Originally Posted by ajk4st8 
Here is what I see as far as troubling questions...
WR-- RJ and Hamilton are pretty solid. Good possession guys. Wallace Franklin didn't produce last year, so it would be a pretty big leap of faith thinking he will be star this year. Sounds like SJ is pretty solid (although only a true freshman) and Carlson could get some PT this year too.
I'm hardly surprised that a juco transfer took a year to adapt. I'll be more than happy if he catches 30-40 passes this year, and proves an adequate target for Arnaud's cannon arm.
DT Ugh. Not looking forward to this position this year. We have a long list of recruiting studs who have never seen the field, so lets hope that one of them comes out of nowhere to be a stud. We have some solid young players (Black, Johnson), but losing Tuba was HUGE. Might be the biggest loss from last year.
Sorry, but if you have faith in Lyle after he stepped up in the Spring game, why not Black, Alburtis, Slifka, Tate and Weir, all of whom showed at least flashes, if not just as much as Lyle did?
My second thought is, where are these "recruiting studs" that you speak of? I see a collection of two (and a smattering of three) star players who were good athletes, with a chance to become something. Most of them are redshirt sophs or freshmen now--and Tate a junior, apparently.
When you aren't a real stud, it takes a year or two to get your feet on the ground. Look at Oklahoma, where they landed the #1 defensive tackle in the land (Granger and McCoy) two years running, and it even took time for them to start. And I haven't noticed either of them making first team AA yet. Empasis on that
yet, of course.
LB I think we could be 'ok' here. Jesse Smith makes me sick when he in pass coverage, but I love his nose against the run. Raven, Garrin are super athletic, but not the biggest guys in the world.
Ever heard of a linebacker at USC named Polamolu? Almost exactly the same size as Raven?
Again a position where we need some guys who have really never touched JTS playing surface to step up.
A big "Amen" there, brother! I'm not sure who out of several guys it might be, but i am looking forward to seeing Cameron Bell at linebacker more often.
DB Allen Bell and Singleton will make solid corners. McDowell will be good again. Hopefully Chris Brown can heal up for some PT next year. Smith is an OK safety, still waiting for him to have a great year. It is only pn paper but it looks like we landed a great class of DBs.
Despite all that he's played, Smith is still only a junior--half of his career ahead of him. And I'll be interested to see what these guys might do with a pass rush in front of them.
Kicker-- MAJOR worry again. Relying on 2 new HS kickers is not fun. Crossing my fingers these guys are ok.
The way I look at it, the very least they'll do is improve kickoffs--which will be an
immense asset to the team.
That's a pretty grim prediction. All I can say is that you must be looking for teams to lose to.
You've noted that the offensive line returns everyone, but you've failed to mention how they'll be upgraded with so many good athletes coming off redshirts, not to mention the addition of Haughton, who will be a force, the only question is
when. It may take time to gel, but this group should be improved.
And, as far as quarterback, whoever starts is going to be a playmaker--Bates also with his feet, Arnaud with an exceptional arm.
Toss in special teams, where Jason Carlson and Leonard Johnson may well have a huge impact on returns, and you have the beginnings of some remarkable big play potential.
Looking at the schedule, I'm really thinking in terms of at least
six wins--and I'm afraid that you don't really want to know what I think they're going to manage.
