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Figueroa Keeps Impressing

skyman said:
BlackKeysFan said:
canesman said:
Gaines is average at best.
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He's alright. I don't mind him out there. Not much a playmaker but usually hes at least in the right position and makes the plays that come to him. At DT and LB, thats about all we can ask for off the bench. Takes time to build depth.
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Problem is he is a starter and contributes alot on the field. We have too many guys who get burn who arent "playmakers" on this defense. Someone needs to step the **** up. Dammit
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Its comin...If these guys stay healthy we have 2 guys off the hoof that are serious playmakers in DP52 and Bush. Develop at least one legit playmaker on that DL and we have a legitimate threat at each level...add to it some possible diamonds in the rough like Figs here hopefully. I'm praying Chickillo steps up this year, but I'm not holding my breath on that one.
 
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gcane44 said:
canesman said:
Gaines is average at best.
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I never expect him to be a difference maker. But he was playing some solid ball towards the end of last season. IMO he is the type of player you can count on to not take a step backwards and build off his progress. I envision Gaines and Kirby doing a lot of rotating at the MIKE spot this season. And I'm ok with it.
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Gaines is the kind of LB you want out there when we play GTech. He's not a super athlete or a "playmaker" but he tends to be where he needs to be, he knows his positioning on the field and what he's responsible for, and he doesn't freelance. I'd rather he get lots of minutes against a triple-option team where assignments are so vitally important.
 
Thought I read somewhere that Gionni Paul could be back for the season. That is the kind of bolster this LB depth chart could certainly use.
 
I'd be okay with with Gaines coming downhill against a running offense. Spread, not so much.
 
Not sure why everyone is so quick to write off Gaines starting at MLB? I'm as a big a fan of Kirby as anyone but Gaines played pretty well down the stretch last season. Think it will be one of the position battles in the fall. Gaines is still a young guy and it isn't his fault he had to play when he was a 17 year old FR when he wasn't ready. He won't be a superstar but he's a pretty steady LB who can play multiple spots in a pinch. Think he gets a bad rap from a lot of fans.

Down the line when we finally develop some depth he will be a guy who we can RS and will develop into a contributor as a RS SO or JR.
 
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Have been backing this kid after seeing his tape the day he committed ...... he has that "it"

He wins my GreenTree All-American award already
 
G reg1327 said:
Thought I read somewhere that Gionni Paul could be back for the season. That is the kind of bolster this LB depth chart could certainly use.
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Maybe I'm wrong about Paul but I thought he was average at best and mis read plays out of position often. Although any depth is good depth at this point for us
 
DiegoCane said:
Not sure why everyone is so quick to write off Gaines starting at MLB? I'm as a big a fan of Kirby as anyone but Gaines played pretty well down the stretch last season. Think it will be one of the position battles in the fall. Gaines is still a young guy and it isn't his fault he had to play when he was a 17 year old FR when he wasn't ready. He won't be a superstar but he's a pretty steady LB who can play multiple spots in a pinch. Think he gets a bad rap from a lot of fans.

Down the line when we finally develop some depth he will be a guy who we can RS and will develop into a contributor as a RS SO or JR.
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I am with you!
 
gionni paul and gaines improved alot last year. either way, with figs, gaines, dp, and kirby we have talent. ty cornelius and ambrister are nothing more than back ups but at least they are very experienced. I think Grace is going to be redshirted to get stronger.
 
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Grace would have probably redshirted had EJ, Paul, and Terry not been kicked off the team. My guess is that Grace will start out as the 3rd team wlb behind denzel and cornelius.
 
Good news on figs.

Hoping what's said is true bout gabe terry, if that man can keep his head on straight boy will do work gettin to the qb, talent and attitude for days, just has to stay focused.
 
Its nice to see Figs story in that vid. You have to have guys like that on your team to lead and show the other kids the right mindset to have. He will be a great influence on this team.
 
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TheUnuffSAID said:
Have been backing this kid after seeing his tape the day he committed ...... he has that "it"

He wins my GreenTree All-American award already
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I said it the first day he committed and I saw his film...and I'll say it again. 2 words...

Concussion Cannon.
 
407cane said:
G reg1327 said:
Thought I read somewhere that Gionni Paul could be back for the season. That is the kind of bolster this LB depth chart could certainly use.
Click to expand...

Maybe I'm wrong about Paul but I thought he was average at best and mis read plays out of position often. Although any depth is good depth at this point for us
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No you are right he was average; but he was pretty young and as you said every bit of depth we can add to this defense will help.
 
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I dont like putting too much pressure on kids like this. When UF comes to town on Sept 7th and Matt Jones is running downhill in 95 degree heat, all 6'2 230lbs of him.. then lets see if Figueroa is ready to make an impact or not. I feel like I have heard this script so many times the past 10 years only to be disappointed most of the time. I will take the wait and see approach..

