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So our skill players are obviously back (QB, top RBs and WRs). But where do we lose the most to graduation? Is it O-Line and Secondary? Where are we most vulnerable and need holes to fill?

WMU graduates its Center and RG from the Oline. Also graduate the FS and 1 of the CB's who were both All-MAC performers.

Oline will be better next year.

DBs could be a push at best, a slight downgrade at worst.

Personally, I think the player who will be missed most is Ash. Had he played here for four years I think he'd get drafted. The guy got better every game, and was a force by the end of the season.

Many will disagree, but I believe we can upgrade the QB position.

(12-20-2014 11:02 PM)Chipdip2 Wrote:  Personally, I think the player who will be missed most is Ash. Had he played here for four years I think he'd get drafted. The guy got better every game, and was a force by the end of the season.

I agree with this. I know we will have more depth on the D-line next year, but he did a great job this season and will be difficult to replace.

(12-20-2014 11:02 PM)Chipdip2 Wrote:  Oline will be better next year.

DBs could be a push at best, a slight downgrade at worst.

Personally, I think the player who will be missed most is Ash. Had he played here for four years I think he'd get drafted. The guy got better every game, and was a force by the end of the season.

Many will disagree, but I believe we can upgrade the QB position.

Only way the QB position gets better is if he is a major run threat. ZT's only weakness was TO's, and he only did that in a few games. Much improved in that category from last year. His game experience is invaluable.

Unless Stewart really wows the staff in spring, I can't see ZT losing the job. Remove the bowl game, wasn't he rated like the 2nd most accurate passer in the MAC?

(12-20-2014 11:56 PM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  Unless Stewart really wows the staff in spring, I can't see ZT losing the job. Remove the bowl game, wasn't he rated like the 2nd most accurate passer in the MAC?

Dinks and dunks for the most part. Run after the catch. A lot of that yardage is on the receivers. I have seen very few timing routes where he throws to a spot and the route comes to the ball. Haven't seen a back shoulder throw that goes down field, but can't be picked. These were staples with Carder and Hiller. I think he has a nice touch onhis ball, but Im still not convinced he has a big arm.

Knowing the offense is a big edge, but it doesn't mean you're the better QB. While I think Wassink redshirts, he brings a unique skill set that we don't have currently. I wouldn't even rule him out.

Cubit likely lost his job by going with experience (Carder), rather than the hot hand at the time, in TVT. And I just don't believe he recruited Stewart to ride the bench for three years. Stewart was his signature recruit.

Fleck has shown he is willing to put freshmen on the field if he thinks they can contribute. Only takes one nicked up ankle to take you out a series, and if the next guy in lights a fire, he may never come out......ever.

Offense is going to be beastly next year. Terrell, Franklin, Davis, Braverman, Phillips, Boyden and many more will all be back. Stewart could push Terrell for the starting job though (would have to really impress in the spring and in fall camp though).

On defense we lose Celiscar, Currie, Atkins and a few more, but I think we've got plenty of depth in the secondary. Not to mention our top 4 LBs were out this season and should be back next year.

I think I agree with dip that Ash will be missed the most.

We only graduate a total of 12 seniors. So many guys will be back next year, it's hard to not get excited for the MSU game already.

Atkins got a redshirt last year, so he will be back! Our linebackers will be much improved with the guys coming back from injuries that have size and speed. I think we need more beef on the DLINE as you see what happens against a team that can run the ball. The secondary will have to fill two key spots, but they should have the players to do so. On offense we really are losing 1 player at center, so I only see an offense that becomes more potent! Hard to shallow the last two losses, but you can't tell me that nexts years team wont have more talent than this year! RTB!

Since this thread was named strengths and weaknesses, one that seems obvious to me is RB.

We rode one horse hard this season and he is magnificent but when he came up lame, we had no backup with significant playing experience other than Chance. We saw the results. We got by Central-Eastern but Northern and AF.....

I hope we learn from that and get some other backs more work in the future. Besides, I want to see what they have. This is more of a kind of a tactical move by the coaching staff.

I think in regards to RB, Bogan and Ekwoge both didn't play this year and will hopefully be all the better for it next year. I think they could be a nice backup to Franklin if he needs a breather or unfortunately gets hurt again next year.

I think our biggest weakness is definitely the D-Line. Not a lot of big bodies or experience. I think they will need to be the most improved going into next year.

We need somebody to emerge as a true pass catching tight end on third down.

Boyden is a great blocker but besides that, he provides very little value IMO. I'd like to see Bezerra or McDaniel step in and make some big time catches on third down and play actions.

I can't remember Boyden dropping any balls. In fact he had some nice catches. They just never throw to him.

Losing Ash is going to hurt, but I think people forget that Kenny Finley should be eligible to play, and he is a significant talent, and has been biding his time working out and such. Also, it's important to note the vast improvement in strength and size the Broncos experienced on both lines after last off-season. Another year in the strength and conditioning program is going to continue to improve things. Especially for the freshmen like Braster and Matich.

