oleschoolaggie
Official BDF member
2009 Poster of the Year, 2009 Most Knowledgeable Poster
Posts: 24,175
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Post by oleschoolaggie on Feb 8, 2019 10:59:47 GMT -5
admittedly, i'm more up to speed on our skilled positions than our "big uglies". but we all know that our skilled guys can't succeed unless our "big uglies" win the line of scrimmage. so for those who are up to speed on our o-line and d-line, i need your opinions of how good they will be in 2019.
i'm particularly interested in our o-line because we now may have our "best" crew of rb's that we've had in a very long time, if not ever. i mean, martin is a proven "game breaker". then, don't forget about unc transfer graves. plus, we've also got the 2 three star rb puppies that are coming this fall in hutchinson and thompson. have we ever had more depth at the rb position? omg!! i don't think so, at least not to the best of my memory.
so offensively, our top priority should be to solidify our starting qb position and to strengthen our o-line. no worries whatsoever with our rb's and wr's, plenty of depth and "talent" there.
man, if our qb's and o-line step it up, our offense will be "unstoppable". so hopefully somebody can educate me on our projected starting o-line relative to how good they will be and also our d-line since we lost a lot of starters from last year's team..
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Post by durhamgsoaggie on Feb 8, 2019 12:24:54 GMT -5
It's hard to say until after Spring Ball. We can give a best shot of an initial starting group heading into spring ball based on the public info available. There are some unconfirmed reports that I won't include in this post.
LT - Marcus Pettiford, 6-4, 290, R-Sr
LG - DeJour Simpson, 6-3, 300, R-Jr
C - Dacquari Wilson, 6-2, 285, R-So
RG - Trawn Barrington, 6-3, 310, Jr (JUCO)
RT - Dontae Keys, 6-4, 300, R-So
DE - Artavious Richardson, 6-1, 220, R-So
DT - Jermaine Williams, 6-1, 285, R-Sr
DT - Michael Branch, 6-0, 305, Sr
DE - Tre Smalls, 6-1, 250, Sr
A lot of parts are moving behind the scenes, so this could look much different by the end of the spring. I think our offensive line may have the best size/athleticism combo we're ever had. But synergy and timing is more important, so that has to be built in.
Defensively, the challenge is up the middle. The DTs are solid against the run when healthy, but neither showed a playmaking element in 2018. The spring is a chance for them to change that narrative. And I can see DTs such as Shomari Wallace and Karfa Kaba (if healthy) move out to DE and compete for the starting positions. Of all the DL returnees, Richardson off the edge excites me the most. He's a 3-star athlete with a lightning quick 1st step.
But this is all waaaaaaay early.
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oleschoolaggie
Official BDF member
2009 Poster of the Year, 2009 Most Knowledgeable Poster
Posts: 24,175
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Post by oleschoolaggie on Feb 8, 2019 12:50:17 GMT -5
It's hard to say until after Spring Ball. We can give a best shot of an initial starting group heading into spring ball based on the public info available. There are some unconfirmed reports that I won't include in this post. LT - Marcus Pettiford, 6-4, 290, R-Sr LG - DeJour Simpson, 6-3, 300, R-Jr C - Dacquari Wilson, 6-2, 285, R-So RG - Trawn Barrington, 6-3, 310, Jr (JUCO) RT - Dontae Keys, 6-4, 300, R-So DE - Artavious Richardson, 6-1, 220, R-So DT - Jermaine Williams, 6-1, 285, R-Sr DT - Michael Branch, 6-0, 305, Sr DE - Tre Smalls, 6-1, 250, Sr A lot of parts are moving behind the scenes, so this could look much different by the end of the spring. I think our offensive line may have the best size/athleticism combo we're ever had. But synergy and timing is more important, so that has to be built in. Defensively, the challenge is up the middle. The DTs are solid against the run when healthy, but neither showed a playmaking element in 2018. The spring is a change for them to change that narrative. And I can see DTs such as Shomari Wallace and Karfa Kaba (if healthy) move out to DE and compete for the starting positions. Of all the DL returnees, Richardson off the edge excites me the most. He's a 3-star athlete with a lightning quick 1st step. But this is all waaaaaaay early. durham, correct me if i'm wrong but isn't tre smalls a "former" lb? if my memory serves me correctly, i believe he ran a 4.5 forty in high school and played in the shrine bowl. i've always had high expectations for him but didn't know he'd be converted to de. so my question is, how would rate smalls as a starting de? also, compared to our best o-line during the broadway/washington era, on a scale of 10, how would you rate your currently projected starting o-line for 2019? understood that your projections could possibly change during the offseason... |
