what position on the team concerns you the most?

[GTKyle]

Our CB's are going to be very good this year, maybe the best we've had in a long time. Our linebackers are where we get hammered the most.

But generally the games we lost were due to an inability to handle a stout defensive line. So I have to say it's our OL that is the biggest question. On top of that, we've had too many injuries at OL recently, further making it clear where our concerns are.

ONE of our CBs will be good if he plays there (Burnett).

 

[The Champ]

Ummm... Sedric Griffin was one of the better players on the D last year... But there is a lot of depth at LB each player is being cross trained to know all 3 positions.
I haven't heard many mentioned the Dbs. For a unit that gave up an avg of 32 the last half of the season should warrant some concern

Griffin was average at best last year. He would make a great play then grossly overpursue and be out of position on the next play. I don't remember any linebacker making a game changing play last year, whether it be getting to the quarterback, stopping the run or playing in pass coverage. When your safeties are your leading tacklers every game it is a sign that your linebackers are bad, look at the Virginia game where Pearman ate us alive in the flats. Jefferson and Barnes seem to have the measurables but we're unimpressive. Griffin may have been the best but was nothing great, Kyle Jackson was very average. Just because you are returning players doesn't mean you are going to be ok at that position if they don't improve.

 

[yellowandnaked]

Griffin was average at best last year. He would make a great play then grossly overpursue and be out of position on the next play. I don't remember any linebacker making a game changing play last year, whether it be getting to the quarterback, stopping the run or playing in pass coverage. When your safeties are your leading tacklers every game it is a sign that your linebackers are bad, look at the Virginia game where Pearman ate us alive in the flats. Jefferson and Barnes seem to have the measurables but we're unimpressive. Griffin may have been the best but was nothing great, Kyle Jackson was very average. Just because you are returning players doesn't mean you are going to be ok at that position if they don't improve.

Good post! You're right on! Hopefully we WILL improve and Jefferson can make a bigger impact considering he should be healthy.

 

[stinger78]

Griffin was average at best last year. He would make a great play then grossly overpursue and be out of position on the next play. I don't remember any linebacker making a game changing play last year, whether it be getting to the quarterback, stopping the run or playing in pass coverage. When your safeties are your leading tacklers every game it is a sign that your linebackers are bad, look at the Virginia game where Pearman ate us alive in the flats. Jefferson and Barnes seem to have the measurables but we're unimpressive. Griffin may have been the best but was nothing great, Kyle Jackson was very average. Just because you are returning players doesn't mean you are going to be ok at that position if they don't improve.

+1

 

[GoldZ]

JWE37 hits NOTH! If Josh stays healthy and our OL, DL, & LBs are average, we'll bee fine. If he doesn't and our OL, DL, & LBs are above average, we are still in trouble.

 

[refrigeratormover]

So your saying if 75% of the team succeeds we are good and the same 75% fail then we are in trouble? Not going out on a limb are you? J/K, I hope you know that.

It always starts with the line PERIOD! we need 8 to 10 kids ready to go at all times and not just bodies. Give Sewak and Spencer a little time. I was very impressed by their coaching style last week. I'm excited.

 

[idaman54]

Griffin was average at best last year. He would make a great play then grossly overpursue and be out of position on the next play. I don't remember any linebacker making a game changing play last year, whether it be getting to the quarterback, stopping the run or playing in pass coverage. When your safeties are your leading tacklers every game it is a sign that your linebackers are bad, look at the Virginia game where Pearman ate us alive in the flats. Jefferson and Barnes seem to have the measurables but we're unimpressive. Griffin may have been the best but was nothing great, Kyle Jackson was very average. Just because you are returning players doesn't mean you are going to be ok at that position if they don't improve.

Ummm... lets see game changing plays by the LBs:
1. Griffin diving over the line to make the tackle in the backfield on 3rd & goal at the 1 vs. Miss St.... but all we hear about is MJ blocked field goal

2. Griffin blasting Tyler Grisham on the reverse to create the interception for Reese TD

3. 3rd down sack by, who else, Sed Griffin in the fourth quarter
i wonder if he would have been "average" if our underachieving DL actually showed up

And for those who dont know this Defense it is predicated on maintaining your gap and making the ball go lateral on the run. Each LB must "spill" the ball to the alley to the force player who is 90% of the time is the safety. That explains why Morgan and Cooper were the tacklers. And finally did you ever think that there may have been a coverage issue in the Virginia game? The Defense runs a lot of cov 3 and 4 which leaves the flats wide open.

