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2016 Depth Chart - A Too Early Look
Posted on 2/5/16 at 7:21 am
Posted on 2/5/16 at 7:21 am
I did this last year pre-signing day. I included Drew Rich and Leo last year and decided to do it post-signing day this year to avoid any jinxes.
OM returns 5 out of 11 starters on offense losing:
• Laremy Tunsil
• Fahn Cooper
• Aaron Morris
• Laquon Treadwell
• Jaylon Walton
• Cody Core
Besides starters, we also lose a good deal of offensive production from:
• Ben Still
• Justin Bell
OM returns 6 out of 11 starters on defense losing:
• Robert Nkemdiche
• Denzel Nkemdiche
• CJ Johnson
• Mike Hilton
• Trae Elston
Defensive non-starters that graduated and have played a lot of quality snaps at Ole Miss:
• Woody Hamilton
• Channing Ward
• Chief Brown
• Christian Russell
Other players who were on scholarship last year that are no longer on the team:
• Collins Moore: Graduate transfer
• Tee Shepard: Transfer
• Devante Kincade: Transfer
• Christian Morris: Career ending injury
• Quintavius Burdette: Graduated
Still, Bell, and Hamilton are considered starters by some due to their number of starts this year. I do not consider them as such because their starts are primarily due to injuries to players ahead of them (Conyers, Taylor, and Gross).
The “big three” are gone and all departing players, including starters and backups, will be difficult to replace. Those seniors and juniors are some of the best Rebels to ever wear the jersey, but now it is time for a lot of the young guns to step up. At this time last year, I thought I would be more worried about these departures than I am now. Don’t get me wrong, it will be a difficult transition replacing the lost production and leadership, but I feel the players we have stepping up will make it less challenging than I originally thought.
Offense:
QB:
1. Kelly
2. Patterson (HS/EE)
3. Buchanan
4. Pellerin (RS)
The biggest ? going into last season is now one of our biggest strengths. Kelly has the talent and if his early season decision making is slightly improved, he will be the best returning QB in the SEC (arguably the nation) and an early Heisman candidate. Vegas has him tied for #6 in current Heisman odds. Patterson is a blue chip true freshman that will have 1 spring/fall under his belt. I think there is no way he redshirts as he will need to get in game experience to be prepared for next year. Buchanan is a red-shirt junior with some experience, but not nearly as talented as Kelly or Patterson. Pellerin is a redshirt freshman with a strong arm and athleticism. If Kelly were to go down, I assume the answer would be Patterson. To sum up the position, we have a great, experienced starter, a tremendously talented freshman, and a gifted dark horse. That’s called a perfect combination.
RB:
1. (a) Judd; (b) Wilkins
2. Swinney (RS)
3. (a) Brazley; (b) Buford
4. Pennamon (HS)
Judd came on strong in the 2nd half of the ’15 season. He looked good averaging 5.5 YPC and very rarely went down behind the line of scrimmage. I gave a 1 (a) & (b) with Judd and Wilkins, but could have put Judd as the clear cut #1 and Wilkins at 2, as Judd will likely see the majority of the workload. Wilkins has looked good, but not quite as impressive as Judd. Judd didn’t look bad catching the football, but he isn’t the typical scat back we like to use in the passing game. Brazley may show some flashes, but I don’t believe he is a feature guy we can consistently rely on for this. That being said, Judd, Wilkins, and Swinney together can all catch the ball pretty well and they should be a solid group. I think Brazley and Buford are average backs for different reasons, though, their stats don’t necessarily back me up. Swinney and Pennamon are both very talented and I am excited about their futures. Pennamon is shifty and carries his 220 lbs very well. He drew a lot of attention after a great HS senior year and I am glad we were able to hang on to him. Overall, this is a deep and talented group.
Z:
1. Stringfellow
2. Adeboyejo
3. Metcalf (HS)
String and Adeboyejo are both very productive. String improved as the season progressed and he has the ability to go up and win the 50/50 balls. He also has the size to be an effective open field blocker and pick up more yardage than expected after the catch. Adeboyejo has good speed, runs clean routes and has reliable hands. He has struggled with reliability during his career, mainly just in practice, but that looks to be a thing of the past. I could see a situation where these two man the starting Z & X spots. I personally see Metcalf redshirting. He has good size and great potential. In time, he will be a difference maker.
X:
1. Lodge
2. (a) A.J. Brown (HS); (b) D. Jones
Lodge has the elite talent that is needed to replace Treadwell. If he wants to be as successful as Treadwell, he needs to become consistent and live in the IPF like Treadwell did – adding good weight and explosiveness while taking tons of reps to improve his timing. We lost a dominant WR that drew a lot of attention from opposing Ds and we need one out of String and Lodge to take the next step and become a playmaker instead of a productive player. I’m not sold on Derrick Jones as I think he has average hands, but he does have good speed that can stretch the defense. He will be a senior and if he works hard this offseason and proves to be a consistent deep ball threat, he could draw the start here. AJ Brown, from a physical stand point, is very comparable to Laquon. I also see a similar competitiveness in AJ’s game as well. I do not believe he will redshirt this year and there is no doubt he will be the #1 option in our offense at some point in time.
