The unofficial online home for fans of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(08-11-2014 08:52 AM)flushtheherd Wrote:  I assume that this years returning OL will assist in the growth of our DL. I wonder if this will actually have a better impact on how well prepared our defensive line will be going into game one, practicing against a much improved OL in camp.

Discuss...

I'm hoping that the apparent increase in talent level and depth on both sides of the ball and lines helps both the OL and DL. Obviously, last year the OL gained valuable experience. The DL is going to be filled with young talent. Its going to be interesting to see if both of these units can improve and develop over last year. Because honestly, that's where the games are won and where they are going to have to improve if they hope to compete.

Last year, they weren't able to run the ball on offense and were terrible against the run on defense. This resulted in inflated numbers for the WR corp and for the DBs. I think that we can all agree that the WR and DBs will once again be the most talented spots on our team. But if they cant run the ball or stop the run, its really not going to matter.

So going back to the question you asked. I hope that BOTH are able to help the other develop.....and quickly.

(08-11-2014 11:35 AM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  I still think Devante Lee has got to become a factor this year. At 6'6", 230 lbs how can he not be... He was listed at 230 lbs. back in high school. I have to imagine he's put a lot more weight and muscle on since then too.

+1....

I'm afraid OL is going to be another weak spot for us this year. A year of experience helps a little, but you still need talent and guys that can block. I like Kristof and Beavers, but don't have much faith in our upperclassmen beyond those two right now.

We are going to need some of these 2014 OL guys to step up. After looking at the OL roster, we are up to like 9 OL guys, either RS freshman/true freshman. I know we need depth but come on, other than the 5 2014 kids that were signed, are/were the rest of those kids walk-ons? Unless they are just around for punching bags don't see those 4 guys (non 2014 signees) doing much of anything to improve our OL anytime soon. Then you have several of our upperclassmen who might never see the field. Not trying to be Debbie Downer but we need to build our offensive line. Then you only have 1 OL commit for 2015. Kristof and Beavers need some help.

(08-11-2014 01:39 PM)ITalian83i Wrote:  

(08-11-2014 01:15 PM)Chipdip2 Wrote:  

(08-11-2014 01:09 PM)ITalian83i Wrote:  It would be nice to see some of the DE's with updated weight numbers on the website. Most of the young guys are listed really skinny. Turner is listed at 6-3 and 218. Hard to have an impact at that size and gotta figure he has gained from a redshirt year. Braster, Lee and Bailey are listed bigger, but they never update the website in a timely manor.

DE is the key position in my opinion for a turnaround year for the defense. Generate a pass rush and not have to blitz a ton.

Ash should help clog up the middle and the Freshman Matich is really good. Bigtime bulldog with a good motor.

Our last solid DE was 6'5" 212, and he played significantly for the Browns last year.

He also ran a sub 11 second 100 and got pushed around a lot on the negative side and now plays linebacker.

Now Babin...That was a solid DE and went 260.

I think Hazel was an exception to the rule.

Just saying, you don't have to be 240+ to be an effective DE in the MAC. Hazel played LBer for us too, and Babin played LBer for Houston. I don't know if Turner has Hazel's wheelers, but he was the defensive POY on the scout team and pretty highly regarded out of HS, I suspect he'll be an upgrade to McKinney, and at the very least will add depth on the weak side. Both McKinney and Turner should be fine on passing downs. They're long and have speed. My concern is runs to the strong side, or in a balanced attack. Outside of the two freshmen Lee and Braster I don't think we're big enough to shed run blocks, hence our safeties end up being our leading tacklers.

This may help with comments. I included DE's, DL, LB's, and O Linemen. I was surprised at how many linebackers we had and how few DE's we had.


