Absolutely. Look for the guy with the very happy Holstein cow on a leash.

http://www.gobearcats.com/roster.aspx?path=football

as we head off to camp, some quick thoughts about position groups...

QB: We at least have some stability with the same 2 guys returning. Hopefully the QB play improves or the rest of this post about positions doesn't matter.

RB: Mike Boone and then some nice looking backups who have never taken a college snap.

OL: With Stout no longer on the roster we are replacing 4 out of 5 starters on the OL. That unit struggled last year but guys like Bond, Leahey, and Stout were pretty decent and will be missed.

TE: Some stability there as well.

WR: Lewis and Grey and then several unproven or young guys.

DL: We only have 2 guys with experience who are actually DT's in Copeland and Broughton. They are pretty solid but you need a rotation and its back to guys with no experience and/or freshman after them.

LB: We have a senior and a sophomore and then a roster of freshmen to fill out all of the other snaps for the season.

CB: With Thomas gone we have a couple upper classmen in Stephens and Coleman who struggled frequently to find the ball in the air and then a lot of unknown.

S: Carter Jacobs and Gilbert provide some needed experience.

K: Gantz coming back from injury will be big.

P: An aussie who has never played a snap of American Football.

It is a very good thing this is not a tougher schedule or we could have been in for a damned long year. We may still be in for a longer one than expected or hoped for.

(07-24-2017 04:15 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  http://www.gobearcats.com/roster.aspx?path=football

as we head off to camp, some quick thoughts about position groups...

QB: We at least have some stability with the same 2 guys returning. Hopefully the QB play improves or the rest of this post about positions doesn't matter.

RB: Mike Boone and then some nice looking backups who have never taken a college snap.

OL: With Stout no longer on the roster we are replacing 4 out of 5 starters on the OL. That unit struggled last year but guys like Bond, Leahey, and Stout were pretty decent and will be missed.

TE: Some stability there as well.

WR: Lewis and Grey and then several unproven or young guys.

DL: We only have 2 guys with experience who are actually DT's in Copeland and Broughton. They are pretty solid but you need a rotation and its back to guys with no experience and/or freshman after them.

LB: We have a senior and a sophomore and then a roster of freshmen to fill out all of the other snaps for the season.

CB: With Thomas gone we have a couple upper classmen in Stephens and Coleman who struggled frequently to find the ball in the air and then a lot of unknown.

S: Carter Jacobs and Gilbert provide some needed experience.

K: Gantz coming back from injury will be big.

P: An aussie who has never played a snap of American Football.

It is a very good thing this is not a tougher schedule or we could have been in for a damned long year. We may still be in for a longer one than expected or hoped for.

Great post. I completely agree. The fact that the roster is so thin makes the losses of Stout and Thomas all the bigger.

(07-24-2017 04:46 PM)BJUnklFkr Wrote:  

(07-24-2017 04:15 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  http://www.gobearcats.com/roster.aspx?path=football

as we head off to camp, some quick thoughts about position groups...

QB: We at least have some stability with the same 2 guys returning. Hopefully the QB play improves or the rest of this post about positions doesn't matter.

RB: Mike Boone and then some nice looking backups who have never taken a college snap.

OL: With Stout no longer on the roster we are replacing 4 out of 5 starters on the OL. That unit struggled last year but guys like Bond, Leahey, and Stout were pretty decent and will be missed.

TE: Some stability there as well.

WR: Lewis and Grey and then several unproven or young guys.

DL: We only have 2 guys with experience who are actually DT's in Copeland and Broughton. They are pretty solid but you need a rotation and its back to guys with no experience and/or freshman after them.

LB: We have a senior and a sophomore and then a roster of freshmen to fill out all of the other snaps for the season.

CB: With Thomas gone we have a couple upper classmen in Stephens and Coleman who struggled frequently to find the ball in the air and then a lot of unknown.

S: Carter Jacobs and Gilbert provide some needed experience.

K: Gantz coming back from injury will be big.

P: An aussie who has never played a snap of American Football.

It is a very good thing this is not a tougher schedule or we could have been in for a damned long year. We may still be in for a longer one than expected or hoped for.

Great post. I completely agree. The fact that the roster is so thin makes the losses of Stout and Thomas all the bigger.

