Post-Spring Depth Chart

[88]

AQM and Kamalu need to be ready to play DE by August 30 because Green and Cain ain't cutting it.

Ideally, Green and Cain won't play in 2013 and we can ride with Chick, Jelani, Grimble, Hoilett, AQM, Kamalu, and Rico.

Kamalu has been referred to as an "incoming DT" so I expect him to get a look at both spots.

As bad as the DT recruiting has been, we should have around 9 guys that can play there.

Porter
Luther
Pierre
King
Moore
Ivery
Grimble
Kamalu
Jelani

As you know, that's kind of the problem. Less dudes. More players.

 

[The Franchise]

the most disconcerting thing is Green's patched-together legs still starting on one side ... with an unspectacular Cain backing him up. Hopefully, one of the guys coming in over the summer can surprise like Figueroa. And speaking of Figuerora, what an awesome find, particularly with Thomas choosing FSU.

Downright scary to see them wheeling Green out there for starter reps.

Who would you have over taking Green at this point? Hoilett maybe? McCord is OLB, and AQM will be here in the summer. Personally I would like to see Bond and AQM at DE on passing downs and allow Green to play in 1st-2nd down situations.

I don't know if we have anyone to take Green's reps. And THAT is exactly what's so scary to me. I admire his grit, and he's a true Cane warrior. But he is awful. Think back to the late 90s when Jeff Popovich was getting major minutes. Green is Black Pop.

 

[rok]

Jelani, AQM, Hoilett, Grimble, Cain, Perry, Williams, Dye, Kamalu.

Surely Jethro can squeeze something out of that group so Shayon and Chick aren't on the field for every play.

 

[Canesfan1899]

Has there been any updates on AQM's weight right now? Please lord let him come in at at least 240.

If he's at 230-235, he's going to play a lot. Mccord played at around 215 last year.

Lu, how about a post spring look at what you think the defense will look like next year with growth from the current players and the incoming recruits?

In terms of scheme? I'm afraid to say I suspect it will look very similar from a scheme standpoint. I'd like to tell you that some of our DL grew into monsters and it'll make our defense look very different, but that's not true yet (at least post spring).

- You guys have seen the arguments about Pierre. I think he's a future NFLer. Others, whose opinions I respect (e.g. Larry), think less of him.
- Curtis Porter is basically the key to the defense, as crazy as that is to say given his injuries.
- Our DE situation is ******* scary bad. Hoilett needs to have the summer of his life. As has been discussed in another thread, if we're trotting out Shayon Green because he plays the system well (meaning he plays his lane and tech well), allow me to tell you a few tales about guys like Glen Cook.
- Another year goes by, we'll be "closer" as a team, but we'll somehow still depend on a True Frosh like AQM to come in at 235+ and make plays.
- I don't know what to say about Chickillo. I thought he needed to slim down in order to play the edge better, but I guess he's going in the other direction.
- The bottom line is that we're praying for someone to make a very surprising leap. That's never good.

Everything stems from the above. If the DL can't get in order, and I'm an opposing O-Coordinator, I simply spread us out with 3 and 4WR and run the ball with through zone-read or the like.

Thanks for the breakdown and I was worried you would say that about the scheme being very similar. I'm hoping the DB's are strong enough to allow us to bring more pressure with LB's this year, but it's never good to have to rely on blitzing to generate pressure. Agree with you on chick, love the kids effort and work ethic, but he looks like he has got cynder blocks around his ankles, could have been from never leaving the field but it's more likely because of the added weight. If chick was a redshirt sophmore like he's supposed to be I would probably feel better about his long term potential, but he has been forced to play a ton before he was really ready.

Porter has always made the defense look better when he's playing so I agree with you there, and love that Robinson seems to be pushing him. It seems Pierre has taken the #1 spot at DT and run with it. I also agree it sucks to be holding your breathe praying for guys to make an immediate impact in the fall or to come in and completey take their game to another level.

I like the direction we are going it's just crazy for a school like Miami to be seemingly devoid of playmakers on the DL. And our ex corch was supposed to be a defensive guru, man did he leave the litchen bare.

 

[Canesfan1899]

Jelani, AQM, Hoilett, Grimble, Cain, Perry, Williams, Dye, Kamalu.

Surely Jethro can squeeze something out of that group so Shayon and Chick aren't on the field for every play.

Jethro hasn't proven much to this point, he seems to be the weak link on the coaching staff right now.

 

[Jassid82]

Another problem is that we are desperately depending on guys who we shouldnt have to depend on! Who can forget ole' Rico Williams feeling DISRESPECTED because Shannon didnt offer him a scholie! (I am at the FRONT of the line when it comes to bashing Randy, but he called this one right ATM) Hey Ricardo, Al bailed you out..And this is how you repay him huh? Im sorry but buddy will be in his 3rd year..Time for him to make the leap or get to the back of the line.

No more of the "Duke Bball" mentality. "Oh, hes a good kid, doesnt get in trouble, represents the university, and hits the books, so he deserves every shot afforded to him to be on the team" Yeah maybe in the golden era of the U prgm. Not now. You can put Perry, Cain, and VERY SOON Grimble on that list too. Just guys hangin around eating up all the steak and pasta during pregame meals. Not givin us a **** thing!