Slot:
1. Pack
2. Jefferson (RS)
3. Nixon (HS)
Pack has steadily improved and has earned more playing time, though inconsistently, in a crowded position group since arriving at OM. He will continue to improve and could be very productive this year. I am looking forward to seeing what Van can do in the spring. He has the potential to be very good, but needs to mature physically and be able to work the middle of the field. Nixon was a great pickup and adds a different dimension to our WR group. He has elite speed, but lacks physical maturity coming out of high school and I assume he will redshirt. We are talented across the board at WR, but as I said above, we need at least 1 to step up and be the dominant guy our QB can rely on. Doesn’t necessarily have to be as good as Treadwell, but we need a vocal leader in this group that motivates everyone to be superior, on and off the field. I see AJ filling this role after ’16, but I don’t know who it will be this year.
TE:
1. Engram
2. (a) Hibbler (RS); (b) Cooley (HS)
3. (a) Zettergren; (b) Angel (HS/EE); Mathis (HS)
Engram is not a physical imposing mismatch TE, but he works well in our system. He doesn’t have the power to move guys when run blocking, but he does have the athleticism to sustain his blocks. He has good hands, has a knack for getting open with smooth route running, and is elusive after the catch. Excited to see how Hibbler performs in the spring. He and Cooley are talented and I hope they can match Engram’s effort in both the run and pass game. They have the size to win one-on-one matchups and add a new element to this group. Angel will likely redshirt. He is basically the same size as Engram was coming out of high school. He may not be as fluid, but I expect him to add more weight than Engram did and play a role similar to HR Greer/Nick Parker/’15 Liggins - more of a H-Back/blocking role. Jacob Mathis has good size and is very athletic. Possibly the least talked about 4* signee in recent memory. I see him starting with the TE group, but will probably get a look at Stinger and possibly Mike depending on how he matures physically.
OM returns 5 out of 11 starters on offense losing:
• Laremy Tunsil
• Fahn Cooper
• Aaron Morris
• Laquon Treadwell
• Jaylon Walton
• Cody Core
Besides starters, we also lose a good deal of offensive production from:
• Ben Still
• Justin Bell
OM returns 6 out of 11 starters on defense losing:
• Robert Nkemdiche
• Denzel Nkemdiche
• CJ Johnson
• Mike Hilton
• Trae Elston
Defensive non-starters that graduated and have played a lot of quality snaps at Ole Miss:
• Woody Hamilton
• Channing Ward
• Chief Brown
• Christian Russell
Other players who were on scholarship last year that are no longer on the team:
• Collins Moore: Graduate transfer
• Tee Shepard: Transfer
• Devante Kincade: Transfer
• Christian Morris: Career ending injury
• Quintavius Burdette: Graduated
Still, Bell, and Hamilton are considered starters by some due to their number of starts this year. I do not consider them as such because their starts are primarily due to injuries to players ahead of them (Conyers, Taylor, and Gross).
The “big three” are gone and all departing players, including starters and backups, will be difficult to replace. Those seniors and juniors are some of the best Rebels to ever wear the jersey, but now it is time for a lot of the young guns to step up. At this time last year, I thought I would be more worried about these departures than I am now. Don’t get me wrong, it will be a difficult transition replacing the lost production and leadership, but I feel the players we have stepping up will make it less challenging than I originally thought.
Offense:
QB:
1. Kelly
2. Patterson (HS/EE)
3. Buchanan
4. Pellerin (RS)
The biggest ? going into last season is now one of our biggest strengths. Kelly has the talent and if his early season decision making is slightly improved, he will be the best returning QB in the SEC (arguably the nation) and an early Heisman candidate. Vegas has him tied for #6 in current Heisman odds. Patterson is a blue chip true freshman that will have 1 spring/fall under his belt. I think there is no way he redshirts as he will need to get in game experience to be prepared for next year. Buchanan is a red-shirt junior with some experience, but not nearly as talented as Kelly or Patterson. Pellerin is a redshirt freshman with a strong arm and athleticism. If Kelly were to go down, I assume the answer would be Patterson. To sum up the position, we have a great, experienced starter, a tremendously talented freshman, and a gifted dark horse. That’s called a perfect combination.
RB:
1. (a) Judd; (b) Wilkins
2. Swinney (RS)
3. (a) Brazley; (b) Buford
4. Pennamon (HS)
Judd came on strong in the 2nd half of the ’15 season. He looked good averaging 5.5 YPC and very rarely went down behind the line of scrimmage. I gave a 1 (a) & (b) with Judd and Wilkins, but could have put Judd as the clear cut #1 and Wilkins at 2, as Judd will likely see the majority of the workload. Wilkins has looked good, but not quite as impressive as Judd. Judd didn’t look bad catching the football, but he isn’t the typical scat back we like to use in the passing game. Brazley may show some flashes, but I don’t believe he is a feature guy we can consistently rely on for this. That being said, Judd, Wilkins, and Swinney together can all catch the ball pretty well and they should be a solid group. I think Brazley and Buford are average backs for different reasons, though, their stats don’t necessarily back me up. Swinney and Pennamon are both very talented and I am excited about their futures. Pennamon is shifty and carries his 220 lbs very well. He drew a lot of attention after a great HS senior year and I am glad we were able to hang on to him. Overall, this is a deep and talented group.
