QUARTERBACK : I was against taking a QB in this class for the sake of taking one every year. I have to do a 180 on the opinion. You need to keep them coming just in case of...take your choice. I look at Michigan and Hoke was doing a pretty good job when he had Robinson at QB. His downfall came after they started to change him into a more conventional signal caller. Gardner sorta sucked when his number was called. You need to give yourself options
RUNNING BACK: WTH? I don't get why it's so hard for us to get backs. Are we aiming too high for this position? Should we recruit more running back from north of the Mason Dixon? BK needs to address this like he did the D-Linemen. We will have only 2 RB's during the spring which means a player switch is likely. I like how CJ runs but he is a pretty good wideout. Brent played running back in high school, perhaps he'll get a shot. Amir could go back there, but what does he bring? To be honest I'm not sure I would bring him back next year. Which makes me wonder
WHY DO WE HAVE 13 5TH YEARS?: Is that just poor development, or is it Kelly's "profile" recruiting in his early years coming back to bite him? With that many upperclassmen should you really be able to complain about lack of depth? I look at some of those 5th year guys and I can see they just don't fit. I think the staff has done much better as of late. They need to start playing these underclassmen though.
OLINE: A position they now have under control. No way it should be a problem next year. I'd love to see Kelly recruit tackles to play tackles and guards to play guards going forward. There are some exceptions but it seems to take too much time to retrain these guys. He may have had to use the "power', "skill", and "big skill" philosophy at his previous stop because they couldn't get the best player. It's different at ND. Think big time.
TIGHT ENDS: You know, you don't see the big 6-7 tight ends much any more. Now the big one is 6-4. We have so many different types of TE's on this team that if one goes down say smythe for instance who is our only big TE, we'd have to scrap that whole scheme because we don't have a replacement. Maybe Luatua but it seems like his reps are as an H-back. I think we play much better with a big tight end or 2 for protection. I think this position illustrates how Kelly hasn't nailed down an offensive identity. You can't run an offense to perfection when you change things up so often.
WIDE RECEIVERS: We lack a true stud at this spot but the overall quality is outstanding. The newcomers look interesting. Sanders is fast and powerfully built. Boykin has that great size and unlike C-Robb, he might be able to stay on his feet after a catch. Guyton doesn't stand out to me but who knows long term. Wideouts come in to college most closely to their ceilings as any position in football. You pretty much can tell what you have in year one.
With St. Brown looking good for signing day we may have too many bodies in this position. I could see Guyton and or Corey Holmes moving to defense. They both have length and a body that can carry a few more pounds.
DLINE:The staff has started loading up in this spot. Finally. In the past they would go "all in" on just a few top prospect and take the loss if the didn't land a big fish. Over time that has come back and bit them. Not all of these guys are gonna pan out--a lot of projects in the group, but you can't teach size. Besides, just being big is half the battle. I'd like a few more speed rushers on the end but I think it's coming. Be interesting to see if we are better with a group of "solid" Dlinemen or having 1 or 2 AA's like Tuitt and Nix backed by less then desired players.
LINEBACKERS: At times last season Morgan made Jaylon look slow, how crazy is that? Athletes is the word of the day here. I have no clue how all of these pieces are gonna fit together next year. Should be an interesting battle come spring and should help Coney alot by early enrolling. That said there were a few times last year where I wished we had some bigger Fox/ Calabrese type Lb's who could help plug the middle. We're quick but we are small. One other note, James Onwualu? Is he good? You didn't hear his name much. Not sure if that's good or bad.
DB's: Recruiting a ton of safeties today may help you in 3 years but today, you're still inexperienced. With Tranquill still in recovery and Nicky is as fragile as a house of cards, we sure could have used and early enrolled safety (Note to Kelly, if you're recruiting 3* players get the ones that can enroll and January). Max and Elijah are OK but they are getting up there. Time to find their replacements.
Cornerbacks is overlooked with Keivarea returning. Cole is unspectacular but is very good. Not sure Butler is starting material but is a solid back up. After that it's thin. I'm really hoping crawford is a kid who can play early.
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: Fellas, as of this writing we have 22 recruits and with the staff wanting another safety, RB, and WR it looks like we will have a 25 man class. That said we have 70 guys on the roster. This is gonna be the first time we have to lose some guys who could contribute. How does Kelly let this happen?
Can't see how you bring an injured Grace back. With only 2 backs in the spring, do you let amir go or keep him for depth? Farley can play safety and nickel, you kinda gotta keep him. I think we will have some guys transfer or get Kinlawed. won't shock me if john turner, Mark Harrell, and Doug Randolph are gone by spring.
Whew I'm Tired of thinking about football. Now what do I think about???
