On Josh Horton...

[Canesfan1993]

Mario’s mindset is “Spend to the absolute limit of the budget and get the best players possible.”

It’s fair to question results and discuss priorities of positions. But the reason so many coaches hate Mario is because we spend big and recruit relentlessly.

I dont disagree. We have one of the top collectives in the country and many would be shocked to see where our roster spend lines up with the "blue bloods". My point is: whoever is evaluating and deciding how to allocate that $ has failed this program because you are a top 10 spender and yet have glaring holes and dont achieve at a top 10 level. You can't spend for two of the top OTs in HS this cycle and then say you cant get a top DT cause they're expensive. That HS class will contribute nothing to carson beck this fall. If you had taken care of business in recruiting those spots the last two cycles then you wouldn't need to overspend in portal. Same with LB. We do not have a big time run stopping NT on this roster and, you're right, those guy are expensive. But moving a DE like bain or messidor inside doesn't change that and takes a strength and weakens that too.

 

[Canesfan1993]

We only need one LB in portal if it's a top guy.
Its the staffs job to get someone out of Wes, Popo, Wiley, Pruitt, and Hayes. If they can't get one of those guys to step the **** up, than whats even the point of recruiting good HS prospects.

Thats like blaming them for not turning emory into a capable P2 qb. You can only work with the clay you have. And, from everything I've heard from people i trust, that LB room needs a full reboot outside a few guys and the DT room is suspect. Im not worried about recruiting right now. Im worried about how do we position this roster to take advantage of carson beck like we failed to with ward. You very likely wont get a 3rd chance if you miss the first two.

 

[The Sphinx]

Uh, You won't hear me argue against adding a DT.
You also won't hear me fighting against getting a TOP DT if one becomes available. But It would have repercussions in other areas, particularly because DT is going to be so expensive. I've already said I'd drop the need for a top Safety by moving Lucas to Safety, and diverting those funds to ensuring we get an even better DT.

However what I am saying is we have a 3 person DT rotation we should be decently confident in with Blay, Scott, and Moten. We definitely need to add one more, and I'd heavily Prioritize adding a dude with serious size that is a proven run stuffer. I hope next year Artavius Jones improves to fill that role, but I wouldn't count on it this year. Donta Simpson should just get maybe a couple snaps here and there, but not much.

Mario is clearly a OL first guy. We will always recruit massive, top level OL.

He needs to do the same with DT. They are expensive - yes. But we can’t keep portal diving each year for DTs.

 

[Calinative]

Thats like blaming them for not turning emory into a capable P2 qb. You can only work with the clay you have. And, from everything I've heard from people i trust. That LB room needs a full reboot outside a few guys and the DT room is suspect. Im not worried about recruiting right now. Im worried about how do we position this roster to take advantage of carson beck like we failed to with ward. You very likely wont get a 3rd chance if you miss the first two.

And This LB group has talent.

 

[Hurracanes]

I dont disagree. We have one of the top collectives in the country and many would be shocked to see where our roster spend lines up with the "blue bloods". My point is: whoever is evaluating and deciding how to allocate that $ has failed this program because you are a top 10 spender and yet have glaring holes and dont achieve at a top 10 level. You can't spend for two of the top OTs in HS this cycle and then say you cant get a top DT cause they're expensive. That HS class will contribute nothing to carson beck this fall. If you had taken care of business in recruiting those spots the last two cycles then you wouldn't need to overspend in portal. Same with LB. We do not have a big time run stopping NT on this roster and, you're right, those guy are expensive. But moving a DE like bain or messidor inside doesn't change that and takes a strength and weakens that too.

 

[bobbydigius]

I dont disagree. We have one of the top collectives in the country and many would be shocked to see where our roster spend lines up with the "blue bloods". My point is: whoever is evaluating and deciding how to allocate that $ has failed this program because you are a top 10 spender and yet have glaring holes and dont achieve at a top 10 level. You can't spend for two of the top OTs in HS this cycle and then say you cant get a top DT cause they're expensive. That HS class will contribute nothing to carson beck this fall. If you had taken care of business in recruiting those spots the last two cycles then you wouldn't need to overspend in portal. Same with LB. We do not have a big time run stopping NT on this roster and, you're right, those guy are expensive. But moving a DE like bain or messidor inside doesn't change that and takes a strength and weakens that too.

Preach

 

[Canesfan1993]

And This LB group has talent.

Having talent and putting it together are not necessarily the same thing. And again the same people who told me last spring emory was never going to be the guy and that our secondary was a disaster are now saying that LB room is a huge liability and that the room will get a similar treatment over next year like they did the secondary this spring. You're entitled to your opinion but i trust what these people tell me and what my eyes tell me. Just because it didn't work here doesn't mean the kids dont have talent. But i wouldn't bet my season, for a second year in a row, on a room i know is flawed when theres a way to fix it.

