Expectations for next year

I do not see why we should be terrible in any phase, but its tough to be overly optimistic.

Offense will be different, but turning A-backs into WR almost completes the roster management needs outside of TE. They are pretty much slot receivers anyway and CGC said at least one of them has said that to him. We have the TE transfer and 2-3 kids that can atleast be blocking TE's. The true freshman has a long way to go, but may get forced into action - 4 game redshirt rule may help him alot. OL has a lot of work to do on technique to block in an NFL style offense, but zone blocking shouldn't be a stretch for them to learn or re-learn. ZQ is 6-6, 275; KC is 6-3, 300; CH is 6-2, 305; JL is 6-2, 290, BM is 6-4, 280; so add 10-15 lbs and they are decent weight, athletic, but not very long. If whomever wins the starting QB spot is not an improvement on this year's 7 win team, then we're going to look terrible. In theory, I like Lucas Johnson to win the starting job, but we'll see what Jordan Yates brings to the table. WR should be OK, not great. J. Camp, M. Carter, S. Dolphus all seem capable or better - no hyper standouts, but everyone will get a clean slate and more snaps. Looking forward to seeing S. Dolphus.

Defense is 1 year removed from the 4-3, so it shouldn't be a problem with scheme. Losing the senior DL will hurt, we will be back to our more traditional struggles on the LOS (A Owens and B Adams made plays this year, but the outgoing seniors played really well). If the Belgian freshman is as good as advertised, the door is open for him. Secondary played better later in the year, they will be playing a lot of press man coverage, so we'll see what they are made of (especially with CGC coaching secondary). I think T. Swilling will like this defense better and W. Walker . The returning linebackers all need to improve play. D. Curry has a long way to go and seems to like getting caught up in the wash / doesn't read the pulling guard well. C. Thomas, T. Carpenter, and J. Thomas are all very solid with upside potential.

If not for the bowl game, P. Harvin III would have had a tremendous year. W. Wells didn't miss a kick all season. J. Thomas is the best returner since J. Golden or Freddie Smith, maybe better than them too. Somebody will step up and return or fair catch punts.

Tired of hearing people say the roster is full of sub-par talent, size, and speed. They beat Miami, VT, Louisville. If they show up to play (offense doesn't miss an assignment on every play, fumble 6 times, or allow B2B kickoff returns), they beat Pitt, USF, Duke, and/or Minnesota. Clemson and UGA are on another planet - probably 2 of the top 3 teams as far as talent. Definitely 2 of the top 5. So, enough talent to compete with every non-playoff team on our schedule if we don't play like garbage.

Should win (3-0): Citadel, @Temple, UNC
Should lose (0-2): @Clemson, UGA
Could go either way (3-4 or 4-3): USF, @Duke, NC State, Pitt, VT, @Miami, @Virginia

So, 6-6 is my expectation with improvement throughout the season. 7-5 would be fine too. 8 wins and we may be on to something with the coaching staff. 5 or less wins and shrug shoulders and see what 2020 brings.
 
bandman659 said:
That’s kinda what I mean. They are 2-3” shorter and 20lbs lighter across the board. S&C can’t make them taller or longer.

Edit: also, if it was so easily remedied, why didn’t we do it? If you can look at the way we get pushed around on both lines and say that’s not a problem, I don’t know what to tell you.
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Look at the depth chart then come back to this post
 
bandman659 said:
The entire OL. They’re tiny compared to basically every other not-service academy OL.
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This is bull, in that our OL bulled half the other teams on our schedule. This group man handled some of the DL's we faced this year. They don't pass block worth a crap; but that can be fixed to make them at least serviceable.
 
3-9
I'm not trying to be an overly cynical asshole, but I think CGC and the AD's office understand this is a "Year 0" situation.

I see alot of young kids playing and alot of experimentation with new and different positions. That's going to lead to understandable mistakes even against very average opponents. Wins against the Citadel, either NC State or Duke (probably not both) and UNC.
 
aeromech said:
This is bull, in that our OL bulled half the other teams on our schedule. This group man handled some of the DL's we faced this year. They don't pass block worth a crap; but that can be fixed to make them at least serviceable.
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We may see some guys like DeFoor and the Morgans who weren't 'system fits' actually thrive in a more concentional blocking scheme. Same at WR/AB. How much of some guys not seeing the field was blocking, and not their ability to run a route and catch a ball.
 
BackstreetBuzz said:
Unfortunately, CPJ is leaving CGC a roster that is pretty depleted, unlike the very talented team CCG left CPJ. It is going to take a couple of years to dig out of this hole.
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I don’t see that at all. On defense we are about as talented as we’ve been since ‘08. Young and talented.

4**
DB Kaleb Oliver (RS-So)
DB Jaylon King (RS-Fr)
DB Tre Swilling (RS-So)
DB Gentry Bonds (RS-So)
LB Bruce Jordan-Swilling (Jr)
DE Justice Dingle (RS-Fr)
Doesn’t even include Chimedza who was the biggest recruiting win we’ve had in years. Toss in Juanyeh and Adams as studs who weren’t 4 stars. Thomas looks like a LB starter next year too.

That is not leaving the cupboard bare at all.

Offense we are less talented but not barren. Malachi Carter was gonna be a stud receiver regardless of what offense he’d be in. Graham will be a difference maker at QB or WR. People saying QB is hopeless seem to have forgotten about Lucas.

Pending transfers, OL is really the only area of concern. And that is a question mark til we see what offense we will be running and how they look.
 
I don’t see GT beating Clemson nor UGA....for awhile. Other than that, everyone else will be beatable, on any given day of course. CGC would endear himself immediately to the folks if he put a genuine beat down on Duke in ‘19. That’s do-able and I’m sure he knows that, and will have that date circled on his calendar. CGC has a lot of holes to fill in the cupboard before he can field a competitive team that plays to his expectations. For sure everyone sees this...the crowd will be a little impatient, but their honest expectations will be tempered a bit I predict.
 
GTCrew4b said:
You guys are the ones calling out all of the players for being untalented. Not me. You are the ones saying we have FCS talent. So either name the players you think are FCS talent or gtfo with that criticism.
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I’ll do it.

Everyone who started on defense last night not named Tariq Carpenter and Tre Swilling. Rest of those cats are FBS reaches.
 
BuzzFeitenSystem said:
I’m not worried about QB I’m excited about Yates tbh. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him start day 1
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I'm quietly optimistic on Yates. He seems accurate, especially for a dual threat guy. His intangibles (attitude, leadership, etc) will need to outweigh his lack of height. I'd expect lots of roll outs. Not sure if RPO helps shorter QBs see the field.
 
I have no expectations for season 1. Saban went 7-6 the first year at Bama including a loss to Louisiana-Monroe. Larry Coker won the Natty his first year at Miami and was fired 5 seasons later. I don't think the first season is much of an indication of how a coach will perform.
 
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