State of the Team
QUARTERBACK : I was against taking a QB in this class for the sake of taking one every year. I have to do a 180 on the opinion. You need to keep them coming just in case of...take your choice. I look at Michigan and Hoke was doing a pretty good job when he had Robinson at QB. His downfall came after they started to change him into a more conventional signal caller. Gardner sorta sucked when his number was called. You need to give yourself options
RUNNING BACK: WTH? I don't get why it's so hard for us to get backs. Are we aiming too high for this position? Should we recruit more running back from north of the Mason Dixon? BK needs to address this like he did the D-Linemen. We will have only 2 RB's during the spring which means a player switch is likely. I like how CJ runs but he is a pretty good wideout. Brent played running back in high school, perhaps he'll get a shot. Amir could go back there, but what does he bring? To be honest I'm not sure I would bring him back next year. Which makes me wonder
WHY DO WE HAVE 13 5TH YEARS?: Is that just poor development, or is it Kelly's "profile" recruiting in his early years coming back to bite him? With that many upperclassmen should you really be able to complain about lack of depth? I look at some of those 5th year guys and I can see they just don't fit. I think the staff has done much better as of late. They need to start playing these underclassmen though.
OLINE: A position they now have under control. No way it should be a problem next year. I'd love to see Kelly recruit tackles to play tackles and guards to play guards going forward. There are some exceptions but it seems to take too much time to retrain these guys. He may have had to use the "power', "skill", and "big skill" philosophy at his previous stop because they couldn't get the best player. It's different at ND. Think big time.
TIGHT ENDS: You know, you don't see the big 6-7 tight ends much any more. Now the big one is 6-4. We have so many different types of TE's on this team that if one goes down say smythe for instance who is our only big TE, we'd have to scrap that whole scheme because we don't have a replacement. Maybe Luatua but it seems like his reps are as an H-back. I think we play much better with a big tight end or 2 for protection. I think this position illustrates how Kelly hasn't nailed down an offensive identity. You can't run an offense to perfection when you change things up so often.
WIDE RECEIVERS: We lack a true stud at this spot but the overall quality is outstanding. The newcomers look interesting. Sanders is fast and powerfully built. Boykin has that great size and unlike C-Robb, he might be able to stay on his feet after a catch. Guyton doesn't stand out to me but who knows long term. Wideouts come in to college most closely to their ceilings as any position in football. You pretty much can tell what you have in year one.
With St. Brown looking good for signing day we may have too many bodies in this position. I could see Guyton and or Corey Holmes moving to defense. They both have length and a body that can carry a few more pounds.
DLINE:The staff has started loading up in this spot. Finally. In the past they would go "all in" on just a few top prospect and take the loss if the didn't land a big fish. Over time that has come back and bit them. Not all of these guys are gonna pan out--a lot of projects in the group, but you can't teach size. Besides, just being big is half the battle. I'd like a few more speed rushers on the end but I think it's coming. Be interesting to see if we are better with a group of "solid" Dlinemen or having 1 or 2 AA's like Tuitt and Nix backed by less then desired players.
LINEBACKERS: At times last season Morgan made Jaylon look slow, how crazy is that? Athletes is the word of the day here. I have no clue how all of these pieces are gonna fit together next year. Should be an interesting battle come spring and should help Coney alot by early enrolling. That said there were a few times last year where I wished we had some bigger Fox/ Calabrese type Lb's who could help plug the middle. We're quick but we are small. One other note, James Onwualu? Is he good? You didn't hear his name much. Not sure if that's good or bad.
DB's: Recruiting a ton of safeties today may help you in 3 years but today, you're still inexperienced. With Tranquill still in recovery and Nicky is as fragile as a house of cards, we sure could have used and early enrolled safety (Note to Kelly, if you're recruiting 3* players get the ones that can enroll and January). Max and Elijah are OK but they are getting up there. Time to find their replacements.
Cornerbacks is overlooked with Keivarea returning. Cole is unspectacular but is very good. Not sure Butler is starting material but is a solid back up. After that it's thin. I'm really hoping crawford is a kid who can play early.
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: Fellas, as of this writing we have 22 recruits and with the staff wanting another safety, RB, and WR it looks like we will have a 25 man class. That said we have 70 guys on the roster. This is gonna be the first time we have to lose some guys who could contribute. How does Kelly let this happen?
Can't see how you bring an injured Grace back. With only 2 backs in the spring, do you let amir go or keep him for depth? Farley can play safety and nickel, you kinda gotta keep him. I think we will have some guys transfer or get Kinlawed. won't shock me if john turner, Mark Harrell, and Doug Randolph are gone by spring.
Whew I'm Tired of thinking about football. Now what do I think about???
http://i.imgur.com/J1iq9.gif
Edited by davislove