The X Factors for 2026 Offense and Defense

[LuCane]

Offense

I think we have the most talent on offense we've seen in perhaps 25 years. I judge offenses and its players by the amount of stress or conflict they create on defensive coordinators or defenders. If we see more 10 personnel and run more plays, I think we'll see defenses stressed beyond cohesion in both the running and passing games.

I believe the biggest factor in how much of that stress remains consistent is the Right Tackle position.

Perhaps that's Mccoy. Maybe it's Samson. Maybe something else happens. I don't know because I haven't watched practice in many years.

Defense

I think we have the best defensive backfield we've seen in three decades, maybe ever, though I need to see a player who can reliably fill the alley. Ideally, that's an evolved Fitz or Thornton. I think we have the deepest DL in two decades. While I think our LB position is a relative weakness in space and will be challenged if we cannot properly set the edge like we did last season, I think the biggest X factor is the one that impacts that potential domino effect most.

I believe that player is Justin Scott.

Not because he's better or more impactful than Moten, necessarily, but because the change/elevation in Scott's play is more variable. That change could send a ripple effect down the DL to how our DL groupings (the Edge players we choose) set the EDGE, which then impact our LBs.

Scott hitting the next level while Moten maintains the end of last year's level makes this a defense that is infinitely more difficult to threaten/stress. Again, I measure almost everything by risk and threat.

Who do you think are the "X factors" on each side of the ball and why?

 

[OrangeBowlMagic]

Love posts like this, and I agree with the direction you're going.

On offense, the unit will go as far as the OL allows them to go. We have the best collection of combined skill talent in America. Yes, I said it. Ohio State can kick ******* rocks. Texas can suck a sack. I like our QB/RB/WR rooms over anyone in the **** country. Wild for a caveman, huh?

So I'm 100% with you, the X-factor has to be someone on the OL. I'll go with the center position. It's incredibly valuable in any offense, but especially in this one. We've had some good ones the last 3 years. No high end NFL talent, but very, very good college players in each of the last 3 years. Will we get that this year? If we do, it's wheels up on the offense as a whole.

On defense, I'm going with Armondo Blount. And I know that's somewhat curious, considering he might not even be a full-time player, but I think he unlocks everything for this defense. His versatility allows him to play inside and outside, his physicality should be a nice replacement for Bain at times he's in there, he can give a breather to the tackles, and I'm not sold on the edge kids playing the run properly at all. A front of Wilson, Moten, Scott, and Blount makes me very confident we can bully people again....however that's provided Blount takes the next step we're all expecting him to. Remember, he's an early entry kid. He's right now at the age of a true sophomore, but he's got 2+ years in a college S&C program under his belt and he's played 2 seasons. It's time for that light to come on like the sun. If it does, this line is disgusting, again.

Honorable mention: Chase Smith (or whoever the Will is), and Thornton. If Smith can be as good as Bissainthe and Thornton can even be as close to as good as Scott, this has Top 10 defense in America written all over it again.

 

[JHallCanes]

The last X factor thread had people saying Mensah

Can we agree up front our starting Heisman contender QB is the opposite of “x factor”?

With the real criteria for X Factor I have:

Lofton on offense

Thornton on defense

The TE position came back to haunt us but Lofton was coming in to his own. He can add a layer of play making to an already absurd 3 level offensive passing attack. That’s just too much pressure especially with people thinking they can just focus on Toney

Thornton is the potential intimidation factor back there we need losing guys like Thomas. He has the Goon factor to balance out what could be an elite secondary

 

[cway313]

Offense

I think we have the most talent on offense we've seen in perhaps 25 years. I judge offenses and its players by the amount of stress or conflict they create on defensive coordinators or defenders. If we see more 10 personnel and run more plays, I think we'll see defenses stressed beyond cohesion in both the running and passing games.

I believe the biggest factor in how much of that stress remains consistent is the Right Tackle position.

Perhaps that's Mccoy. Maybe it's Samson. Maybe something else happens. I don't know because I haven't watched practice in many years.

Defense

I think we have the best defensive backfield we've seen in three decades, maybe ever, though I need to see a player who can reliably fill the alley. Ideally, that's an evolved Fitz or Thornton. I think we have the deepest DL in two decades. While I think our LB position is a relative weakness in space and will be challenged if we cannot properly set the edge like we did last season, I think the biggest X factor is the one that impacts that potential domino effect most.

I believe that player is Justin Scott.

Not because he's better or more impactful than Moten, necessarily, but because the change/elevation in Scott's play is more variable. That change could send a ripple effect down the DL to how our DL groupings (the Edge players we choose) set the EDGE, which then impact our LBs.

Scott hitting the next level while Moten maintains the end of last year's level makes this a defense that is infinitely more difficult to threaten/stress. Again, I measure almost everything by risk and threat.

Who do you think are the "X factors" on each side of the ball and why?