Z:
1. Stringfellow
2. Adeboyejo
3. Metcalf (HS)
String and Adeboyejo are both very productive. String improved as the season progressed and he has the ability to go up and win the 50/50 balls. He also has the size to be an effective open field blocker and pick up more yardage than expected after the catch. Adeboyejo has good speed, runs clean routes and has reliable hands. He has struggled with reliability during his career, mainly just in practice, but that looks to be a thing of the past. I could see a situation where these two man the starting Z & X spots. I personally see Metcalf redshirting. He has good size and great potential. In time, he will be a difference maker.
X:
1. Lodge
2. (a) A.J. Brown (HS); (b) D. Jones
Lodge has the elite talent that is needed to replace Treadwell. If he wants to be as successful as Treadwell, he needs to become consistent and live in the IPF like Treadwell did – adding good weight and explosiveness while taking tons of reps to improve his timing. We lost a dominant WR that drew a lot of attention from opposing Ds and we need one out of String and Lodge to take the next step and become a playmaker instead of a productive player. I’m not sold on Derrick Jones as I think he has average hands, but he does have good speed that can stretch the defense. He will be a senior and if he works hard this offseason and proves to be a consistent deep ball threat, he could draw the start here. AJ Brown, from a physical stand point, is very comparable to Laquon. I also see a similar competitiveness in AJ’s game as well. I do not believe he will redshirt this year and there is no doubt he will be the #1 option in our offense at some point in time.
Slot:
1. Pack
2. Jefferson (RS)
3. Nixon (HS)
Pack has steadily improved and has earned more playing time, though inconsistently, in a crowded position group since arriving at OM. He will continue to improve and could be very productive this year. I am looking forward to seeing what Van can do in the spring. He has the potential to be very good, but needs to mature physically and be able to work the middle of the field. Nixon was a great pickup and adds a different dimension to our WR group. He has elite speed, but lacks physical maturity coming out of high school and I assume he will redshirt. We are talented across the board at WR, but as I said above, we need at least 1 to step up and be the dominant guy our QB can rely on. Doesn’t necessarily have to be as good as Treadwell, but we need a vocal leader in this group that motivates everyone to be superior, on and off the field. I see AJ filling this role after ’16, but I don’t know who it will be this year.
TE:
1. Engram
2. (a) Hibbler (RS); (b) Cooley (HS)
3. (a) Zettergren; (b) Angel (HS/EE); Mathis (HS)
Engram is not a physical imposing mismatch TE, but he works well in our system. He doesn’t have the power to move guys when run blocking, but he does have the athleticism to sustain his blocks. He has good hands, has a knack for getting open with smooth route running, and is elusive after the catch. Excited to see how Hibbler performs in the spring. He and Cooley are talented and I hope they can match Engram’s effort in both the run and pass game. They have the size to win one-on-one matchups and add a new element to this group. Angel will likely redshirt. He is basically the same size as Engram was coming out of high school. He may not be as fluid, but I expect him to add more weight than Engram did and play a role similar to HR Greer/Nick Parker/’15 Liggins - more of a H-Back/blocking role. Jacob Mathis has good size and is very athletic. Possibly the least talked about 4* signee in recent memory. I see him starting with the TE group, but will probably get a look at Stinger and possibly Mike depending on how he matures physically.
1
Posted on 2/5/16 at 7:22 am to ToddyTime
LT:
1. Little (HS)
2. Rod Taylor
3. Liggins
Getting Greg was huge for us - both long term and immediately. Barring the unexpected, he will start day 1 for us at LT. It took Tunsil around 3 to 4 games his freshman year to get fully acclimated. I think we have a bigger need this year and will need Little to start from the get go. Rod has the tools, but the work ethic hasn’t been consistently there. He initially won the RG job last year before getting injured and he should be back to full health come fall. He may be a little undersized (for a T), but he has the athleticism to be a productive there and can slide down to guard if needed (which I believe he will mainly be used for to rotate in with Patterson and Sims). I’ll keep him at T for now, but I anticipate changing that. Liggins provides depth - nothing very promising (unless we have another LT pass play in the works).
LG:
1. Patterson
2. Bouldin
Patterson played as a true frosh last year and is capable of being our best Olineman this year. Bouldin has been somewhat of a disappointment, but the staff feels he is close to being ready to contribute. I’m really excited about Patterson as well as the rest of our interior line.
C:
1. (a) Conyers; (b) Rawlings
2. Feeley (WO)
3. E. Johnson (HS/EE)
In the past, I have taken more of a negative approach when discussing Conyers’ abilities, but with Rawlings stepping up for us at RT last year, Conyers was able to prove he can hold his own at C. He deservingly beat out Still for the job before getting injured and there was a noticeable difference between their production. His snap accuracy was inconsistent, but his erratic playing time here could be to blame for that. This is Conyers’ last year and he will be an improvement over Still. We will likely see Rawlings here in the spring while Conyers recovers from injury. Rawlings is basically a younger, higher upside version of Conyers and can move back to RT easily. For now, I’m putting Rawlings at C for 2 reasons. Conyers will need constant relief and an experienced backup as he basically has no meniscus left, and I believe Givens will be as good as advertised. Eli will redshirt this year. He is a hard worker that will develop into a very reliable guy for us.
