2015 Squad

Weren't big contributors so not significant losses as you say, but from the 2 deep we also lose WR Otte (Lee at one time was on it but was kicked off obviously) and LB Ruise.

Also, technically, if we're looking at our 2 deep and not starters, we're returning 33/44 and only losing 11. And the way GP uses the "OR" and lists 3 deep in some positions, we actually return 43/54 of those listed on the "depth chart".

I think McNulty and Chappell are on the bench. Hall and Bauer at guards. McGovern back to Tackle with Rhodes or Crawford at tackle

Goes without saying, I think we are deep and have great competition at QB and RB. As much as I love Murphy, like Jesus said, he'll be missed as much or more for his ST contribution. At RB, we're loaded down.

WR is incredibly thin. I can't even fill out a 2 deep with the returners. A true freshman is going to have to play. I thought we had enough WR's in this class. I might have been wrong.

DE
Loud(So.)
Harris(So.)
Hatley(Jr.)
McWilliams(Fr.)
Williams(Fr.)
Brady(Fr.)

We'll have a fall off from what we're used to. Not necessarily because of lack of talent, but because of youth. Sophomore seasons, Ray and Golden and I believe Ealy and Sam before them, were getting snaps but weren't #1's. Loud and Harris will be young #1's but may be hell for offenses their junior years. In the meantime, they'll be solid still. I imagine Hatley will back up Loud and the others will battle to back up Harris.

DT
Brantley(Jr.)
Augusta(Jr.)
Winston(Jr.)
Logan(So.)

Little thin here as well. Thinner than I thought we were at least. Am I missing anyone? Maybe a certain someone from East St. Louis.

LB

Brothers(Sr.)
Lee(Fr.)
Winters(Fr.)

Scherer(Jr.)
Beisel(So.)
Jones(Fr.)

Newsom(Jr.)
Green(Sr.)
Burkett(So.)

I don't know that I see much changing up here. Lee/Jones/Winters could vie for some backup snaps but some of these guys had better have put on weight this year. Burkett(205), Lee(215) and Winters(195).

CB
Penton(Jr.)
Gibson(Jr.)
Wingo(Fr.)

Dennis(Sr.)
Cheadle(So.)
Johnson(Sr.)
Stribling(Fr.)

S
Simon(Sr.)
Browning(Sr.)
Ross(Fr.)

Sherrils(So.)
Wilson(So.)
Rupert(Fr.)

Loss of Webb and Singleton will open up time for someone. I presume Wilson will get more time than he was already getting. It will be interesting to see if Ross passes up some of the other youngsters that have seen some time.

Commits: Warren, Hilton and Perkins if they don't play WR.

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We're going back to Atlanta as in 3 peat, so book your trips.

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The JUCO OT changes the look of the OL. Hopefully he is good enough to start at LT and we can keep McGovern at RG. I think he's a better player there.

Cuellar
Bauer
Boehm
McGovern
Rhodes

1) Cam Hilton is being converted to a safety



2) I wish chase would move to slot receiver. so fast and great hands but wants to at RB where we already have tons.

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We're going back to Atlanta as in 3 peat, so book your trips.

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It's actually not out of the question but I think a couple of key changes and developments have to happen for it to be realistic.

We kind of got lucky this year with few injuries, I know we lost Gatti and Steward for the season but over all we had relatively few lost game starts from injury. If anything the discipline bug got us this year, losing 3 from the WR corp, having a bigger impact than gimpyness.


Offense

Right off the start probably the biggest thing that will have to change is likely a large adjustment to the O scheme. Henson has done some good tweaking and now it's time to do it again. Whatever the issue with Mauk getting the ball to his boys on the short route has got to be fixed and that may require some big adjustments.

Not knowing how much of the issue is Mauks height and unorthodox side arm slinging, I could see going to a dual TE look, getting Reese and maybe Blanton some serious minutes, either attached or in a 1 in 1 out look. Maybe Mauk simply needs a bigger target, I don't know, but Reese is basically the size of DGB, so I could see him being a movement End that works the seams.

Abbington and/or Zander could turn out to be the slot back that can haul it down in space, Murphy did a decent job but was needed at RB for too many reps to spend much time out there. Whatever it is Henson had better figure it out and get it fixed because getting Mauks short game to match his relatively working long game is going to be a key to the offense not looking like the crap we saw much of the season, I like that he worked in the ground game with success, but in a spread you simply must have a competent short pass attack.

Interesting changes are in store for the OL, with the new kid,, Cueler and if Bauer is going to be ready we might be looking at a pretty good OL and we might ALSO have some decent depth. Last years class looked strong and I can't help but see some comparisons between Fairchild and Justin Brit, if the larger of the two Halls is ready to start, we might have a line with pass blocking savy and one that can also excel bulldozing RB paths, we can count on Boehm at center, but this is a unit that will need to be a strength for any chance of the 3 peat. This unit has to get better and make fewer mistakes, there is no other option.

Mauk needs to get Brown and Moore ready to go in the off season, those two caught a lot of passes in the end zone in HS, he needs to get comfortable throwing it to them with the confidence they will haul it in.

If Strong makes the team his first year, and if Steward makes a healthy comeback, we could easily have a very good RB corp for yet another season. With a little luck health wise, this could be an area of strength for us.



Defense

Depth wasn't an issue for the starting 4 with essentially one rotation of backups, but with the entire front 4 leaving it could be an issue now, time again for the semi-famous Mizzou D-line manufacturers to work their magic at producing All conference players from 3 star raw material. We know we have competent bigs in the middle with Brantley and Augusta, the rest of them are simply going to have to pull it together fast, the good news is this is one area Pinkels staff has shown they know what they're doing.

If they are interested in playing NOW for an SEC contender, there probably won't be a better time for kids like Beckner and the Davis bros. to show up.

If the LB depth is as strong as it looks, and if he's up to it, I could see Beisel possibly moving or at going double duty as a DE backup. Like Zander I think he has a great chance of getting on the field, if he can show he is a player and do what's needed regardless of position. Pinkels "best ever" line backer corp will have to make some adjustments and improve a little, we can't really count on having the success off the edge we had the last two years, but if we can see just a good portion of that edge pressure, an improved coverage unit will have to make up the difference.

It seems like EJ Gaines may have instilled some pride in the DB unit and it will be nice if that continues, among the better recruits we had on the bench this year are Ross and Wingo, we'll need the D backfield to have another strong year for any hopes of a return as the East winner.

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I think you make a solid point in that Murphy would have been a much better contributor in the slot if Steward didn't go down

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Thanks, I think my MOST solid point, and really it's not even close, is that our front 4 was responsible for forcing a lot of errors on our opponents, that was really the deciding factor in any number of wins this season. Without that all conference level of play from the D-line that we have become accustomed to, we will need to make up for it in one or likely, several other areas.

Any chance they JUCO shop for a wideout?