Even though the LBs were not great unit last year, the Dbs are very close 2nd to the OL. In the secondary you have a Superstar(Burnett), an inconsistent FS/Wolf (Cooper), two CBs that wont tackle air, and another CB that hasnt played football in almost 3 years(Tarrant) so that should not warrant any major concern

p.s. not trying to sound like a pessimist... just a diehard Techie

 

[GTLiebs]

Ummm... lets see game changing plays by the LBs:
1. Griffin diving over the line to make the tackle in the backfield on 3rd & goal at the 1 vs. Miss St.... but all we hear about is MJ blocked field goal

2. Griffin blasting Tyler Grisham on the reverse to create the interception for Reese TD

3. 3rd down sack by, who else, Sed Griffin in the fourth quarter
i wonder if he would have been "average" if our underachieving DL actually showed up

I'm not trying to refute the spirit of your argument, but you should look for instances against some of our harder opponents. I'm pretty sure you second point is from the Clemson game but I don't know which game you mean for the 3rd point. It's just that both of those teams finished with losing records and fired their head coaches, so while it shows skill it might not be the same against FSU and VT.

 

[idaman54]

That 3rd point was against FSU

 

[stinger78]

Ummm... lets see game changing plays by the LBs:
1. Griffin diving over the line to make the tackle in the backfield on 3rd & goal at the 1 vs. Miss St.... but all we hear about is MJ blocked field goal

2. Griffin blasting Tyler Grisham on the reverse to create the interception for Reese TD

3. 3rd down sack by, who else, Sed Griffin in the fourth quarter
i wonder if he would have been "average" if our underachieving DL actually showed up

And for those who dont know this Defense it is predicated on maintaining your gap and making the ball go lateral on the run. Each LB must "spill" the ball to the alley to the force player who is 90% of the time is the safety. That explains why Morgan and Cooper were the tacklers. And finally did you ever think that there may have been a coverage issue in the Virginia game? The Defense runs a lot of cov 3 and 4 which leaves the flats wide open.

Even though the LBs were not great unit last year, the Dbs are very close 2nd to the OL. In the secondary you have a Superstar(Burnett), an inconsistent FS/Wolf (Cooper), two CBs that wont tackle air, and another CB that hasnt played football in almost 3 years(Tarrant) so that should not warrant any major concern

p.s. not trying to sound like a pessimist... just a diehard Techie

Our LB play last year was marginal at best overall. They made some nice plays throughout the season, here and there, but were very inconsistent overall.

 

[law_bee]

It has to be DLine. We have lost too many players to think that will be smooth.

This type offense allows Oline to have an advantage and we will have more depth than last year. When you consider all the injuries to oline players last year I am not convinced that we will have ANY drop off.

Dline will have a drop off guaranteed.

 

[GTCrew]

Ummm... lets see game changing plays by the LBs:
1. Griffin diving over the line to make the tackle in the backfield on 3rd & goal at the 1 vs. Miss St.... but all we hear about is MJ blocked field goal

2. Griffin blasting Tyler Grisham on the reverse to create the interception for Reese TD

3. 3rd down sack by, who else, Sed Griffin in the fourth quarter
i wonder if he would have been "average" if our underachieving DL actually showed up

And for those who dont know this Defense it is predicated on maintaining your gap and making the ball go lateral on the run. Each LB must "spill" the ball to the alley to the force player who is 90% of the time is the safety. That explains why Morgan and Cooper were the tacklers. And finally did you ever think that there may have been a coverage issue in the Virginia game? The Defense runs a lot of cov 3 and 4 which leaves the flats wide open.

Even though the LBs were not great unit last year, the Dbs are very close 2nd to the OL. In the secondary you have a Superstar(Burnett), an inconsistent FS/Wolf (Cooper), two CBs that wont tackle air, and another CB that hasnt played football in almost 3 years(Tarrant) so that should not warrant any major concern

p.s. not trying to sound like a pessimist... just a diehard Techie

LB would not be concern if we had 6 Griffins. Can you help me with the logic of why would our own coaches drop our base D from 3 LBs to 2 thereby adding permanent playing time to a non-starter (and possibly inconsistant) Safety unless they really think that we have three better safeties than three good LBs?