Guys like Cleveland Smith, Andre Turner, and Jarrell McKinney are light years ahead of where they were a year and half ago. I suspect that guys like David Curle, Jamar Simpkins, and Keion Adams are only going to continue to get better.

I think the D Line will actually begin to be one of their strengths.

Losing Celiscar and Currie is going to be tough, but there is some real talent back there. Might take a few lumps along the way, but the future in the defensive backfield might be brighter than what we have right now.

Offensively, I hope Stewart evolves. I was impressed with Terrell on several fronts. I still believe though that at times we could stand to have that guy with that big arm that can fit a pass into small windows. I think it's telling that Terrell's two biggest struggles were against Northern Illinois and Air Force.

(12-21-2014 11:47 AM)Stampede your face!! Wrote:  Losing Ash is going to hurt, but I think people forget that Kenny Finley should be eligible to play, and he is a significant talent, and has been biding his time working out and such. Also, it's important to note the vast improvement in strength and size the Broncos experienced on both lines after last off-season. Another year in the strength and conditioning program is going to continue to improve things. Especially for the freshmen like Braster and Matich.

Guys like Cleveland Smith, Andre Turner, and Jarrell McKinney are light years ahead of where they were a year and half ago. I suspect that guys like David Curle, Jamar Simpkins, and Keion Adams are only going to continue to get better.

I think the D Line will actually begin to be one of their strengths.

Losing Celiscar and Currie is going to be tough, but there is some real talent back there. Might take a few lumps along the way, but the future in the defensive backfield might be brighter than what we have right now.

Offensively, I hope Stewart evolves. I was impressed with Terrell on several fronts. I still believe though that at times we could stand to have that guy with that big arm that can fit a pass into small windows. I think it's telling that Terrell's two biggest struggles were against Northern Illinois and Air Force.

How'd Terrell struggle against AFA?

(12-21-2014 06:59 PM)gobaseline Wrote:  How'd Terrell struggle against AFA?

Quite a few of his throws were off - high, behind the WR, etc. Don't know if he was having trouble gripping the ball or what but his completion percentage was way down from what is normal for him. Granted, our WRs dropped 5 or 6 very catchable balls but some throws were not even in the same zip code or altitude. The AFA defense at times had everybody covered and he simply had to throw the ball away. That is one area where he has improved greatly, decision making and not trying to force something that is not there.

Zach was not the reason we lost this game but I'd agree with those who say it wasn't one of his better games. He did lay out several nice throws to Davis, though.

I doubt anyone will question Hawk if he ends up starting Dugan ahead of Lamont even though Lamont will have a year of solid PT under his belt. No different with Terrell and Stewart.

As Hawk once said when I asked him his recruiting philosophy. "I want to get players who are better than the ones I already have." I'd bet PJs is the same.

(12-21-2014 07:28 PM)MileHighBronco Wrote:  

(12-21-2014 06:59 PM)gobaseline Wrote:  How'd Terrell struggle against AFA?

Quite a few of his throws were off - high, behind the WR, etc. Don't know if he was having trouble gripping the ball or what but his completion percentage was way down from what is normal for him. Granted, our WRs dropped 5 or 6 very catchable balls but some throws were not even in the same zip code or altitude. The AFA defense at times had everybody covered and he simply had to throw the ball away. That is one area where he has improved greatly, decision making and not trying to force something that is not there.

Zach was not the reason we lost this game but I'd agree with those who say it wasn't one of his better games. He did lay out several nice throws to Davis, though.

I'm not comparing this game against his best game. I'm simply pointing out that with no running game, other than Zach, he had no picks, several TD's and as pointed numerous drops when delivering right on the numbers. Some bad throws? Ok. But as you said, some throw aways. Good decisions to not take a sack or try to thread a needle when catcher mitts for receivers with no defenders near by wasnt cutting it.

I tire of the subjective negativity directed at this kids performances even when he's playing with a piano on his back. His performance this season has made some begrudgingly polite. The second Nirvana isn't achieved the doubters raise their hands again. And not one of them could play in their day. I think it's called armchair.

Before the season I could care less who played QB. As the summer unfolded and into the season as I read how terrible Zach was I gradually became a fan. Mostly because the unsubstantiated criticism. It has been both a successful season for the kids and pleasant watch the armchairs squirm.

Did Zach attend the PSL?

(12-21-2014 07:51 PM)Chipdip2 Wrote:  I doubt anyone will question Hawk if he ends up starting Dugan ahead of Lamont even though Lamont will have a year of solid PT under his belt. No different with Terrell and Stewart.

As Hawk once said when I asked him his recruiting philosophy. "I want to get players who are better than the ones I already have." I'd bet PJs is the same.

I don't see Stewart being better than Terrell. People say dink and dunk all the time. What does that even mean? What people don't realize is that WR screen pass is still a 20-30 yard throw on a line. Its actually a harder throw to make than a 20 yard slant or post over the middle. Stretching the field horizontally is just as important as vertically in a spread offense. ZT has a big enough arm to do that.

The only thing that padded Terrell stats a bit were the jet sweep touches to Braverman and Phillips, and that was probably only 10-20 the entire year.

Even without those, ZT was still above 65% completion rate.