252cane said:

AUcane said:

252cane said:

AUcane said:

Peter Ariz said:

yes. Arguably best DT on the roster right now

Click to expand...

He sure didn’t show it on the field when he did play. Maybe on greentree?

Click to expand...

You sure? Willis had 5.5 tfls and 1.5 sack in 2016 in limited playing time. He was suspended a game and got hurt vs fsu. Mcintosh started the entire year and had 9.5tfls and 2.5 sacks. Norton had 10tfls and 2 sacks.

Click to expand...

Based on what I saw, yeah. You can throw in all the stats you’d like - he didn’t start.

Click to expand...

Didnt have to start. Imagine if was there the whole year. Numbers could have been better than the starters.

Click to expand...

THIS.. There have been guys that didn't start at the beginning of this year, but produced and did well when given a chance.

rokulika said:

McIntosh had a nice season but there's still a bunch of guys who will go ahead of him.

He may want to consider a return in 2018 too.

Click to expand...

This is what I don't understand, dt rarely leave early and this year draft is pretty good for dt. This alone might knock them both down some boards.. crazy to think we lose 2 dt and both leave early

Man if Norton and RJ returned along with Willis and the DBs we got coming in. We in the championship.

KrazyCane said:

Anyone who thinks Kendrick Norton isn't ready for the NFL is beyond clueless. You fools think NFL teams expect every draft pick to look like a pro bowler day one? Tryna deflect your begging for him to stay to this bs about him not being good enough lol gtfoh

Click to expand...

What exactly makes you (or anyone else here) an authority on whether he should stay or go?

I forgot you've been watching the coaches tape and know the defensive calls to know whether or not he is actually performing well.

Maybe YOU should GTFOH.

Does anyone want to bet me Norton plays in the NFL? ****, Pierre and Hertelou are in the NFL or were in Calvin's case.

Hurst
Wilkins
Vea
Payne
Phillips
and possibly Nnadi or however you spell his name

Will go ahead of McIntosh IMO.

He coupld be this years Johnathan Allen, 2-3 round pick as a Jr, early to mid 1st as a Sr.

thats good news on Willis J.Ford,G.Willis, Nesta Bethel hopefully Goldwire(JUCO) it will be a position of strength. Hopefully K.Norton & RJ McIntosh will have the patience to wait for NFL drat reports
before turning pro

Norton going pro would be laughable what Is he a 5th or 6th rounder?

3FW said:

Does anyone want to bet me Norton plays in the NFL? ****, Pierre and Hertelou are in the NFL or were in Calvin's case.

Click to expand...

Nobody is saying he won't play but you only leave college early to get drafted higher and avoid a let down season seniro year


Norton is projected maybe 5-7 rounds, no benefit to leaving early it's just dumb

I'm tired of players leaving early to be mid or late round picks; i.e. Kaaya and Yearby. Let's hope these guys learn from their mistakes and that Richt can recruit them back.

CanEs4life04 said:

I'm tired of players leaving early to be mid or late round picks; i.e. Kaaya and Yearby. Let's hope these guys learn from their mistakes and that Richt can recruit them back.

Click to expand...

This leaving early trend needs to become less of the norm for UM to build solid A-Z depth. At least while these first few recruiting classes are developed.

Even the players who do get drafted high aren't always ready.

Demarcus Walker has three tackles this season in Denver.

Carlos Watkins has 10 tackles in Houston.

Jonathan Allen has 10 tackles for the Redskins.

Defensive line is about refined technique. These guys need to come back.

Agree with the general consensus here on our starting 2. If R.J. gets solid intel like Njoku did last year about going in the 1st round, then he'd get no beef from Cane nation from leaving early, but he better get some 1st round assurances.

Norton really did underperform this year. He seemed more explosive and difference making last year. With another year under his belt and an overall improved supporting cast for next year, he could sneak into the 1st 2 rounds. Really hope he stays. R.J. is gone, I suspect.

Considering the potential for injuries affecting a skill position like WR, RB, QB or TE draft status makes an early decision seem somewhat reasonable perhaps. However, if a DT isn't reaching full potential yet leaving early doesn't make sense. Conversely if Norton or McIntosh accept they have maxed their potential as college players and decide to leave then they are also accepting they have reached their maximum financial value. Frankly, I don't see either dominating DTs yet....if they believe they can dominate they should stay and get paid SO MUCH MORE.

