Which Position Group needs to "prove it" this season?

[BWRhasnoAC]

Offensive line is implied every year, that's why I went with receivers.

 

[FLYINGCYCLONE]

Where is the answer that says all of the above.

 

[RagingCloner]

Listened to a CFB podcast this morning talking about ISU and their record in one score games in 2024, and what happened if they regress to the mean. My thought was what if Roccos pick 6 rate also regresses back to the mean, and he doesnt throw 3 or 4 causing ISU to be in one score games they shouldnt be in.

Jonesing for real football at this point

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

If the o-Line improves and we are able to get the run game going then I'm really not concerned with replacing two NFL WR's.

 

[cyfan92]

QB - This is the most important position in sports, I think you throw this out as it's always QB
WR - I have low expectations given what we lost and I think it's setting the team up to fail if you put too much on the new guys
RB - see below
OL - If this group finally "proves it", it would lead to all the positions above have good/great years and the team is likely back contending for a conference title. If they are average at best (standard CMC era), we are likely taking a step back on offense in 2025.
TE - Could be wrong here, but I think TE in the modern game is way over-rated. It should not come as a shocker the 2024 team was the best season in the CMC era, when we used the least amount of heavy TE sets.

DL - #2 most important IMO, if they take a step forward, it takes SOOO much pressure of the back 8
LB - Campbell/Heacock worst position group YoY. No NFL players, I have low expectations
CB - If transfer Tre Bell lives up to the early hype, this group (if healthy) will be good
S - Feel good about starters, back-ups are a question but I have faith in the scheme

 

[VeloClone]

I think the answer to this question has been the O-line just about every year this century.

 

[JM4CY]

Kind of surprised I was the first person to vote for special teams.
Konrardy and Perkins were really solid last year but I could use some improvement on kick offs from Gilbert.
I am curious who is going to be our return guy(s) as well.

Didn’t CW mention a return guy in a recent pod? Wasn’t it one of the transfers? Or maybe a freshman? I was only half listening while I was mowing.

 

[RagingCloner]

Didn’t CW mention a return guy in a recent pod? Wasn’t it one of the transfers? Or maybe a freshman? I was only half listening while I was mowing.

Xavier Townsend. Might be the best we've had in recent history

 

[Frak]

If the o-Line improves and we are able to get the run game going then I'm really not concerned with replacing two NFL WR's.

This. I thought that the OL was at least decent last year. Not great, but probably the best of the Campbell era. They lose their best two OLs, but have a bunch of guys back with starting experience. If they make the move from decent to good, that makes everything easier. A good running game will help Rocco more than great WRs.

 

[JP4CY]

Xavier Townsend. Might be the best we've had in recent history

Jaylin was dangerous on punt returns, hope Xavier can bring that too.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

Xavier Townsend. Might be the best we've had in recent history

Ryen was really good.

 

[JM4CY]

Jaylin was dangerous on punt returns, hope Xavier can bring that too.

I feel like that was a really underrated part of his game.

 

[ZorkClone]

I feel like that was a really underrated part of his game.

Before last year he punts sail over his head a lot of the time, usually resulting in a large loss of hidden yards. That may have been schematic, but glad he and the scheme improved.

 

[OscarBerkshire]

QB - This is the most important position in sports, I think you throw this out as it's always QB
WR - I have low expectations given what we lost and I think it's setting the team up to fail if you put too much on the new guys
RB - see below
OL - If this group finally "proves it", it would lead to all the positions above have good/great years and the team is likely back contending for a conference title. If they are average at best (standard CMC era), we are likely taking a step back on offense in 2025.
TE - Could be wrong here, but I think TE in the modern game is way over-rated. It should not come as a shocker the 2024 team was the best season in the CMC era, when we used the least amount of heavy TE sets.

DL - #2 most important IMO, if they take a step forward, it takes SOOO much pressure of the back 8
LB - Campbell/Heacock worst position group YoY. No NFL players, I have low expectations
CB - If transfer Tre Bell lives up to the early hype, this group (if healthy) will be good
S - Feel good about starters, back-ups are a question but I have faith in the scheme

This is a cook, I'm less sold on the safeties tho

 

[Billups06]

Listened to a CFB podcast this morning talking about ISU and their record in one score games in 2024, and what happened if they regress to the mean. My thought was what if Roccos pick 6 rate also regresses back to the mean, and he doesnt throw 3 or 4 causing ISU to be in one score games they shouldnt be in.

Jonesing for real football at this point

The Utah and UCF games come to mind. Those three pick 6's (though UCF technically had just one) happened while we were driving and in/right at FG range. Big momentum swings and likely 10-14 point swings each time. Those can change a game pretty quickly.