I fear for my man Jake. I'm hoping he mans up and takes the starting job at slot. But Jwhit and Moore will make that difficult. But, in any case, the slot position will be strong and we should utilize it to the MAX.
Our roster is at 84 -- 13 Seniors (incldg Cosmi/Coutoumanos) 19 Juniors (inccldg Hine/Mader/Jacques) 20 Soph (inccldg JMoore/Brock) 13 Freshmen 19 Incoming High Schoolers
We had some horrendous schemes and play calling on both sides. On offense, we often went straight at the strength of the opposing defense, the entire game. I especially hated those slow developing run calls that anyone could read. At the worst times too. I remember a female relative walking through during one of our games - she saw the formation in 1 second, called the play, kept walking. She nailed it. So did the opposing defense. But hopefully we have addressed the scheme and play calling issues. As well as the WR coach issue. Our overall roster is finally in decent shape (mostly), which feels like it took a decade to get to. The OL should be good, with nice depth. I was looking at the 2019 class just yesterday and we had 3 5-star or 5-star-caliber recruits who never even saw the field for us (McCoy, Floyd, Whittington). I will probably hate myself later for writing this, but it almost has to get better.
Roster -- 3 year rolling class (so only 2018, 2019 & 2020) IMO this looks better than any other 3-year class rolling roster for the last 10 years QB Thompson Card JQJ RJohnson (but slotted for RB) RB Ingram RJohnson Robinson Brown (medical) WR Eagles Moore Woodard Whittington Smith Washington Lewis Omeire Dixon Harrison TE Epps Liebrock Wiley OL Angilau Moore Jones Johnson Hookfin Tyler Garth Karic Ghirmai Majors Parr ATH Hullaby (could be LB or H-B) DL Coburn Ojomo Sweat Goram-Welch Ossai Vaughns Carson Jones Collins Broughton Mpagi (could be a medical) LB Adeoye Gbenda Tillman Mitchell Dorbah Ford CB Green Cook Jamison Watson Caldwell Crawford S Sterns Foster Overshown Owens Adimora Alford Thompson K/P Bujcevski Dicker
LB is still too thin, and no real proven difference maker. Ash may run a 4-2-5 a lot to mask the depth issues, but I don't understand why Herman hasn't been able to recruit the position better given the opportunity to play early.
RP, probably because of the prior defensive scheme that really featured LB's as heavy DB's. Most HS LB's are more traditional LB's (think B1G and the $EC), and that is what they want to continue. The future of this line of thinking, especially in the $EC, will be what changes the new offensive schemes from the Mississippi schools will cause.
Yes, there are areas to pick at, but I stand by the claim about the overall 3-year rolling classes of the last 10 years. But I agree, I never knew what Orlando's goal with LB recruiting. Seemed to be move DEs back or big safeties forward.
Moore is not a 100% lock but it seems like it's happening. Besides the legal issues with him, there may be some attitude adjustment needed too. I think a couple of the defensive guys might have taken some stuff out on Moore in scrimmages. I think it was Overshown who blasted him. But we will see. Moore sounds like he is aware of his issues and is working on them - has a positive attitude on social media at least I do like him as a player (he had that great play against USC). And I think he has 3 years to play. Should be cued up here (1:45) -- and stay with it for the great Way call on the Wheeler td - lol
I think Moore made one immensely stupid mistake and seems to be owning it and the consequences. If so, he has a chance to return. Otherwise, Herman would have said AMF.
Another potential GT WR - Rico Bussey from UNT - had 1,017 receiving yards and 12 TDs in 2018 -- BC liked his tweet
In my opinion, the linebacker play should be better with Ossai being let loose from the end position and wrecking shop in the backfield forcing hesitation and changes of direction from the running backs and qb’s. That simple change would have made a world of difference last year, and should have been obvious fro the end of the year before, in particular the sugar bowl. Ossai is a difference maker that makes everyone else better.
i could see us running spread all day long with two slots and no TE. I don't mean every play, but you can single set spread with jake and jwhit 20 plays a game. then use jwhit in a jet sweep from that so he is KINDA an RB from the slot. lots of reasons it works without hurting anyone's feelings. :I
And I wouldn't blame him a bit if he does enter the portal. He has paid his dues at Zero U and waited his turn patiently. If they bring in another transfer, he would lose his chance to start - and there is some other school out there that would give him that chance.