I remain optimistic for improvement in wins total and performance overall but these factors do temper this a bit. Injuries happen every year so we can only hope, as stated above, that it is not to a key position or to a thin position group. If it does (outside of QB) keep the fingers crossed that we find a young'n who steps up and performs better than expected. A lot to ask and hope for but it is what it is.

I'm really worried about the defense. You can use smoke and mirrors on offense to offset lack of depth but on D, other teams see that on film in flashing neon lights. To say we are not thin on experience is like saying the guy in UC1992's signature doesn't look like Ted Cruz in a hijab.

Not to be too freaked by lack of depth and experience that we can't change now, but literally any injury to our starters early in the season before some of these guys get caught up to the speed of the game could be a season changer. Here is praying for a healthy camp.

we're hosed

(07-24-2017 06:17 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  I'm really worried about the defense. You can use smoke and mirrors on offense to offset lack of depth but on D, other teams see that on film in flashing neon lights. To say we are not thin on experience is like saying the guy in UC1992's signature doesn't look like Ted Cruz in a hijab.

Not to be too freaked by lack of depth and experience that we can't change now, but literally any injury to our starters early in the season before some of these guys get caught up to the speed of the game could be a season changer. Here is praying for a healthy camp.

I think the one saving grace is our depth at DE (given that they can develop a scheme to provide pressure) will help a bit. Truthfully, our linebackers are athletic with coverage experience (Young, Potts, and White were all safeties) and lack of DT depth would be worse with if we were in a league that relied on the run. With that being said, we're going to have 2009 level issues if our DEs can't find the QBs.

(07-24-2017 04:15 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  http://www.gobearcats.com/roster.aspx?path=football

as we head off to camp, some quick thoughts about position groups...

QB: We at least have some stability with the same 2 guys returning. Hopefully the QB play improves or the rest of this post about positions doesn't matter.

RB: Mike Boone and then some nice looking backups who have never taken a college snap.

OL: With Stout no longer on the roster we are replacing 4 out of 5 starters on the OL. That unit struggled last year but guys like Bond, Leahey, and Stout were pretty decent and will be missed.

TE: Some stability there as well.

WR: Lewis and Grey and then several unproven or young guys.

DL: We only have 2 guys with experience who are actually DT's in Copeland and Broughton. They are pretty solid but you need a rotation and its back to guys with no experience and/or freshman after them.

LB: We have a senior and a sophomore and then a roster of freshmen to fill out all of the other snaps for the season.

CB: With Thomas gone we have a couple upper classmen in Stephens and Coleman who struggled frequently to find the ball in the air and then a lot of unknown.

S: Carter Jacobs and Gilbert provide some needed experience.

K: Gantz coming back from injury will be big.

P: An aussie who has never played a snap of American Football.

It is a very good thing this is not a tougher schedule or we could have been in for a damned long year. We may still be in for a longer one than expected or hoped for.

I believe the improved S&C program will have a great impact, especially on the OL

(07-25-2017 07:26 AM)Crewdogz Wrote:  

(07-24-2017 04:15 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  http://www.gobearcats.com/roster.aspx?path=football

as we head off to camp, some quick thoughts about position groups...

QB: We at least have some stability with the same 2 guys returning. Hopefully the QB play improves or the rest of this post about positions doesn't matter.

RB: Mike Boone and then some nice looking backups who have never taken a college snap.

OL: With Stout no longer on the roster we are replacing 4 out of 5 starters on the OL. That unit struggled last year but guys like Bond, Leahey, and Stout were pretty decent and will be missed.

TE: Some stability there as well.

WR: Lewis and Grey and then several unproven or young guys.

DL: We only have 2 guys with experience who are actually DT's in Copeland and Broughton. They are pretty solid but you need a rotation and its back to guys with no experience and/or freshman after them.

LB: We have a senior and a sophomore and then a roster of freshmen to fill out all of the other snaps for the season.

CB: With Thomas gone we have a couple upper classmen in Stephens and Coleman who struggled frequently to find the ball in the air and then a lot of unknown.

S: Carter Jacobs and Gilbert provide some needed experience.

K: Gantz coming back from injury will be big.

P: An aussie who has never played a snap of American Football.

It is a very good thing this is not a tougher schedule or we could have been in for a damned long year. We may still be in for a longer one than expected or hoped for.

I believe the improved S&C program will have a great impact, especially on the OL

I hope, but it is my observation that the most successful olines have multiple returning players. Strength and conditioning is very important, but the gelling is also important. To complicate this further, they are installing a new offense.

