Who is losing more starters?

**cygrads** · 11-30-2008, 09:56 AM

Does anyone have stats on how many seniors are being lost by our opponents next year? Seems like when I was watching the KUvMU game they both had a lot of seniors.

**kgreeny** · 11-30-2008, 09:59 AM

I think Neb. does too. We have a chance in the North next year!

**ISUAlum2002** · 11-30-2008, 10:00 AM

We have the most returning starters in the North, for sure (pretty sure, anyway), maybe even in the entire conference.

**j4state** · 11-30-2008, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by ISUAlum2002

We have the most returning starters in the North, for sure (pretty sure, anyway), maybe even in the entire conference.

That's a good thing, right?

**ISUAlum2002** · 11-30-2008, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by j4state

That's a good thing, right?

I suppose it depends on how you look at it.

Do we return a lot of crappy players that just aren't able to cut it at this level, or do we return a lot of players that are learning and growing into solid players for this level of play?

We shall find out.

**cygrads** · 11-30-2008, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by j4state

That's a good thing, right?

If we would have won a couple of conference games I would have said yes that is good - at this point I'm not sure.

**Aclone** · 11-30-2008, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by ISUAlum2002

We have the most returning starters in the North, for sure (pretty sure, anyway), maybe even in the entire conference.

Then you get into whether draft eligible players like Crabtree, Maclin, Bradford, McCoy, Gresham and a few others are going pro. On the bright side, I don't think we'll lose anyone early this year.

**Clone96** · 11-30-2008, 10:22 AM

I know Missouri loses the most. They lose Daniel, Coffman, most of their O-Line and pretyt much their entire defense.

Nebraksa loses Ganz, Swift, Lucky, most of their O-Line and their enitre D-Line.

Kansas loses Meier, Feilds, most of their O-line and most of their defense.

K-State loses Deon Murphy and Ian Campbell for sure. They may lose even more with the coaching change.

Everybody else, not sure/don't know.

**djkent01** · 11-30-2008, 10:29 AM

Jon Miller ran the numbers a few weeks back.

http://www.cyclonefanatic.com/forum/...ps-2009-a.html (ISU: Big 12 North Champs in 2009?)

**cstrunk** · 11-30-2008, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by cygrads

If we would have won a couple of conference games I would have said yes that is good - at this point I'm not sure.

Well, we were in several close games so I would take it as a good thing, even though they were all losses. UNLV, Kansas, Colorado, and K-State were all games that could (or should) have been won. Even Iowa and Texas A&M weren't out of reach. Therefore, returning players who played in competitive games should help translate into some more W's next year.

We were basically given the football god's shaft this year. We were in so many close games and couldn't win any of them. I believe it's all due to inexperience, and partly talent. We will be improving both of those next year.

**Aclone** · 11-30-2008, 10:46 AM

I count fifteen returning starters for us, plus both kicker and punter.

On defense we return six; Parker, Frere, Jesse Smith, Garrin, Leonard Johnson and James Smith. Allen Bell and Cameron Bell also have starting experience.

It's going to be important for young players to step up, but there will be a really nice core of senior leadership in Smith, Bell, Smith, Schmidgall, Garrin, Raven, Parker, Lyle and Frere. It'll be crucial for them to provide stability, and a framework to build around.

On offense we return nine, everyone but Dedrick and Sumrall. I'm most concerned about the offensive line, but they return nine who played a substantial amount, and not only four starters from the last game, but at least three others with starting experience (Knapp, Lamaak and Hulbert). The offense seems excpetionally well stocked.

I'm really looking forward to seeing how some of the young guys look after a year of S&C (Haughton, Hicks, Darks and S. Johnson especially).

**huskerman** · 11-30-2008, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by Clone96

I know Missouri loses the most. They lose Daniel, Coffman, most of their O-Line and pretyt much their entire defense.

Nebraksa loses Ganz, Swift, Lucky, most of their O-Line and their enitre D-Line.

Kansas loses Meier, Feilds, most of their O-line and most of their defense.

K-State loses Deon Murphy and Ian Campbell for sure. They may lose even more with the coaching change.

Everybody else, not sure/don't know.

wrong, NU loses ganz swift and lucky......2 starters on oline and 2 starters on dline! not exactly most or all...just pointing that out.

**brianhos** · 11-30-2008, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by kgreeny

I think Neb. does too. We have a chance in the North next year!

Did you watch any games this year?

**Aclone** · 11-30-2008, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by huskerman

wrong, NU loses ganz swift and lucky......2 starters on oline and 2 starters on dline! not exactly most or all...just pointing that out.

The depth chart I'm looking at says Peterson, Swift, Lawson, Lucky, Ganz, and two offensive linemen. Then two defensive linemen plus Worman, Glenn and Murillo.

It says it was updated 11/11.

**kucyclone** · 11-30-2008, 02:31 PM

I'm not sure where you guys are getting your numbers, but KU is returning 8 starters on offense and 7 on defense.

Offense: LT Hatch, RT Spikes, WR Wilson, WR Meier, WR Briscoe, TE Biere, QB Reesing, RB Sharp
Defense: RE Laptad, DT Blakesley, DT Greene, CB Thornton, CB Patterson, FS Strozier, SS Stuckey

And, regarding the losses on offense, can you name 3 easier positions to replace than the three interior linemen? I can't. The linebackers will be a little tougher to replace, admittedly.