AQM

[The Franchise]

People seem to forget, prior to 2000, Nate Webster was probably the superior player to Morgan( who broke out and had a monster senior year)

There's no question that Webster was the better player when they played together.

 

[JHallCanes]

McCord was smaller and weaker, and he still got a lot a burn last year. Gabe Terry weighed about 198 and he played down on some passing downs.

Considering the alternatives, AQM is more than ready at 230 pounds. He also has long arms and plays bigger than his size. He will be a factor.

Agreed. Trying to keep my enthusiasm for him in check. He certainly seems to be putting in work.

 

[DMoney]

McCord was smaller and weaker, and he still got a lot a burn last year. Gabe Terry weighed about 198 and he played down on some passing downs.

Considering the alternatives, AQM is more than ready at 230 pounds. He also has long arms and plays bigger than his size. He will be a factor.

D, the problem with the McCord and Terry examples is that they both had no business playing last year. They got abused. I think AQM is better than them and more advanced physically, but to expect anything more than some sparse situational production from a true freshmans at his size on the DL is setting him up for failure.

The question presented, as I understood it, was whether AQM could contribute to this team as a freshman. I think he can because he's better than what we got.

As for how successful he'll be, I think he will surprise people. Barkevious Mingo was only 235-240 as a senior last year. The rules are different for athletic, long players like AQM. If he is really 230 and is as talented as he looks, I wouldn't be surprised to see him get 5-6 sacks and play starter's level snaps by the end of the year.

 

[rok]

230 is more reassuring than 220. Hope he wears #8

 

[k9cane]

People seem to forget, prior to 2000, Nate Webster was probably the superior player to Morgan( who broke out and had a monster senior year)

There's no question that Webster was the better player when they played together.

Nate, actually made some All-American ( second and third) teams in 98 and 99. I thought he was one of the most important recruits of the Butch era, given that he was a local blue-chipper( from Miami Northwestern) and came at a time when UM was at a low-ebb. I remember only Andy Katzenmoyer who was ranked higher than him at MLB his senior year in high school

 

[The Franchise]

McCord was smaller and weaker, and he still got a lot a burn last year. Gabe Terry weighed about 198 and he played down on some passing downs.

Considering the alternatives, AQM is more than ready at 230 pounds. He also has long arms and plays bigger than his size. He will be a factor.

D, the problem with the McCord and Terry examples is that they both had no business playing last year. They got abused. I think AQM is better than them and more advanced physically, but to expect anything more than some sparse situational production from a true freshmans at his size on the DL is setting him up for failure.

The question presented, as I understood it, was whether AQM could contribute to this team as a freshman. I think he can because he's better than what we got.

As for how successful he'll be, I think he will surprise people. Barkevious Mingo was only 235-240 as a senior last year. The rules are different for athletic, long players like AQM. If he is really 230 and is as talented as he looks, I wouldn't be surprised to see him get 5-6 sacks and play starter's level snaps by the end of the year.

What did Mingo do as a true freshmans because I think that's the more relevant comparison? I expect AQM to make a few plays this year. I also expect him to be a big liability at times. Such is the quandary of playing true freshmans on the DL.

 

[DMoney]

Nate, actually made some All-American ( second and third) teams in 98 and 99. I thought he was one of the most important recruits of the Butch era, given that he was a local blue-chipper( from Miami Northwestern) and came at a time when UM was at a low-ebb. I remember only Andy Katzenmoyer who was ranked higher than him at MLB his senior year in high school

Agreed, along with Damione Lewis and Vernon Carey.

 

[zone3cane]

Didnt McCord lead the team in sacks last year???..... i thought the staff did a very good job of using him in a way that allowed him to take advantage of his strengths on the field.

 

[The Franchise]

People seem to forget, prior to 2000, Nate Webster was probably the superior player to Morgan( who broke out and had a monster senior year)

There's no question that Webster was the better player when they played together.

Nate, actually made some All-American ( second and third) teams in 98 and 99. I thought he was one of the most important recruits of the Butch era, given that he was a local blue-chipper( from Miami Northwestern) and came at a time when UM was at a low-ebb. I remember only Andy Katzenmoyer who was ranked higher than him at MLB his senior year in high school

Nate was a total badass. One of the best to ever play here. Doesn't get the proper respect that the other guys get because he didn't have a great NFL career.

I was such a big fan that I filed an amicus brief in his rape case staring that his stellar career at UM earned him a rape pass.