90 Khairi Bailey DE 6-3 251 RFr. Chicago, Ill. (Morgan Park)
94 Jack McIntee DE 6-2 250 So. Three Rivers, Mich. (Defiance) (Three Rivers)
36 Jeremiah Mullinax DE 6-5 232 RFr. Lincoln Park, Mich. (Southgate Anderson)
5 Andre Turner DE 6-3 218 RFr. Harper Woods, Mich. (Chandler Park Academy)

61 Joe Boggan DL 5-11 289 Fr. Kalamazoo, Mich. (Loy Norrix)
53 Nathan Braster DL 6-5 252 Fr. Fort Wayne, Ind. (South Side)
68 David Curle DL 6-2 290 So. Shelby Township, Mich. (Utica Eisenhower)
51 Devante Lee DL 6-6 230 RFr. Chicago, Ill. (U.S. Simeon Career Academy)
55 Nick Matich DL 6-2 300 Fr. Clarkston, Mich. (Clarkston)
15 Jamar Simpkins DL 6-2 277 So. Miami, Fla. (Monsignor Pace)
8 Cleveland Smith DL 6-1 233 Jr. Miami, Fla. (North Miami Beach)
9 Richard Ash DT 6-3 314 5Sr. Pahokee, Fla.

39 Greg Cognetto K 5-8 165 Sr. Clinton Township, Mich. (Grand Rapids CC) (Chippewa Valley)
96 Jason Evans K 5-9 176 Fr. Oswego, Ill. (Oswego East)
45 Andrew Haldeman K 5-10 168 Jr. Ferndale, Mich. (Wayland Union)
93 Austin Regan K 6-1 180 Fr. New Lenox, Ill. (Providence Catholic)
97 Brett Scanlon K 6-0 205 So. Dowagiac, Mich. (Dowagiac Union)

47 Jake Achterberg LB 5-11 188 Fr. Stevensville, Mich. (Lakeshore)
12 Keion Adams LB 6-3 230 So. Salisbury, N.C. (Salisbury)
20 Caleb Bailey LB 5-11 221 RFr. Romeoville, Ill. (Romeoville)
11 Devon Brant LB 5-10 230 RJr. Ocala, Fla. (North Marion)
56 Kasey Carson LB 5-11 208 RFr. Battle Creek, Mich. (Harper Creek)
46 Lucas Cherocci LB 5-11 216 RFr. Rochester Hills, Mich. (Brother Rice)
54 Joe Cox LB 5-9 202 Fr. Rochester, Mich. (Stoney Creek)
40 Grant DePalma LB 5-9 218 Jr. Arlington Heights, Ill. (Rose-Hulman IT) (Prospect)
32 Donnie Ernsberger LB - Fr. Battle Creek, Mich. (Lakeview)
13 JaKevin Jackson LB 6-3 204 Jr. Milledgeville, Ga. (Georgia Military College)
38 Austin Lewis LB 6-3 215 So. Terre Haute, Ind. (North Vigo)
98 Jarrell McKinney LB 6-4 216 Jr. Detroit, Mich. (Cody)
4 Edward Rolle LB 6-2 187 So. Miami, Fla. (Carol City)
10 Robert Spillane LB 6-2 225 Fr. Oak Park, Ill. (Fenwick)
42 Jason Sylva LB 6-3 245 Jr. Franklin, Mass. (Dean College)

99 Martin Diaz LS 5-10 200 Fr. Miami, Fla. (American Heritage)
43 Wyatt Pfeifer LS 6-2 245 Fr. Delaware, Ohio (Buckeye Valley)
57 Tyler Pinkowski LS 5-10 175 RFr. Southgate, Mich. (Southgate Anderson)

79 James Kristof OG 6-3 296 Jr. Lake Barrington, Ill. (Barrington)
61 Dustin Pringle OG 6-3 292 Jr. Beaver Falls, Pa. (Blackhawk)
59 Mario Rodriguez OG 6-3 265 Sr. Portola, Calif. (Cabrillo) (Portola)
60 Andrew Aurand OL 6-3 307 Jr. Troy, Mich. (Troy Athens)
76 Josh Bass OL 6-4 271 RFr. Battle Creek, Mich. (Harper Creek)
70 Willie Beavers OL 6-4 309 Jr. Lathrup Village, Mich. (Southfield Lathrup)
69 Corey Carr OL 6-1 262 Fr. Portage, Mich. (Portage Central )
65 Jackson Day OL 6-3 279 So. Granger, Ind. (Mishawaka Penn)
67 Curtis Doyle OL 6-5 304 Fr. Alma, Mich. (Alma)
71 Jon Hoffing OL 6-4 285 Sr. Libertyville, Ill. (Libertyville)
63 Kristof Ifkovits OL 6-4 306 RFr. Chicago, Ill. (Geurin College Prep)
64 John Jackson OL 6-2 319 Jr. Detroit, Mich. (Cass Tech)
78 Elliot Jordan OL 6-7 265 Fr. Kentwood, Mich. (East Kentwood)
72 Taylor Moton OL 6-5 291 So. Okemos, Mich. (Okemos)
75 Zach Novoselsky OL 6-5 295 Fr. Lincolnshire, Ill. (Adlai E. Stevenson)
77 Chukwuma Okorafor OL 6-5 275 Fr. Southfield, Mich. (Southfield)
66 Jordan Van Dort OL 6-5 280 Fr. Zeeland, Mich. (Zeeland West)
72 Nate Williams OL 6-3 248 RFr. Kentwood, Mich. (Northwood University)

