Sneaky important positions in 2019

[6ix Natty's]

Swing OTackle - Another position of scary need. My hope is for John Campbell to play behind Kennedy and Scaife. For those who got to watch him practice, he supposedly wasn't that far away in his first year. If he can serve as a swing tackle, he'd give us much needed depth.

When is Kai-Leon Herbert ever gonna put it together? The guy was a highly touted recruit and should be contributing by now. I hope this isn't another Bar Milo situation.

 

[OrangeBowlMagic]

I've been saying it for a year but Scott Patchan is one of the most important kids on the entire team this season. He MUST stay healthy, improve, and produce. Garvin is entrenched at 1 spot, and he's a star. But there's a ton of uncertainty after that at a REALLY important position. Rousseau is coming off a major injury and, while hyped up on this board, has made exactly 0.0 plays in his career. Trevon Hill is not yet on this football team. Harvey is a true freshman. Cam Williams has eligibility questions and is another true freshman.

I can't overstate how important it would be for 19 to really turn a corner this year and be a consistent, healthy, disruptive player. I may be asking for too much here, but it would improve the team tremendously if he could play 30+ productive snaps a game. If he gets hurt again or is simply unplayable, there's just not a lot of depth (and virtually zero proven depth) at one of the most important spots on the team.

 

[reg]

3rd DT is worriesome to me. At this point, Ford is a JAG and bethel is barely serviceable. Jmo

I don't think Bethel is an all-ACC caliber DT, but he is a lot better than "barely serviceable." He just needs to be more consistent. I agree with you about Ford.

 

[6ix Natty's]

3rd DT is worriesome to me. At this point, Ford is a JAG and bethel is barely serviceable. Jmo

Those guys are for depth. The hope is that Nesta makes the leap in his 2nd year and Nnoruka can be a better version of Tito from last yr.

 

[AUcane]

Those guys are for depth. The hope is that Nesta makes the leap in his 2nd year and Nnoruka can be a better version of Tito from last yr.

No doubt. Those are big hopes, though - pinning our hopes on a transfer and a kid in Nesta who will be in his second year is asking a lot. I'm hopeful for Nesta - I think he can be good. Not sure on the UCLA kid. Spring will tell us a lot with those 2 (and also Ford). I think Bethel is who he is and I have remote hope that Ford can do something this spring.

 

[Cane4life18]

When is Kai-Leon Herbert ever gonna put it together? The guy was a highly touted recruit and should be contributing by now. I hope this isn't another Bar Milo situation.

Last time I saw Herbert on campus he still looked like he weighed in the 270s. He may be struggling to add weight to his frame.

 

[brock]

I’m not worried about dt whatsoever, there is talent there and whoever plays in this system will be productive. Remember people was writing Gerald Willis off around this time last year and look how he played ... that should be a lesson for pessimistic fans tbqh..

Nesta will show up this year and put on the UCLA dt transfer film, he is quick and has natural pass rushing ability as a dt. Had like 9.5 tfls and a couple of sacks in 2017 with a different defense. That automatically translates into our scheme come on now. Bethel is an experienced dt and a senior, he needs about 10-15 more pounds but there’s another level of progression he should have this year. Ford could take a leap in his game and there are some players behind them too who need more seasoning but are talented like miller, Blissett, Harrison hunte and Holley

 

[brock]

Out of young receivers who will step up and be productive this year?

Will lingard and Davis be able to over take Dallas which will allow him to be used in a utility role? Imo Dallas is not a lead back for Miami but is more of a change the pace type of guy and should be used all over the field in the slot in some formations like how ncstate used the Samuel kid a few years back

 

[kalinis]

why would 2nd dt scare anyone. first off silvera was a 5 star recruit he is gonna be in 2nd dt race, nnoruka is a grade transfer gonna be in 2nd dt race and pat bethel was a starter last year and was good but people act like he doesn't exist. and even if ford is 4th and people don't trust him that's 3 dt's u can count on right there without incoming freshman or ford/miller

 

[kalinis]

I’m not worried about dt whatsoever, there is talent there and whoever plays in this system will be productive. Remember people was writing Gerald Willis off around this time last year and look how he played ... that should be a lesson for pessimistic fans tbqh..