(07-25-2017 08:28 AM)rosewater Wrote:  

(07-25-2017 07:26 AM)Crewdogz Wrote:  

(07-24-2017 04:15 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  http://www.gobearcats.com/roster.aspx?path=football

as we head off to camp, some quick thoughts about position groups...

QB: We at least have some stability with the same 2 guys returning. Hopefully the QB play improves or the rest of this post about positions doesn't matter.

RB: Mike Boone and then some nice looking backups who have never taken a college snap.

OL: With Stout no longer on the roster we are replacing 4 out of 5 starters on the OL. That unit struggled last year but guys like Bond, Leahey, and Stout were pretty decent and will be missed.

TE: Some stability there as well.

WR: Lewis and Grey and then several unproven or young guys.

DL: We only have 2 guys with experience who are actually DT's in Copeland and Broughton. They are pretty solid but you need a rotation and its back to guys with no experience and/or freshman after them.

LB: We have a senior and a sophomore and then a roster of freshmen to fill out all of the other snaps for the season.

CB: With Thomas gone we have a couple upper classmen in Stephens and Coleman who struggled frequently to find the ball in the air and then a lot of unknown.

S: Carter Jacobs and Gilbert provide some needed experience.

K: Gantz coming back from injury will be big.

P: An aussie who has never played a snap of American Football.

It is a very good thing this is not a tougher schedule or we could have been in for a damned long year. We may still be in for a longer one than expected or hoped for.

I believe the improved S&C program will have a great impact, especially on the OL

I hope, but it is my observation that the most successful olines have multiple returning players. Strength and conditioning is very important, but the gelling is also important. To complicate this further, they are installing a new offense.

Our QB's were getting run out of the pocket on basically every passing play with more than a three step drop last year, so I doubt it could get any worse. Bond will be a big loss though, not sure who our center is going to be but Bond had 4 years of experience organizing protections.

(07-25-2017 08:55 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(07-25-2017 08:28 AM)rosewater Wrote:  

(07-25-2017 07:26 AM)Crewdogz Wrote:  

(07-24-2017 04:15 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  http://www.gobearcats.com/roster.aspx?path=football

as we head off to camp, some quick thoughts about position groups...

QB: We at least have some stability with the same 2 guys returning. Hopefully the QB play improves or the rest of this post about positions doesn't matter.

RB: Mike Boone and then some nice looking backups who have never taken a college snap.

OL: With Stout no longer on the roster we are replacing 4 out of 5 starters on the OL. That unit struggled last year but guys like Bond, Leahey, and Stout were pretty decent and will be missed.

TE: Some stability there as well.

WR: Lewis and Grey and then several unproven or young guys.

DL: We only have 2 guys with experience who are actually DT's in Copeland and Broughton. They are pretty solid but you need a rotation and its back to guys with no experience and/or freshman after them.

LB: We have a senior and a sophomore and then a roster of freshmen to fill out all of the other snaps for the season.

CB: With Thomas gone we have a couple upper classmen in Stephens and Coleman who struggled frequently to find the ball in the air and then a lot of unknown.

S: Carter Jacobs and Gilbert provide some needed experience.

K: Gantz coming back from injury will be big.

P: An aussie who has never played a snap of American Football.

It is a very good thing this is not a tougher schedule or we could have been in for a damned long year. We may still be in for a longer one than expected or hoped for.

I believe the improved S&C program will have a great impact, especially on the OL

I hope, but it is my observation that the most successful olines have multiple returning players. Strength and conditioning is very important, but the gelling is also important. To complicate this further, they are installing a new offense.

Our QB's were getting run out of the pocket on basically every passing play with more than a three step drop last year, so I doubt it could get any worse. Bond will be a big loss though, not sure who our center is going to be but Bond had 4 years of experience organizing protections.

You mean organizing protections that didn't protect anyone?

(07-25-2017 09:03 AM)Bearcatbdub Wrote:  

(07-25-2017 08:55 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(07-25-2017 08:28 AM)rosewater Wrote:  

(07-25-2017 07:26 AM)Crewdogz Wrote:  

(07-24-2017 04:15 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  http://www.gobearcats.com/roster.aspx?path=football

as we head off to camp, some quick thoughts about position groups...