37 J. Schroeder P 6-0 205 Jr.

(08-11-2014 05:01 PM)bostonbronco Wrote:  This may help with comments. I included DE's, DL, LB's, and O Linemen. I was surprised at how many linebackers we had and how few DE's we had.


90 Khairi Bailey DE 6-3 251 RFr. Chicago, Ill. (Morgan Park)
94 Jack McIntee DE 6-2 250 So. Three Rivers, Mich. (Defiance) (Three Rivers)
36 Jeremiah Mullinax DE 6-5 232 RFr. Lincoln Park, Mich. (Southgate Anderson)
5 Andre Turner DE 6-3 218 RFr. Harper Woods, Mich. (Chandler Park Academy)

61 Joe Boggan DL 5-11 289 Fr. Kalamazoo, Mich. (Loy Norrix)
53 Nathan Braster DL 6-5 252 Fr. Fort Wayne, Ind. (South Side)
68 David Curle DL 6-2 290 So. Shelby Township, Mich. (Utica Eisenhower)
51 Devante Lee DL 6-6 230 RFr. Chicago, Ill. (U.S. Simeon Career Academy)
55 Nick Matich DL 6-2 300 Fr. Clarkston, Mich. (Clarkston)
15 Jamar Simpkins DL 6-2 277 So. Miami, Fla. (Monsignor Pace)
8 Cleveland Smith DL 6-1 233 Jr. Miami, Fla. (North Miami Beach)
9 Richard Ash DT 6-3 314 5Sr. Pahokee, Fla.

39 Greg Cognetto K 5-8 165 Sr. Clinton Township, Mich. (Grand Rapids CC) (Chippewa Valley)
96 Jason Evans K 5-9 176 Fr. Oswego, Ill. (Oswego East)
45 Andrew Haldeman K 5-10 168 Jr. Ferndale, Mich. (Wayland Union)
93 Austin Regan K 6-1 180 Fr. New Lenox, Ill. (Providence Catholic)
97 Brett Scanlon K 6-0 205 So. Dowagiac, Mich. (Dowagiac Union)

47 Jake Achterberg LB 5-11 188 Fr. Stevensville, Mich. (Lakeshore)
12 Keion Adams LB 6-3 230 So. Salisbury, N.C. (Salisbury)
20 Caleb Bailey LB 5-11 221 RFr. Romeoville, Ill. (Romeoville)
11 Devon Brant LB 5-10 230 RJr. Ocala, Fla. (North Marion)
56 Kasey Carson LB 5-11 208 RFr. Battle Creek, Mich. (Harper Creek)
46 Lucas Cherocci LB 5-11 216 RFr. Rochester Hills, Mich. (Brother Rice)
54 Joe Cox LB 5-9 202 Fr. Rochester, Mich. (Stoney Creek)
40 Grant DePalma LB 5-9 218 Jr. Arlington Heights, Ill. (Rose-Hulman IT) (Prospect)
32 Donnie Ernsberger LB - Fr. Battle Creek, Mich. (Lakeview)
13 JaKevin Jackson LB 6-3 204 Jr. Milledgeville, Ga. (Georgia Military College)
38 Austin Lewis LB 6-3 215 So. Terre Haute, Ind. (North Vigo)
98 Jarrell McKinney LB 6-4 216 Jr. Detroit, Mich. (Cody)
4 Edward Rolle LB 6-2 187 So. Miami, Fla. (Carol City)
10 Robert Spillane LB 6-2 225 Fr. Oak Park, Ill. (Fenwick)
42 Jason Sylva LB 6-3 245 Jr. Franklin, Mass. (Dean College)