I respect guys like Wheeler. Yeah he doesnt start and probably never will but I GUARANTEE you if someone goes down and he is called upon he will step in and do us proud. Hold his own on Sept 7th. I felt the same way last year bout him too. Carries his own weight! Earning his scholie knowing that he is not a star but is needed. Some of these guys just make me angry when I see them out there. Smh. Rant over..

 

[nycane]

Jelani is a kid I worry will be injury prone.

 

[Canesfan1899]

Another problem is that we are desperately depending on guys who we shouldnt have to depend on! Who can forget ole' Rico Williams feeling DISRESPECTED because Shannon didnt offer him a scholie! (I am at the FRONT of the line when it comes to bashing Randy, but he called this one right ATM) Hey Ricardo, Al bailed you out..And this is how you repay him huh? Im sorry but buddy will be in his 3rd year..Time for him to make the leap or get to the back of the line.

No more of the "Duke Bball" mentality. "Oh, hes a good kid, doesnt get in trouble, represents the university, and hits the books, so he deserves every shot afforded to him to be on the team" Yeah maybe in the golden era of the U prgm. Not now. You can put Perry, Cain, and VERY SOON Grimble on that list too. Just guys hangin around eating up all the steak and pasta during pregame meals. Not givin us a **** thing!
I respect guys like Wheeler. Yeah he doesnt start and probably never will but I GUARANTEE you if someone goes down and he is called upon he will step in and do us proud. Hold his own on Sept 7th. I felt the same way last year bout him too. Carries his own weight! Earning his scholie knowing that he is not a star but is needed. Some of these guys just make me angry when I see them out there. Smh. Rant over..

How do you know any of that to be true? Again Grimble is a kid that should be a redshirt sophmore and for many guys on the DL that's when they start to become strong enough to make an impact. Not sure where you got that they're just soaking up the rays and milking their schollies. Kids like Ivery, and Moore should be reshirt freshman. Williams was brought in out of necessity because we were bare at DE.

 

[JHallCanes]

Jelani, AQM, Hoilett, Grimble, Cain, Perry, Williams, Dye, Kamalu.

Surely Jethro can squeeze something out of that group so Shayon and Chick aren't on the field for every play.

Indeed

 

[Jassid82]

Canesfan1899, I didnt mention Ivery or Moore first off. And second I said Grimble will be on that list VERY SOON. Didnt say now. So I will assume you agreed with the rest of those guys I said WERE on the list..Williams, Cain, Perry..

And furthermore, Grimble has done nothing as of yet to show us he will be servicable this year. Not good. Not average. Servicable! We talkin about a 5star too. I dont care if it was warranted or not..He was a **** 5 star. He should be serviceable at this point.

 

[rok]

Grimble isn't as bad as some of you seem to think. He isn't Michael Strahan, but he's not a bum.

 

[Canesfan1899]

Canesfan1899, I didnt mention Ivery or Moore first off. And second I said Grimble will be on that list VERY SOON. Didnt say now. So I will assume you agreed with the rest of those guys I said WERE on the list..Williams, Cain, Perry..

And furthermore, Grimble has done nothing as of yet to show us he will be servicable this year. Not good. Not average. Servicable! We talkin about a 5star too. I dont care if it was warranted or not..He was a **** 5 star. He should be serviceable at this point.

Grimble was also rated a 5* DT even though he played primarily DE in HS if I remember correctly. He was overrated IMO and I feel like most on this board felt his production on the field in HS didn't match a 5* ranking, but I digress. I agree the DL is hurting for difference makers, but's it also the one unit group in football that is the toughest for youngsters to come in and play at a high level early. O. Pierre is arguably our best DT right now and he got pushed around as a freshman. Grimble is a kid that just got moved back to DE mid year last year and will need some time to develop, unfortunately for us, we don't have a lot of time to let him mature as we need difference makers now.

 

[LUcanesfan]

Jelani, AQM, Hoilett, Grimble, Cain, Perry, Williams, Dye, Kamalu.

Surely Jethro can squeeze something out of that group so Shayon and Chick aren't on the field for every play.

Jethro hasn't proven much to this point, he seems to be the weak link on the coaching staff right now.

Agreed. I think his stint from USC is saving him right now... However, if he can pull in a player like Clark at DT for next year, I'll give him a pass.

 

[Canesfan1899]

Jelani, AQM, Hoilett, Grimble, Cain, Perry, Williams, Dye, Kamalu.

Surely Jethro can squeeze something out of that group so Shayon and Chick aren't on the field for every play.

Jethro hasn't proven much to this point, he seems to be the weak link on the coaching staff right now.

Agreed. I think his stint from USC is saving him right now... However, if he can pull in a player like Clark at DT for next year, I'll give him a pass.

While I agree Clark is a must get, that's not much of a measuring stick IMO. Clark's parents have season tickets to the games and he was at almost every game last year, kid needs to be a Cane.