What will the Depth Chart look like now Tate and Jimmy are gone?

[chyrspchuck]

somebody already have an idea of what this looks like let me know.

 

[IrishInFl]

All depends on the coach. Kelly uses a lot of 5 receiver sets.

 

[HoosierMP]

All depends on the coach. Kelly uses a lot of 5 receiver sets.

You're right, it does depend on the coach and system he runs...but let me add, that at least the cupboard isn't bare...we've got plenty of talent to at least be competitive while the new coach gets his system in place.

 

[chyrspchuck]

QB Crist, Hendrix
RB Allen, Hughes
LT Matt Romine?
LG Chris Stewart
C Dan Wenger
RG T Robinson
RT Taylor Dever?
TE Kyle Rudolph
WR Micheal Floyd
WR Shaq Evans
WR Duval Kamara

DE KLM
NT Ethan Johnson
NT Ian Williams
DE Kerry Neal
LB Darius Fleming
LB Brian Smith
LB Manti T'eo
CB Gary Gray
CB Robert Blanton
FS Dan McCarthy
SS Jamoris Slaughter

Is this right? Will any freshmen get significant playing time?

 

[The hawaiianassassin]

i think riddick and woods end up with more playing time than hughes and possibly more than allen whoever the coach is i hope he dont play favorites and plays the better player and as for WR #1 floyd #2 evens #3 tai-ler #4goody #5 kamara you get the picture depends on what set they are using 3 wide 5 wide

 

[jason_h537]

QB Crist, Hendrix
RB Allen, Hughes
LT Matt Romine?
LG Chris Stewart
C Dan Wenger
RG T Robinson
RT Taylor Dever?
TE Kyle Rudolph
WR Micheal Floyd
WR Shaq Evans
WR Duval Kamara

DE KLM
NT Ethan Johnson
NT Ian Williams
DE Kerry Neal
LB Darius Fleming
LB Brian Smith
LB Manti T'eo
CB Gary Gray
CB Robert Blanton
FS Dan McCarthy
SS Jamoris Slaughter

Is this right? Will any freshmen get significant playing time?

Trevor Robinson could get a look at Tackle, Nuss and Watt have reportedly been impressive in practuce. I dont think Neal will start, Hopefully EJ will move back to DE or Filer/Fleming will get a look. I think Te'o will move inside and i would flip your safeties

 

[Flanigan44]

Trevor Robinson could get a look at Tackle, Nuss and Watt have reportedly been impressive in practuce. I dont think Neal will start, Hopefully EJ will move back to DE or Filer/Fleming will get a look. I think Te'o will move inside and i would flip your safeties

Agreed. If EJ stays inside, and Filer/Fleming gets a look at DE opposite KLM, then expect the other one (either Fleming or Filer) to compete for a OLB spot with H. Smith. Also, don't forget about Walls (5th year).

 

[BillyIrish]

dont sleep on Goodman...

 

[jakerbluegold]

Does anyone else think Ethan Johnson should be slimmed down and moved back to DE?

I personally think we should do this with Swynar, Hafis,Stockton, and the rest of the underclassmen getting another year under their belts and ready for playing time.

 

[LeapinLeprechaun]

I think if I was Ethan Johnson I would put my foot down and demand to play defensive end. He is not a defensive tackle. Give the kid a chance to succeed.

 

[wallym]

QB Crist, Hendrix
RB Allen, Hughes
LT Matt Romine?
LG Chris Stewart
C Dan Wenger
RG T Robinson
RT Taylor Dever?
TE Kyle Rudolph
WR Micheal Floyd
WR Shaq Evans
WR Duval Kamara

DE KLM
NT Ethan Johnson
NT Ian Williams
DE Kerry Neal
LB Darius Fleming
LB Brian Smith
LB Manti T'eo
CB Gary Gray
CB Robert Blanton
FS Dan McCarthy
SS Jamoris Slaughter

Is this right? Will any freshmen get significant playing time?

Great thread, and thoughtful line-up, but it's too early to tell. We're all living in fantasy world right now though, so I'll join in ;-)

I honestly think some guys were out of position this year on both sides, and do feel that CW played favorites on "O". I have no idea why Jonas Gray didn't play more...the guy is a stud and needed reps.

On "O", I will skip the O line b/c I have no idea. Could be anyone. I like your skill spots, except at #3 WR. I think there are a few others that will move up past Kamara on the depth chart unless he loses 20 lbs and gets a lot faster. I see Goodman there, and he will probably get some looks at QB as well.

