Ultimately, this all boils down to Xs and Os and most importantly our staff.
We have the third most returning starters of all college football. Normally, if we had a proven staff everyone would be excited, but we don't, so everyone is cautiously treading. The doomers know if this staff can get the most out of this roster and actually develop the players or design plays that actually fit this rosters' strengths then this will be a special season.
It's widely assumed that the offense has the right combination of returning starters and continuity of a proven offensive staff. However, the defense and our kick return units are/were in desperate need for improvement.
Changes were made this off season to address the defense, but will it be enough?
For the purpose of this post let's not focus on the players so much and instead focus on the staff.
Our front seven coaching staff collectively have 4 years of college-football coaching experience. Factor in that our front seven roster is the weakness on paper for the entire team. Then there is the ever absent kick return game which have neither flipped the field nor scored any touchdowns since Corn Elder vs Duke Blue Devils. If these two units could make great strides this year then things could get very interesting, but of course every other unit would have to play up to par or better.
Can this staff develop this roster and design plays to apply pressure and stop the run with just the front seven? I do like Patke and think he was due a promotion based on limited experience and how well he performed as the Striker and Special Teams coach, but I also feel like he was in over his head as a returns coach and feel T-Rob will be a better fit. Simpson doesn't have college-football coaching experience, but is arguably one of the best DL developers. Because of Simpson, I expect our DTs to take a big step forward much bigger than McIntosh and Norton and Willis combined. Nesta, Hunte, Ford, and maybe Taylor will have dominant seasons under Simpson as we will average under 115 yards rushing per game...if it were upto the front four. I am confident that we will reload on DE, but maybe not a double digits sacks total type of year yet. Next year will be the year of the DEs while this year will be the year of the DTs.
LB is a major concern and if they can't produce then the great teams will crush us and decent teams will be able to score so no lead will be safe. Patke has his work cut out, but thankfully Schoop is there to guide this position group to perform within the system. I don't expect anything special from this unit. In fact, I figure that if they are not mentioned then it is probably a good thing. This unit is this seasons' ROBERT KNOWLES.
We have the third most returning starters of all college football. Normally, if we had a proven staff everyone would be excited, but we don't, so everyone is cautiously treading. The doomers know if this staff can get the most out of this roster and actually develop the players or design plays that actually fit this rosters' strengths then this will be a special season.
It's widely assumed that the offense has the right combination of returning starters and continuity of a proven offensive staff. However, the defense and our kick return units are/were in desperate need for improvement.
Changes were made this off season to address the defense, but will it be enough?
For the purpose of this post let's not focus on the players so much and instead focus on the staff.
Our front seven coaching staff collectively have 4 years of college-football coaching experience. Factor in that our front seven roster is the weakness on paper for the entire team. Then there is the ever absent kick return game which have neither flipped the field nor scored any touchdowns since Corn Elder vs Duke Blue Devils. If these two units could make great strides this year then things could get very interesting, but of course every other unit would have to play up to par or better.
Can this staff develop this roster and design plays to apply pressure and stop the run with just the front seven? I do like Patke and think he was due a promotion based on limited experience and how well he performed as the Striker and Special Teams coach, but I also feel like he was in over his head as a returns coach and feel T-Rob will be a better fit. Simpson doesn't have college-football coaching experience, but is arguably one of the best DL developers. Because of Simpson, I expect our DTs to take a big step forward much bigger than McIntosh and Norton and Willis combined. Nesta, Hunte, Ford, and maybe Taylor will have dominant seasons under Simpson as we will average under 115 yards rushing per game...if it were upto the front four. I am confident that we will reload on DE, but maybe not a double digits sacks total type of year yet. Next year will be the year of the DEs while this year will be the year of the DTs.
LB is a major concern and if they can't produce then the great teams will crush us and decent teams will be able to score so no lead will be safe. Patke has his work cut out, but thankfully Schoop is there to guide this position group to perform within the system. I don't expect anything special from this unit. In fact, I figure that if they are not mentioned then it is probably a good thing. This unit is this seasons' ROBERT KNOWLES.