RG:
1. Sims
2. Tuitt (HS)
Sims was the most improved player last spring and really impressed me after beating out Bell for the starting job for the majority of the 2nd half of last year. Did he stand out as a great/dominant lineman? Maybe not, but he was a redshirt freshman. He held his own and will continue to improve. If LT is sured up, Rod should be able to slide down with little (possibly no) downgrade in production between the two. Tuitt will likely redshirt. He is a mauler and after some time in a college weightlifting program, I expect good things out of him in the future.
RT:
1. Givens (RS)
2. (a) Mathews (HS); (b) Newman (HS)
3. (a) Putman; (b) DeFoor (HS); (c) Howard (RS)
Regarding the Oline as a whole, I was probably the most impressed with Rawlings’ play. He was lured into mistakes at times against good rushers, but what I said about Sims can be repeated here. He was a redshirt freshman, he held his own, and will continue to improve. I have Givens here after moving Rawlings to C, but Rawlings will play both. He’s not going to sit the bench if Conyers plays a lot there. Givens is likely a downgrade from Cooper at this point in his career, but probably offers more upside in the long run. Mathews is going to be very good for us, but will probably redshirt depending on how healthy we are throughout the season. DeFoor will likely redshirt for us as well and offers versatility being able to play here or OG going forward. Howard is a developmental guy who is long and physical, but needs to bulk up in order to see time. Similarly, Newman has the frame, but needs to bulk up. I really like his film. He is very athletic, finishes his blocks, gets to the 2nd level with ease and can take out 2nd level defenders in open space. Once Conyers graduates, I see Rawlings moving to center full time (the position he was recruited to play) and Givens manning the RT spot. Givens looked like our 2nd best tackle (behind you know who) in our bowl practices and I believe he will be very good for us.
Defense:
SDE:
1. Brown
2. McDowell
3. (a) Robinson (RS); (b) Tisdale (HS)
Fadol improved and was better against the run this year, but I wasn’t extremely impressed. He generated a good bit of hype last fall, but hasn’t come off as a playmaker to me, more of a do your job type guy. He will be motivated to impress NFL scouts entering his senior year, so he could be in store for a big season. I am going to miss Ward and think he deserved more credit than he received. Overall he didn’t live up to his high school hype, but he brought it on game days. McDowell needs to step up this offseason and become a viable SEC backup, which I think he has the ability to do. Robinson has the size, but he is a developmental guy and I don’t think he will be quite ready to make a big impact just yet. Tisdale was recruited as a MLB, but I see him adding more weight on his 6’5 frame (already at 250 lbs) and moving down to DE. He is very athletic and is an underrated prospect.
DT:
1. Speaks
2. B. Jones (HS/EE)
Speaks got a good bit of playing time behind RN (+ 2 starts for obvious reasons) and proved he can be very good. He might not be as disruptive as RN was, but he has a high motor and is explosive. It can be argued that he is more consistent than RN as well. The fact of the matter is both can do things the other can’t. He will only be a sophomore this year and I am excited about his future. I see him developing into an All-SEC Team guy as early as this year. McDowell and Robinson may see some time behind Speaks here if Benito is not ready to go, but he is an early enrollee, so he may be ready enough. Benito is going to thrive and eventually become a leader on this team. He will see quality snaps this year. He is about 50 lbs heavier than Gross right now, and has the same quick twitch characteristics. DJ Jones has the flexibility to play here and Benito can play NT as well.
NT:
1. (a) Gross: (b) DJ Jones
2. (a) Donelly; (b) H. Moore
Gross is the most experienced player on our defense. He is extremely quick twitched and disruptive. He and DJ give us great flexibility at NT. DJ is powerful and improved a lot as last year progressed. Donelly played sparingly as a true freshman due to lack of depth after Gross’ and Moore’s injuries and will continue to get better. He hasn’t done anything to stand out to me just yet, good or bad. Herb is a big body that provides decent depth. Donelly is likely the more talented of the 2 right now, with definite higher upside.
1. Little (HS)
2. Rod Taylor
3. Liggins
Getting Greg was huge for us - both long term and immediately. Barring the unexpected, he will start day 1 for us at LT. It took Tunsil around 3 to 4 games his freshman year to get fully acclimated. I think we have a bigger need this year and will need Little to start from the get go. Rod has the tools, but the work ethic hasn’t been consistently there. He initially won the RG job last year before getting injured and he should be back to full health come fall. He may be a little undersized (for a T), but he has the athleticism to be a productive there and can slide down to guard if needed (which I believe he will mainly be used for to rotate in with Patterson and Sims). I’ll keep him at T for now, but I anticipate changing that. Liggins provides depth - nothing very promising (unless we have another LT pass play in the works).
LG:
1. Patterson
2. Bouldin
Patterson played as a true frosh last year and is capable of being our best Olineman this year. Bouldin has been somewhat of a disappointment, but the staff feels he is close to being ready to contribute. I’m really excited about Patterson as well as the rest of our interior line.