Nesta will show up this year and put on the UCLA dt transfer film, he is quick and has natural pass rushing ability as a dt. Had like 9.5 tfls and a couple of sacks in 2017 with a different defense. That automatically translates into our scheme come on now. Bethel is an experienced dt and a senior, he needs about 10-15 more pounds but there’s another level of progression he should have this year. Ford could take a leap in his game and there are some players behind them too who need more seasoning but are talented like miller, Blissett, Harrison hunte and Holley

to many people forget bethel. they mention nnoruka and silvera and forget pat was a starter last year and was a good one. he isn't as dynamic as willis wasn't in backfield a lot but he was in position held his own and played well

 

[AllAboutTheU]

I’m not worried about dt whatsoever, there is talent there and whoever plays in this system will be productive. Remember people was writing Gerald Willis off around this time last year and look how he played ... that should be a lesson for pessimistic fans tbqh..

Not being worried whatsoever isn't really sound reasoning. Bethel is more of a rotation guy and not a high impact player. Nesta will be asked to do a LOT more than he did last year. Higher snap count and a higher level of play is needed, Need to get something out of Ford as well.

Gerald Willis was essentially a 5th year senior who was a HS AA and known stud. His problem was off the field and between the ears. No one doubted that Gerald Willis was a really good football player.

We're relying on some unproven guys to take leaps and hold down this rotation for sure, that's even if we think that the UCLA DT is a player.

 

[brock]

Not being worried whatsoever isn't really sound reasoning. Bethel is more of a rotation guy and not a high impact player. Nesta will be asked to do a LOT more than he did last year. Higher snap count and a higher level of play is needed, Need to get something out of Ford as well.

Gerald Willis was essentially a 5th year senior who was a HS AA and known stud. His problem was off the field and between the ears. No one doubted that Gerald Willis was a really good football player.

We're relying on some unproven guys to take leaps and hold down this rotation for sure, that's even if we think that the UCLA DT is a player.

A lot of people doubted Gerald last year and he was essentially an unproven player too up until that point. We can pull up multiple threads on that. Nesta was highly rated and productive for a reason, he’s a baller

 

[PSU Cane]

A lot of people doubted Gerald last year and he was essentially an unproven player too up until that point. We can pull up multiple threads on that. Nesta was highly rated and productive for a reason, he’s a baller

Willis was not unproven. He was unreliable to stay on the field. Everyone knew he was the most talented DT on the roster, even the year he sat out.

 

[TotesMagotes]

We'll do this every off-season with DT I guess.

Safety is the question this year. People forget how green Jaquan and Redwine looked those first few games post Carter and Jenkins leaving.

Granted they developed beautifully and left here better than the two dudes they replaced but it's not going to just click over an off-season for the next tandem. Playing safety is very unforgiving in this system.

See anytime they let Robert Knowles on the field.

 

[6ix Natty's]

We'll do this every off-season with DT I guess.

Safety is the question this year. People forget how green Jaquan and Redwine looked those first few games post Carter and Jenkins leaving.

Granted they developed beautifully and left here better than the two dudes they replaced but it's not going to just click over an off-season for the next tandem. Playing safety is very unforgiving in this system.

See anytime they let Robert Knowles on the field.

Yea, but we know we at least have talent at safety. With DT there is a lot of hope this happens and hope that happens.

 

[Memnon]

I've been saying it for a year but Scott Patchan is one of the most important kids on the entire team this season. He MUST stay healthy, improve, and produce. Garvin is entrenched at 1 spot, and he's a star. But there's a ton of uncertainty after that at a REALLY important position. Rousseau is coming off a major injury and, while hyped up on this board, has made exactly 0.0 plays in his career. Trevon Hill is not yet on this football team. Harvey is a true freshman. Cam Williams has eligibility questions and is another true freshman.

