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Remaining Portal Needs to be Playoff Caliber

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Vintage Cane said:
Playoff Caliber?? You need to tone down your expectations or it's going to be a very disappointing year for you.
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Well then I'll be disappointed. We had enough talent to be playoff caliber this year. Our epic failures by the DC and DB coach to teach assignment football cost us our spot.
 
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cdmd said:
Yes, but ideally, you'd want to have your QB before the spring portal. All other positions can probably wait for impact players if none are available this window
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I'd say we need the WR and TE in place, too. Got to have that offense gelling. But I guess we're still waiting on some kids hitting the portal to know if we can pull it off. ... And given what happened at DB, I'd like to see that group have the right leadership locked in prior to Spring ball. That may be easier to backfill as there are currently a number of good DBs in the portal, at least.
 
grover said:
For me:

QB
S
CB
WR
TE
DT
C
LB

Still need 8 playoff caliber transfers. That's a lot of spots to fill without a lot of time to fill them.
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QB - def agree
S - agree, and I think it's Lucas whenever that nonsense gets sorted out.
CB - we have Poyser and Brantley coming in with OJ coming back. Do we need a third transfer?
WR - I actually think we will be ok here. Losing Horton hurts, but we have CJ Daniels coming (pause) with Jojo and Ny Carr.
TE - This is Jackson Carver's year to break out. Kidding. We could use one.
DT - Blay coming in. Scott, Moten, J Horton returning. Do we need another?
C - I don't see this as nearly the pressing need it was last year at this time. Ryan Rodriguez or SJ Alofaituli are decent options. Unless we get some high level dude, not sure we need it.
LB - OMFG can we use help here. I want to believe Popo is the guy, but my eyes are telling me he's not there yet. Wes and Alderman are mid.

You left RB off the list. I think we could use one.

You didn't ask, but my list would be QB, RB, S (Lucas), TE, DT and 2 LBs. Seven dudes, not seven jags.
Happy New Year
 
cdmd said:
Yes, but ideally, you'd want to have your QB before the spring portal. All other positions can probably wait for impact players if none are available this window
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When did we get c$m last year , I forget but it was late . I do agree with u earlier the better at qb
 
The TE position does not win you a title (outside of Bowers which you obviously will not get in the portal).

Take whatever you can get but it’s not going to be the difference between the playoffs or another shïtty bowl.

Same for center. Brockermeyer is fine. Plenty of guys can step if need be.

Yes to the rest.
 
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In order of priority portal needs:

QB
S
CB
WR
LB
TE
C

Bottom 3 positions seem like good shot to get filled in this portal window. Gotta wait for Lucas and Tacario + O'Connor decisions. Would be huge to get closure on Lucas and land one of those 2 corners. Qb remains the mystery and the largest key going forward.
 
Gi0logy said:
The TE position does not win you a title (outside of Bowers which you obviously will not get in the portal).

Take whatever you can get but it’s not going to be the difference between the playoffs or another shïtty bowl.

Same for center. Brockermeyer is fine. Plenty of guys can step if need be.

Yes to the rest.
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We just need a vet like the Bauman guy or whatever his name is. Lofton is about to set the world on fire next year playing snaps at a high rate. He’s Jonnu Smith 2.0 (Miami dolphins version).
 
grover said:
For me:

QB
S
CB
WR
TE
DT
C
LB

Still need 8 playoff caliber transfers. That's a lot of spots to fill without a lot of time to fill them.
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Jim Mora Playoffs GIF
 
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the only way we can be playoff caliber would be to land Ewers at this point, and even that may be questionable

Mateer was the only other difference maker at QB
 
BigDikDaddyFromCincinnati said:
QB - def agree
S - agree, and I think it's Lucas whenever that nonsense gets sorted out.
CB - we have Poyser and Brantley coming in with OJ coming back. Do we need a third transfer?
WR - I actually think we will be ok here. Losing Horton hurts, but we have CJ Daniels coming (pause) with Jojo and Ny Carr.
TE - This is Jackson Carver's year to break out. Kidding. We could use one.
DT - Blay coming in. Scott, Moten, J Horton returning. Do we need another?
C - I don't see this as nearly the pressing need it was last year at this time. Ryan Rodriguez or SJ Alofaituli are decent options. Unless we get some high level dude, not sure we need it.
LB - OMFG can we use help here. I want to believe Popo is the guy, but my eyes are telling me he's not there yet. Wes and Alderman are mid.

