OK, u certainly make some very valid points.
Allow me to respond for a moment:
QB: No argument there, at all.
RB: Chaney was healthy last season, & then the injury bug hit him immediately. Rooster hopefully will be used better, but as of right now, taking away the monster game he had against GT, he was a 15 carry, 45 yrds/g RB. While I’m very bullish on Citizen, he’s still a TF. Maybe b/c of Lingard, who we all were very bullish on, I like to temper expectations of incoming freshmen, especially one who is now injured. Thad has a ton of potential, but, we continue to hear mix reviews regarding work ethic.
TE: Again, no argument from me bro. This room is str8 Filthy. Hope Mallory becomes a highly touted draft pick, but even if he don’t, the pups are dogs in this room.
OL: This is still the same group as last season sans Donaldson & Williams. Reports have been they’ve been getting their *** kicked by the DL. So this is a devil’s advocate situation in itself; either
a) Our OL is stout & our DL is that much better
b) Our OL is getting exposed as a weak link or
c) Our OL is a weak link, & it’s making our DL look better than it really is
Of course I hope for situation a), but c) “could” be a possibility as well. That’s y, I’m concerned & wont change my opinion on this until Week 3
WR: Ladson played in a WR favorable offense in Clemson w/ the #1 QB/player drafted in the 2021 draft. Until I see Ladson on the field, I personally dgaf about his 247 HS ranking. While I love TVD, Rambo made TVD a much better QB in the 2nd half. Having that true #1 where u know u can just throw it there way & have a great chance of completing it, makes a world of difference.
Everyone knows I love X & Key. X is a dog, Key has a ton of potential, but he’s been inconsistent in regards to reliability, & for his speed, has a hard time separating himself. For me, this room doesn’t invoke P5 def fear. I’m not seeing a guy a Def has to game plan around, & that’s a concern 4 me, along w/ the continuous report of the dropsies. This is a “show me somethin’”, room.
DL: This is the room I have mixed reviews on. The Edge, I’m happy with. We have an interchangeable group along the line. But, I’m weary of the pocket collapse ability up the gut. U collapse the pocket up the gut, & it makes everyone’s job so much easier. My other concern is a false sense of how good this unit is. We have some really good individual players/potential, but being that they are going up against a OL that appears to be struggling, it gives me both hope & pause which leads to a bit of anxiety. However, this unit, in its entirety, I’m not really worried about.
LB: I’m gravely worried. U mentioned Chase Smith’s name, but we haven’t heard much. Iirc, we actually heard him being a hard gainer, similar to Huff. I’m bullish on Steed b/c he looked like a solid LB towards the end of last yr. Flagg, great football IQ, but as I said during his recruitment, he’s more of G5 product v. a P5 product. Thomas Davis is more of a rush end v. a play in space LB (tweener). Wes is still smallish, and I expect him more on ST & be the man in yr 2. K Smith is an interesting player, and I’m curious how he’ll handle, transition into a full time LB at that weight, at his height. Caleb Johnson is cool, but I don’t see a difference maker w/ him, if imma be honest.
S: Great room & have no concerns here
CB: Stevenson is a stud, can or will Couch go back to the Couch we saw in 2020. Again, I’m cautiously optimistic on the reports on Couch in camp b/c of our WRs inability to separate. So I’m hoping he returns to 2020 form. Ivey always get praise, every yr from every staff, so now we need to see it come to fruition in game. Blades have been a guy who’s going back & forth between S & CB. Frierson is a tweener as well. This group should improve by coaching, but I’m still concerned outside of Stevenson.
ST: No one is complaining about Big Lou, but baby Borreagles needs to show more consistency.
I think everyone is putting all their eggs in the coaching basket. Imo, part of this narrative this CIS theory (when defending Manny) that the 2021 was a play or two away from winning 10 games last season. That’s a straw man’s argument; I can easily say this team was a play or two away from being a 3-4 win team.
Again, I look for marked improvement. This notion that 10-2 is our floor is August, Red Kool-Aid talk. I’m not saying we won’t go 10-2 or even 12-0 yr 1….if
@brock can transition from well done to medium well steak, I’m not discounting anything. HOWEVER, the overwhelming data shows majority of yr 1 coaches inheriting a roster in which there is some turnover & culture issues have growing pain.
