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Everything hinges on the play of the guys in the trenches for the Irish this season. I'm surprised it took so long for Weis to replace Latina as o-line coach. The o-line was showing signs of bad coaching back in 2006. However, I can't help but feel optimistic about the upcoming season.
In regards to the QBs, Crist has more natural leadership while Clausen is the better passer. When his time comes, I won't be surprised to see Crist rally the troops for a much needed drive.
I'm also looking forward to seeing the defense with Tenuta taking over playcalling. With the secondary already in place, this could be a very scary defense if the d-line finally has a breakout year.Comment
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Man. Nice catch. I usually don't do that. I was just over on an ND board talking about how "we" sucked in late game situations last year.Comment
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Especially in the 4-3. We have some nice pass rushers and the interior of the line looks good with Hafis and Ian Williams on the inside. Neal and Johnson on the outside too loosk to be a nice end duo.
Any news on Gary Gray?? Last I heard he wasn't enrolled for the spring semester but would be back this summer and enrolled for the fall.
If he comes back as expected our secodnary gets all that much deeper.
Should be. McNeil, Walls, Blanton, Brown at CB.(Maybe even Gary Gray if he returns as expected) Smith and McCarthy at safeties. Plus with us going back to more of a 4-3 look this season we won't see nearly as many blitzes as last season.Originally posted by HokieLast edited by FirstTimer; 04-08-2009, 11:37 AM.Comment
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Officially, Gray isn't enrolled this semester for "personal reasons", but I seem to recall reading an article where his mother said it was due to academics. I'll see if I can find it. He is expected to return for summer workouts similar to Kuntz last year.
EDIT: This doesn't cite his mother, but according to the article, he is training and working toward re-enrolling.
EDIT2: Mike Anello is on the Lott Trophy watch list.
Last edited by padman59; 04-08-2009, 04:58 PM.Comment
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Irish are going to be good.
if its not a BCS bowl i will be sorely disappointedComment
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Isn't Charlie Weis calling plays for the Irish this year?
If so, they'll underachieve once again.
^ Shouts to MvP for the sick sig. GFX TEAM BACK
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Bill Snyder is back in town. I'm excited and skeptical at the same time.Comment
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According to people who have seen ND practices, Crist has the better arm but Clausen has a much better grasp of the offense and can read a defense 10x better.
Notre Dame is pretty hard to peg this year though.
Michigan fans are going to love this, Justin Boren has been absolutely dominating everyone.Last edited by Sportsbuck; 04-09-2009, 07:37 PM.
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That's idiotic to say.
When Quinn and Co. were lighting people up Weis was calling the plays.
If anything, those teams overachived.
That's to be expected as Clausen has an entire extra season in the offense but Crist is viewed as the better natural leader and has the better arm.
Nice to see my buddy Mike on the Lott Trophy watch list. One of the best gusy I have ever met and been friends with. Great family.
As for Gary Gray I also heard the news he is working towards re-enrolling this summer and playing in the fall with 3 years of eligibility left. If this holds true this will be the deepest Irish defensive backfield since the late 80's/early 90's.Comment
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Just saw this thread, here's a quick lil LSU update from the resident Tiger homer-
Been a very quiet offseason so far. Only a few position moves and a few transfers. No real off-field trouble yet but the summer is still in front of us, LOL.
A lot to talk about with our defense:
-Junior safety Chad Jones will be moved over to FS. This allows him to roam a bit more and hopefully he can provide LaRon Landry type of results. I don't know who we like to start at SS at this point but it's probably between SRs Danny McCray and Harry Coleman, both experienced and good tacklers but liabilities in coverage at times.
-Overall our defensive backfield should be incredibly deep. Because of this, and our new minimal-substitution policy, would-be RS sophomore Phelon Jones has been granted his release and will likely transfer to Auburn. He was a prized recruit just 2 years ago, but I guess he saw the writing on the wall. With Karnell Hatcher, Jai Eugene, Chris Hawkins, Brandon Taylor (brother of graduated FS Curtis) and Ron Brooks, who has been working at S as well as CB, the Tigers are laden with athletic defensive backs. When you factor in the incoming Craig Loston, this has a chance to be a very talented secondary for the next several years.