 

[k9cane]

Nate, actually made some All-American ( second and third) teams in 98 and 99. I thought he was one of the most important recruits of the Butch era, given that he was a local blue-chipper( from Miami Northwestern) and came at a time when UM was at a low-ebb. I remember only Andy Katzenmoyer who was ranked higher than him at MLB his senior year in high school

Agreed, along with Damione Lewis and Vernon Carey.

I remember the Weaver twins being a big deal, too

And we can't forget the great Edgerrin James. That last 2/3's of 98 were something special, especially Dec. 5th, 1998...

 

[LuCane]

Nate, actually made some All-American ( second and third) teams in 98 and 99. I thought he was one of the most important recruits of the Butch era, given that he was a local blue-chipper( from Miami Northwestern) and came at a time when UM was at a low-ebb. I remember only Andy Katzenmoyer who was ranked higher than him at MLB his senior year in high school

Agreed, along with Damione Lewis and Vernon Carey.

I remember the Weaver twins being a big deal, too

And we can't forget the great Edgerrin James. That last 2/3's of 98 were something special, especially Dec. 5th, 1998...

The "Eric Schnupp" class was my introduction into recruiting. The Vernon Carey recruiting class was my first year being obsessive over recruiting.

For those talking about Nate Webster, bless all of your hearts. Sucks what happened to him here with the NFL draft. My favorite player growing up was Michael Barrow. I thought Nate was as close to Michael Barrow (not in size necessarily, but style and presence on the field) as you could find. Loved him as a player. Nate was one of the most slippery LBs I've ever seen. Dude would turn sideways and get skinny like a fish as he slipped through OL blockers. Played the game like they were keeping his family hostage.

 

[k9cane]

People seem to forget, prior to 2000, Nate Webster was probably the superior player to Morgan( who broke out and had a monster senior year)

There's no question that Webster was the better player when they played together.

Nate, actually made some All-American ( second and third) teams in 98 and 99. I thought he was one of the most important recruits of the Butch era, given that he was a local blue-chipper( from Miami Northwestern) and came at a time when UM was at a low-ebb. I remember only Andy Katzenmoyer who was ranked higher than him at MLB his senior year in high school

Nate was a total badass. One of the best to ever play here. Doesn't get the proper respect that the other guys get because he didn't have a great NFL career.

I was such a big fan that I filed an amicus brief in his rape case staring that his stellar career at UM earned him a rape pass.

Hey, that's what Canes do for each other. It's a team effort

But going back to what you've said in terms of looking at the context of how players are judged, go back to the end of the 98 season where the defense fell apart so bad that Bill Miller got fired. Well, that unit had the likes of Ed Reed, Damione Lewis, Morgan, Webster, Michael Smith( very talented before he wrecked his knee the following year), Leonard Myers, and a couple of other guys who ended up being good players and getting drafted ---- but they were all young pups

Yes, experience absolutely matters..

 

[The Franchise]

Nate gave us a nastiness out there that's for sure. I'm not talking about that fake Jon Harris **** of catching a 3 yard pass and beating a hole in your chest celebrating. Nate was vile out there, and dudes had to keep their heads on a swivel when he was around. He was a tackling machine here. If he didn't get screwed out of the chance to play his senior season he would have had 175 tackles.

 

[The Franchise]

But going back to what you've said in terms of looking at the context of how players are judged, go back to the end of the 98 season where the defense fell apart so bad that Bill Miller got fired. Well, that unit had the likes of Ed Reed, Damione Lewis, Morgan, Webster, Michael Smith( very talented before he wrecked his knee the following year), Leonard Myers, and a couple of other guys who ended up being good players and getting drafted ---- but they were all young pups

Yes, experience absolutely matters..

The dopes don't understand that simple point. You can have all the talent in the world, but if it's all young guys, then you're going to struggle badly. That's why I always make it a point to remind people that Ed Reed as a freshmans or sophomore was not the same Ed Reed you saw as a senior or in the NFL dominating.

 

[k9cane]

But going back to what you've said in terms of looking at the context of how players are judged, go back to the end of the 98 season where the defense fell apart so bad that Bill Miller got fired. Well, that unit had the likes of Ed Reed, Damione Lewis, Morgan, Webster, Michael Smith( very talented before he wrecked his knee the following year), Leonard Myers, and a couple of other guys who ended up being good players and getting drafted ---- but they were all young pups

Yes, experience absolutely matters..

The dopes don't understand that simple point. You can have all the talent in the world, but if it's all young guys, then you're going to struggle badly. That's why I always make it a point to remind people that Ed Reed as a freshmans or sophomore was not the same Ed Reed you saw as a senior or in the NFL dominating.

