Filling in the holes

#1
mitzustu

mitzustu

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#1
Let's get some discussion strictly on how we fill the holes now that we know who's gone.

With Malone, Dobbs, and Kamara gone on offense how do we compensate for their absence?

I feel best about replacing Dobbs. I'm confident that at least one of our two options will be more than adequate.

However, we don't have much proven depth at WR and no big time players coming in.

RB same situation. Kelly is the only proven back. Fils-Aime and Chandler. Nothing behind them.

I don't feel great about the offense :/

Defense:

Who steps up for Vereen and Barnett?

What does the picture at corner look like without Sutton?
 
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#3
#3
If Malone truly leaves that's really gonna hurt. He could really help the progression of a new qb. I think we will he fine at defensive end. I'm assuming they kick kongbo back out to the outside. I don't even know what to say about our corners.
 
#5
#5
No worries, we will now spend the offseason post recruiting reading on VN that we will be 10 to 11 game winners......
 
#6
#6
Callaway maybe taking Malone's spot. Your forgetting we are gonna lose Josh Smith and most likely lose Byrd to the defense. Offense will have to find new playmakers.
 
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#7
#7
mitzustu said:
Let's get some discussion strictly on how we fill the holes now that we know who's gone.

With Malone, Dobbs, and Kamara gone on offense how do we compensate for their absence?

I feel best about replacing Dobbs. I'm confident that at least one of our two options will be more than adequate.

However, we don't have much proven depth at WR and no big time players coming in.

RB same situation. Kelly is the only proven back. Fils-Aime and Chandler. Nothing behind them.

I don't feel great about the offense :/

Defense:

Who steps up for Vereen and Barnett?

What does the picture at corner look like without Sutton?
Click to expand...

Has spring practice started? Hell, we still have 30 days or so to NSD. Hopefully, we bring in reliable depth, but most of the answers are on campus right now.

We definitely need another RB in the class, Eteinne or Felix or both. WR and TE has some unproven depth, but the potential is there.

Defense without Barnett and Vereen? That is scary, but guys like Phillips and Kongbo need to prove themselves. I knows some talking heads are putting Kong inside, but I am not buying that. He was moved in because he was needed there and he needed the experience. If Mixon gets outta the doghouse, MacKenzie and Tuttle get and stay healthy, and heaven only knows how positions gets shuffled. I feel Kongbo is an end when the smoke clears.

As for the secondary, I am waiting to see if staff changes happen, and who we sign. Gaulden, Warrior, TK, Berry, Osbourne, Buchanan, ect ect. We have options. But every last one of them needs to take another step.

There are concerns, but they won't get addressed today.
The next month should prove interesting.
 
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#8
#8
aRmo said:
Callaway maybe taking Malone's spot. Your forgetting we are gonna lose Josh Smith and most likely lose Byrd to the defense. Offense will have to find new playmakers.
Click to expand...

They aren't moving Josh Smith to D haha what? And Byrd could but will stay. Too thin now.
 
#9
#9
Hopefully the team will begin a bit more humble...I think the guys started this year expecting it would be a cake walk and found that just showing up wasn't enough...

As for specific gaps, we'll have a more "talented" QB but Dobbs came up big in so many games - playing above his skill level and just forcing his will to win. So we may have a "better" QB but not get better results...

Losing AK hurts but our running game is more dependent on the OL play than any one RB...if we sign Chandler, he'll be one of a three man rotation at RB...we should be ok as long as OL play improves...

I would love to have Malone one more year but we have talent at the WR position...just need the line to provide protection (better than they did for Dobbs) and a QB with better accuracy...

Replacing Vereen and Barnett will be tough...the real issue will be who will be backing up the new starters...I'm good with Phillips and Kingbo starting but who plays when they are out?

A new we need much better LB play next year...
 
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#10
#10
mitzustu said:
Let's get some discussion strictly on how we fill the holes now that we know who's gone.

With Malone, Dobbs, and Kamara gone on offense how do we compensate for their absence?

I feel best about replacing Dobbs. I'm confident that at least one of our two options will be more than adequate.

However, we don't have much proven depth at WR and no big time players coming in.

RB same situation. Kelly is the only proven back. Fils-Aime and Chandler. Nothing behind them.

I don't feel great about the offense :/

Defense:

Who steps up for Vereen and Barnett?

What does the picture at corner look like without Sutton?
Click to expand...

I think your nuts with the bolded part. You will find out just how much Dobbs is missed next year.
 
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#11
#11
mitzustu said:
Let's get some discussion strictly on how we fill the holes now that we know who's gone.

With Malone, Dobbs, and Kamara gone on offense how do we compensate for their absence?

I feel best about replacing Dobbs. I'm confident that at least one of our two options will be more than adequate.

However, we don't have much proven depth at WR and no big time players coming in.

RB same situation. Kelly is the only proven back. Fils-Aime and Chandler. Nothing behind them.

I don't feel great about the offense :/

Defense:

Who steps up for Vereen and Barnett?

What does the picture at corner look like without Sutton?
Click to expand...

Great minds and all that... I was just about to start a thread on this.
 
#12
#12
aRmo said:
Callaway maybe taking Malone's spot. Your forgetting we are gonna lose Josh Smith and most likely lose Byrd to the defense. Offense will have to find new playmakers.
Click to expand...

As to Smith and Byrd? Will believe it when they announce it.
 