-Defense looks really good under new DC John Chavis. As I mentioned above, he pledges to use minimal substitutions and limit his use of nickel. Our past DC had gotten a little nickel-heavy and was constantly shuttling guys in and out, sometimes at the detriment of our pre-play preparations.
As for the offense, not much to talk about other than a few interesting positional changes:
-Converted OL Richard Dugas is working out at FB. At 6'1 275 lbs., he sounds like he'll be fun to watch back there. Hope he can win the job, but we are also experimenting a lot with lining up Charles Scott and Keiland Williams sharing a backfield. Scott has been more than willing to work on lead blocking this spring per reports.
-Sophomore WR DeAngelo Peterson (6'3, and somewhere just north of 200 lbs) has been moved to TE. This move is probably aimed more towards taking effect in 2010, when we lose our studly 4 year starter Richard Dickson and have a dearth of tight ends who can be effective in the passing game. He'll have to get a lil bigger/stronger, but Peterson will give us an athletic TE to go with the glut of brawlers we currently have on our depth chart behind Dickson.
-Shepard is working primarily as a QB right now, and Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson are reportedly neck and neck. The current line of thinking is that it is Jefferson's to lose, but for the spirit of getting him better Miles is giving Lee every chance to push JJ.
Both QBs have reportedly responded well and this will pay huge dividends going into the season. Expect Jefferson to win the job, with Lee ably handling backup duties and Shepard coming in for 3-4 plays a game as a gamechanger from the QB spot. I wouldn't be surprised to see him line up in the slot from time to time as well, but not much of that has been talked about so far.
A lot still to be discussed and the spring game is next weekend. We will know more then. I can't wait to walk into Tiger Stadium for the first time in months, and to see RS in Purple and Gold for the first time.Last edited by NAHSTE; 04-10-2009, 01:17 PM.
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From what I've watched of Michigan's defense in the spring game, they won't be going to a bowl for the 2nd straight year.Comment
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There's a completely different attitude for the Buckeyes this time of year. Mike Brewster texted Tressel after the NC game between Florida and OU was over, his text said "That should be us", and the team is really rallying behind the sophomores as their leaders.
This is Pryor's team now, half the offense last year wanted Todd to play because they came in with him and he had led them, now those guys are gone and it's Pryor's recruiting class that will be taking their place.
- Dane Sanzenbacher will continue to be a stud, reminds many of Anthony Gonzalez, dude never drops a pass and always finds a way to get open.
- JB Shugarts and Lawrence Wilson are being held out for the spring. Wilson is still recovering from his ACL tear, Shugarts from a lingering shoulder injury. Shugarts will be the opening day starter somewhere along the oline.
- Mike Adams has looked pretty rusty, but thats to be expected when you haven't done much hitting in a long time because of an injury.
- Brandon Saine is finally fully healthy... and is pushing the hell out of Boom Herron to be Beanie's replacement.
- TE/WR Jake Stoneburner is going to be a matchup nightmare for defenses next year.. this dude carved up the tOSU defense all last spring as an early enrollee before an injury sidelined him, now he's going to be a huge weapon out there as a Travis Beckum type of TE.
- As I said before, Justin Boren has been dominating everyone for almost a year now. Some say that when it's all said and done he'll be the best olineman ever to play under Tressel (Thank you RR).
- DE/DT Robert Rose sustained a leg injury thanks to Boren, he's fine, just being held out as a precaution.
- Devier Posey is going to be a stud, absolutely great WR.
Overall though, this has been the most physical spring ever under Tressel. The laid-back attitude of the past few teams has been replaced obviously, mostly because of the active leadership roles in the sophomore class.Comment
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Love hearing how bad Georgia is. It's like music to my ears.Originally posted by Hokie
P.S. I hope you're looking forward to week 1 this season as much as I am. It's at your place if I'm not mistaken right?Last edited by DSpydr84; 04-11-2009, 11:55 PM.Comment
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