Offense: We know what we have in Malachi Toney. He didn't recieve a ton of help last year from receiving core/tight end group. Most times knew he was getting the ball he was just good enough it didnt matter. Cooper Barkate having chemistry with Mensah as well as proven production in the ACC should be huge for this offense. If Cooper can maintain that level of play he is my X- factor.

Defense: We all have penciled in Marquis Lightfoot to fill the role of Mesidor, but even though the glimpses have been there he will need to elevate his production immensely. I don't think talent is a question, but durability and conditioning remain a mystery. It's much different being a swing end than required to contribute down after down. The room is deep from a 247 profile perspective, but we dont have the proven commodities
that we entered 2025 with. Lightfoot is my X- factor because if he elevates his game alongside Wilson we've seen the results of having both edges racing to the backfield.

 

[SinisterCane]

Let Mensah call audibles

 

[ShadowSpring]

WR3....

Josh Moore? Someone else.

If someone steps up to be a genuine threat at WR3 we are going to be a historic offense.

Chase Smith on D. We need another LB doing work out there. This is finally his time to be what we all thought he could.

 

[thebutcher]

Offense will go as far as the O-Line takes us. Defense we will go as far as the DE/EDGE run support takes us.

 

[Canesfan4849]

On Offense:

Dre Jacobs: I think with the offensive line turnover we’ll lose some of the down to down dominance we had to stay in front of the chains and go on long drives. Jacobs giving us that big play threat I think is the key to the offense hitting its ceiling

On defense:

Armando Blount or Marquise Lightfoot: I think for our defense to stay at an elite level one of these guys needs to take a step forward as an every down defensive lineman, think the sky’s the limit for both of them just need one of them to do it

 

[JL 2014]

Offense: We know what we have in Malachi Toney. He didn't recieve a ton of help last year from receiving core/tight end group. Most times knew he was getting the ball he was just good enough it didnt matter.

Toney commanding a lot of touches is not an indictment on other receivers. Daniels and Marion were excellent.

 

[cway313]

Toney commanding a lot of touches is not an indictment on other receivers. Daniels and Marion were excellent.

They were serviceable.

 

[jsy]

Offense Mensah - a QB that elevates the whole team can cover alot of holes that we may have

Defense J Carter vs Davis - i think having a solid DT 3 will be huge bc we need to make sure that when we rotate we dont have a drop off

 

[E1k]

Offense should be elite, explosive plays taking a massive leap. Im confident in our IOL assuming its samson/ryan/max, only concern there is experience stuff like blitz pickup and continuity. OTs hold the ceiling of the oline. Im still not on the 10p wave like everyone lol, i know it sounds good on the surface but a blocking te is essential to real offenses

Defensively i love our db room too, especially the cb room. Id say cb room is the best we have had in a while, i think there is a case its the best room on the team. Dline i think we will get elite play from moten and scott. Just need our edges to be resilient, i know they’re talented but we plan on a long run we need consistency deep into the season when film and tendencies are out

Xfactor on offense: Mccoy
Xfactor on defense: Lowe

 

[JHallCanes]

I’d throw Josh Moore on as well

We haven’t had a big body deep threat jump ball threat in a while

 

[AtlAtty]

Offense

I think we have the most talent on offense we've seen in perhaps 25 years. I judge offenses and its players by the amount of stress or conflict they create on defensive coordinators or defenders. If we see more 10 personnel and run more plays, I think we'll see defenses stressed beyond cohesion in both the running and passing games.

I believe the biggest factor in how much of that stress remains consistent is the Right Tackle position.

Perhaps that's Mccoy. Maybe it's Samson. Maybe something else happens. I don't know because I haven't watched practice in many years.

Defense

I think we have the best defensive backfield we've seen in three decades, maybe ever, though I need to see a player who can reliably fill the alley. Ideally, that's an evolved Fitz or Thornton. I think we have the deepest DL in two decades. While I think our LB position is a relative weakness in space and will be challenged if we cannot properly set the edge like we did last season, I think the biggest X factor is the one that impacts that potential domino effect most.

I believe that player is Justin Scott.

Not because he's better or more impactful than Moten, necessarily, but because the change/elevation in Scott's play is more variable. That change could send a ripple effect down the DL to how our DL groupings (the Edge players we choose) set the EDGE, which then impact our LBs.

Scott hitting the next level while Moten maintains the end of last year's level makes this a defense that is infinitely more difficult to threaten/stress. Again, I measure almost everything by risk and threat.

Who do you think are the "X factors" on each side of the ball and why?

Scott and Moten could be the equivalent of Sapp and Riley.

Sapp was the star but Riley’s play meant fewer double teams for Sapp. Scott can be as good or better than Riley.

 

[TomAce]

Scott and Moten could be the equivalent of Sapp and Riley.

Sapp was the star but Riley’s play meant fewer double teams for Sapp. Scott can be as good or better than Riley.

With Scott's pedigree he could actually be the Sapp of your comp

 

[AtlAtty]

With Scott's pedigree he could actually be the Sapp of your comp

He could be.

The DT comp I’ve told myself I will never make is to Maryland and Kennedy. #1 and #3 overall picks in the NFL draft!