#13
#13
aRmo said:
Callaway maybe taking Malone's spot. Your forgetting we are gonna lose Josh Smith and most likely lose Byrd to the defense. Offense will have to find new playmakers.
Click to expand...

Byrd looks back for the ball so he can't play D....
 
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#14
#14
I feel pretty good about the offense. You have a very experienced oline. This is the best friend a qb can have. Kelly is going to be a stud, and hopefully he can stay healthy as there isn't any proven depth behind him. We have a lot of receivers returning that have played a good bit of football. Jennings is a great leader at that position, and we have some good young talent.

Defense is still what concerns me the most. The secondary has to improve. I'm not sure if it's talent or scheme, but we are bad on the back end. And, this is with guys who have played a lot of football. I think the dline can be good if we continue to develop, and don't get hammered by injuries. Need A. Johnson to step up at tackle, and hopefully get Shy back at full speed. Lb's are experienced, but only Kirkland has star potential.

I see a 8 or 9 win team. If we catch some breaks maybe 10.
 
#15
#15
aRmo said:
Callaway maybe taking Malone's spot. Your forgetting we are gonna lose Josh Smith and most likely lose Byrd to the defense. Offense will have to find new playmakers.
Click to expand...

Smith is a Jr this year..
 
#17
#17
mitzustu said:
Let's get some discussion strictly on how we fill the holes now that we know who's gone.

With Malone, Dobbs, and Kamara gone on offense how do we compensate for their absence?

I feel best about replacing Dobbs. I'm confident that at least one of our two options will be more than adequate.

However, we don't have much proven depth at WR and no big time players coming in.

RB same situation. Kelly is the only proven back. Fils-Aime and Chandler. Nothing behind them.

I don't feel great about the offense :/

Defense:

Who steps up for Vereen and Barnett?

What does the picture at corner look like without Sutton?
Click to expand...

Dobbs will be difficult to replace given his penchant for making something out of nothing with his feet. He actually made was looked like a very bad OL better than it was....scary. He also improved greatly throwing the ball downfield, especially late in the season. Starting a first year qb will be a crapshoot imo, whoever it is will take his lumps, at least early on.

With Malone leaving I think that ensures that Jennings stays at WR. Without him, our returning WR production is paltry, only 35 total receptions among 5 players (Byrd, Smith, Johnson, Callaway and George), and I think Byrd likely moves to CB, where he's badly needed. Gotta hope Callaway and Johnson take big strides forward.

I feel great about Kelly and even Chandler coming in as a freshman. Don't yet know about CFA. Could definitely use another highly rated RB to add to the fold for depth.

Agree with you that defense is the biggest cause for concern. We have pieces, just not enough, especially on the backend. I like Taylor and perhaps a slimmed down Phillips at DE, if they move Kyle back. Maybe Austin Smith can step up and help out and we still have Mixon returning as a senior. Also don't know about Tuttle's status, will he be ready for next season?

Corner is a huge concern. Somebody has to step up. Seems like most hope Byrd moves over and makes an immediate impact. Not sold on Moseley or Martin, and Buchanan really struggled as a freshman....and JUCO DJ Henderson couldn't get on the field despite the corners ahead of him struggling. Sure hope Marquill Osborne lives up to his billing and takes a spot, he's talented. Gaulden has the Nickle locked up but he needs to get much better in coverage too. In short, we're a mess with few to no answers and corner going into next year.....and we're only marginally better at safety imo, where Warrior needs to take a big step up if we're gonna have the athletic ability we need there.

And then, the wildcard.....Bob Shoop and likely 2-3 new assistant coaches on defense. They were collectively bad, really bad this year.
 
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#19
#19
aRmo said:
Taken out of context. I meant Josh Smith is gone after this year isn't he? I thought he was a senior
Click to expand...

Very confused by this. He played as the 3rd WR all day yesterday. Is he just quitting football?
 
#22
#22
TNnative said:
Has spring practice started? Hell, we still have 30 days or so to NSD. Hopefully, we bring in reliable depth, but most of the answers are on campus right now.

We definitely need another RB in the class, Eteinne or Felix or both. WR and TE has some unproven depth, but the potential is there.

Defense without Barnett and Vereen? That is scary, but guys like Phillips and Kongbo need to prove themselves. I knows some talking heads are putting Kong inside, but I am not buying that. He was moved in because he was needed there and he needed the experience. If Mixon gets outta the doghouse, MacKenzie and Tuttle get and stay healthy, and heaven only knows how positions gets shuffled. I feel Kongbo is an end when the smoke clears.

As for the secondary, I am waiting to see if staff changes happen, and who we sign. Gaulden, Warrior, TK, Berry, Osbourne, Buchanan, ect ect. We have options. But every last one of them needs to take another step.

There are concerns, but they won't get addressed today.
The next month should prove interesting.
Click to expand...

Eric Crosby at DT, he has to be in rotation. That dudes is a beast
 
#24
#24
MoreheadVol said:
Eric Crosby at DT, he has to be in rotation. That dudes is a beast
Click to expand...

Doesn't Vickers have another year? If so, you got Vickers, Tuttle, MacKenzie and Alexis Johnson as a 4 man rotation...Crosby definitely has the size to come in and play immediately...
 
#25
#25
The key on the defensive line for 2017 is McKenzie and Tuttle playing the entire season and I think Bain could help out on the defensive line.
 
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