C:
1. (a) Conyers; (b) Rawlings
2. Feeley (WO)
3. E. Johnson (HS/EE)
In the past, I have taken more of a negative approach when discussing Conyers’ abilities, but with Rawlings stepping up for us at RT last year, Conyers was able to prove he can hold his own at C. He deservingly beat out Still for the job before getting injured and there was a noticeable difference between their production. His snap accuracy was inconsistent, but his erratic playing time here could be to blame for that. This is Conyers’ last year and he will be an improvement over Still. We will likely see Rawlings here in the spring while Conyers recovers from injury. Rawlings is basically a younger, higher upside version of Conyers and can move back to RT easily. For now, I’m putting Rawlings at C for 2 reasons. Conyers will need constant relief and an experienced backup as he basically has no meniscus left, and I believe Givens will be as good as advertised. Eli will redshirt this year. He is a hard worker that will develop into a very reliable guy for us.
RG:
1. Sims
2. Tuitt (HS)
Sims was the most improved player last spring and really impressed me after beating out Bell for the starting job for the majority of the 2nd half of last year. Did he stand out as a great/dominant lineman? Maybe not, but he was a redshirt freshman. He held his own and will continue to improve. If LT is sured up, Rod should be able to slide down with little (possibly no) downgrade in production between the two. Tuitt will likely redshirt. He is a mauler and after some time in a college weightlifting program, I expect good things out of him in the future.
RT:
1. Givens (RS)
2. (a) Mathews (HS); (b) Newman (HS)
3. (a) Putman; (b) DeFoor (HS); (c) Howard (RS)
Regarding the Oline as a whole, I was probably the most impressed with Rawlings’ play. He was lured into mistakes at times against good rushers, but what I said about Sims can be repeated here. He was a redshirt freshman, he held his own, and will continue to improve. I have Givens here after moving Rawlings to C, but Rawlings will play both. He’s not going to sit the bench if Conyers plays a lot there. Givens is likely a downgrade from Cooper at this point in his career, but probably offers more upside in the long run. Mathews is going to be very good for us, but will probably redshirt depending on how healthy we are throughout the season. DeFoor will likely redshirt for us as well and offers versatility being able to play here or OG going forward. Howard is a developmental guy who is long and physical, but needs to bulk up in order to see time. Similarly, Newman has the frame, but needs to bulk up. I really like his film. He is very athletic, finishes his blocks, gets to the 2nd level with ease and can take out 2nd level defenders in open space. Once Conyers graduates, I see Rawlings moving to center full time (the position he was recruited to play) and Givens manning the RT spot. Givens looked like our 2nd best tackle (behind you know who) in our bowl practices and I believe he will be very good for us.
Defense:
SDE:
1. Brown
2. McDowell
3. (a) Robinson (RS); (b) Tisdale (HS)
Fadol improved and was better against the run this year, but I wasn’t extremely impressed. He generated a good bit of hype last fall, but hasn’t come off as a playmaker to me, more of a do your job type guy. He will be motivated to impress NFL scouts entering his senior year, so he could be in store for a big season. I am going to miss Ward and think he deserved more credit than he received. Overall he didn’t live up to his high school hype, but he brought it on game days. McDowell needs to step up this offseason and become a viable SEC backup, which I think he has the ability to do. Robinson has the size, but he is a developmental guy and I don’t think he will be quite ready to make a big impact just yet. Tisdale was recruited as a MLB, but I see him adding more weight on his 6’5 frame (already at 250 lbs) and moving down to DE. He is very athletic and is an underrated prospect.
DT:
1. Speaks
2. B. Jones (HS/EE)
Speaks got a good bit of playing time behind RN (+ 2 starts for obvious reasons) and proved he can be very good. He might not be as disruptive as RN was, but he has a high motor and is explosive. It can be argued that he is more consistent than RN as well. The fact of the matter is both can do things the other can’t. He will only be a sophomore this year and I am excited about his future. I see him developing into an All-SEC Team guy as early as this year. McDowell and Robinson may see some time behind Speaks here if Benito is not ready to go, but he is an early enrollee, so he may be ready enough. Benito is going to thrive and eventually become a leader on this team. He will see quality snaps this year. He is about 50 lbs heavier than Gross right now, and has the same quick twitch characteristics. DJ Jones has the flexibility to play here and Benito can play NT as well.
NT:
1. (a) Gross: (b) DJ Jones
2. (a) Donelly; (b) H. Moore
Gross is the most experienced player on our defense. He is extremely quick twitched and disruptive. He and DJ give us great flexibility at NT. DJ is powerful and improved a lot as last year progressed. Donelly played sparingly as a true freshman due to lack of depth after Gross’ and Moore’s injuries and will continue to get better. He hasn’t done anything to stand out to me just yet, good or bad. Herb is a big body that provides decent depth. Donelly is likely the more talented of the 2 right now, with definite higher upside.
