Last DT update

Yall are letting the emotion of losing two important pieces of this defense sway your thinking here, at least for McIntosh.

McIntosh is in a situation where he likely will be drafted in the 3rd-5th round range. That is pretty good for an early entry DT. Secondly if he did return, he'd certainly get a substantial cut in his Playing time. That is just a fact due to Gerald Willis rejoining the team and Bethel likely improving on last season. Fact is McIntosh just has way more competition for his position than Norton does.

McIntosh - 682 snaps
Norton - 527 snaps
Moten - 260 snaps
Bethel - 197 snaps.

McIntosh is making a solid decision by entering the draft. If he returned and Norton declares, he could also face the possibility of playing out of position (if he had to be slid down to the 1t and willis playing the 3t), which could also hurt his draft stock.

Norton, I will agree that he should have stayed another year. He has barely any competition, and anybody that would be competing for his spot would just be replacing the snaps that Moten took from him anyways. So Moten is in a position if he returned to actually get an increased amount of PT (though he still would likely come off on 3rd downs and stuff). However, though Norton did not have the best season, he is still a talented NT prospect, and those are much harder to find than 3techs are in the draft. So it is very likely some team will take a chance on him. So I'd expect him to be a 5th-7th round pick. But he definitely could improve his draft stock this year.

Solid analysis but at the end of the day you're making the case that a kid that thinks he's NFL ready is mainly afraid of college competition for playing time.

Not scared of competition. But think of it this way, everyone here has been saying he can improve his draft stock, and for Norton I am in complete agreement. But for McIntosh, that reduction in PT WILL not be good for his draft stock. It really is that simple.

I'm not saying McIntosh wouldn't be the starter, or that he wouldn't get the majority of reps, just that the reduced PT will give him less opportunity to make plays, which is basically the only way he improves his draft stock over this year. I mean ****, McIntosh led the ******* team in TFLs this year, and other than Malek Young, he had the most Pass Deflections! McIntosh had a great year.

And Like I said if norton left but mcintosh returned, McIntosh would be our biggest (and best) DT, and he might be forced down to the 1t out of neccessity, which could definitely hurt his draft stock. Again, i don't think he's scared of competition, I think he just realizes he is in a position to get drafted in the middle rounds, and the chances of improving his draft stock are slimmer than maybe even Mark Waltons. (because walton right now is injured and played less than half a year).
 
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Who's their agent? That dirtbag Drew Rosenhaus?
 
I think they made a terrible decision and don't think either will get drafted before the 4th round and wouldn't be shocked if either is not drafted. Additionally I think Walton also made a poor decision, he was declared by Richt as the best player he has ever coached but he had not produced like it yet. Look at Chub he came back after an injury and will make money because of it.
 
McIntosh was the most disruptive interior lineman I saw all year.

I'd peg Norton as a 6th round pick. Nose tackles without pass rush ability tend to go in that range. Teams don't develop them on the 53-man roster either so if he doesn't show he can contribute right away he'll be on a practice squad. He's getting bad advice.
 
Did you watch the Clemson game? He was like the third best DT in that game. Let alone he was shut down by Wisconsin’s OL. He was great in spurts for sure but I heard guys saying he’s not strong enough yet. I really like the kids game, I’m just not sure this is his best move. Norton is leaving because his roommate is going. IMO. Hopefully they both find a way to move up draft boards or get drafted by teams that are good scheme fits. Best of luck to you gentlemen.
 
Yall are letting the emotion of losing two important pieces of this defense sway your thinking here, at least for McIntosh.

McIntosh is in a situation where he likely will be drafted in the 3rd-5th round range. That is pretty good for an early entry DT. Secondly if he did return, he'd certainly get a substantial cut in his Playing time. That is just a fact due to Gerald Willis rejoining the team and Bethel likely improving on last season. Fact is McIntosh just has way more competition for his position than Norton does.

McIntosh - 682 snaps
Norton - 527 snaps
Moten - 260 snaps
Bethel - 197 snaps.

McIntosh is making a solid decision by entering the draft. If he returned and Norton declares, he could also face the possibility of playing out of position (if he had to be slid down to the 1t and willis playing the 3t), which could also hurt his draft stock.

Norton, I will agree that he should have stayed another year. He has barely any competition, and anybody that would be competing for his spot would just be replacing the snaps that Moten took from him anyways. So Moten is in a position if he returned to actually get an increased amount of PT (though he still would likely come off on 3rd downs and stuff). However, though Norton did not have the best season, he is still a talented NT prospect, and those are much harder to find than 3techs are in the draft. So it is very likely some team will take a chance on him. So I'd expect him to be a 5th-7th round pick. But he definitely could improve his draft stock this year.

Solid analysis but at the end of the day you're making the case that a kid that thinks he's NFL ready is mainly afraid of college competition for playing time.

Not scared of competition. But think of it this way, everyone here has been saying he can improve his draft stock, and for Norton I am in complete agreement. But for McIntosh, that reduction in PT WILL not be good for his draft stock. It really is that simple.

I'm not saying McIntosh wouldn't be the starter, or that he wouldn't get the majority of reps, just that the reduced PT will give him less opportunity to make plays, which is basically the only way he improves his draft stock over this year. I mean ****, McIntosh led the ****ing team in TFLs this year, and other than Malek Young, he had the most Pass Deflections! McIntosh had a great year.

And Like I said if norton left but mcintosh returned, McIntosh would be our biggest (and best) DT, and he might be forced down to the 1t out of neccessity, which could definitely hurt his draft stock. Again, i don't think he's scared of competition, I think he just realizes he is in a position to get drafted in the middle rounds, and the chances of improving his draft stock are slimmer than maybe even Mark Waltons. (because walton right now is injured and played less than half a year).