You left RB off the list. I think we could use one.

You didn't ask, but my list would be QB, RB, S (Lucas), TE, DT and 2 LBs. Seven dudes, not seven jags.
Happy New Year
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S: Lucas coming in to play CB, no? Assuming that's correct, given we have both our starting safeties exiting (Meesh to the XFL, Harris to FAMU), Poyser and ZP will be the only safeties I have any confidence will be good enough to start in 2025. You need at least one more. Markeith still hasn't shown he can step up, and Day and Thomas have no real experience.

CB: Assuming Lucas is in, you have 2 proven starters in OJ and XL. You have a guy you think is your starting Nickel in Brown. But he isn't proven. And behind him you have a decent backup in Richard and a guy who is almost certain to transfer in Hill. Even if Hill returns and accepts a diminished role, you cannot count on him if one of the starters goes down. We absolutely need 1 more.

WR: We had 4 starting WRs and a deep supporting case this past season. All 4 starters are gone. So I don't think Daniels is enough. I definitely get why fans want to see what we have in Jojo, Ny, Kirk and Ray Ray, along with Chance and the incoming Freshmen. But the only one of those who performed at a high level in the bowl game was Jojo. Ray Ray, Kirk and Carr had opportunities but didn't flash. They don't deserve to be gifted starting spots yet. We need another starter to come in so our returning players have to earn their snaps.

TE: Love Love Love Lofton. He is NOT a TE. He is a Hback/Fullback who can play TE if necessary. But the last thing you want is to rely on him inline. Our top 3 "true" TEs are all gone, and Carver and Schott are 220 pounds. You may be able to bulk up Gilbert for 2026. But he's not going to be ready to block in 2025. I will go so far as to say not getting a decent inline TE could keep us out of the playoffs in and of itself. Again, you can put a third OT out there if you needed, or move Jones there as he played some TE in high school. But that's not a championship move.

DT: I agree the starting level quality is there. I really like what I'm seeing in Moten, Scott and Blay. But like Safety, I worry about injuries and depth. Horton's health can't be in doubt or we need another.

C: If Brockermeyer signs, we're all good there. I put that lower on the list because I generally agree we "can" run with Rodriguez, SJ or Francavilla. But I don't think they'd be playoff level players, just adequate. SJ will be our starter of the future. But I think he needs a full year of college development to be ready.

LB: Wes makes a lot of plays. But he also makes a lot of mistakes. Alderman got better as the season went on, so did Popo. But I think we're missing an Alpha. ... rounding out: Pruitt looks tiny and got trucked in that bowl game, Chase still looks stiff and lost, Bobby is injured and when in he looked lost, too. Haven't seen Adarius to know what we have there.
 
grover said:
S: Lucas coming in to play CB, no? Assuming that's correct, given we have both our starting safeties exiting (Meesh to the XFL, Harris to FAMU), Poyser and ZP will be the only safeties I have any confidence will be good enough to start in 2025. You need at least one more. Markeith still hasn't shown he can step up, and Day and Thomas have no real experience.

CB: Assuming Lucas is in, you have 2 proven starters in OJ and XL. You have a guy you think is your starting Nickel in Brown. But he isn't proven. And behind him you have a decent backup in Richard and a guy who is almost certain to transfer in Hill. Even if Hill returns and accepts a diminished role, you cannot count on him if one of the starters goes down. We absolutely need 1 more.

WR: We had 4 starting WRs and a deep supporting case this past season. All 4 starters are gone. So I don't think Daniels is enough. I definitely get why fans want to see what we have in Jojo, Ny, Kirk and Ray Ray, along with Chance and the incoming Freshmen. But the only one of those who performed at a high level in the bowl game was Jojo. Ray Ray, Kirk and Carr had opportunities but didn't flash. They don't deserve to be gifted starting spots yet. We need another starter to come in so our returning players have to earn their snaps.