Posted on 2/5/16 at 7:22 am to ToddyTime
WDE:
1. Haynes
2. Youngblood
3. (a) V. Evans; (b) Wiley (HS/EE); (c) Harmon (HS/WO)
Haynes had a somewhat slow start to last season, but looked like his old (young) self as the season developed and ended up with 10 sacks. He is quick off the edge and is a solid tackler (when not grabbing facemasks SMH). He will be a JR this year and has the ability to make a big play at any given time. Youngblood is an average D-1, sub-par SEC DE, but he has continually improved and can be relied on to be an assignment sound player. Vic saw a little playing time last year and is somewhat limited size-wise, but I think he will be ready to contribute consistently this year with the added weight/experience. Wiley is explosive off the edge and is extremely gifted from an athletic standpoint. He’s the type of guy that opens some eyes when going through physical tests. I expect him to develop into a solid player for us and I doubt he redshirts. Harmon has great potential as a walk on. Don’t be surprised when this 6’5 home town kid eventually earns a scholarship and develops into a reliable starter for us in a few years.
Mike:
1. Caldwell
2. Curtis (RS)
3. (a) Strong; (b) D. Evans (HS/EE)
We will miss CJ and Russell here and the production of this group is in question. We haven’t had an “it” guy here in a long time, but it hasn’t been a glaring issue on the field (offseason melts are a different story) because experience, leadership, and heart made up for it. I personally don’t believe Caldwell has the traits required to be noticeably good, but he has made some improvement and should be better after a year in the SEC. I am really hoping Curtis has an impressive spring and I think he will. He looked good during practice last fall and has the physical ability, but struggled with mental mistakes throughout last summer. I see him passing up Caldwell sooner rather than later and anticipate flipping the two by kickoff in Orlando.
Stinger:
1. Gates
2. R. Smith
Gates looked young in the beginning of the year, but showed everyone what he could do after Denzel’s departure. It took him a little while, but he now understands the system and plays much faster than he did early on. He started flying around the field and this position allows him to lead the team in tackles (which he did last year). Ray Ray played a lot of special teams this year, similar to Gates in ’14. He’ll develop more and should be able to contribute in ’16. I’m not expecting much from him as of right now. We have depth concerns here and expect us to take a look at possible May transfers and shuffling some guys around to get a look here.
Husky:
1. T. Conner
2. (a) Woods; (b) AJ Moore
3. Street (HS)
Tony is the most valuable player on our defense and is a flat out playmaker. His combination of instincts, closing speed, open field tackling, and coverage skills are near the best I have ever seen. I was disappointed in both Zed and AJ who lacked awareness in coverage and route anticipation when we were without Conner, but both are young and will be improved next year. Neither will ever be as talented as Tony, but they will develop into decent players for us. Street was a HS RB and might get a look there, but we are deep at RB and I see him moving to Husky or Stinger and doing very well there with his size/speed/physicality. I expect him to redshirt. I have Deontay at Rover right now, but he may be the answer here after Tony’s departure.
FCB:
1. Webster
2. Ordway
3: (a) Custis (RS); (b) J. Conner (HS)
Ken is arguably our best corner. Opponents tested him often during his sophomore year, and for the most part, were denied. He is a solid cover guy, who lacks great awareness at this point, but comes up and tackles very well. His awareness/anticipation will be improved this year. Ordway got some playing time after Tee left. He looked confused at times and had quite a few missed assignments, which is not uncommon for a true freshman. He is talented and should be greatly improved after a full year in the system allowing him to refine his technique, eliminate wasted steps, and acquire a better overall understanding of our defense. Custis will provide depth coming off a redshirt and I believe Justin redshirts this year. Like Street, Justin is another HS RB and is projected as a DB in college. He is similar to Kailo, but has better CB traits (quicker hips, etc.). He will need a year to develop, but will be a solid contributor in the future.
BCB:
1. Bridges
2. (a) Davis; (b) K. Moore
3. (a) J. Julius (RS); (b) M. Hartfield (HS/EE)
Bridges struggled at times last year, but he does have good length, ball skills, and is physical. He took accountability for his early mistakes and made huge strides in the 2nd half of the season. He needs to develop a better coverage sense to take away short passes and stop being excessively cautious of the deep ball. It usually takes JUCO guys a year to get used to SEC play and I think it only took him 2/3 of a year. He has lofty goals and will only get better. Carlos provides experience and while he is not the most physically gifted player, he offers dependable depth. Kailo has yet to do much other than on special teams, but he is an experienced player and adds good depth. Jalen has received good reviews from practice and should be able to contribute this upcoming year coming off a redshirt. Hopefully he can add a new dimension to the punt return game that we have been missing. If I had to put my finger on one underrated pick up, Hartfield would be the guy. He is explosive and I believe he could be our best corner at some point in his career. I could also see him moving to husky.
FS:
1. Hampton
2. (a) Linton (RS); (b) J. Jones (HS)
I was disappointed with Hampton last year (maybe my expectations were too high), but I think he improves greatly throughout the spring while taking more responsibility knowing he is our guy and not just an afterthought behind Elston. He got better with every start and will be much more comfortable next year allowing him to play more instinctual football. Linton is a good player and is quality depth behind Hampton once he gets some experience under his belt. Jaylon is a great pickup and will likely move to safety, but CB is also a possibility for him.
