Obviously, we won’t get answers to the “real” questions until the season is well underway; things like can our WR’s get separation? Can the QB manage the game better? Can the offensive line open holes and keep the defense off the QB? Can we establish a quality rotation at DE and DT? Can we find quality replacements in the defensive backfield for Doss, Schofield, Nixon and Lebeau? Can our special teams rise to mediocrity?
But, some important things should be apparent early.
Who shows up? What’s the story on the two starters (one on each side of the ball) who CJ said were question marks academically? Are they cleared to play? Even though he won’t play, is Leondra James in school? Did he make progress during the summer? What about injuries? Anyone leave school that we don’t know about? Who is the defensive back JJstock mentioned is not on the team? We know that at least 4-5 non-senior scholarship guys have to leave the team before next year to open spots for incoming freshmen. Will CJ or the fall roster give a hint as to who?
How do some of our “fat” guys look? Are Jason Stewart, Devon Johnson, Braynon Edwards, and the incoming freshman, Leeward Brown (among others) arriving in “football” shape to contribute? In my opinion, we haven’t had a well-conditioned team in ten or more years, maybe since 1998. That needs to improve.
How’s our field goal mechanics? I know we won’t have a definitive answer until game time (I’m a lot better on the driving range than the first tee
), but are we getting the snap, placement, and follow-through down? Is the new kid, Block, working on both punting and kicking? How’s he look? What’s Simms story? He left summer baseball early; was it to practice kicking? I’d think a pitcher and place kicker could find time for both fall baseball and football, but he didn’t last year. What about Ade Aruna? He kicked off a few times. Is that still a possibility?
With only Breaux, Encalade, and Veal returning at wide receiver, the new guys should get plenty of opportunities in pre-season. They are going to have to play this year; how do they look? For that matter, how do the returning guys look? If they don’t look really good in practice, they probably won’t in the games.
Since we presumably know our starting line (Uz, Hanson, Shienle, Taylor, and Santa Marina), is there anyone “pressing” them? Who will be first off the bench? Second? Counting three freshmen and three redshirt freshmen, we have a total of nine offensive linemen who have hardly played a down in college. Two others (Jacquet and Stewart) haven’t played much either.
I’m sure Coach CJ will tell us each day that all the QB’s “looked good, real good.” And we won’t know until they face “real” opponents, but who backs up Lee? Any indications in camp?
How about our defensive line? Are the key guys healthy? Who’s backing up LaFrance? Is someone pulling away from the crowd for the other end position? What about Thomas? Is he able to take his snaps in the rotation? Wilson and Smart can’t play every down. Thomas and Redwine, or someone else needs to be ready to contribute. Who’s taking snaps and who is wandering the sidelines?
How’s the defensive backfield shaping up? We’ve only got two guys with significant experience back there and we have seven true freshmen and three redshirt freshmen who haven’t played a down. Counting our nickel (or hybrid) position, we’ve needed up to six guys we can really count on. Allen, Davis, Franklin, Townsend, Cooper, Lewis, and others, to include several incoming freshmen, appear to have the athletic capability. Who is “grabbing a position by the throat” and making it theirs?
There are dozens of question marks on this team and pre-season will only give indications of the eventual answers. But, I, for one, am starting to get excited.
Roll Wave!!!
But, some important things should be apparent early.
Who shows up? What’s the story on the two starters (one on each side of the ball) who CJ said were question marks academically? Are they cleared to play? Even though he won’t play, is Leondra James in school? Did he make progress during the summer? What about injuries? Anyone leave school that we don’t know about? Who is the defensive back JJstock mentioned is not on the team? We know that at least 4-5 non-senior scholarship guys have to leave the team before next year to open spots for incoming freshmen. Will CJ or the fall roster give a hint as to who?
How do some of our “fat” guys look? Are Jason Stewart, Devon Johnson, Braynon Edwards, and the incoming freshman, Leeward Brown (among others) arriving in “football” shape to contribute? In my opinion, we haven’t had a well-conditioned team in ten or more years, maybe since 1998. That needs to improve.
How’s our field goal mechanics? I know we won’t have a definitive answer until game time (I’m a lot better on the driving range than the first tee
), but are we getting the snap, placement, and follow-through down? Is the new kid, Block, working on both punting and kicking? How’s he look? What’s Simms story? He left summer baseball early; was it to practice kicking? I’d think a pitcher and place kicker could find time for both fall baseball and football, but he didn’t last year. What about Ade Aruna? He kicked off a few times. Is that still a possibility?With only Breaux, Encalade, and Veal returning at wide receiver, the new guys should get plenty of opportunities in pre-season. They are going to have to play this year; how do they look? For that matter, how do the returning guys look? If they don’t look really good in practice, they probably won’t in the games.
Since we presumably know our starting line (Uz, Hanson, Shienle, Taylor, and Santa Marina), is there anyone “pressing” them? Who will be first off the bench? Second? Counting three freshmen and three redshirt freshmen, we have a total of nine offensive linemen who have hardly played a down in college. Two others (Jacquet and Stewart) haven’t played much either.
I’m sure Coach CJ will tell us each day that all the QB’s “looked good, real good.” And we won’t know until they face “real” opponents, but who backs up Lee? Any indications in camp?
How about our defensive line? Are the key guys healthy? Who’s backing up LaFrance? Is someone pulling away from the crowd for the other end position? What about Thomas? Is he able to take his snaps in the rotation? Wilson and Smart can’t play every down. Thomas and Redwine, or someone else needs to be ready to contribute. Who’s taking snaps and who is wandering the sidelines?
How’s the defensive backfield shaping up? We’ve only got two guys with significant experience back there and we have seven true freshmen and three redshirt freshmen who haven’t played a down. Counting our nickel (or hybrid) position, we’ve needed up to six guys we can really count on. Allen, Davis, Franklin, Townsend, Cooper, Lewis, and others, to include several incoming freshmen, appear to have the athletic capability. Who is “grabbing a position by the throat” and making it theirs?
There are dozens of question marks on this team and pre-season will only give indications of the eventual answers. But, I, for one, am starting to get excited.
Roll Wave!!!