99 Martin Diaz LS 5-10 200 Fr. Miami, Fla. (American Heritage)
43 Wyatt Pfeifer LS 6-2 245 Fr. Delaware, Ohio (Buckeye Valley)
57 Tyler Pinkowski LS 5-10 175 RFr. Southgate, Mich. (Southgate Anderson)

79 James Kristof OG 6-3 296 Jr. Lake Barrington, Ill. (Barrington)
61 Dustin Pringle OG 6-3 292 Jr. Beaver Falls, Pa. (Blackhawk)
59 Mario Rodriguez OG 6-3 265 Sr. Portola, Calif. (Cabrillo) (Portola)
60 Andrew Aurand OL 6-3 307 Jr. Troy, Mich. (Troy Athens)
76 Josh Bass OL 6-4 271 RFr. Battle Creek, Mich. (Harper Creek)
70 Willie Beavers OL 6-4 309 Jr. Lathrup Village, Mich. (Southfield Lathrup)
69 Corey Carr OL 6-1 262 Fr. Portage, Mich. (Portage Central )
65 Jackson Day OL 6-3 279 So. Granger, Ind. (Mishawaka Penn)
67 Curtis Doyle OL 6-5 304 Fr. Alma, Mich. (Alma)
71 Jon Hoffing OL 6-4 285 Sr. Libertyville, Ill. (Libertyville)
63 Kristof Ifkovits OL 6-4 306 RFr. Chicago, Ill. (Geurin College Prep)
64 John Jackson OL 6-2 319 Jr. Detroit, Mich. (Cass Tech)
78 Elliot Jordan OL 6-7 265 Fr. Kentwood, Mich. (East Kentwood)
72 Taylor Moton OL 6-5 291 So. Okemos, Mich. (Okemos)
75 Zach Novoselsky OL 6-5 295 Fr. Lincolnshire, Ill. (Adlai E. Stevenson)
77 Chukwuma Okorafor OL 6-5 275 Fr. Southfield, Mich. (Southfield)
66 Jordan Van Dort OL 6-5 280 Fr. Zeeland, Mich. (Zeeland West)
72 Nate Williams OL 6-3 248 RFr. Kentwood, Mich. (Northwood University)

37 J. Schroeder P 6-0 205 Jr.

Boston, their roster is not current, and also some of the guys listed on the DL are playing DE. Lee, Smith,and Braster will likely play DE, and Keon Adams and Jerrel McKinney both played a lot at DE last year and will likely be there this year too. So you're really looking at 7 DEs. We only have 4 DTs with the Muskegon kid having to enroll in Jan. so that is the position of greatest concern in my opinion.

Thank you, Chip.

I'm not aware with all this stuff and appreciate input from posters here.

Having said that, our Linebacking corps looks like they have a lot of depth.

Is that also the same with the offensive line? I also could see freshman starting at O-line as the season progresses.

The offensive line is deceptively thin IMO.

(08-11-2014 06:35 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  The offensive line is deceptively thin IMO.

I'm concerned about depth, but not so concerned about the starters. I think Moten is just as good as Beavers. If they feel Rodreguiz is better than Day at guard I'll trust their evaluation. He can move his feet.

I'm more concerned about the depth. When I heard Okafor just turned 17 yesterday I ruled him out for this year. Don't know what Bass's health status is either. If a freshmen or two doesn't develop or Ifkovits, Bass, Day, or Aurant aren't ready, it could be a tough year to run the ball.

Starting 5 should be pretty good if they stay healthy. Beavers, Kristof, Hoffing, Day/Rodriguez, Moten. After that, the depth isnt there.

The weights aren't accurate. I know that Adams is up to 260 for sure. Jimmy Kristof and Moton are in the 320 range.

I am still of the opinion that Devante Lee will turn out to be one of our better DEs. His listed weight is 230, but that hasn't been updated since he played HS ball. From what I've seen in person, he looks to be AT LEAST 250 now, and very athletic. 6'6" height and long arms. I want to see him become the next Paul Hazel but with a little more bulk.

How realistic are those heights/weights?

It always seems they're embellished for sure in high school and some in college too.

(08-12-2014 10:29 AM)thegeneral Wrote:  How realistic are those heights/weights?

It always seems they're embellished for sure in high school and some in college too.

If anything they are undersold on the lineman, but maybe oversold on some of the receivers and defensive backs.