No freaking way. Seriously.
QB will not be worse. All espn sees is a three year starter gone. Remember, this is for every team and you have to use certain controllled metrics. You are supposed to get worse at qb after losing a three year starter. We wont.
Next is running back. We lose Newby. Liked him, but lets be honest he is replaceable even if it is by comittee.
We also lose Gerry but addition by subtraction?
LBs should be a wash. D line should be better. O line should be better, right? Or am I crazy? Wr you could say wont be as good but theres potential there.
I just dont think this is based on hardcore, individualized analysis. Or im just really an idiot. I was feeling more confident about this team than last seasons. I say ten wins including bowl game which is looking phenominal. But really as jib says we should piss 9 wins by now. The jump from 9 to 10 is not small, but we can do it.
This is a very good post. A post of an observant fan is how I see it; so off the cuff.
- qb : A dramatic improvement. Heck , the fans at the Spring game by the play and game management of the the 3rd team qb running the white, there are two above him.... Tanner's completion % from Tulane is deceptive; he was throwing for 30% in a couple games where he was drowning under 5-7 guys mugging him, incredible he made it to a 53% average from there. He was young and then we got him through connections at camps where he starred. This system is killer on D's with the type of qb's we have and the pressure it brings with qb's who can throw into tighter windows. These guys can scramble and not backwards, they may not go 60 - but will consistently do better for shorter distances. qb will hit open players through rotation.
- rb. Agree with your comments. If Devine plays consistently to his ability, he will help our run game immensly, he beats you down and has moves. We have a couple potential star role players. We will be better than last year if we play the hot hand.
- OL : is being coached more by committee, its my take. More experienced players and/or physical improvement ( center ) will help . Still THE ? mark. Should be able to attain competence, with some good run game blocking. If play is sub-par this year, there will be changes. They are being ?'d enough to be challenged - not to mention Iowa coaches mocking them.
- O overall : receivers will be as good or better, some great leadership. They are hungry and were getting a bit angry ( at TA? ) at anyone mailing it in, at the end of last year. Coaching can bloom with a qb who follows system, and can or will make the throws.
- - - THE D : this is scary , could be a Blackshirt attack. I think we have great coaches, and despite arm chair b s on here at times; they have resumes. They should be dramatic in defending the end zone ( coaches preach and have the cred ). I believe coach P on the line has some physical future NFL bound players and more coming in. It goes on from there, to the back end. The incoming coaches have placed high in National D stats in the past..
GBR - we have a tough enough schedule, but we have transitioned out of a lot of the undercurrents that were character undercutting factors on this group. Here comes a team