I can't overstate how important it would be for 19 to really turn a corner this year and be a consistent, healthy, disruptive player. I may be asking for too much here, but it would improve the team tremendously if he could play 30+ productive snaps a game. If he gets hurt again or is simply unplayable, there's just not a lot of depth (and virtually zero proven depth) at one of the most important spots on the team.

You do realize that Rousseau was literally hurt in the first game of the season right?

How many plays did you expect him to make being injured for the season & only playing in one game?

 

[TotesMagotes]

Yea, but we know we at least have talent at safety. With DT there is a lot of hope this happens and hope that happens.

Don't at all disagree. But I think we'll find it's much easier to plug in dlinemen than defensive backs in this system. Love the talent back there and very excited to see what they can do but we should temper expectations at least early on.

I'm sure they'll hold their own but I wouldn't be surprised if we're wanting to pull our hair out a few times against UF opening night bc of busted plays in the back end of our defense.

 

[Memnon]

Not being worried whatsoever isn't really sound reasoning. Bethel is more of a rotation guy and not a high impact player. Nesta will be asked to do a LOT more than he did last year. Higher snap count and a higher level of play is needed, Need to get something out of Ford as well.

Gerald Willis was essentially a 5th year senior who was a HS AA and known stud. His problem was off the field and between the ears. No one doubted that Gerald Willis was a really good football player.

We're relying on some unproven guys to take leaps and hold down this rotation for sure, that's even if we think that the UCLA DT is a player.

In College football you're always going to be relying on unproven guys, every 3-4 years you'll have a whole new crop of players many of whom have never played.

I'm not sure I get why our fans are always so shook at the thought of players being developed, getting their chance & stepping up. I mean it's literally impossible to have an entire roster full of Seniors that have played every snap for 4 years straight lol.

Remember when Joe Jackson, Ahmmon Richards, Travis Homer, Shaq Q, Mike Pinckney, Trajan Bandy, Jon Garvin & a bunch others were all unproven when they were TF's & then they somehow miraculously showed they could play when they got on the field... And showed they could play.

It's not like we can only win unless we have 22 Grad transfer 5th year Seniors on the field, I mean didn't Rosier teach yall that just because a player is an experienced upperclassmen doesn't mean they're any good lol

 

[AllAboutTheU]

In College football you're always going to be relying on unproven guys, every 3-4 years you'll have a whole new crop of players many of whom have never played.

I'm not sure I get why our fans are always so shook at the thought of players being developed, getting their chance & stepping up. I mean it's literally impossible to have an entire roster full of Seniors that have played every snap for 4 years straight lol.

Remember when Joe Jackson, Ahmmon Richards, Travis Homer, Shaq Q, Mike Pinckney, Trajan Bandy, Jon Garvin & a bunch others were all unproven when they were TF's & then they somehow miraculously showed they could play when they got on the field... And showed they could play.

It's not like we can only win unless we have 22 Grad transfer 5th year Seniors on the field, I mean didn't Rosier teach yall that just because a player is an experienced upperclassmen doesn't mean they're any good lol

Agreed on most points, but DT more than anything we want grown *** men in those spots. I think Nesta has flashed and can become that guy for us. But you can't compare having freshman ball out at WR and RB to have more seasoned guys at DT. Hopefully Nesta and Ford have taken their strength and conditioning and development as players to the point where we can rely on them. It's going to be key to our success this year. Being skeptical about Ford's development isn't crazy. Nesta, if he's the stud that we think he is, should be good this year with a year of practice and strength/conditioning under his belt.

 

[Memnon]

Agreed on most points, but DT more than anything we want grown *** men in those spots. I think Nesta has flashed and can become that guy for us. But you can't compare having freshman ball out at WR and RB to have more seasoned guys at DT. Hopefully Nesta and Ford have taken their strength and conditioning and development as players to the point where we can rely on them. It's going to be key to our success this year. Being skeptical about Ford's development isn't crazy. Nesta, if he's the stud that we think he is, should be good this year with a year of practice and strength/conditioning under his belt.

Bethel & Nnoruka are both Seniors, and people are still worried lol