The problem with Gaines is that he is one dimensional. Those kinds of LBs are becoming instinct. Like the "3 down" RB. Nobody really has Marshall Faulk type RBs anymore. There is the main back and the 3rd down back. Nowadays LBs have to stay on the field all 3 downs and Gaines is a huge liability in pass coverage. Thats the reason I think most people want Kirby taking that job. With Gaines playing as needed. But i think Gaines will win out in the end because of exp. Which I dont mind because talent alone isnt gonna be UF..We need guys who have been in the trenches and are not gonna be afraid or intimidated to go toe to toe for 3.5 hours with UF..
 
DiegoCane said:
Not sure why everyone is so quick to write off Gaines starting at MLB? I'm as a big a fan of Kirby as anyone but Gaines played pretty well down the stretch last season. Think it will be one of the position battles in the fall. Gaines is still a young guy and it isn't his fault he had to play when he was a 17 year old FR when he wasn't ready. He won't be a superstar but he's a pretty steady LB who can play multiple spots in a pinch. Think he gets a bad rap from a lot of fans.

Down the line when we finally develop some depth he will be a guy who we can RS and will develop into a contributor as a RS SO or JR.
Click to expand...

Gaines gets a bad rap because:
1. He's not from S. FL;
2. He's not a 4 or 5 star recruit;
3. He was forced to play way too early;
4. Most people are sheep who just follow what a few loudmouths say about a player, and they stick with that forever no matter what the guy does.

There are idiots who still think Brandon Merriweather wasn't any good because Quincy Wilson trucked him once.

Gaines is a good player, a great teammate, and a great credit to my alma mater. I think he's going to have a good senior season.
 
The Franchise said:
DiegoCane said:
Not sure why everyone is so quick to write off Gaines starting at MLB? I'm as a big a fan of Kirby as anyone but Gaines played pretty well down the stretch last season. Think it will be one of the position battles in the fall. Gaines is still a young guy and it isn't his fault he had to play when he was a 17 year old FR when he wasn't ready. He won't be a superstar but he's a pretty steady LB who can play multiple spots in a pinch. Think he gets a bad rap from a lot of fans.

Down the line when we finally develop some depth he will be a guy who we can RS and will develop into a contributor as a RS SO or JR.
Click to expand...

Gaines gets a bad rap because:
1. He's not from S. FL;
2. He's not a 4 or 5 star recruit;
3. He was forced to play way too early;
4. Most people are sheep who just follow what a few loudmouths say about a player, and they stick with that forever no matter what the guy does.

There are idiots who still think Brandon Merriweather wasn't any good because Quincy Wilson trucked him once.

Gaines is a good player, a great teammate, and a great credit to my alma mater. I think he's going to have a good senior season.
Click to expand...

Chise, I think he's a solid, serviceable MLB at UM, no not Ray Lewis, not even Jon Vilma, but a guy who I thought last year improved( especially as Curtis Porter came back upfront). He's not great, but I don't see him as a liability, either. There have been a lot of players in this program throughout the years who benefitted from having supreme talent besides them- Gaines hasn't had that luxury
 
k9cane said:
The Franchise said:
DiegoCane said:
Not sure why everyone is so quick to write off Gaines starting at MLB? I'm as a big a fan of Kirby as anyone but Gaines played pretty well down the stretch last season. Think it will be one of the position battles in the fall. Gaines is still a young guy and it isn't his fault he had to play when he was a 17 year old FR when he wasn't ready. He won't be a superstar but he's a pretty steady LB who can play multiple spots in a pinch. Think he gets a bad rap from a lot of fans.

Down the line when we finally develop some depth he will be a guy who we can RS and will develop into a contributor as a RS SO or JR.
Click to expand...

Gaines gets a bad rap because:
1. He's not from S. FL;
2. He's not a 4 or 5 star recruit;
3. He was forced to play way too early;
4. Most people are sheep who just follow what a few loudmouths say about a player, and they stick with that forever no matter what the guy does.

There are idiots who still think Brandon Merriweather wasn't any good because Quincy Wilson trucked him once.

Gaines is a good player, a great teammate, and a great credit to my alma mater. I think he's going to have a good senior season.
Click to expand...

Chise, I think he's a solid, serviceable MLB at UM, no not Ray Lewis, not even Jon Vilma, but a guy who I thought last year improved( especially as Curtis Porter came back upfront). He's not great, but I don't see him as a liability, either. There have been a lot of players in this program throughout the years who benefitted from having supreme talent besides them- Gaines hasn't had that luxury
Click to expand...

As if being Jon Vilma is anything less than elite
 
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