I covered this stuff so much in the spring, I debated whether or not to write a preview, but repeated info is still better than no info.
Here's my position-by-position analysis a week ahead of the start of camp. Today covers the offense.
QUARTERBACK
Starter: Jonathan Banks
Backups: Dane Ledford, Christian Daniels
Banks did all the right things on the practice field in the spring, says all the right things in interviews and has the right attitude to be a star. Now it's a matter of putting it all together. The coaches have learned what he does best and what he does not do as well and will tailor the offense to his strengths this year. He has all the tools to succeed but needs to make better decisions. Regardless of what you think about his last-second run against SMU (just about everyone screams it was a touchdown),he made a bad decision to gamble he could score with a down in his pocket. That was a play to try to make on fourth down, not third.
It is hard to imagine Tulane winning without Banks. but Ledford and Daniels have to prepare as well as they can in August in case he gets hurt. Ledford had the edge in the spring, but Daniels' head was swimming as he tried to learn a college offense straight out of high school. He should be better equipped to challenge Ledford for the backup role in preseason practice.
Camp is going well if: Banks connects on the deep ball consistently. That's been a long-time problem at Tulane with multiple coaching staffs. but the Wave showed some good signs there in the spring. With the one-on-one coverage the experienced receivers will be getting due to the threat of the running game, the opportunities for huge downfield passes will be there. Banks needs to put the ball on the money. and he's capable of doing it.
Camp is going poorly if: Banks' passing is hit and miss. It was for the first two-thirds of 2017 before he settled down. To take the next step, which I believe he will, he needs to be accurate every day in practice.
RUNNING BACKS
Starter: Darius Bradwell or Corey Dauphine
Backups: Stephon Huderson, Devin Glenn
Newcomers: Ygenio Booker, Cameron Carroll, Amare Jones
It is really hard to judge running backs in modern no-contact practices. I liked what I saw from Bradwell. Dauphine and Huderson in the spring, but they were less impressive when the action went live in the spring game. Bradwell, who remains inexperienced after arriving as a quarterback, needs to have better pad level in traffic, but he possesses the desire and the raw ability to break through, combining power and speed. Dauphine is shifty with an excellent burst. Huderson has a good feel for finding holes. They still have to prove it in games, though. Predecessor Dontrell HIlliard was really good when healthy. I don't think the three freshmen will make a significant impact this year, but they will get a chance to prove me wrong at a position where freshman can play right away if they are good enough.
Camp is going well if: No one gets hurt and these guys continue to listen to coaching. Again, I'm not sure what to make of how they look in practice when tackling is not allowed. The proof will come in the opener against Wake Forest.
Camp is going poorly if: The backs miss assignments. Bradwell had 66 carries last year and three as a running back in 2016. Huderson had 17 carries last year. Dauphine carried twice at Texas Tech in 2016 and sat out 2017 as a transfer. To varying degrees, all of them are unproven.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Starters: Terren Encalade, Darnell Mooney, Jabril Clewis
Backups: Jacob Robertson, Kevin LeDee, Jaetavian Toles, D.J. Owens, Brian Newman
Newcomers: Freddy Canteen, Sorrell Brown, Jorrien Vallien
Given the way they finished 2017, Encalade (15 catches, 297 yards in the last two games) and Mooney (28 catches, 509 yards last six games) should be the best duo Tulane has had in a long time at the position. Clewis has the size and hands to be more productive than he was in his first year as a juco transfer, too. Depth is an issue, though. Although they had some moments, the rest of this group was unimpressive in the spring. Maybe Canteen, a big-time recruit when he signed with Michigan, will emerge as a playmaker after injury-plagued stints in Ann Arbor and at Notre Dame. He certainly has the speed to make an impact for a group that is not particularly fast overall.
Camp is going well if: Clewis plays well and a fourth and fifth receiver emerge. Clewis had zero catches in four games last year, including two of the last three, but will be counted on to step up this August. The drop-off from the starters to the backups was significant in the spring, so it would be nice to see Robertson (six catches in the last three games but for only 45 yards) look sharp.
Camp is going poorly if: Canteen gets hurt again, and the backups remain inconsistent. Encalade and Mooney are good enough to carry this group if they stay healthy, but there's always strength in numbers. Canteen's speed could be a difference-maker.
TIGHT ENDS
Starter: Charles Jones
Backups: Kendall Ardoin, Will Wallace
Newcomer: Tyrick James
Jones, although he has not always been consistent, is a playmaker. Willie Fritz' offenses never have used the tight end as a receiver much, but Fritz also coaches to the talent around him. With opponents worried about the triple option, Jones (13 catches in 2017) could be a nightmare to cover, particularly in the red zone. He also is a solid blocker. Ardoin, an excellent backup, is capable of making plays downfield, too. This should be a position of strength.
