We are almost to the end--the results of the last poll decide each of the last two position groups. So far, we have:
1. RB
2. S/Nickel
3. CB
4. OL
5. WR/TE
6. ST
7. DL
Hot Read: Most of the experience on the DL graduated, but there are some promising players still left to hold down the fort.
HIM's Crappy Analysis: Man, we lost a lot of dudes on the defensive line from last year. Those departures--of key players, too, like Daniel Wise, Isi Holani, and JJ Holmes--hurt this unit a lot. Not many returning players with real experience. That said, we roll with what we've got, and there are some things to be excited about in what returns. With the move to a 3-4, there are several position groups to include here, potentially. Starting at the nose, Jelani Brown provided very solid production in limited snaps there last year. He will start at the nose, and be backed up by Sam Burt, the strongest kid in the program and someone who Beaty wasted a year of eligibility on trying to block extra points. Thanks, David. The third stringer is the most interesting player in the entire position group, with the enormous true freshman, DaJon Terry. It would be an exaggeration to say he moves like a ballerina, but he moves really well for a guy who weighs 345 pounds, and is still learning the game. Within a year or two, I expect him to be hell on wheels out there. At defensive end, Malcolm Lee appears to be giving Codey Cole a run for his money for the starting spot on one side, which is a positive development (assuming Lee isn't suspended for too long for being an idiot and not calling an Uber when he was sauced). Cole played fine in his snaps last year, so the idea that he might get beat out should be viewed as a positive. Marcus Harris is the true freshman to be excited about here--on the first depth chart, Burt is listed as starting at defensive end, and the second string lists Cole with an "or" to Harris. Harris was supposed to grayshirt, and instead showed up to fall camp after Jayden Russell's ACT fiasco and has been the surprise star of camp. Instead of getting him on the field for the first time next spring, he looks like he could push for a starting job (or at least significant snaps) before the season is out. On the other side, Darrius Moragne is the first guy off the bus if you're doing smart, and hopefully has play that backs up the physical appearance this year. He also has the best grill on the team. Caleb Sampson is listed as his backup on the first depth chart--while being listed as a defensive tackle on the online roster. He's a bit of a tweener size wise, but was a kid to be excited about in the last recruiting class and should contribute. I'll go ahead and discuss the JACK and SAM positions on the depth chart from yesterday, as well. The JACK appears to be our standup rush end position--flexing between linebacker and defensive end. Azur Kamara is the starter there, and he has the physical tools to be our best rush backer since James Holt. It's a matter of translating tools to production for him at this point. Last year, he didn't maximize his potential at all. He is backed up by the highest-rated recruit in last year's class, Steven Parker. We don't know exactly what we have in Parker, because he hasn't seen the field yet, but the tape in high school indicated a downhill attacking linebacker/defensive end type. The SAM is a wild amalgamation of different body types and positions that I can make no sense of. The starter listed on the depth chart is Najee Stevens McKenzie, a player I expected a lot of last year who simply didn't deliver on his promise. He had one tackle last year and hopefully has developed more fight for this season. His backup is Willie McCaleb, a much larger human than NSM who is listed on the roster as a defensive end. I have hopes for him still, but don't know where he fits in the scheme at this point. And finally, Shaq Richmond, a safety, is listed third on the depth chart at the SAM. My sneaking suspicion is that they expect to try to find snaps for all three of these guys somehow, but don't really know where to put them, so they created a position that doesn't exist so that they are on the depth chart. Not really. But kinda really.
What's Next: Linebackers or quarterbacks--who is our worst position group? The anticipation is killing me....
1. RB
2. S/Nickel
3. CB
4. OL
5. WR/TE
6. ST
7. DL
Hot Read: Most of the experience on the DL graduated, but there are some promising players still left to hold down the fort.
HIM's Crappy Analysis: Man, we lost a lot of dudes on the defensive line from last year. Those departures--of key players, too, like Daniel Wise, Isi Holani, and JJ Holmes--hurt this unit a lot. Not many returning players with real experience. That said, we roll with what we've got, and there are some things to be excited about in what returns. With the move to a 3-4, there are several position groups to include here, potentially. Starting at the nose, Jelani Brown provided very solid production in limited snaps there last year. He will start at the nose, and be backed up by Sam Burt, the strongest kid in the program and someone who Beaty wasted a year of eligibility on trying to block extra points. Thanks, David. The third stringer is the most interesting player in the entire position group, with the enormous true freshman, DaJon Terry. It would be an exaggeration to say he moves like a ballerina, but he moves really well for a guy who weighs 345 pounds, and is still learning the game. Within a year or two, I expect him to be hell on wheels out there. At defensive end, Malcolm Lee appears to be giving Codey Cole a run for his money for the starting spot on one side, which is a positive development (assuming Lee isn't suspended for too long for being an idiot and not calling an Uber when he was sauced). Cole played fine in his snaps last year, so the idea that he might get beat out should be viewed as a positive. Marcus Harris is the true freshman to be excited about here--on the first depth chart, Burt is listed as starting at defensive end, and the second string lists Cole with an "or" to Harris. Harris was supposed to grayshirt, and instead showed up to fall camp after Jayden Russell's ACT fiasco and has been the surprise star of camp. Instead of getting him on the field for the first time next spring, he looks like he could push for a starting job (or at least significant snaps) before the season is out. On the other side, Darrius Moragne is the first guy off the bus if you're doing smart, and hopefully has play that backs up the physical appearance this year. He also has the best grill on the team. Caleb Sampson is listed as his backup on the first depth chart--while being listed as a defensive tackle on the online roster. He's a bit of a tweener size wise, but was a kid to be excited about in the last recruiting class and should contribute. I'll go ahead and discuss the JACK and SAM positions on the depth chart from yesterday, as well. The JACK appears to be our standup rush end position--flexing between linebacker and defensive end. Azur Kamara is the starter there, and he has the physical tools to be our best rush backer since James Holt. It's a matter of translating tools to production for him at this point. Last year, he didn't maximize his potential at all. He is backed up by the highest-rated recruit in last year's class, Steven Parker. We don't know exactly what we have in Parker, because he hasn't seen the field yet, but the tape in high school indicated a downhill attacking linebacker/defensive end type. The SAM is a wild amalgamation of different body types and positions that I can make no sense of. The starter listed on the depth chart is Najee Stevens McKenzie, a player I expected a lot of last year who simply didn't deliver on his promise. He had one tackle last year and hopefully has developed more fight for this season. His backup is Willie McCaleb, a much larger human than NSM who is listed on the roster as a defensive end. I have hopes for him still, but don't know where he fits in the scheme at this point. And finally, Shaq Richmond, a safety, is listed third on the depth chart at the SAM. My sneaking suspicion is that they expect to try to find snaps for all three of these guys somehow, but don't really know where to put them, so they created a position that doesn't exist so that they are on the depth chart. Not really. But kinda really.
What's Next: Linebackers or quarterbacks--who is our worst position group? The anticipation is killing me....