On "D", EJ and KLM should be on the edges, with Ian and Hafis in the middle. I think Cwynar, Stockton, and Newman will be in the mix in the middle too. T'eo needs to be MLB, with Brian Smith and Darius Fleming going back and forth from "Mike" to "Will". Anthony McDonald will be good next year too. DB's all seem right, and Harrison Smith will need to earn back playing time. I think Walls might have a year left too.

Bottom line is CW was very successful at building the depth we need to get wins. The cupboard is not bare.

 

[IrishGolden09]

The offense appears ready to go depending on the hire. With a new coach, I think all positions are pretty much up for grabs with the exception of guys like Rudolph, Floyd and probably Crist. Because of the depth at certain positions like running back, an open competition could be a good thing. However the second WR position battle shakes out, I'd still like to see Goodman run the wildcat because of his experience as a high school QB (and by all accounts a cannon arm).

On defense, we only lose McCarthy and competition along the front 7 should be fierce. My question for you guys, do you think we could run a similar defense as USC used when they had Cushing as the elephant? They ran a "4-3" with a hybrid OLB/DE standing up, so in essence it was a 3-4 with a LB playing along the line but standing.

I always thought a guy like Filer or Fleming would excel in this role and MIGHT give us an opportunity to improve the pass rush. I don't know how big of football junkies you guys are or what kind of time you have, but someone went over it here: USC Trojan Football Analysis
For the record I do not like SC, but the personnel seems to match up and to hide our secondary troubles we need to find a way to get to the QB.

** On a side note the Defense has experienced a lot of different schemes, so maybe trying another one will further hinder them. Its gotta be tough learning a different playbook/scheme so often.

 

[GoIrish41]

Does anyone else think Ethan Johnson should be slimmed down and moved back to DE?

I personally think we should do this with Swynar, Hafis,Stockton, and the rest of the underclassmen getting another year under their belts and ready for playing time.

Absolutely. Moving him to DT was the worst move ever.

 

[jakerbluegold]

EJ looked OK at tackle, but he'd be a difference-maker at end. Hopefuly the next guy that shows up will make some changes on defense for the BETTER!

 

[DKSchrute]

I think Kamara breaks out finally and has a big year.

Kamara is exactly the kind of guy Brian Kelly will kick in the ass to get him to reach potential.

 

[jakerbluegold]

I think Kamara breaks out finally and has a big year.

Kamara is exactly the kind of guy Brian Kelly will kick in the ass to get him to reach potential.

Oh no, not the K word again! I keep rooting for this guy, and he continually disappoints. Maybe BK is the guy who can do it, but honestly I've lost faith in the guy.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Personally, I think it's no coincidence that JC is being followed by C(h)rist. And after three (calender seasons) he will rise again!

Seriously though, how nice is it to have a legit QB waiting in the wings. Sure, he'll still have to learn a new system and yes, the knee injury sucks, and yes, after Crist we're thin at QB but still, it almost feels like we're a Program and not a team that has to pray for a recruit to step in and be ready freshman year. AND Crist spent 2 years working with the greatest qb coach on earth.

As for the rest of the roster, safety is the only area I'm really worried about. If there's one thing CW did for the program, it was give it depth.

 

[WeisWeisBaby]

Depth and girth, just the way I like it

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Making the big assumption that Kelly is coach.

QB: Crist/Hendrix
RB: Allen/Riddick
WR1: Floyd/Evans
WR2: Kamara/Walker
WR3: Goodman/Jones
TE: Rudolph/Ragone
LT: Romine/Clelland
LG: Stewart/Watt
C: Cave/Wenger
RG: Robinson/Nuss
RT: Dever/Martin

DE: Johnson/Nwankwo
DT: H. Williams/Nix
DT: I. Williams/Cwyar
DE: Lewis-Moore/Neal
SAM: Te'o/Fox
MIKE: B. Smith/Pozluszny
WILL: Fleming/Filer
CB: Gray/Blanton
CB: Walls/Banks
FS: McCarthy/H. Smith
SS: Slaughter/Motta

K: Tausch/Ruffer
P: Turk/Some Walk-On
KR: Riddick/Evans
PR: Allen/Evans

 

[chyrspchuck]

Making the big assumption that Kelly is coach.

QB: Crist/Hendrix
RB: Allen/Riddick
WR1: Floyd/Evans
WR2: Kamara/Walker
WR3: Goodman/Jones
TE: Rudolph/Ragone
LT: Romine/Clelland
LG: Stewart/Watt
C: Cave/Wenger
RG: Robinson/Nuss
RT: Dever/Martin

DE: Johnson/Nwankwo
DT: H. Williams/Nix
DT: I. Williams/Cwyar
DE: Lewis-Moore/Neal
SAM: Te'o/Fox
MIKE: B. Smith/Pozluszny
WILL: Fleming/Filer
CB: Gray/Blanton
CB: Walls/Banks
FS: McCarthy/H. Smith
SS: Slaughter/Motta

K: Tausch/Ruffer
P: Turk/Some Walk-On
KR: Riddick/Evans
PR: Allen/Evans

thanks for playing the game along with me man, i appreciate it. i like B Cave, I have always said the best name for a Lineman is my Name is Braxton "and I'm gonna" Cave, your face in.