Some might argue that our Pass D was weak because the LBs (a) did not drop back into coverage well or (b) did not get to the QB when blitzing. IIRC when we had what I thought were good LBs they led the team in tackles. Apparently they weren't supposed to do that. They were supposed to direct the ballcarriers to the safeties.:biggthumpup:

I'm no expert, but Cooper reminds me of Reis. The guy seemed to have superhuman football instincts. The fact that he didn't start means Safety is very solid at least 3 deep. I thought Reid did a good job with his primary role for a freshman and while he's got a ways to go we could do a lot worse. Tarrant is getting raves from Spring practice so I have to trust that. Of course only the most optimistic jacket would have confidence throughout the depth chart however the fact that Tarrant is returning kicks may mean that the coaches don't believe he is irreplaceable at CB.

One last point is I believe that if we had Smith, Wimbush, etc then the safeties would be able to 'focus' less on run support and more on pass support.

 

[GTCrew]

I will have to argue with myself. DBs may currently be a bigger issue than LBs for 2009 specifically because of the move the coaches made. We know we have three good game ready safeties and we believe we will field two decent corners but now depth is a problem all over back there.

On the other hand we will be getting some very good new DBs this fall and DB may be easiest to plug in true frosh if necessary to supplement depth. Certainly easier than LB.

 

[gt23eric]

DB isn't a big Concern to me. JT is an excellent corner. Then we have a starter from last year moving to corner number 3. Corey Earls is showing promise. I do think Roderick Sweeting has a good chance to play this year though.

 

[idaman54]

LB would not be concern if we had 6 Griffins. Can you help me with the logic of why would our own coaches drop our base D from 3 LBs to 2 thereby adding permanent playing time to a non-starter (and possibly inconsistant) Safety unless they really think that we have three better safeties than three good LBs?

Some might argue that our Pass D was weak because the LBs (a) did not drop back into coverage well or (b) did not get to the QB when blitzing. IIRC when we had what I thought were good LBs they led the team in tackles. Apparently they weren't supposed to do that. They were supposed to direct the ballcarriers to the safeties.:biggthumpup:

I'm no expert, but Cooper reminds me of Reis. The guy seemed to have superhuman football instincts. The fact that he didn't start means Safety is very solid at least 3 deep. I thought Reid did a good job with his primary role for a freshman and while he's got a ways to go we could do a lot worse. Tarrant is getting raves from Spring practice so I have to trust that. Of course only the most optimistic jacket would have confidence throughout the depth chart however the fact that Tarrant is returning kicks may mean that the coaches don't believe he is irreplaceable at CB.

One last point is I believe that if we had Smith, Wimbush, etc then the safeties would be able to 'focus' less on run support and more on pass support.

I will certainly help you with the logic.DW did not drop the base 4-3 it is about matchups my friend. 9/12 of the teams we play base out of 11 personnel(1RB 1TE) on offense and it would be very stupid to match a LB vs. Slot fast receiver. when we play teams like UNC and Georgia the 3rd LB will be out there.

 

[BEEFENSE]

O-line---but I think we will be OK--make that I PRAY we will be OK!

 

[GTCrew]

If that was true its genious that PJ is running a 4-2-5 and all those other coaches are dumbdonkeys and will have 4-3-4.

Every week be sure to remind me how dumb Foster is for trying to defend in the ACC with three linebackers ...

 

[Jerry the Jacket]

It's got to be quarterback. College teams live and die with their quarterback. We have a good one who might become great in Josh. The problem with Josh is he is just injury prone and you can almost predict, he will not be able to play an entire season. Jaybo is a servicable backup but just not built to take the punishment so he probably will not last more than a few games. Tevin is still trying to figure the offense out and while a talented young player, just would struggle if thrown into a game situation.

So QB is our achilles heal. We got to hope Josh can get over the injury bug and stay on the field. If we lose him, we lose a lot of our swagger. Jaybo can handle things for a while but if he goes down we are bailing water.

Go Jackets!

 

[GTLiebs]

It's got to be quarterback. College teams live and die with their quarterback. We have a good one who might become great in Josh. The problem with Josh is he is just injury prone and you can almost predict, he will not be able to play an entire season. Jaybo is a servicable backup but just not built to take the punishment so he probably will not last more than a few games. Tevin is still trying to figure the offense out and while a talented young player, just would struggle if thrown into a game situation.

So QB is our achilles heal. We got to hope Josh can get over the injury bug and stay on the field. If we lose him, we lose a lot of our swagger. Jaybo can handle things for a while but if he goes down we are bailing water.

Go Jackets!

Certainly take a situation where we're stuck with Tevin than with Booker, no offense to him.

 

[GT_LUVER]

Certainly take a situation where we're stuck with Tevin than with Booker, no offense to him.

Me too. No offense to Booker but he wasnt meant for this type of offense. I think Tevin could make a few big plays with his legs if needed.