(06-09-2014 09:24 AM)Ole Sleepy Wrote:  Their new coach was in his first season. Fritz has over 20+ years head coaching experience and has won at every level he's been in.

Fritz is the most experienced head coach we have ever had. He's not still trying to figure out how to do things. Much more polished.

That doesn't mean the team isn't going to have growing pains learning new systems the same year they transition into the SBC. It's less about previous experience, and more about everything changing all at once. GS could certainly be a surprise team, but it's not out of the realm of possibility for GS to 5-7 or less in their first season. From what I've gathered, there's a camp that thinks your offense isn't going to change much, and another that thinks it's going more to a spread variety. If it does, you'll lose your advantage of running an offense no one ever sees, and you'll be behind because you haven't recruited spread players. Not playing the Top 2 will help though. I don't care how long your guy has been coaching, these are tough obstacles.

I've heard from a lot of GS posters that defense is where you look to improve. I can tell you this, we don't play a lot of defense in the SBC, but if your defense is not top of the line FCS, you're going to get smoked. The one thing the SBC does well is offense.

(06-09-2014 10:21 AM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  

(06-09-2014 09:24 AM)Ole Sleepy Wrote:  Their new coach was in his first season. Fritz has over 20+ years head coaching experience and has won at every level he's been in.

Fritz is the most experienced head coach we have ever had. He's not still trying to figure out how to do things. Much more polished.

That doesn't mean the team isn't going to have growing pains learning new systems the same year they transition into the SBC. It's less about previous experience, and more about everything changing all at once. GS could certainly be a surprise team, but it's not out of the realm of possibility for GS to 5-7 or less in their first season. From what I've gathered, there's a camp that things your offense isn't going to change much, and another that thinks it's going more to a spread variety. If it does, you'll lose your advantage of running an offense no one ever sees, and you'll be behind because you haven't recruited spread players. Not playing the Top 2 will help though. I don't care how long your guy has been coaching, these are tough obstacles.

I've heard from a lot of GS posters that defense is where you look to improve. I can tell you this, we don't play a lot of defense in the SBC, but if your defense is not top of the line FCS, you're going to get smoked. The one thing the SBC does well is offense.

^^^this.

I'm not overly worried about our offense. It is still an option, ground based attack. Our players are familiar with it. Sure it is out of different formations, but a lot of stuff won't change. Our defense is what will give us fits unless it vastly improves from last year. I could honestly see this GS team finishing as high as 4th (mainly bc we don't play ASU or UL), or at low as 9. I think we end somewhere in between, but either situation wouldn't be a total shocker to me.

1. Appalachian State

(06-09-2014 11:46 AM)FidelCashflow18 Wrote:  10. Appalachian State

fify

(06-09-2014 11:38 AM)NCeagle Wrote:  I'm not overly worried about our offense. It is still an option, ground based attack. Our players are familiar with it. Sure it is out of different formations, but a lot of stuff won't change. Our defense is what will give us fits unless it vastly improves from last year. I could honestly see this GS team finishing as high as 4th (mainly bc we don't play ASU or UL), or at low as 9. I think we end somewhere in between, but either situation wouldn't be a total shocker to me.

The most difficult part of the transition will be our OL learning pass blocking. How many times over the last several years have we seen a 3rd and 8 type situations end up becoming a sack before the QB really has a chance to look downfield?

I think the pass defense will get better as they will have more reps in practice against the first string. Play better pass coverage and the pressure at the LoS will take care of itself IMO.

(06-09-2014 10:21 AM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  

(06-09-2014 09:24 AM)Ole Sleepy Wrote:  Their new coach was in his first season. Fritz has over 20+ years head coaching experience and has won at every level he's been in.

Fritz is the most experienced head coach we have ever had. He's not still trying to figure out how to do things. Much more polished.

That doesn't mean the team isn't going to have growing pains learning new systems the same year they transition into the SBC. It's less about previous experience, and more about everything changing all at once. GS could certainly be a surprise team, but it's not out of the realm of possibility for GS to 5-7 or less in their first season. From what I've gathered, there's a camp that thinks your offense isn't going to change much, and another that thinks it's going more to a spread variety. If it does, you'll lose your advantage of running an offense no one ever sees, and you'll be behind because you haven't recruited spread players. Not playing the Top 2 will help though. I don't care how long your guy has been coaching, these are tough obstacles.

I've heard from a lot of GS posters that defense is where you look to improve. I can tell you this, we don't play a lot of defense in the SBC, but if your defense is not top of the line FCS, you're going to get smoked. The one thing the SBC does well is offense.

Never said we wouldn't have problems. Never said we wouldn't struggle. Never said we wouldn't stumble coming out of the gates.

Just making the point that the comparison between the two coaches wasn't as cut and dry as it seems.

We won't be under center, we won't be running jumbo sets, (hopefully) we won't be running to the short and crowded side of the field...but it will be more similar to out old offense than just "the spread".

Until we fill our rosters with big pass blockers and more talented WR's (which we have both, just not in great numbers), then we will use the talents we have to our advantage....and that will be on the ground.

We will definitely pass more, but it will still be very run heavy.

I'm way more worried about the offense than the D. We are going to be seeing way more second and third and longs then we are use to. We have zero depth at RB after all the suspensions.

(06-10-2014 02:19 AM)eagleskins Wrote:  I'm way more worried about the offense than the D. We are going to be seeing way more second and third and longs then we are use to. We have zero depth at RB after all the suspensions.

What suspensions, and are they for the entire year?

Sun Belt Conference Preseason Countdown 2014 # 10 http://wp.me/p4wbqJ-ue

Putting Ga Southern at the bottom is completely appropriate. Of course fans hope for better, but there are lots of ???? on both sides of the ball. I have confidence in Fritz, but my only expectations are that we are competitive and have an opportunity to win games.

(06-10-2014 02:21 AM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  

(06-10-2014 02:19 AM)eagleskins Wrote:  I'm way more worried about the offense than the D. We are going to be seeing way more second and third and longs then we are use to. We have zero depth at RB after all the suspensions.

What suspensions, and are they for the entire year?

We had 2 of our best RB's get kicked off of the team. Dominique Swope and Irving Huggins. Swope was our superstar, the 2nd head of the 2-headed monster with Jerick McKinnon.

Also, the best looking RB in the Spring has been declared ineligible for this season (Chaz Thornton).

However, we have moved one of our young and bulky QB's to RB (L.A. Ramsby). This guy is a stud with the ball in his hands.

We will be fine. Still have about 8 other backs.

We are paper thin at RB after Thorton and Thomas ineligible. Not one real playmaker that is a true RB on the roster. Ramsby better be McKinnon, or we are in for a rude awakening.

(06-10-2014 08:56 AM)Ole Sleepy Wrote:  We will be fine. Still have about 8 other backs.

It's crazy to think you guys have as many running backs as spread teams have wide receivers.

(06-11-2014 09:15 AM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  

(06-10-2014 08:56 AM)Ole Sleepy Wrote:  We will be fine. Still have about 8 other backs.

It's crazy to think you guys have as many running backs as spread teams have wide receivers.

We have names, but mainly walk on and partial scholarship guys from FCS. Nothing more. Ramsby is a real talent, and is already built like McKinnon as a junior as a RS frosh. Behind him, we have nothing, with the exception of true frosh Ryan Peterson.