I was thinking about it, OLine would be cool like this

LT: TRob
LG: Chris Stewart
C: BCave
RG: Dan Wenger
RT: Dever, Clelland Romine

Anyone see that working.

I didn't mention Stockton, but he has to be in the mix for playing time on the DL, especially if they move EJ out right?

I'm excited if it is Kelly to see that 5 receiver set.

 

[jmurphy75]

Making the big assumption that Kelly is coach.

QB: Crist/Hendrix
RB: Allen/Riddick
WR1: Floyd/Evans
WR2: Kamara/Walker
WR3: Goodman/Jones
TE: Rudolph/Ragone
LT: Romine/Clelland
LG: Stewart/Watt
C: Cave/Wenger
RG: Robinson/Nuss
RT: Dever/Martin

DE: Johnson/Nwankwo
DT: H. Williams/Nix
DT: I. Williams/Cwyar
DE: Lewis-Moore/Neal
SAM: Te'o/Fox
MIKE: B. Smith/Pozluszny
WILL: Fleming/Filer
CB: Gray/Blanton
CB: Walls/Banks
FS: McCarthy/H. Smith
SS: Slaughter/Motta

K: Tausch/Ruffer
P: Turk/Some Walk-On
KR: Riddick/Evans
PR: Allen/Evans

I liked everything until I saw H. Smith at FS! Are you trying to give me nightmares about next season already, Hayseedis can not play FS.

 

[chyrspchuck]

I could easily see Zeke Pass Jamoris as well. Seemed like when Zeke was out there on special teams he was in on ever single play.

 

[jason_h537]

I honestly think some guys were out of position this year on both sides, and do feel that CW played favorites on "O". I have no idea why Jonas Gray didn't play more...the guy is a stud and needed reps.

Jonas Gray could not block and he fumbled all the time. That is why he didnt play. Lots of potential but you gotta do the little things like not turning the ball over every time you get a shot at PT

 

[IrishFanForLife]

I'm liking the wideout with kelly's 4 and five wideout sets and throw rudolph into the mix with the 5 wideouts. Plus the good depth at back will allow for effective and consitent running and if crist developes and gets comfortable in the system this offense could be potent next year. The defense on the other hand lets wait and see

 

[Honey Nut Irish]

I've been waiting two years to see Dayne Crist tear it up. I have not been this excited to see how our starting qb plays since...um...Demetrius Jones. lol

I am actually glad to see Jimmy go. It will be a fresh start. Crist is our Savior!

 

[hockeychief24]

I personally think the key to next year is getting seantrel henderson. he would definetely sure up the o-line and protect crist, seeing it is his first year.

 

[ACamp1900]

dont sleep on Goodman...

absolutely... at WR if Crist is healthy OR QB if he is not...

Goodman may be the most important player on the WHOLE TEAM during the spring

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

With a 3-4 defense

DE: KLM/Cwynar
NT: I. Williams/Nix
DE: EJ/Nwankwo
OLB:Fleming/H. Smith
ILB: Te'o/Pozluszny
ILB: B. Smith/McDonald
OLB: Filer/Neal
CB: Walls/Blanton
CB: Gray/Banks
FS: McCarthy/Badger
SS: Slaughter/Motta

 

[49er-Irish]

I think Hafis Williams will be ahead of Nwankwo on the 2 deep. Hafis was getting a lot of hype going into spring ball last year because he was busting his ass in the weight room to get ready to play. If he has the same approach with new coaches I think it will be his (backup) spot to lose.

And Stockton should be behind Ian Williams at NT at the beginning of the season. Nix might pass him up fairly quickly, but then I'd expect to see Stockton slide out to DE. He seems like too big and quick of a D-lineman to keep out of the rotation.

The Gray/Walls/Blanton battle should be interesting.

 

[jason_h537]

3-4 defense

DE KLM/ ???
NT Ian/ Stockton
DE: EJ/ Cwyner
Sam: Fleming/ Neal
Will: Hayseed/ Filer
Mike: Brian/ A-Mac
Jack: Te'o/ Poz
CB: Gray/ Walls
CB: Blanton/ Banks
SS: (lil) McCarthy/ Motta
FS: Slaughter/ ???