 

[Hurracanes]

Mario is clearly a OL first guy. We will always recruit massive, top level OL.

He needs to do the same with DT. They are expensive - yes. But we can’t keep portal diving each year for DTs.

He needs to do it consistently. Not every 3 years…

 

[No_Fly_Zone]

I dont disagree. We have one of the top collectives in the country and many would be shocked to see where our roster spend lines up with the "blue bloods". My point is: whoever is evaluating and deciding how to allocate that $ has failed this program because you are a top 10 spender and yet have glaring holes and dont achieve at a top 10 level. You can't spend for two of the top OTs in HS this cycle and then say you cant get a top DT cause they're expensive. That HS class will contribute nothing to carson beck this fall. If you had taken care of business in recruiting those spots the last two cycles then you wouldn't need to overspend in portal. Same with LB. We do not have a big time run stopping NT on this roster and, you're right, those guy are expensive. But moving a DE like bain or messidor inside doesn't change that and takes a strength and weakens that too.

Wonder what Samson's making these days?

 

[skeeter]

Does that explain why we wouldn't look to do it again?

Who did you want? And who do you want now? There really wasn't much in there this winter. And Blay had PSU and USC offers. Was one of the top ehhh 5-7 pure DT in the portal

 

[Calinative]

Having talent and putting it together are not necessarily the same thing. And again the same people who told me last spring emory was never going to be the guy and that our secondary was a disaster are now saying that LB room is a huge liability and that the room will get a similar treatment over next year like they did the secondary this spring. You're entitled to your opinion but i trust what these people tell me and what my eyes tell me. Just because it didn't work here doesn't mean the kids dont have talent. But i wouldn't bet my season, for a second year in a row, on a room i know is flawed when theres a way to fix it.

Well I agree with your first Sentence. That's exactly what I'm saying is the staffs job to Fix.
There is a big difference in this LB group and last years DB group or Emory, in that This LB group has obvious talent whereas those didn't really.
No one can tell me Kevin Wiley can't be a dawg. Popo should AT LEAST be average. Wes was pretty average last year already. Hayes needs more development but has obvious talent. Pruitt if he was 10-15lbs heavier I'd question how he isn't starting. Bobby is injured so that sucks, but it's obvious the thing hindering him is upstairs, not physical. Chase Smith and Alderman? Yeah I agree. But the rest, not getting 1-2 to at least play SOLID out of that group is criminal imo - again this is IF we get 1 stud in the portal, which I have long been saying we should.

If we have 1 LEGIT starting LB, while we pretty much will only ever have 2 on the field for the most part, I'm fine with the second one being average. LB is NOT a position I would be spending super heavily on in portal or out of HS. Having Average play is honestly for the most part fine. Get Elite DL and Top DBs, and I'll take average LB all day long. No chance am I taking 2 LBs in this portal as opposed to just funneling that money towards a better DT and S....

 

[Calinative]

The narratives being put out by beat writers is very telling. We went from "we're going for it this year and will go big fish hunting" to "we have enough and now guys just have to prove it. We just need a WR and some rotational guys." It shows this staff learned nothing from last year and are going to squander beck like we squandered ward. We wouldn't be in this position if the staff could evaluate talent especially on the defensive side of the ball. We negelected the secondary for 2 years and that cost us a legit playoff run last year with best qb in school history and a historic O. You have neglected LB and DT for multiple years and now you're planning on sticking to your guns and just add a guy or two. Worked great last year. They also did a **** poor job at qb recruiting for 3 years but lucked into ward and beck back to back and spent to fix the mistake. The LB room and DT position will cost you a shot at a special season again unless theres a course correction. Money is not unlimited but insanity is repeating your mistakes and expecting a different outcome.

Or maybe Landing Ward and Beck has a direct repurcusion of not being able to load up completely at EVERY other position. Those 2 Qbs will likely be top 10 if not top 5 NIL contract across college football over the last 2 years I'd guess?
Sometimes when you spend big on 1 guy you gotta money-ball your way at some other spots. What some call being cheap instead of going all in, I'd say is saying a Qb taking up 25% of your budget leaves you with only 75% for the rest of your roster. Just the reality. I'm choosing to spend the big bucks on QB, EDGE, WR, OT, DT. And then after that CB. Aside from WR the only way we've veered off if you just look at it right now is probably a larger investment in CB now after what happened last year... And we fully expect to spend big on a WR this portal window. So like It seems they are actually doing it correctly for the most part...