Camp is going well if: Jones pays attention to detail. The knock on him in the past was his tendency to coast after having good stretches, but Fritz's staff does not tolerate that type of play and appears to have coached that habit out of him. When the season starts, a confident Jones would be a weapon.
Camp is going poorly if: Jones' concentration wanders. He has to give the staff a reason to trust him before he is utilized as much as he could be with his skills.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Starters: LT Noah Fisher, LG TBD, C Corey Dublin, RG Dominique Briggs, RT John Leglue
Contenders: Keyshawn McLeod, Tyler Johnson, Cameron Jackel, Hunter Knighton
Other reserves: Joey Claybrook, Devon Johnson, Brian Webb
Newcomers: Fisher, Nik Hogan, Stephen Lewerenz, Michael Remondet, Jason Swann
I'm assuming Fisher, who started all 12 games at left tackle for South Alabama last year, will stay there even though Tulane's biggest need is at left guard. All but one of his 25 starts came at tackle the past two years (12 at right tackle in 2016 with one at right guard). If the coaches plug him in at left guard, it is easier to project the lineup, but their job is to put the best five guys on the field at the right spots rather than make my job easier. I am not sure what they would do at left guard if Fisher plays tackle--Fritz likes Jackel's potential as a starter, but not necessarily this year, and Jackel was the first-teamer in the spring. Can McLeod or Tyler Johnson, the top two left tackles in the spring, move inside? Dublin should be a fine center after starting at guard a year ago. Briggs and coaches' favorite Leglue appear set on the right side, but who knows? Although Alex Atkins is an outstanding coach, Tulane still needs better play up front overall.
Camp is going well if: Fisher is comfortable from day 1 wherever the coaches put him. He was a projected All-Sun Belt offensive lineman, and Tulane's line quite frankly needed a jolt of talent. If he is as good as advertised, it will be a huge boost.
Camp is going poorly if: the coaches have a hard time figuring out what lineup works best. Line play is about continuity and teamwork more than any other position, and the more reps these guys get at the same position, the better. That said, if the answer is not clear-cut, they will have to experiment with different combinations to find out.
Here's my position-by-position analysis a week ahead of the start of camp. Today covers the offense.
QUARTERBACK
Starter: Jonathan Banks
Backups: Dane Ledford, Christian Daniels
Banks did all the right things on the practice field in the spring, says all the right things in interviews and has the right attitude to be a star. Now it's a matter of putting it all together. The coaches have learned what he does best and what he does not do as well and will tailor the offense to his strengths this year. He has all the tools to succeed but needs to make better decisions. Regardless of what you think about his last-second run against SMU (just about everyone screams it was a touchdown),he made a bad decision to gamble he could score with a down in his pocket. That was a play to try to make on fourth down, not third.
It is hard to imagine Tulane winning without Banks. but Ledford and Daniels have to prepare as well as they can in August in case he gets hurt. Ledford had the edge in the spring, but Daniels' head was swimming as he tried to learn a college offense straight out of high school. He should be better equipped to challenge Ledford for the backup role in preseason practice.
Camp is going well if: Banks connects on the deep ball consistently. That's been a long-time problem at Tulane with multiple coaching staffs. but the Wave showed some good signs there in the spring. With the one-on-one coverage the experienced receivers will be getting due to the threat of the running game, the opportunities for huge downfield passes will be there. Banks needs to put the ball on the money. and he's capable of doing it.
Camp is going poorly if: Banks' passing is hit and miss. It was for the first two-thirds of 2017 before he settled down. To take the next step, which I believe he will, he needs to be accurate every day in practice.
RUNNING BACKS
Starter: Darius Bradwell or Corey Dauphine
Backups: Stephon Huderson, Devin Glenn
Newcomers: Ygenio Booker, Cameron Carroll, Amare Jones
It is really hard to judge running backs in modern no-contact practices. I liked what I saw from Bradwell. Dauphine and Huderson in the spring, but they were less impressive when the action went live in the spring game. Bradwell, who remains inexperienced after arriving as a quarterback, needs to have better pad level in traffic, but he possesses the desire and the raw ability to break through, combining power and speed. Dauphine is shifty with an excellent burst. Huderson has a good feel for finding holes. They still have to prove it in games, though. Predecessor Dontrell HIlliard was really good when healthy. I don't think the three freshmen will make a significant impact this year, but they will get a chance to prove me wrong at a position where freshman can play right away if they are good enough.