I distinctly remember Reed really struggling in the first part of 99, whiffed on a tackle vs Ohio State that lead to a long run in the Meadowlands( I went to that game) and there is still a debate if he loafed it on the Chafie Fields debacle.

Ed Reed wasn't Ed Reed'n till his junior year....

 

[rok]

Nate just tackled Amos Zereoue in Morgantown again

 

[LuCane]

But going back to what you've said in terms of looking at the context of how players are judged, go back to the end of the 98 season where the defense fell apart so bad that Bill Miller got fired. Well, that unit had the likes of Ed Reed, Damione Lewis, Morgan, Webster, Michael Smith( very talented before he wrecked his knee the following year), Leonard Myers, and a couple of other guys who ended up being good players and getting drafted ---- but they were all young pups

Yes, experience absolutely matters..

The dopes don't understand that simple point. You can have all the talent in the world, but if it's all young guys, then you're going to struggle badly. That's why I always make it a point to remind people that Ed Reed as a freshmans or sophomore was not the same Ed Reed you saw as a senior or in the NFL dominating.

I distinctly remember Reed really struggling in the first part of 99, whiffed on a tackle vs Ohio State that lead to a long run in the Meadowlands( I went to that game) and there is still a debate if he loafed it on the Chafie Fields debacle.

Ed Reed wasn't Ed Reed'n till his junior year....

I'm with you guys on the youth issues, especially the closer you get into the trenches. The DLine last year looked like a bunch of buddhas on shopping carts. Part of that was not having top-end talent. Another part of that was having babies line up against men.

What I look for in young players aren't the mistakes they make, but the ceiling they flash. A guy like Ed Reed made a ton of mistakes early on, but they simply couldn't keep him off the field. Even when Delvin Brown (think a S version of Darius Smith for you much younger guys) showed some talent and tried to keep a spot in our Safety tandem, Reed couldn't be kept off the field.

Some current examples of that? Deon Bush, Rayshawn Jenkins, Earl Moore, Mccord, Ereck Flowers, Malcolm Lewis, Tracy Howard, Antonio Crawford. The situations aren't perfectly the same as in '97 and '98, but there are some similarities of extremely young guys who forced themselves on to the field.

The future is brighter than people seem to acknowledge. Golden's biggest job is going to be to glue all that talent together and augment it (seal it) with some JuCo DL help.

 

[DiegoCane]

Jenkins is a guy that could be special. His size and speed really popped off the screen (despite making a ton of mistakes), hopefully he can put it together.

A Bush/Jenkins S combo could be crazy good.

 

[arcane]

IIRC, I heard that AQM was being recruited by Notre Dame as an OLB. Might he contribute there this year in some situations?

 

[bobbydigius]

But going back to what you've said in terms of looking at the context of how players are judged, go back to the end of the 98 season where the defense fell apart so bad that Bill Miller got fired. Well, that unit had the likes of Ed Reed, Damione Lewis, Morgan, Webster, Michael Smith( very talented before he wrecked his knee the following year), Leonard Myers, and a couple of other guys who ended up being good players and getting drafted ---- but they were all young pups

Yes, experience absolutely matters..

The dopes don't understand that simple point. You can have all the talent in the world, but if it's all young guys, then you're going to struggle badly. That's why I always make it a point to remind people that Ed Reed as a freshmans or sophomore was not the same Ed Reed you saw as a senior or in the NFL dominating.

I distinctly remember Reed really struggling in the first part of 99, whiffed on a tackle vs Ohio State that lead to a long run in the Meadowlands( I went to that game) and there is still a debate if he loafed it on the Chafie Fields debacle.

Ed Reed wasn't Ed Reed'n till his junior year....

I'm with you guys on the youth issues, especially the closer you get into the trenches. The DLine last year looked like a bunch of buddhas on shopping carts. Part of that was not having top-end talent. Another part of that was having babies line up against men.

What I look for in young players aren't the mistakes they make, but the ceiling they flash. A guy like Ed Reed made a ton of mistakes early on, but they simply couldn't keep him off the field. Even when Delvin Brown (think a S version of Darius Smith for you much younger guys) showed some talent and tried to keep a spot in our Safety tandem, Reed couldn't be kept off the field.

Some current examples of that? Deon Bush, Rayshawn Jenkins, Earl Moore, Mccord, Ereck Flowers, Malcolm Lewis, Tracy Howard, Antonio Crawford. The situations aren't perfectly the same as in '97 and '98, but there are some similarities of extremely young guys who forced themselves on to the field.

The future is brighter than people seem to acknowledge. Golden's biggest job is going to be to glue all that talent together and augment it (seal it) with some JuCo DL help.

Great post, but Earl Moore?