QB: We at least have some stability with the same 2 guys returning. Hopefully the QB play improves or the rest of this post about positions doesn't matter.

RB: Mike Boone and then some nice looking backups who have never taken a college snap.

OL: With Stout no longer on the roster we are replacing 4 out of 5 starters on the OL. That unit struggled last year but guys like Bond, Leahey, and Stout were pretty decent and will be missed.

TE: Some stability there as well.

WR: Lewis and Grey and then several unproven or young guys.

DL: We only have 2 guys with experience who are actually DT's in Copeland and Broughton. They are pretty solid but you need a rotation and its back to guys with no experience and/or freshman after them.

LB: We have a senior and a sophomore and then a roster of freshmen to fill out all of the other snaps for the season.

CB: With Thomas gone we have a couple upper classmen in Stephens and Coleman who struggled frequently to find the ball in the air and then a lot of unknown.

S: Carter Jacobs and Gilbert provide some needed experience.

K: Gantz coming back from injury will be big.

P: An aussie who has never played a snap of American Football.

It is a very good thing this is not a tougher schedule or we could have been in for a damned long year. We may still be in for a longer one than expected or hoped for.

I believe the improved S&C program will have a great impact, especially on the OL

I hope, but it is my observation that the most successful olines have multiple returning players. Strength and conditioning is very important, but the gelling is also important. To complicate this further, they are installing a new offense.

Our QB's were getting run out of the pocket on basically every passing play with more than a three step drop last year, so I doubt it could get any worse. Bond will be a big loss though, not sure who our center is going to be but Bond had 4 years of experience organizing protections.

You mean organizing protections that didn't protect anyone?

Hey, I never said the organization and the execution were BOTH effective

(07-25-2017 08:55 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(07-25-2017 08:28 AM)rosewater Wrote:  

(07-25-2017 07:26 AM)Crewdogz Wrote:  

(07-24-2017 04:15 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  http://www.gobearcats.com/roster.aspx?path=football

as we head off to camp, some quick thoughts about position groups...

QB: We at least have some stability with the same 2 guys returning. Hopefully the QB play improves or the rest of this post about positions doesn't matter.

RB: Mike Boone and then some nice looking backups who have never taken a college snap.

OL: With Stout no longer on the roster we are replacing 4 out of 5 starters on the OL. That unit struggled last year but guys like Bond, Leahey, and Stout were pretty decent and will be missed.

TE: Some stability there as well.

WR: Lewis and Grey and then several unproven or young guys.

DL: We only have 2 guys with experience who are actually DT's in Copeland and Broughton. They are pretty solid but you need a rotation and its back to guys with no experience and/or freshman after them.

LB: We have a senior and a sophomore and then a roster of freshmen to fill out all of the other snaps for the season.

CB: With Thomas gone we have a couple upper classmen in Stephens and Coleman who struggled frequently to find the ball in the air and then a lot of unknown.

S: Carter Jacobs and Gilbert provide some needed experience.

K: Gantz coming back from injury will be big.

P: An aussie who has never played a snap of American Football.

It is a very good thing this is not a tougher schedule or we could have been in for a damned long year. We may still be in for a longer one than expected or hoped for.

I believe the improved S&C program will have a great impact, especially on the OL

I hope, but it is my observation that the most successful olines have multiple returning players. Strength and conditioning is very important, but the gelling is also important. To complicate this further, they are installing a new offense.

Our QB's were getting run out of the pocket on basically every passing play with more than a three step drop last year, so I doubt it could get any worse. Bond will be a big loss though, not sure who our center is going to be but Bond had 4 years of experience organizing protections.

Part of that was that due to injury, line, crappy OC or all of the above, Boone looked like a shell of himself and the entire world knew we could not run the ball. Defenses were defending us like nearly every play was 3rd and 8. they pinned their ears back and played kill the man.

Trout will be a big addition with Cunningham on the other end. The three in the middle including the center, no idea. I expect its going to take this offense a while to get to know each other..

I thought this was probably a 6-7 win team on the basis of the energy that has been infused and the huge upgrade in competence of the new staff. Looking at the roster in depth has changed my outlook. I'm getting that feeling I had in the summer of 2010 albeit for some different reasons and with an easier schedule.

Yeah, Volde-snort really screwed us.

(See what I did there? He who must not be named plus his sniffles)

(07-25-2017 10:37 AM)AeroCat Wrote:  Yeah, Volde-snort really screwed us.