Rover:
1. (a) CJ Moore; (b) D. Anderson
2. Eisworth (HS/EE)
I am the most worried about this group. CJ Moore will have the opportunity to get the start here, but I could see Linton or Deontay winning this spot (definitely Deontay after a few games). I honestly don’t know where Eisworth will end up. He is a HS QB and safety and is a pure athlete. He can play the slot on the offensive side, but will likely end up as a safety for us after a redshirt. Deontay is a guy our staff was really high on. He is going to come in and compete for playing time right away.
Strongest Positional Groups: QB, WR, TE, Interior OLine, NT, DT
Biggest Positional Question Marks: Mike, Rover, FS
1. Haynes
2. Youngblood
3. (a) V. Evans; (b) Wiley (HS/EE); (c) Harmon (HS/WO)
Haynes had a somewhat slow start to last season, but looked like his old (young) self as the season developed and ended up with 10 sacks. He is quick off the edge and is a solid tackler (when not grabbing facemasks SMH). He will be a JR this year and has the ability to make a big play at any given time. Youngblood is an average D-1, sub-par SEC DE, but he has continually improved and can be relied on to be an assignment sound player. Vic saw a little playing time last year and is somewhat limited size-wise, but I think he will be ready to contribute consistently this year with the added weight/experience. Wiley is explosive off the edge and is extremely gifted from an athletic standpoint. He’s the type of guy that opens some eyes when going through physical tests. I expect him to develop into a solid player for us and I doubt he redshirts. Harmon has great potential as a walk on. Don’t be surprised when this 6’5 home town kid eventually earns a scholarship and develops into a reliable starter for us in a few years.
Mike:
1. Caldwell
2. Curtis (RS)
3. (a) Strong; (b) D. Evans (HS/EE)
We will miss CJ and Russell here and the production of this group is in question. We haven’t had an “it” guy here in a long time, but it hasn’t been a glaring issue on the field (offseason melts are a different story) because experience, leadership, and heart made up for it. I personally don’t believe Caldwell has the traits required to be noticeably good, but he has made some improvement and should be better after a year in the SEC. I am really hoping Curtis has an impressive spring and I think he will. He looked good during practice last fall and has the physical ability, but struggled with mental mistakes throughout last summer. I see him passing up Caldwell sooner rather than later and anticipate flipping the two by kickoff in Orlando.
Stinger:
1. Gates
2. R. Smith
Gates looked young in the beginning of the year, but showed everyone what he could do after Denzel’s departure. It took him a little while, but he now understands the system and plays much faster than he did early on. He started flying around the field and this position allows him to lead the team in tackles (which he did last year). Ray Ray played a lot of special teams this year, similar to Gates in ’14. He’ll develop more and should be able to contribute in ’16. I’m not expecting much from him as of right now. We have depth concerns here and expect us to take a look at possible May transfers and shuffling some guys around to get a look here.
Husky:
1. T. Conner
2. (a) Woods; (b) AJ Moore
3. Street (HS)
Tony is the most valuable player on our defense and is a flat out playmaker. His combination of instincts, closing speed, open field tackling, and coverage skills are near the best I have ever seen. I was disappointed in both Zed and AJ who lacked awareness in coverage and route anticipation when we were without Conner, but both are young and will be improved next year. Neither will ever be as talented as Tony, but they will develop into decent players for us. Street was a HS RB and might get a look there, but we are deep at RB and I see him moving to Husky or Stinger and doing very well there with his size/speed/physicality. I expect him to redshirt. I have Deontay at Rover right now, but he may be the answer here after Tony’s departure.
FCB:
1. Webster
2. Ordway
3: (a) Custis (RS); (b) J. Conner (HS)
Ken is arguably our best corner. Opponents tested him often during his sophomore year, and for the most part, were denied. He is a solid cover guy, who lacks great awareness at this point, but comes up and tackles very well. His awareness/anticipation will be improved this year. Ordway got some playing time after Tee left. He looked confused at times and had quite a few missed assignments, which is not uncommon for a true freshman. He is talented and should be greatly improved after a full year in the system allowing him to refine his technique, eliminate wasted steps, and acquire a better overall understanding of our defense. Custis will provide depth coming off a redshirt and I believe Justin redshirts this year. Like Street, Justin is another HS RB and is projected as a DB in college. He is similar to Kailo, but has better CB traits (quicker hips, etc.). He will need a year to develop, but will be a solid contributor in the future.
BCB:
1. Bridges
2. (a) Davis; (b) K. Moore
3. (a) J. Julius (RS); (b) M. Hartfield (HS/EE)
Bridges struggled at times last year, but he does have good length, ball skills, and is physical. He took accountability for his early mistakes and made huge strides in the 2nd half of the season. He needs to develop a better coverage sense to take away short passes and stop being excessively cautious of the deep ball. It usually takes JUCO guys a year to get used to SEC play and I think it only took him 2/3 of a year. He has lofty goals and will only get better. Carlos provides experience and while he is not the most physically gifted player, he offers dependable depth. Kailo has yet to do much other than on special teams, but he is an experienced player and adds good depth. Jalen has received good reviews from practice and should be able to contribute this upcoming year coming off a redshirt. Hopefully he can add a new dimension to the punt return game that we have been missing. If I had to put my finger on one underrated pick up, Hartfield would be the guy. He is explosive and I believe he could be our best corner at some point in his career. I could also see him moving to husky.
