Returning starters???

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hiveredtech

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Essentially, we now have one returing starter on offense in Andrew Gardner...that is it.

On defense, we have 4 returning starters in Walker, Richard, Bowen, and Barnes. You could add Burnett has at least 1/2 a starter since he had all but replaced Roberson and Clark by years end.

This is a lot of turnover...and I hope it stops now.

It is not too often a team has 5 starter-calibre players with eligibility leave the program. To be honest, I am disappointed since the majority of these kids are not looking at NFL anyway and I would have thought their teammates and education meant more to them.

The good news is most of this can be worked out by 2009 season...I am just not so sure about 2008 as of now.

...and I am usually the eternal optimist!!
 
According to theacc.com we have 5 guys returning on offense that have started. Greg Smith, Andrew Gardner, AJ Smith, Cord Howard, and Dan Voss unless something happened to those guys as well that I don't know about yet.

On defense you forget about MJ and Word-Daniels.

So that puts us at 12 returning starters, more than division foes VT and Miami.

Not as bad as it seems.
 
It's been mentioned many times, but last year's offense sucked. Outside of TC we really didn't lose much.
 
When you subtract the contribution made by players that graduated last year, I'm not altogether unhappy with a high degree of turnover in our remaining returning offensive personnel.

The offensive transition from a "playbook on an index card" system to "we may or may not call the play before the ball is snapped" system benefits greatly from all the un-learning that doesn't have to happen.
 
Number of returning starters isn't that cut and dry:

Offense - Andrew Gardner, Bebe is a returning starter, Greg Smith probably could be counted too, then you have 3 OL who could be counted in Voss, Smith, and Howard. But, you can't count 3 starters out of 3 guys who shared time at the same position, so I'd count it as around 4 returning starters on O.

Defense - Walker, Richard, Word-Daniels for sure, then Burnette, Michael Johnson, Barnes, and Bowen could all be counted. For the same reasons as stated, I'd count defense as returning around 5 for a total of roughly 9 returning starters.
 
I am still hoping he can make a strong comeback but you could make an argument for Cord Howard because due to other injuries he started and played a lot; however, I do believe with such a system overhaul just about all of the linemen are even as far as "experience" goes
 

Per the RR


Offensive Starters Returning (4)​
Andrew Gardner OT 6-6 297 Sr.-R Tyrone, Ga.
Cord Howard OT 6-5 308 Jr.-R Phenix City, Ala.
Greg Smith WR 6-3 195 Jr.-R Atlanta, Ga.
Dan Voss OG 6-4 294 Jr.-R Cherry Hill, N.J.
​
Defensive Starters Returning (4)​
Shane Bowen LB 6-1 218 Jr. Pickerington, Ohio
Darryl Richard DT 6-4 290 Sr.-R Destrehan, La.
Vance Walker DT 6-2 293 Sr. Fort Mill, S.C.​
Jahi Word-Daniels CB 6-0 194 Sr. Hoover, Ala.

Also returning players on offense that had significant playing time in meaningful minutes

Offense AJ Smith (6 starts), Bebe (10 starts)*, Dwyer (0 starts), Jamal Evans (1 start), Josh Nesbit (0 starts), David Brown (0 start).
* Note The RR originally listed only 2 WR. James Johnson has been removed from the list because he quit. With 10 starts, Bebe shold have replaced him on that list.
 
Which of these spots do we actually experience a legitimate downgrade in? The only positions I see that I would consider a downgrade at would be MLB and one of the OLBs...
 
odw said:
According to theacc.com we have 5 guys returning on offense that have started. Greg Smith, Andrew Gardner, AJ Smith, Cord Howard, and Dan Voss unless something happened to those guys as well that I don't know about yet.

On defense you forget about MJ and Word-Daniels.

So that puts us at 12 returning starters, more than division foes VT and Miami.

Not as bad as it seems.
Click to expand...

Actually I did not forget about Word...I messed up when listing the 4 and put Barnes in there who was not a starter....neither was MJ. Both Barnes and MJ were situational players that are having to learn to play every down and be more disciplined...which I am confident they will do.

Voss, Howard, and AJ Smith were not full-time starters last year but did start some.

I am talking about bonafide, experienced, every down players.

I just think this year could be tough on offense.
 
knoxjacket said:
Which of these spots do we actually experience a legitimate downgrade in? The only positions I see that I would consider a downgrade at would be MLB and one of the OLBs...
Click to expand...

As of now, the QB situation is a mess and the OL is struggling to pick up the new scheme which is completely different in blocking technique.

I am not saying they cannot do it...I just think we are going to have to exercise some patience this year offensively. I expect lots of turnovers and missed assignments early on.

I hope I am wrong and they all transform over the summer. I also hope Jaybo and Tevin are ready to compete and push for the job.
 
Voss started the last 7 games of the season at LG after McManus was lost to injury.

Howard started the last half of the season at RT after AJ Smith hurt his elbow.

I think it is fair to call them starters.
 
Gardner
Hill
Voss
Howard
Battle between Brown, Yandell, Smith for RT

Howard I think wins, but I could see Smith or Gilbert there. But I think Cord comes through
 
I'd rather that Jaybo can get redshirted and we play Nesbitt or Booker.

This would have been a bad year even without a coaching transition.
 
Allen Koholic said:
I'd rather that Jaybo can get redshirted and we play Nesbitt or Booker.

This would have been a bad year even without a coaching transition.
Click to expand...

With two+ talented option QB's coming in...I would rather play them now...particularly with the prospects of getting a Luellan, Sims, Banks in the 2009 class.

just my opinion fwiw
 
Leatherjacket said:
Voss started the last 7 games of the season at LG after McManus was lost to injury.

Howard started the last half of the season at RT after AJ Smith hurt his elbow.

I think it is fair to call them starters.
Click to expand...

Good point. Essentially we could label the entire offense as non-returning starters since everything is completely new...not just plays...but technique.
 
hiveredtech said:
Good point. Essentially we could label the entire offense as non-returning starters since everything is completely new...not just plays...but technique.
Click to expand...
I agree. returning starter on offense is essentially meaningless.
 
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