NormanPride
8/29/2006, 11:50 AM
At this point in the summer, we usually start hearing lots of coach-speak and excitement from players and coaches alike. Let us now take some time to look objectively at our issues and concerns.
At the end of last season, our concerns were:
OL - lost Davin, and it was pretty shaky to begin with. The line was servicable at the end of the year and AD was breaking off 100 yard games left and right, so this wasn't as big an issue as people made of it, IMO. Still, not a strong point
TE - Bubba is gone now, and with him went the major blocking at the TE position. This is essential in an I running game, unless you have an amazing and quick Oline like USC had against us in the OB. Joe John is obviously a better pass catcher, but his blocking left a lot to be desired. I don't remember him busting on his assignments much, but he just wasn't great there.
FB - JD is gone. Game over, man.
3rd WR - Travis is gone now, and we need a 3rd guy to step up. Iglesias and Kelly are awesome, but Johnson had alligator arms most of the season. He improved, but will he be able to be the guy?
DT - For all the returning talent we have here, we still lost an NFL-caliber guy here in Dusty. I don't think any one of us can predict how that will affect the whole unit, but we all know you can't just replace someone like that. Hopefully our depth will solve that problem.
SAM - I don't think anyone noticed, but the guy that won us the Holiday Bowl is gone now. Our best pass-covering LB is being replaced by... who? A Freshman?
Safety - While not a terrible weakness, it wasn't a strong point either. Smith is moving to corner, and now what? Clayton is taking over for Carter, but that just means less game-experience.
Now, that was what we started with. What has been resolved - for sure? We can cite scrimmages and practice stats all we want, but the fact is that only more questions were brought up with the departure of Bomar. Let's run down what we should expect at the very least from these positions.
QB - Good Lord, please provide us with a QB that does not make mistakes, and is good at managing the game. We all know Paul is loved, but can he REALLY, I mean GAME REALLY, make plays and lead this team? Please. For our team's sake... NEVER BOO THOMPSON.
OL - Wilson says we're fine. AD says we're fine. We're fine, right? Well, as much as I want to believe, I don't want to be disappointed even more. We should be no worse than we were last year, but I would not expect us to be much better until Oregon.
TE - Gresham Gresham Gresham Gresham. Show me in a game, and I will believe. Until then, our blocking still sucks here, and we already had a guy that could catch.
FB - JD is gone. Game over, man.
3rd WR - Reggie? Tennel? Johnson? With MJ injured and Reggie a... well, he's a corner... We might be in trouble here until MJ returns. Who knows.
DT - Redshirting McCoy. Is that good or bad? We have tons of depth all along the line, so we should at LEAST be as good in the 4th as we ever have been. That will do wonders for our offense as well. Here's hoping.
SAM - What the hell is going on here? Reynolds had it locked up until he blew a knee. Pleasant is doing well. Loftin is doing well.. Nic Harris is doing well? Whatever, man. I still say we're going to be running a lot of nickel.
Safety - We all know Clayton is a physical freak, but will he bust? All he needs to do is hit his assignments consistently, and we'll be fine. D-Will is a fairly proven commodiity.
Okay, so there it is. Pretty much low expectations on all fronts. As little hype as possible. This is my "Do not be disappointed if we don't score 50" post. I heard the line for UAB is what... 21? Are they insane? I don't want to be doom-and-gloom, because I think this team has the potential to go all the way. But with Stoops doing all this weird closed-practices stuff this fall, and with all the off-the-field distractions, I am very worried about the focus of this team. Do not take "We'll be fine" as a vote of confidence automatically. They might also be trying to convince themselves.
That being said, I am confident we can beat UAB handily. I am confident we will have a great season. I am confident this year will be a blast. So please, even if we're not 2003 good, don't be disappointed. Have fun, and cheer loud.
At the end of last season, our concerns were:
OL - lost Davin, and it was pretty shaky to begin with. The line was servicable at the end of the year and AD was breaking off 100 yard games left and right, so this wasn't as big an issue as people made of it, IMO. Still, not a strong point
TE - Bubba is gone now, and with him went the major blocking at the TE position. This is essential in an I running game, unless you have an amazing and quick Oline like USC had against us in the OB. Joe John is obviously a better pass catcher, but his blocking left a lot to be desired. I don't remember him busting on his assignments much, but he just wasn't great there.
FB - JD is gone. Game over, man.
3rd WR - Travis is gone now, and we need a 3rd guy to step up. Iglesias and Kelly are awesome, but Johnson had alligator arms most of the season. He improved, but will he be able to be the guy?
DT - For all the returning talent we have here, we still lost an NFL-caliber guy here in Dusty. I don't think any one of us can predict how that will affect the whole unit, but we all know you can't just replace someone like that. Hopefully our depth will solve that problem.
SAM - I don't think anyone noticed, but the guy that won us the Holiday Bowl is gone now. Our best pass-covering LB is being replaced by... who? A Freshman?
Safety - While not a terrible weakness, it wasn't a strong point either. Smith is moving to corner, and now what? Clayton is taking over for Carter, but that just means less game-experience.
Now, that was what we started with. What has been resolved - for sure? We can cite scrimmages and practice stats all we want, but the fact is that only more questions were brought up with the departure of Bomar. Let's run down what we should expect at the very least from these positions.
QB - Good Lord, please provide us with a QB that does not make mistakes, and is good at managing the game. We all know Paul is loved, but can he REALLY, I mean GAME REALLY, make plays and lead this team? Please. For our team's sake... NEVER BOO THOMPSON.
OL - Wilson says we're fine. AD says we're fine. We're fine, right? Well, as much as I want to believe, I don't want to be disappointed even more. We should be no worse than we were last year, but I would not expect us to be much better until Oregon.
TE - Gresham Gresham Gresham Gresham. Show me in a game, and I will believe. Until then, our blocking still sucks here, and we already had a guy that could catch.
FB - JD is gone. Game over, man.
3rd WR - Reggie? Tennel? Johnson? With MJ injured and Reggie a... well, he's a corner... We might be in trouble here until MJ returns. Who knows.
DT - Redshirting McCoy. Is that good or bad? We have tons of depth all along the line, so we should at LEAST be as good in the 4th as we ever have been. That will do wonders for our offense as well. Here's hoping.
SAM - What the hell is going on here? Reynolds had it locked up until he blew a knee. Pleasant is doing well. Loftin is doing well.. Nic Harris is doing well? Whatever, man. I still say we're going to be running a lot of nickel.
Safety - We all know Clayton is a physical freak, but will he bust? All he needs to do is hit his assignments consistently, and we'll be fine. D-Will is a fairly proven commodiity.
Okay, so there it is. Pretty much low expectations on all fronts. As little hype as possible. This is my "Do not be disappointed if we don't score 50" post. I heard the line for UAB is what... 21? Are they insane? I don't want to be doom-and-gloom, because I think this team has the potential to go all the way. But with Stoops doing all this weird closed-practices stuff this fall, and with all the off-the-field distractions, I am very worried about the focus of this team. Do not take "We'll be fine" as a vote of confidence automatically. They might also be trying to convince themselves.
That being said, I am confident we can beat UAB handily. I am confident we will have a great season. I am confident this year will be a blast. So please, even if we're not 2003 good, don't be disappointed. Have fun, and cheer loud.