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Post by durhamgsoaggie on Feb 8, 2019 12:58:46 GMT -5
It's hard to say until after Spring Ball. We can give a best shot of an initial starting group heading into spring ball based on the public info available. There are some unconfirmed reports that I won't include in this post. LT - Marcus Pettiford, 6-4, 290, R-Sr LG - DeJour Simpson, 6-3, 300, R-Jr C - Dacquari Wilson, 6-2, 285, R-So RG - Trawn Barrington, 6-3, 310, Jr (JUCO) RT - Dontae Keys, 6-4, 300, R-So DE - Artavious Richardson, 6-1, 220, R-So DT - Jermaine Williams, 6-1, 285, R-Sr DT - Michael Branch, 6-0, 305, Sr DE - Tre Smalls, 6-1, 250, Sr A lot of parts are moving behind the scenes, so this could look much different by the end of the spring. I think our offensive line may have the best size/athleticism combo we're ever had. But synergy and timing is more important, so that has to be built in. Defensively, the challenge is up the middle. The DTs are solid against the run when healthy, but neither showed a playmaking element in 2018. The spring is a change for them to change that narrative. And I can see DTs such as Shomari Wallace and Karfa Kaba (if healthy) move out to DE and compete for the starting positions. Of all the DL returnees, Richardson off the edge excites me the most. He's a 3-star athlete with a lightning quick 1st step. But this is all waaaaaaay early. durham, correct me if i'm wrong but isn't tre smalls a "former" lb? if my memory serves me correctly, i believe he ran a 4.5 forty in high school and played in the shrine bowl. i've always had high expectations for him but didn't know he'd be converted to de. so my question is, how would rate smalls as a starting de? also, compared to our best o-line during the broadway/washington era, on a scale of 10, how would you rate your currently projected starting o-line for 2019? understood that your projections could possibly change during the offseason... Tre Smalls was moved to DE for all of 2018. He & Richardson were 3rd/4th in the DE rotation this year. A rating now? Too early. The biggest skill jump for these guys will be this period from January to April. Tre showed power on his bull rush and was good against the run, but not much else. Spring is an opportunity for him to get refinement and reps. I'll wait until after the spring game to be able to make fair assessments. |
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oleschoolaggie
Official BDF member
2009 Poster of the Year, 2009 Most Knowledgeable Poster
Posts: 24,175
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Post by oleschoolaggie on Feb 8, 2019 13:02:07 GMT -5
durham, correct me if i'm wrong but isn't tre smalls a "former" lb? if my memory serves me correctly, i believe he ran a 4.5 forty in high school and played in the shrine bowl. i've always had high expectations for him but didn't know he'd be converted to de. so my question is, how would rate smalls as a starting de? also, compared to our best o-line during the broadway/washington era, on a scale of 10, how would you rate your currently projected starting o-line for 2019? understood that your projections could possibly change during the offseason... Tre Smalls was moved to DE for all of 2018. He & Richardson were 3rd/4th in the DE rotation this year. A rating now? Too early. The biggest skill jump for these guys will be this period from January to April. Tre showed power on his bull rush and was good against the run, but not much else. Spring is an opportunity for him to get refinement and reps. I'll wait until after the spring game to be able to make fair assessments.  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2019 13:09:33 GMT -5
It's hard to say until after Spring Ball. We can give a best shot of an initial starting group heading into spring ball based on the public info available. There are some unconfirmed reports that I won't include in this post. LT - Marcus Pettiford, 6-4, 290, R-Sr LG - DeJour Simpson, 6-3, 300, R-Jr C - Dacquari Wilson, 6-2, 285, R-So RG - Trawn Barrington, 6-3, 310, Jr (JUCO) RT - Dontae Keys, 6-4, 300, R-So DE - Artavious Richardson, 6-1, 220, R-So DT - Jermaine Williams, 6-1, 285, R-Sr DT - Michael Branch, 6-0, 305, Sr DE - Tre Smalls, 6-1, 250, Sr A lot of parts are moving behind the scenes, so this could look much different by the end of the spring. I think our offensive line may have the best size/athleticism combo we're ever had. But synergy and timing is more important, so that has to be built in. Defensively, the challenge is up the middle. The DTs are solid against the run when healthy, but neither showed a playmaking element in 2018. The spring is a chance for them to change that narrative. And I can see DTs such as Shomari Wallace and Karfa Kaba (if healthy) move out to DE and compete for the starting positions. Of all the DL returnees, Richardson off the edge excites me the most. He's a 3-star athlete with a lightning quick 1st step. But this is all waaaaaaay early. I would put my money on a bigger DE anchoring that LDE spot. I also think Lawrence Lagrone will put in major work this spring and may crack that starting rotation at G or C even. Either way, Most of our rotation will feature linemen 6'3 or taller. Sheesh! |
