Next year's team

ScottyP · 10-14-2007, 02:21 PM

I was wondering what kind of team you think we will have next year. I know its early but I am worried that we will be about the same next year. Please cheer me up by giving me some hope. Thanks guys.

Drive4cy · 10-14-2007, 02:27 PM

Depends on what we have at QB. If Arnaud is the player we've heard he is, we should be fine there. He will have had a full year with the new coaches and some playing time this year to get his feet wet.

At RB we should be in nice shape with the 1,2 punch of Scales and Bass. WR will be OK with Hamilton, RJ, etc. Not great, but playable. Offensive line was all new this year and should continue to improve. I think on offense we have a chance to be improved.

Defense is another story and I have no idea. We've got some youth out there right now playing a lot, so atleast they will be back. Hurts to lose Banks and Bowen.

Special teams wise, not sure who's going to be our kicker. Probably a true freshman.

MaxPower57 · 10-14-2007, 02:31 PM

I really hate to say it, but as low as we are now i think it may get worse before it gets better.

We'll break in a new QB with either Arnaud, Bates, or Tiller; and now matter how talented they are (we have no idea) there will be growing pains.

We return Bass, Scales, and Robinson so our running game should improve

With Sumrall and Hamilton we have two quality Big 12 receivers, throw in Franklin, Jones, and maybe Bates, we could be decent. Yet we lose our best WR in Blythe and the only TE on our roster with any experience in Barkema. Maybe Catlett moves back to TE.

The O-Line will be improved but will still not be good. We'll have 3 seniors on next years line w/ Dedrick, Johnson, and Schmeling...hopefully a guy like Hulbert, Baysinger, etc. can beat one of them out so we can be younger here next year.

Our front 7 on D will really suffer. We can't get a pass rush, or stop the run now and we lose Braaksma, Rubin, Banks, and Bowen. Idk who steps into these roles, but at least there will be some experience with all the rotating this year. And we return every d-back of significance since i don't count Caleb Berg. Oh, and we get a new kicker.

Easier schedule though, i am hoping against hope

ajk4st8 · 10-14-2007, 02:32 PM

The only way we will see an increase in wins is much much much improvement from our O and Dlines. Until then, we will not win many if any.

dinger · 10-14-2007, 02:33 PM

without looking into it too much yet, i see us having about the same season next year. about 1 win...shall we say...kNebraska?

ScottyP · 10-14-2007, 02:41 PM

This is not good.

keepngoal · 10-14-2007, 02:45 PM

we win two games, three if Iowa continues to play us flat.

-keep.

mustangcy · 10-14-2007, 03:09 PM

I'm sorry, I'm far from a unrealistic homer but if we only win 1-2 games next year with the softening of the schedule and a full year under Chiziks system....I would be livid and every Cyclone fan should be as well. I hate to put a number on wins but if you take a look at the schedule there is 5-6 very winnable games on there not to mention a few others if we play well we would have a chance in. Not to say we win all 5-6 but still...I'm a little shocked at the expectations from people around here. Its always one extreme or the other...

uthaman · 10-14-2007, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by MaxPower57

... Yet we lose our best WR in Blythe and the only TE on our roster with any experience in Barkema. Maybe Catlett moves back to TE.

...

Our front 7 on D will really suffer. We can't get a pass rush, or stop the run now and we lose Braaksma, Rubin, Banks, and Bowen.

A couple of minor points... If a team is 1-11 or 2-10 I am not sure you can count any players who are gone as "losses"...

I am no longer convinced that Blythe is our best receiver. Oh, he is whenever he decides to play. But, that seems to be happening less frequently...

Rubin I do think we will miss. Man, I wish that guy had another year. Like you said we can't rush the passer or stop the run now. So, what is the downside to clearing the deck and getting Chizik guys in here?????

I see a lot of jucos coming up in this 2008 recruiting class. I know a lot of people don't like them, but have you taken a peek at our 2009 schedule? If not go to cyclones.com and take a look. That year should be the year to do something special. That won't happen if we take 25 high school kids.

I can see these jucos: QB, WR, G, T, DT, DE, LB, LB, CB, S, S, K. Maybe another DT if you can get one. For the high school kids I would add a RB, a LB, 2 OL and a DT.

letsgostate · 10-14-2007, 03:25 PM

Here's my take on next season:
Wins:
SD State
Kent State
UNLV
Baylor
Good chance to win
Colorado
Nebraska
Loss
Iowa
Kansas
A and M
O State
MO
KState

Landshark · 10-14-2007, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by mustangcy

I'm sorry, I'm far from a unrealistic homer but if we only win 1-2 games next year with the softening of the schedule and a full year under Chiziks system....I would be livid and every Cyclone fan should be as well. I hate to put a number on wins but if you take a look at the schedule there is 5-6 very winnable games on there not to mention a few others if we play well we would have a chance in. Not to say we win all 5-6 but still...I'm a little shocked at the expectations from people around here. Its always one extreme or the other...

I'm going into next season with ZERO expectations! I love your optimism mustang,but 5-6 winnable games? I hate to say it, but I'll take 3 wins right now.
Perhaps 2010 we start winning, but I don't see much hope for awhile.

Drive4cy · 10-14-2007, 03:39 PM

Personally, I'm not going to worry about wins until year 3 of the Chizik era. This year we were out-classed by Kent State and UNI. In 1 year you don't go from that to winning 5-6 games. That would be stunning. It sucks that we are going to waste the easy part of the schedule rotation, but maybe we can take advantage in 09.

Flag Guy · 10-14-2007, 03:47 PM

I hate to say it but we may have some improved odds with a few of our seniors gone. Don't think I need to mention names

Sadly, we will lose some good seniors too.

Hopefully next year's seniors will be more commited to Chizik and his plan. While an improved attitude will only get you so far, it can't hurt.

Not sure next year will be that exciting, but it ought to shape up to be better than this year

acgclone · 10-14-2007, 03:54 PM

Chizik is going to need 2-3 more years to recruit before we are going to be significantly better, IMO. We are simply not on the same level from a talent standpoint, as the other teams in the Big 12 with the exception of Baylor.

I think the 09 season is the first season where it is reasonable to "expect" a major improvement. 2010 should have a bowl as the benchmark.

Drive4cy · 10-14-2007, 03:58 PM

But I thought Gene was going to come in here and win the Big 12 North in his second or third year and jump ship on us?

I hope we can put that theory to bed. Gene will be fighting for his coaching life here. He'd never admit it, but I wonder if he ever wishes he had waited for a different opportunity. I think we're very lucky to have him.