FS:
1. Hampton
2. (a) Linton (RS); (b) J. Jones (HS)
I was disappointed with Hampton last year (maybe my expectations were too high), but I think he improves greatly throughout the spring while taking more responsibility knowing he is our guy and not just an afterthought behind Elston. He got better with every start and will be much more comfortable next year allowing him to play more instinctual football. Linton is a good player and is quality depth behind Hampton once he gets some experience under his belt. Jaylon is a great pickup and will likely move to safety, but CB is also a possibility for him.
Rover:
1. (a) CJ Moore; (b) D. Anderson
2. Eisworth (HS/EE)
I am the most worried about this group. CJ Moore will have the opportunity to get the start here, but I could see Linton or Deontay winning this spot (definitely Deontay after a few games). I honestly don’t know where Eisworth will end up. He is a HS QB and safety and is a pure athlete. He can play the slot on the offensive side, but will likely end up as a safety for us after a redshirt. Deontay is a guy our staff was really high on. He is going to come in and compete for playing time right away.
Strongest Positional Groups: QB, WR, TE, Interior OLine, NT, DT
Biggest Positional Question Marks: Mike, Rover, FS
This post was edited on 2/5/16 at 8:40 am
Posted on 2/5/16 at 7:54 am to ToddyTime
will reply tomorrow when finished reading
Posted on 2/5/16 at 8:11 am to ToddyTime
Buchanan quit football.
But nice write up.
But nice write up.
This post was edited on 2/5/16 at 8:13 am
Posted on 2/5/16 at 8:21 am to UMRealist
Damn, forgot about that. 
Posted on 2/5/16 at 8:35 am to ToddyTime
Great read!
I feel much more educated about our 2016 team now.
I feel much more educated about our 2016 team now.
Posted on 2/5/16 at 8:43 am to ToddyTime
Posted on 2/5/16 at 8:57 am to UMRealist
quote:
Buchanan quit football.
I hate that he did that, I wish he would have gone to a smaller university like Kincade did. But it's his life and maybe he really loves Ole Miss.
Posted on 2/5/16 at 9:01 am to Rebel Land Shark
Well we all know who the MVP of the Frat Flag Football league will be.
Posted on 2/5/16 at 9:07 am to Rebel Land Shark
quote:
maybe he really loves Ole Miss.
He does. It's an unbelievably huge commitment being on a D1 football team. Really puts your entire social life outside of football on the back burner. Playing football is just not in his post graduation plans. Guess he wants to enjoy his last year or two at OM with his friends rather than moving off and playing at a smaller school. I'd probably do the same thing.
Posted on 2/5/16 at 9:28 am to ToddyTime
I think the Rod Taylor at LT experiment failed horribly. He is a guard. Patterson and Taylor at guard with Conyers at C is a pretty damn good group. Put Little at LT and see who emerges as the RT between Givens and Rawlings and that line is the best we have had under Freeze. Sims is the backup interior lineman, Newman or Mathews will have to step up as the 3rd tackle unless Liggins can do it. But I'm excited to see this group in the spring.
Posted on 2/5/16 at 9:33 am to ToddyTime
Bruh. Respect.
Posted on 2/5/16 at 9:39 am to UMRealist
quote:
Buchanan quit football.
I missed this news. He's still listed on the roster.
Posted on 2/5/16 at 9:42 am to dtmb
Posted on 2/5/16 at 9:45 am to HottyToddy7
I agree that Rod stays at RG and we will have a great G to C. My biggest hope is that Givens can handle RT allowing Rawlings to be a swing from T and C till Mathews can step in as the # 2 guy at T. Newman I think will take at least a year to put on weight. He will be great but might take 1 or 2 years. Also I see either Defoore or Tutt stepping up as a 3rd string guy at G behind Sims and Bulden.
Posted on 2/5/16 at 10:22 am to ToddyTime
TL;DR WE STACKED
Posted on 2/5/16 at 12:50 pm to ToddyTime
Great work all around. Only spot I disagree was OL, mainly Rod's role
Posted on 2/5/16 at 1:12 pm to REBEL5 AC
Thanks. I agree that Rod is much better at guard and that's where he will be come kickoff. I just think the coaches have him penciled in at LT at this point in time, but know he will move back to guard when Little gets here.
Little won't be here until mid/late summer. Liggins and Buys cannot be the only guys with some experience behind him. If something were to happen to Little, I think Rod would be our guy there.
The only other solution would be Rawlings and Givens at the tackles. The problem with that is who is going to rotate with Conyers at center? They are going to be closely monitoring his snap count all year.
Little won't be here until mid/late summer. Liggins and Buys cannot be the only guys with some experience behind him. If something were to happen to Little, I think Rod would be our guy there.
The only other solution would be Rawlings and Givens at the tackles. The problem with that is who is going to rotate with Conyers at center? They are going to be closely monitoring his snap count all year.
Posted on 2/5/16 at 1:13 pm to ToddyTime
I'd rather have Conyers at RT and Rawlings at C, but that's just my opinion.
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