Camp is going well if: No one gets hurt and these guys continue to listen to coaching. Again, I'm not sure what to make of how they look in practice when tackling is not allowed. The proof will come in the opener against Wake Forest.
Camp is going poorly if: The backs miss assignments. Bradwell had 66 carries last year and three as a running back in 2016. Huderson had 17 carries last year. Dauphine carried twice at Texas Tech in 2016 and sat out 2017 as a transfer. To varying degrees, all of them are unproven.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Starters: Terren Encalade, Darnell Mooney, Jabril Clewis
Backups: Jacob Robertson, Kevin LeDee, Jaetavian Toles, D.J. Owens, Brian Newman
Newcomers: Freddy Canteen, Sorrell Brown, Jorrien Vallien
Given the way they finished 2017, Encalade (15 catches, 297 yards in the last two games) and Mooney (28 catches, 509 yards last six games) should be the best duo Tulane has had in a long time at the position. Clewis has the size and hands to be more productive than he was in his first year as a juco transfer, too. Depth is an issue, though. Although they had some moments, the rest of this group was unimpressive in the spring. Maybe Canteen, a big-time recruit when he signed with Michigan, will emerge as a playmaker after injury-plagued stints in Ann Arbor and at Notre Dame. He certainly has the speed to make an impact for a group that is not particularly fast overall.
Camp is going well if: Clewis plays well and a fourth and fifth receiver emerge. Clewis had zero catches in four games last year, including two of the last three, but will be counted on to step up this August. The drop-off from the starters to the backups was significant in the spring, so it would be nice to see Robertson (six catches in the last three games but for only 45 yards) look sharp.
Camp is going poorly if: Canteen gets hurt again, and the backups remain inconsistent. Encalade and Mooney are good enough to carry this group if they stay healthy, but there's always strength in numbers. Canteen's speed could be a difference-maker.
TIGHT ENDS
Starter: Charles Jones
Backups: Kendall Ardoin, Will Wallace
Newcomer: Tyrick James
Jones, although he has not always been consistent, is a playmaker. Willie Fritz' offenses never have used the tight end as a receiver much, but Fritz also coaches to the talent around him. With opponents worried about the triple option, Jones (13 catches in 2017) could be a nightmare to cover, particularly in the red zone. He also is a solid blocker. Ardoin, an excellent backup, is capable of making plays downfield, too. This should be a position of strength.
Camp is going well if: Jones pays attention to detail. The knock on him in the past was his tendency to coast after having good stretches, but Fritz's staff does not tolerate that type of play and appears to have coached that habit out of him. When the season starts, a confident Jones would be a weapon.
Camp is going poorly if: Jones' concentration wanders. He has to give the staff a reason to trust him before he is utilized as much as he could be with his skills.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Starters: LT Noah Fisher, LG TBD, C Corey Dublin, RG Dominique Briggs, RT John Leglue
Contenders: Keyshawn McLeod, Tyler Johnson, Cameron Jackel, Hunter Knighton
Other reserves: Joey Claybrook, Devon Johnson, Brian Webb
Newcomers: Fisher, Nik Hogan, Stephen Lewerenz, Michael Remondet, Jason Swann
I'm assuming Fisher, who started all 12 games at left tackle for South Alabama last year, will stay there even though Tulane's biggest need is at left guard. All but one of his 25 starts came at tackle the past two years (12 at right tackle in 2016 with one at right guard). If the coaches plug him in at left guard, it is easier to project the lineup, but their job is to put the best five guys on the field at the right spots rather than make my job easier. I am not sure what they would do at left guard if Fisher plays tackle--Fritz likes Jackel's potential as a starter, but not necessarily this year, and Jackel was the first-teamer in the spring. Can McLeod or Tyler Johnson, the top two left tackles in the spring, move inside? Dublin should be a fine center after starting at guard a year ago. Briggs and coaches' favorite Leglue appear set on the right side, but who knows? Although Alex Atkins is an outstanding coach, Tulane still needs better play up front overall.
Camp is going well if: Fisher is comfortable from day 1 wherever the coaches put him. He was a projected All-Sun Belt offensive lineman, and Tulane's line quite frankly needed a jolt of talent. If he is as good as advertised, it will be a huge boost.
Camp is going poorly if: the coaches have a hard time figuring out what lineup works best. Line play is about continuity and teamwork more than any other position, and the more reps these guys get at the same position, the better. That said, if the answer is not clear-cut, they will have to experiment with different combinations to find out.