Absent a modern day Warren Sapp or Cortez Kennedy showing up on campus, if McIntosh did not start next year then one can only conclude his talent level is not NFL worthy and his chances of making an NFL roster this year or next would be reed thin indeed.
 
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Bottom line: not much the school can do these days as kids are not only leaving early in droves, they are sitting out
bowl games which I think is first-class facquitry.
What we can do to mitigate this problem is recruit every position strongly EVERY recruiting cycle.
The days of waiting until the next class to address a given position are obsolete, if it ever existed.
Also, this is why you don't redshirt kids if they can contribute on the field, because if they are that good,
they will be gone after 3 years anyways.
One thing I think perhaps Richt and his staff should investigate, if they aren't already, is who are the agents
getting into the heads of these kids.
It wouldn't surprise me if there is a slimeball or two embedded within the program.

Agreed. 20 years ago, this was unheard of. Only a handful of EE each year and they were the elite.

Now, any and every P5 kid who was merely a Year 3 starter looks to declare early. By Year 4, it's almost like -- Oh, you mean you are staying?!? -- where staying is the exception and not the norm.

Only way to circumvent that mentality is to recruit well each cycle. We've got to make sure that each position is replenished annually and load up on a particular position when the talent availability dictates.

Minimal redshirts and a 3-year plan.
 
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McIntosh was the most disruptive interior lineman I saw all year.

I'd peg Norton as a 6th round pick. Nose tackles without pass rush ability tend to go in that range. Teams don't develop them on the 53-man roster either so if he doesn't show he can contribute right away he'll be on a practice squad. He's getting bad advice.

You apparently only watched Hurricanes game this year and stopped watching after the Pitt game.
 
I think this is similar to the Brad Kaaya situation; they pretty much made the decision to leave before the season.
 
Yall are letting the emotion of losing two important pieces of this defense sway your thinking here, at least for McIntosh.

McIntosh is in a situation where he likely will be drafted in the 3rd-5th round range. That is pretty good for an early entry DT. Secondly if he did return, he'd certainly get a substantial cut in his Playing time. That is just a fact due to Gerald Willis rejoining the team and Bethel likely improving on last season. Fact is McIntosh just has way more competition for his position than Norton does.

McIntosh - 682 snaps
Norton - 527 snaps
Moten - 260 snaps
Bethel - 197 snaps.

McIntosh is making a solid decision by entering the draft. If he returned and Norton declares, he could also face the possibility of playing out of position (if he had to be slid down to the 1t and willis playing the 3t), which could also hurt his draft stock.

Norton, I will agree that he should have stayed another year. He has barely any competition, and anybody that would be competing for his spot would just be replacing the snaps that Moten took from him anyways. So Moten is in a position if he returned to actually get an increased amount of PT (though he still would likely come off on 3rd downs and stuff). However, though Norton did not have the best season, he is still a talented NT prospect, and those are much harder to find than 3techs are in the draft. So it is very likely some team will take a chance on him. So I'd expect him to be a 5th-7th round pick. But he definitely could improve his draft stock this year.

$20 says McIntosh does not get drafted in the first 4 rounds which means he gave up the potential for $5M+ of essentially guaranteed money for his first (and probably only) contract vs $1.5M and an annual struggle to make rosters.
 
Yall are letting the emotion of losing two important pieces of this defense sway your thinking here, at least for McIntosh.

McIntosh is in a situation where he likely will be drafted in the 3rd-5th round range. That is pretty good for an early entry DT. Secondly if he did return, he'd certainly get a substantial cut in his Playing time. That is just a fact due to Gerald Willis rejoining the team and Bethel likely improving on last season. Fact is McIntosh just has way more competition for his position than Norton does.

McIntosh - 682 snaps
Norton - 527 snaps
Moten - 260 snaps
Bethel - 197 snaps.

McIntosh is making a solid decision by entering the draft. If he returned and Norton declares, he could also face the possibility of playing out of position (if he had to be slid down to the 1t and willis playing the 3t), which could also hurt his draft stock.

Norton, I will agree that he should have stayed another year. He has barely any competition, and anybody that would be competing for his spot would just be replacing the snaps that Moten took from him anyways. So Moten is in a position if he returned to actually get an increased amount of PT (though he still would likely come off on 3rd downs and stuff). However, though Norton did not have the best season, he is still a talented NT prospect, and those are much harder to find than 3techs are in the draft. So it is very likely some team will take a chance on him. So I'd expect him to be a 5th-7th round pick. But he definitely could improve his draft stock this year.

$20 says McIntosh does not get drafted in the first 4 rounds which means he gave up the potential for $5M+ of essentially guaranteed money for his first (and probably only) contract vs $1.5M and an annual struggle to make rosters.

They’ll both go later. Maybe. I still think Norton goes before RJ BC his skill set is harder to come by.
 
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As many players regress when they return for another year as improve. Has to do with how the overall team is playing, injury, and just being overrated. If you don't have a crystal ball, no way to guarantee RJ and Norton they will improve their draft stock by staying. The Canes defense got a helluva lot of positive publicity this past season. Next year, who knows?
 
bad decision to leave bc i dont think they've done enough to get drafted high and could use another year, but i cant fault them for leaving. until players are paid, they should all leave if they got some kind of guarantee that they will be drafted in decent enough position.
 
Barry Jackson

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@flasportsbuzz
16m16 minutes ago
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Though there is obvious NFL interest from McIntosh and Norton, Richt will have chance to pitch them in meetings today with them, family....
. McIntosh, family want to hear what Richt has to say in afternoon meeting before decision finalized.
 
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