Poll: After watching/hearing about spring practice, what is your biggest area of optimism?
- Thread starter chicolby
- Start date
It's always good imo to view the positive and the negative, rather than just concentrating on the negative. So, I commented on the negaive and I'll comment on the positive.
It's a good thing to have solid role players, but to be really good as a team we're gonna need all americans, 1st team all conference players, trophy/award winners.
Roughly, we ran about 65% running plays and 35% passing plays in the spring game. Is that our game plan for the future? Is that what we need to do to succeed? I don't know, but we'll see in the fall.
I voted RB's, WR's and special teams.
RB's - It looks like we have a number of guys capable of carrying the ball, and with different skill sets.
WR's - Similar to the RB situation, a lot of guys so we're not just limited to one target.
Special teams - Strictly looking at punters and kickers, we look to be in really good shape.
It's a good thing to have solid role players, but to be really good as a team we're gonna need all americans, 1st team all conference players, trophy/award winners.
Roughly, we ran about 65% running plays and 35% passing plays in the spring game. Is that our game plan for the future? Is that what we need to do to succeed? I don't know, but we'll see in the fall.
I voted RB's, WR's and special teams.
RB's - It looks like we have a number of guys capable of carrying the ball, and with different skill sets.
WR's - Similar to the RB situation, a lot of guys so we're not just limited to one target.
Special teams - Strictly looking at punters and kickers, we look to be in really good shape.
Mo Barry is going to be a good one. I'm excited to see him on the field. T. Newby also looked like he was seeing the hole better and Devine looked very good.
I was already expecting good WR and LB play, so I voted for RBs. Really liked what I saw from Wilbon, and the other kid looked solid as well. Reports on Newby are that he has been running tougher and more decisively.
I'm going from feeling like we have a bunch of #2 or #3 RBs who will be forced to start to feeling like we've got some legit starters. Ozigbo might be the steal of that class when it's all said and done. Nobody was sure what to think of him when he committed, but all he's been is overachieving since he got on campus.
Not sure if I'm excited about OL, or if the DL is still just that bad. The #2 d-line got mauled when the #1 offense wanted to run it. The #1 D looked a lot better. Neither side impressed me with pass rush. I'll keep saying this, look for Quay to get a chance as a situational pass rusher off the edge.
They need some kind of package look to get speed and athleticism off the edge for some speed rush when they're going 5 & 6 DBs on obvious passing downs. Freedom and Neal look like they're going to be good, but they're still young.
I'm going from feeling like we have a bunch of #2 or #3 RBs who will be forced to start to feeling like we've got some legit starters. Ozigbo might be the steal of that class when it's all said and done. Nobody was sure what to think of him when he committed, but all he's been is overachieving since he got on campus.
Not sure if I'm excited about OL, or if the DL is still just that bad. The #2 d-line got mauled when the #1 offense wanted to run it. The #1 D looked a lot better. Neither side impressed me with pass rush. I'll keep saying this, look for Quay to get a chance as a situational pass rusher off the edge.
They need some kind of package look to get speed and athleticism off the edge for some speed rush when they're going 5 & 6 DBs on obvious passing downs. Freedom and Neal look like they're going to be good, but they're still young.
As I said in the other thread:
I have reciprocal concerns/reasons for optimism. On the defensive side, its our ability to defend the run given the youth and lack of depth at the interior defensive line, and the lack of depth and quality talent on the exterior defensive line.
On the offensive side, I feel better about our ability to run the ball and the improved play of the offensive line. It appears to be getting an infusion of talent as some of our more highly rated recruits mature and come into their own.
I have reciprocal concerns/reasons for optimism. On the defensive side, its our ability to defend the run given the youth and lack of depth at the interior defensive line, and the lack of depth and quality talent on the exterior defensive line.
On the offensive side, I feel better about our ability to run the ball and the improved play of the offensive line. It appears to be getting an infusion of talent as some of our more highly rated recruits mature and come into their own.
Are we one year off to where the Oline and Dline battle each other daily and both reach another level. Seems that this year the Dline will have to work and the Oline might push them to get to a level of good, but not yet great.
The offense is going to be a fun unit to watch this Fall. Williams is doing a helluva job with the receivers, Reggie Davis is developing the running backs pretty well and the Tight Ends looks like they're on the brink of getting huge chunks of yardage every game.
Really sucks that we're losing Thurston (the unsung hero of the UCLA game), but O-Line is above average across the 1s and even into the 2 deep.
I also can't wait to see what Bray does with all of the talent he developed out of thin air throughout last season, and all of the solid defensive back recruits he snagged in the '16 class. With Gerry and Antonio Reed in the backfield (and potentially Lamar Jackson), I see the backfield having a solid year.
Defensive Line is the obviously the question mark. But I think Parrella will earn his check and have success similar to what Bray did last year with the linebackers and turn the D-Line into a solid unit throughout the season.
Really sucks that we're losing Thurston (the unsung hero of the UCLA game), but O-Line is above average across the 1s and even into the 2 deep.
I also can't wait to see what Bray does with all of the talent he developed out of thin air throughout last season, and all of the solid defensive back recruits he snagged in the '16 class. With Gerry and Antonio Reed in the backfield (and potentially Lamar Jackson), I see the backfield having a solid year.
Defensive Line is the obviously the question mark. But I think Parrella will earn his check and have success similar to what Bray did last year with the linebackers and turn the D-Line into a solid unit throughout the season.
I saw the Thurston thing mentioned in another thread, anyone know what happened? He was battling for a starting position...
Here's an OWH article. Let's see, Cavanaugh will only allow 5 guys to see game time except in cases of injury. Here's a quote from the article: "Utter, who'd played some center in his NU career, started all 13 games at left guard last season — but he made the switch to center this spring to help provide some depth. He worked with the first-team unit the entire time." Also, the article says in a fashion Decker replaced Thurston on the 2nd string. If you're not first you're riding the pine. Looks like Thurston wants to play.
I see what you're saying, but the reason utter played center in spring ball was because Thurston was out for spring ball, correct? If Thurston stays on at NU, why would we just assume Thurston would be riding the pines all season?
This article only reported what the positions were for those who were practicing. If Thurston practiced this spring I believe that article would have read differently, imho.
I certainly could be wrong, and please correct me if needed. Thurston missed SOME of spring practice. Utter was there for all of spring practice. Utter took all his reps on 1st string at center. One plus one in this case = transfer.
Well and I certainly could be wrong as well. I'm just reciting from memory. I don't know if Thurston missed some or all of spring.
He missed all of the weekday practices I believe and was only there for Saturdays. Decker supposedly was very impressive and I guess Thurston didn't want to have to earn his spot this fall. Clearly his concern about finishing up his degree makes it seem as though he planned to leave long before spring ball. He may have been holding a grudge thinking he should have been playing all last fall. It will be interesting to see where he transfers to. Good player.