TE: Love Love Love Lofton. He is NOT a TE. He is a Hback/Fullback who can play TE if necessary. But the last thing you want is to rely on him inline. Our top 3 "true" TEs are all gone, and Carver and Schott are 220 pounds. You may be able to bulk up Gilbert for 2026. But he's not going to be ready to block in 2025. I will go so far as to say not getting a decent inline TE could keep us out of the playoffs in and of itself. Again, you can put a third OT out there if you needed, or move Jones there as he played some TE in high school. But that's not a championship move.

DT: I agree the starting level quality is there. I really like what I'm seeing in Moten, Scott and Blay. But like Safety, I worry about injuries and depth. Horton's health can't be in doubt or we need another.

C: If Brockermeyer signs, we're all good there. I put that lower on the list because I generally agree we "can" run with Rodriguez, SJ or Francavilla. But I don't think they'd be playoff level players, just adequate. SJ will be our starter of the future. But I think he needs a full year of college development to be ready.

LB: Wes makes a lot of plays. But he also makes a lot of mistakes. Alderman got better as the season went on, so did Popo. But I think we're missing an Alpha. ... rounding out: Pruitt looks tiny and got trucked in that bowl game, Chase still looks stiff and lost, Bobby is injured and when in he looked lost, too. Haven't seen Adarius to know what we have there.
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All fair across the board. I could argue the minutiae with you but the gummies are starting to kick in.
Happy new year
 
grover said:
S: Lucas coming in to play CB, no? Assuming that's correct, given we have both our starting safeties exiting (Meesh to the XFL, Harris to FAMU), Poyser and ZP will be the only safeties I have any confidence will be good enough to start in 2025. You need at least one more. Markeith still hasn't shown he can step up, and Day and Thomas have no real experience.

CB: Assuming Lucas is in, you have 2 proven starters in OJ and XL. You have a guy you think is your starting Nickel in Brown. But he isn't proven. And behind him you have a decent backup in Richard and a guy who is almost certain to transfer in Hill. Even if Hill returns and accepts a diminished role, you cannot count on him if one of the starters goes down. We absolutely need 1 more.

WR: We had 4 starting WRs and a deep supporting case this past season. All 4 starters are gone. So I don't think Daniels is enough. I definitely get why fans want to see what we have in Jojo, Ny, Kirk and Ray Ray, along with Chance and the incoming Freshmen. But the only one of those who performed at a high level in the bowl game was Jojo. Ray Ray, Kirk and Carr had opportunities but didn't flash. They don't deserve to be gifted starting spots yet. We need another starter to come in so our returning players have to earn their snaps.

TE: Love Love Love Lofton. He is NOT a TE. He is a Hback/Fullback who can play TE if necessary. But the last thing you want is to rely on him inline. Our top 3 "true" TEs are all gone, and Carver and Schott are 220 pounds. You may be able to bulk up Gilbert for 2026. But he's not going to be ready to block in 2025. I will go so far as to say not getting a decent inline TE could keep us out of the playoffs in and of itself. Again, you can put a third OT out there if you needed, or move Jones there as he played some TE in high school. But that's not a championship move.

DT: I agree the starting level quality is there. I really like what I'm seeing in Moten, Scott and Blay. But like Safety, I worry about injuries and depth. Horton's health can't be in doubt or we need another.

C: If Brockermeyer signs, we're all good there. I put that lower on the list because I generally agree we "can" run with Rodriguez, SJ or Francavilla. But I don't think they'd be playoff level players, just adequate. SJ will be our starter of the future. But I think he needs a full year of college development to be ready.

LB: Wes makes a lot of plays. But he also makes a lot of mistakes. Alderman got better as the season went on, so did Popo. But I think we're missing an Alpha. ... rounding out: Pruitt looks tiny and got trucked in that bowl game, Chase still looks stiff and lost, Bobby is injured and when in he looked lost, too. Haven't seen Adarius to know what we have there.
Click to expand...
CB - Add Brantly and Karnley
 
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