 

[cway313]

Who did you want? And who do you want now? There really wasn't much in there this winter. And Blay had PSU and USC offers. Was one of the top ehhh 5-7 pure DT in the portal

I haven't said anything against Blay. I didn't watch any of his games so I'm not going to make up an opinion on him. I am against the idea of adding rotational players when we don't have proven starters or the starters are proving it against poor competition as a concept.

 

[One9]

*******!

Now he's DEAD to me!

How could he turn his back on family...

View attachment 323274

walk with me, Secret Agent Cristobal learned a thing or two when he was looking to be Secret Service. Sent Harris & Horton to be our inside guys.

 

[skeeter]

I haven't said anything against Blay. I didn't watch any of his games so I'm not going to make up an opinion on him. I am against the idea of adding rotational players when we don't have proven starters or the starters are proving it against poor competition as a concept.

OK I get you are against that idea… but what does that have to do with not landing a Barrow type? What if a Barrow type wasn't available?

 

[TRick72]

I dont disagree. We have one of the top collectives in the country and many would be shocked to see where our roster spend lines up with the "blue bloods". My point is: whoever is evaluating and deciding how to allocate that $ has failed this program because you are a top 10 spender and yet have glaring holes and dont achieve at a top 10 level. You can't spend for two of the top OTs in HS this cycle and then say you cant get a top DT cause they're expensive. That HS class will contribute nothing to carson beck this fall. If you had taken care of business in recruiting those spots the last two cycles then you wouldn't need to overspend in portal. Same with LB. We do not have a big time run stopping NT on this roster and, you're right, those guy are expensive. But moving a DE like bain or messidor inside doesn't change that and takes a strength and weakens that too.

^^This!!!

This team needs another starting level DT, a WR1 plus another top 4 WR, a starting LB, and a starting safety (maybe another RB1 type) just to have a shot at making the ACCCG next year yet when it’s mentioned “it’s we don’t have the resources for all of that”. Best we can do is a WR1, a rotational DT and some depth pieces to address the other needs.

Meanwhile I go on the recruiting board and I’m told not only do we have the resources to win a bidding war against unlimited resources Oregon for the highest priced OT BUT we also have the resources to land another high priced borderline 5 Star OT as well as a bunch of other high priced IOL.

Now I would absolutely love to land that type of OL class BUT not 1 of those guys is going to have any impact on next year’s results. However, if there’s limited resources it seems to me the prudent thing to do is prioritize the most urgent needs and that’s what is going to affect the outcome of the upcoming season.

ESPECIALLY when every time I log on here I’m reminded that M&M are “Elite OL talent evaluators and developers” and that no mere mortal can dare question who they bring in. If that’s the case, maybe “evaluate and develop” more than just one of the plethora of low cost OL they’ve taken and reallocate those resources to areas that are more pressing. **** maybe even develop the other high priced 5star OT you already have on the roster….

 

[DMoney]

You can't spend for two of the top OTs in HS this cycle and then say you cant get a top DT cause they're expensive.

Those OTs are 2026 and don't really impact this year's Portal budget.

I agree we haven't recruited DT well enough. It's been well-documented, especially pre-2024. That's why we paid big for Barrow and paid big for Blay. It's also a reason why we have a new DT coach. We will add another transfer.

But we can't wish guys into the Portal. The top Portal DT last cycle (Keeshawn Silver) has 3 career TFLs in four years. The second-best guy was David Blay. I don't think either is as talented as Justin Scott.

If an impact guy jumps in at DT, I expect us to inquire. But my guess is the market is closer to Ahmad Moten-types getting huge deals.

 

[cway313]

OK I get you are against that idea… but what does that have to do with not landing a Barrow type? What if a Barrow type wasn't available?

The messaging should reflect intent. "We are looking to add the best option in the portal." "We want to continue to upgrade the talent in the room."

 

[DMoney]

The messaging should reflect intent. "We are looking to add the best option in the portal." "We want to continue to upgrade the talent in the room."

How would you rank your top priorities in the Portal?

Assume that, even as a top spender, we don’t have the money to get the top player at every position just because we want to upgrade.

 

[BCntyCane]

Those OTs are 2026 and don't really impact this year's Portal budget.

I agree we haven't recruited DT well enough. It's been well-documented, especially pre-2024. That's why we paid big for Barrow and paid big for Blay. It's also a reason why we have a new DT coach. We will add another transfer.

But we can't wish guys into the Portal. The top Portal DT last cycle (Keeshawn Silver) has 3 career TFLs in four years. The second-best guy was David Blay. I don't think either is as talented as Justin Scott.

If an impact guy jumps in at DT, I expect us to inquire. But my guess is the market is closer to Ahmad Moten-types getting huge deals.

So if no “impact” player in the staffs “eyes” enters they just going to stand pat with what we got knowing we need two had not 1 but possible two DTs?