All of our defensive tackles are overstated on this forum. It's parallel to opinion of the team as a whole. When there's a great defensive tackle on the roster then nobody is debating it because he's making plays and jumping out as one of the premier players on the field on a weekly basis. That doesn't describe McIntosh or Norton and it doesn't describe Willis last year.

There are defensive tackles from all the recent powerhouses atop the 2018 draft board right now, guys from Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, Michigan, Washington, Stanford, Florida State and so forth. The Canes guys are not there. Mark Walton is currently projected to go higher than anybody from our roster. That might not hold up after the combine, etc. but if we had an elite player he would already be up the ladder.

I enjoyed Canes football even during the '70s because defensive tackle is my favorite position and we always had star players there, despite the lackluster won/loss record. I haven't been suckered by this recent upturn specifically because our defensive tackles are not much of anything. Norton is a joke compared to someone like Vea from Washington. McIntosh is not even close to the kid from Florida, Taven Bryan. And so forth.

It's like the Dolphins butchering the first round picks every season and fans trying to pretend it doesn't matter. Golden missed the top defensive tackle targets year after year. We didn't magically overcome that and find dominant kids in the bushes. No, we found kids who allowed a nice upgrade to second tier status. Preferable to where we've been but acres from where we need to go.

CUKIO34 said:

Man if Norton and RJ returned along with Willis and the DBs we got coming in. We in the championship.

Click to expand...

Can any of them play OL or QB?

Our underclassmen get some horrible advice.

Did the ACC coaches vote on an all-ACC team yet. I saw one the other day where Norton didn’t even get a mention. If the coaches who play against him don’t think enough of him to call him a top 6 DT in this conference then he needs to wake up.

Awsi Dooger said:

All of our defensive tackles are overstated on this forum. It's parallel to opinion of the team as a whole. When there's a great defensive tackle on the roster then nobody is debating it because he's making plays and jumping out as one of the premier players on the field on a weekly basis. That doesn't describe McIntosh or Norton and it doesn't describe Willis last year.

There are defensive tackles from all the recent powerhouses atop the 2018 draft board right now, guys from Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, Michigan, Washington, Stanford, Florida State and so forth. The Canes guys are not there. Mark Walton is currently projected to go higher than anybody from our roster. That might not hold up after the combine, etc. but if we had an elite player he would already be up the ladder.

I enjoyed Canes football even during the '70s because defensive tackle is my favorite position and we always had star players there, despite the lackluster won/loss record. I haven't been suckered by this recent upturn specifically because our defensive tackles are not much of anything. Norton is a joke compared to someone like Vea from Washington. McIntosh is not even close to the kid from Florida, Taven Bryan. And so forth.

It's like the Dolphins butchering the first round picks every season and fans trying to pretend it doesn't matter. Golden missed the top defensive tackle targets year after year. We didn't magically overcome that and find dominant kids in the bushes. No, we found kids who allowed a nice upgrade to second tier status. Preferable to where we've been but acres from where we need to go.

Click to expand...

This right here.

Our fans really overestimate the value of our players.

Had people last year talking about Kakaa in the 1st round for Christs sake. Others talking about how Yearby wouldn't fall below 4th round.
It doesn't work that way. Just because you are somewhat productive in your season at Miami does not mean you are a draft candidate. You must excel above others in your position. There are many DT's this year who have better productivity than either McIntosh and especially Norton. Keep in mind also that there are plenty of Defensive Tackles currently in the NFL, it's not like there's a shortage. Not every team wants to draft defensive tackle who's not game ready, which is where Norton is at this year.

Now, McIntosh could become a high draft pick, but he would have to do so via the combine. Norton could also improve his draft stock but he won't climb above 3th round even with eye popping numbers at the combine, which he won't have. I see Norton 5th round at best, likely undrafted, with McIntosh late 3rd or 4th depending on his combine numbers.

Should they leave? RJ would have the best shot at being drafted. I'd say he likely would. You roll the dice. Better Defensive Back play next year could mean better numbers for both at UM. Better numbers means more notice and better draft predictions. Of course you have the injury factor.
The difference between a 1st and 3+ round pick is millions. However, you don't make a dime playing one more year in college. Instant gratification vs better payout in a year.

My conclusion is I believe it would be best for Norton to stay. RJ- he has a choice, pay me now or potentially pay me a lot more in a year. Youth is wasted on the young, I believe he's 90% declaring this year.

Can´t wait to see Willis and Glenn Logan lacing them up together in the middle of our D.