of height / weight. Florida kid, former HS wrestler. True frosh, so readiness is a question mark.
• Hough is injured, won't play this year. Too bad -- he's got the size we need.

---

Break Glass In Case of Emergency:

• Garth Barclay 6-7 277
• Elijah Wright 6-3 273

Notes:

• Barclay is a former OT who's shifted to DT. He's been in the program for 2 years, but is new to DLine. Light frame, given his height.
• Wright is a CNY [Solvay] who is a walk on. No idea if he's athletic enough to ever see the field. He's got the requisite size.

 

[721Comstock]

I know that someone made a similar post earlier, but here are the principals [IMO]:

DE types:

• Elijah Fuentes-Cundiff 6-4 267
• Denis Jacquez 6-4 240
• Francis Nolton 6-4 252
• Chase Simmons 6-4 257
• Kevin Jobity 6-4 247

Notes:

• Fuentes-Cundiff is a second year player [RF], who also is the "heaviest." He's played a little bit,and is the most obvious candidate for increased PT.
• Jacquez got rave reviews in preseason camp, but hasn't seen the field much to date. True frosh.
• Nolton was a highly rated recruit. He's got reasonable size, but is another true frosh. Readiness is a question mark.
• Simmons has played. He's a strong kid who was a HS wrestler. Natural DE, but could he shift inside to spell Darton?
• Jobity is a stud athlete, but another true frosh.

---

True DTs:

• Belizaire Bassette 6-0 260
• Josh Hough 6-3 300+

Notes:

• Bassette is touted as a "true" DT, but he's a bit small- both in terms of height / weight. Florida kid, true frosh.
• Hough is injured, won't play this year. Too bad -- he's got the size we need.

---

Break Glass In Case of Emergency:

• Garth Barclay 6-7 277
• Elijah Wright 6-3 273

Notes:

• Barclay is a former OT who's shifted to DT. He's been in the program for 2 years, but is new to DLine. Light frame, given his height.
• Wright is a CNY [Solvay] who is a walk on. No idea if he's athletic enough to ever see the field. He's got the requisite size.

Any chance we could swing a backup 2nd/3rd string OL over to 'emergency' DL for more "break glass" insurance?

Red is 277 lbs.
Tisdale 301.
Petry 281.
Bradford 302.
Kauhi 277.
Magnuson 280.

I know some of these guys are "too tall" for DT, but if we need some beef in the middle, even if just for a few snaps / quarter, just to give the actual DT's a little rest, then maybe we should consider it?

 

[SU in Hershey]

Hey, Darton did it, maybe Wright can as well. What a story that would be! (We can dream…)

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Jacquez plays on Special Teams. He's got 4 games under his belt.

 

[CbusCuse]

Agreed...with basically two weeks before another real opponent...time to pound a round peg into a square hole. Take 2 or 3 reserve OL and see if they can get one or two stop gap players.

I'm not sure they try moving anybody. I'm guessing they don't and roll with who we have considering they seemed more comfortable just keeping Darton in there instead of puting in the back-ups we have.

But if they do I would guess Mark Petry could be an option at 6'4" and 280 lbs. Seems to have the required size and potential athletic ability to make it work. Wes Hoeh possibly as well but he is obviously seeing time at FB.

 

[rrlbees]

Veterrelo should be the best bet to actually do well if he was switched over being a center.

Who is his backup? Hes probably been #5 of our linemen this year. The guy behind him could end up being better and he could do well on the other side of the ball.

#5?

With the struggles in the running game, I doubt they move their best run blocker to DL.

 

[RF2044]

Hey, Darton did it, maybe Wright can as well. What a story that would be! (We can dream…)

Never say never.

But Darton was an amazing athlete / all state performer in HS, in a state that produces lots of D1 prospects. He didn't get D1 offers because he's short -- but he didn't lack for ability.

Not putting down Wright at all. I also think his wrestling background might [emphasis on "might"] enable him to see spot duty, if the defensive coaches think he can help. But it remains to be seen whether he has the tools to play against P5 competition the way Darton has.

 

[money3189]

Cant sacrifice your whole scheme for just a body. Have to roll with what you have. Young or old. Darton, Fuentes Bassette know all the techniques and stunts. Maybe they use a DE to rotate in there on pass downs but we are married to this scheme. Cant put square pegs in round holes. Another reason why it was hard to get quality transfers.

 

[RF2044]

Cant sacrifice your whole scheme for just a body. Have to roll with what you have. Young or old. Darton, Fuentes Bassette know all the techniques and stunts. Maybe they use a DE to rotate in there on pass downs but we are married to this scheme. Cant put square pegs in round holes. Another reason why it was hard to get quality transfers.

Bingo.

I'll add that we don't want to see Okechukwu shift inside to play DT outside of how he's already being used. No need to "weaken" two positions, to try to fix one.

Completely agree that you have to roll with what you have, and hope that the "next men up" can provide reasonable contributions.

My guess is that both Fuentes-Cundiff and Bassette get elevated, and will be in the mix for an increased workload, now that Lockett is out. And the coaching staff has two full weeks essentially to get them ready to perform.

 

[dollarbill44]

Just play defense like volleyball - rotate the field. First play, the usual set. 2nd - Duce rotates down to DE, GW to safety, Darton to LB, Mikel to CB...

 

[CarolinaCuse]

Chad Powers !!

I'd take a 280-300 lbs, Chad Powerful. I hear we have one on campus who plays rugby.

 

[Jake]

Would love to see fellow Bearcat Elijah Wright get a chance.

Joe Kowalewski approves!

 

[MikeSU02]

Never want to see anyone get injured. But as it pertains to a slight silver lining - this would be the week for it to happen to give runway to figure out how to work in the new rotations.

Sucks, though. Big loss. Here’s hoping to a speedy and full recovery for next year.

 

[MadNY3]

Never say never.

But Darton was an amazing athlete / all state performer in HS, in a state that produces lots of D1 prospects. He didn't get D1 offers because he's short -- but he didn't lack for ability.

Not putting down Wright at all. I also think his wrestling background might [emphasis on "might"] enable him to see spot duty, if the defensive coaches think he can help. But it remains to be seen whether he has the tools to play against P5 competition the way Darton has.

Darton has been a great surprise. Just fear he will wear down given increase reps and the competition coming up.

 

[ForCuseSake]

Open tryouts on campus! :-0

Do we have an Andre Krimm TA'ing any science classes on campus?

 

[cusefan88]

The LB's and Barron are going to have to come up big in run support now. Will probably impact the pass defense as well.