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Post by durhamgsoaggie on Feb 8, 2019 13:22:52 GMT -5
It's hard to say until after Spring Ball. We can give a best shot of an initial starting group heading into spring ball based on the public info available. There are some unconfirmed reports that I won't include in this post. LT - Marcus Pettiford, 6-4, 290, R-Sr LG - DeJour Simpson, 6-3, 300, R-Jr C - Dacquari Wilson, 6-2, 285, R-So RG - Trawn Barrington, 6-3, 310, Jr (JUCO) RT - Dontae Keys, 6-4, 300, R-So DE - Artavious Richardson, 6-1, 220, R-So DT - Jermaine Williams, 6-1, 285, R-Sr DT - Michael Branch, 6-0, 305, Sr DE - Tre Smalls, 6-1, 250, Sr A lot of parts are moving behind the scenes, so this could look much different by the end of the spring. I think our offensive line may have the best size/athleticism combo we're ever had. But synergy and timing is more important, so that has to be built in. Defensively, the challenge is up the middle. The DTs are solid against the run when healthy, but neither showed a playmaking element in 2018. The spring is a chance for them to change that narrative. And I can see DTs such as Shomari Wallace and Karfa Kaba (if healthy) move out to DE and compete for the starting positions. Of all the DL returnees, Richardson off the edge excites me the most. He's a 3-star athlete with a lightning quick 1st step. But this is all waaaaaaay early. I would put my money on a bigger DE anchoring that LDE spot. I also think Lawrence Lagrone will put in major work this spring and may crack that starting rotation at G or C even. Either way, Most of our rotation will feature linemen 6'3 or taller. Sheesh! I specifically didn't label the DEs as LDE or RDE because we flip a lot. Regardless of what side he's on, I'm hoping Artavious comes in at 225-230 so he can anchor better against the run. Same with Devin Harrell. It's also why a Shomari Wallace could kick out and make noise this spring. It sounds like Barrington is on campus since he committed in December. I like LeGrone & Tim Williams. Expecting them to beat out juniors of similar ability is a bit much. But that's why you have spring ball to compete. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2019 13:33:10 GMT -5
I would put my money on a bigger DE anchoring that LDE spot. I also think Lawrence Lagrone will put in major work this spring and may crack that starting rotation at G or C even. Either way, Most of our rotation will feature linemen 6'3 or taller. Sheesh! I specifically didn't label the DEs as LDE or RDE because we flip a lot. Regardless of what side he's on, I'm hoping Artavious comes in at 225-230 so he can anchor better against the run. Same with Devin Harrell. It's also why a Shomari Wallace could kick out and make noise this spring. It sounds like Barrington is on campus since he committed in December. I like LeGrone & Tim Williams. Expecting them to beat out juniors of similar ability is a bit much. But that's why you have spring ball to compete. Yeah, we do flip the DL a lot. But either way, I'm thinking with the size we should have at DE, Richardson may be better suited for us at LB in some spots, especially if Karfa Kaba steps up and others return and play well. |
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Post by Bornthrilla on Feb 11, 2019 11:57:56 GMT -5
We still dont have much depth at D-tackle right now. Gotta bring in some new bodies before fall camp gets here or we are in trouble.
Hard to imagine a true freshman coming in and making an immediate impact. Hopefully we can strike gold in the transfer portal, but I am not content with what we currently have.
Last night, I woke up screaming at the top of my lungs at 3 oclock in the morning. My wife asked me what was wrong and I told her Alcorn State is about to run the read option again and we can't stop it.
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Post by thefriscotxaggie on Feb 11, 2019 12:41:03 GMT -5
I am assuming no confirmation on Kendricks return ?
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Post by ohsixrain on Feb 11, 2019 13:35:27 GMT -5
Thrilla, I feel you! Alcorn had me shook.
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