(See what I did there? He who must not be named plus his sniffles)

Volde-snort was sorted into the Snufflepuff house upon his arrival in the Queen City.

I'm sure there have been articles on this somewhere but I'm playing catch up now that I started paying attention to who we have now that camp is starting. With the loss of Stout, Thomas and having Geraci move on, by my count we have the following starters returning this year *

Defense: 4 of 11 - Glibert (S), Coleman (CB), Broughton (DT), and Mouhon/Fitz at (DE)

Offense: 5 of 11 - Cunningham (OT), Boone (RB), Lewis (WR), Grey (WR) & Moore (QB)

ST: 2 of 3 - Gantz (K) and Vincent (LS)


(* starters who were #1 on depth chart to start last year not starters due to injury)

With respects to the OL, my guess is we are looking at Niehaus under center, Will Steur (G), Keith Minor (G) and Cunningham (T) for sure. At least that is how it appeared to shake out in Spring ball. The question will be whether Trout will live up the billing and be able to step in right away at the other tackle spot. The other OSU transfer (Grant Schmidt) was not even able to crack our two deep lineup in the Spring.

Behind that first unit we have a lot of guys who have taken few or no live snaps. Garrett Campbell and Kendall Calhoun are both seniors and have playing sparingly. Chris Ferguson and Morgan James are both specimens, but have been projects of sort (James is the converted hockey player and Ferguson is from the Bahammas and started out on defense). We are going to need some young guys like Evan Mallory (IMG Academy-- our highest rated recruit at the OL) play to his billing as well as Zach Byczsnki who was sidelined with injured last year. We also have a JUCO transfer, Blake Yager. It seems like it always take those guys a year to get acclimated to this level of football, hopefully he is one of the exceptions to the rule.

Thanks for laying this out, Clifton. I was hoping someone would do this. On the upside, Niehaus, Steur, and Minor have all been around the program for three or four years, although they don't necessarily have a ton of experience. Beyond them, and this certainly extends into the following year, we're young and green, with very few snaps.

(07-25-2017 01:04 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  With respects to the OL, my guess is we are looking at Niehaus ©, Will Steur (G), Keith Minor (G) and Cunningham (T) for sure. At least that is how it appeared to shake out in Spring ball. The question will be whether Trout will love up the billing and be able to step in right away at the other tackle spot. The other OSU transfer (Grant Schmidt) was not even able to crack our two deep lineup in the Spring.

Behind that first unit we have a lot of guys who have taken few or no live snaps. Garrett Campbell and Kendall Calhoun are both seniors and have playing sparingly. Chris Ferguson and Morgan James are both specimens, but have been projects of sort (James is the converted hockey player and Ferguson is from the Bahammas and started out on defense). We are going to need some young guys like Evan Mallory (IMG Academy-- our highest rated recruit at the OL) play to his billing as well as Zach Byczsnki who was sidelined with injured last year. We also have a JUCO transfer, Blake Yager. It seems like it always take those guys a year to get acclimated to this level of football, hopefully he is one of the exceptions to the rule.

(07-25-2017 01:04 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  With respects to the OL, my guess is we are looking at Niehaus under center, Will Steur (G), Keith Minor (G) and Cunningham (T) for sure. At least that is how it appeared to shake out in Spring ball. The question will be whether Trout will live up the billing and be able to step in right away at the other tackle spot. The other OSU transfer (Grant Schmidt) was not even able to crack our two deep lineup in the Spring.

Behind that first unit we have a lot of guys who have taken few or no live snaps. Garrett Campbell and Kendall Calhoun are both seniors and have playing sparingly. Chris Ferguson and Morgan James are both specimens, but have been projects of sort (James is the converted hockey player and Ferguson is from the Bahammas and started out on defense). We are going to need some young guys like Evan Mallory (IMG Academy-- our highest rated recruit at the OL) play to his billing as well as Zach Byczsnki who was sidelined with injured last year. We also have a JUCO transfer, Blake Yager. It seems like it always take those guys a year to get acclimated to this level of football, hopefully he is one of the exceptions to the rule.

Another name that has been mentioned on Chads preview was Jakari Robinson. He is a freshman and has really impressed in the weight room. The funny thing is Mallory and Brycinski were not mentioned in the preview of possible two deep.