Depth chart for 2013

[Axl Rose]

What do you think the depth chart for next year will look like? Where do we improve? And where do we see a decline?

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

QB-Golson/Kiel
RB-Carlisle/Atkinson & Bryant
WR-Daniels/Smith
WR-Jones/Ferguson
WR-Neal/Brown
TE-Niklas/Koyack
LT-Z. Martin/Stanley
LG-Watt/Hanratty
C-Hegarty/Hanratty
RG-N. Martin/Harrell
RT-Lombard/Elmer

DE-Day/Hounshell
NT-Nix/Springmann
DE-Tuitt/Schwenke
CAT-Shembo/Williams
ILB-Grace/Moore
ILB-Fox/Anzalone
DOG-Spond/Smith
CB-Jackson/Wood
CB-Russell/Brown
FS-Farley/Redfield
SS-Collinsworth/Baratti
K-Brindza
P-Brindza
KR-Atkinson/McDaniels
PR-Not sure, hopefully not Neal

I think we see improvement everywhere on offense besides the inside of the line and a lot of improvement in the secondary. Our front 7 loses a lot though.

 

[irishff1014]

That core of linebackers scares me.

 

[ulukinatme]

QB-Golson/Kiel
RB-Carlisle/Atkinson & Bryant
WR-Daniels/Smith
WR-Jones/Ferguson
WR-Neal/Brown
TE-Niklas/Koyack
LT-Z. Martin/Stanley
LG-Watt/Hanratty
C-Hegarty/Hanratty
RG-N. Martin/Harrell
RT-Lombard/Elmer

DE-Day/Hounshell
NT-Nix/Springmann
DE-Tuitt/Schwenke
CAT-Shembo/Williams
ILB-Grace/Moore
ILB-Fox/Anzalone
DOG-Spond/Smith
CB-Jackson/Wood
CB-Russell/Brown
FS-Farley/Redfield
SS-Collinsworth/Baratti
K-Brindza
P-Brindza
KR-Atkinson/McDaniels
PR-Not sure, hopefully not Neal

I think we see improvement everywhere on offense besides the inside of the line and a lot of improvement in the secondary. Our front 7 loses a lot though.

Pretty good assessment. 2 losses with next year's schedule I'd wager, but maybe a better matchup in a BCS bowl.

 

[chicago51]

Does Shummate compete for one of the safety sports? I was also the most anti-Max Redfield starting as a freshman but we need more athletism back there in the secondary. Not as happy with a CBs either as I was prior to the NCG.

 

[ulukinatme]

Slaughter is applying for a 6th year, fyi.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

I did forget about Shumate. He'd be on the 2-deep at CB or S.

 

[Ironman8]

I did forget about Shumate. He'd be on the 2-deep at CB or S.

I think Prosise will be up there too for. The staff is really, really high on him.

 

[Ironman8]

And I think Jarron Jones will be right in the mix. Staff also loves him and his length.

 

[dublinirish]

you guys think Foxy will be back now?

 

[Grahambo]

While we may lose quite a bit in experience with those 27 seniors, I think we gain on athleticism. I may be mistaken but the 2013 roster will have more BK guys and less Weis guys. Weis did a poor job at recruiting overall and as has been said many times, the cupboard was bare; the depth is/was non-existant.

With this current crop of talent coming in, this class overall exceeds those that Weis brought in.

Let us not forget that Jaylon is not only being compared to Manti but his athleticism is supposedly better then Manti as well.

And Anzalone is pretty damn good in his own right. Rochell. Bivin. Elmer. Zaire. Bryan and Folston. C. Rob. Redfield. Butler. I mean damn, re-read the reports the last few weeks on these kids.

(Damn, kinda hitting home that Manti is done at ND.)

Also, I believe the coaching staff is pretty much set going in. It is now about consistency.

We may have lost the battle last night but the war is far from over.

 

[Walter White]

With this team it's easier to think of who we're losing (which isn't much IMO). Mostly leadership. The core will be the same next year.

O-
Riddick
Wood
Cave
Golic
Goodman

D-
Kap
Teo
Calabrese
Motta
Slaughter...maybe

 

[Ironman8]

With this team it's easier to think of who we're losing (which isn't much IMO). Mostly leadership. The core will be the same next year.

O-
Riddick
Wood
Cave
Golic
Goodman

D-
Kap
Teo
Calabrese
Motta
Slaughter...maybe

Eifert.

 

[Walter White]

Eifert.

Wow, I don't know how I forgot him. He will be irreplaceable.

 

[notredomer23]

I work with a guy who is good friends with Carlo's dad and lives in Verona(Carlo's hometown) and said if Kelly wants him he is coming back. just FYI. I would guess we would want Fox back, too.

QB- Golson/Kiel
RB- Wood/Carlisle/Atkinson
TE- Koyack/Niklas
WR-Jones/Ferguson
WR-Daniels/Smith
WR-Brown/Neal
OT-Zach Martin/Ronnie Stanley
OG-Chris Watt/John Montulus
C-Nick Martin/Hegarty(please, please, please recover)/Heggie????
OG-Connor Hanratty/Mark Harrell
OT-Christian Lombard/Steve Elmer

DE-Sheldon Day/Chase Hounshell
NT-Nix/Jarron Jones?/Shwenke
DE-Stephon Tuitt/Tony Springman
OLB-Prince Shembo/Ishaq Williams
ILB-Carlo Calabrese/Jared Grace
ILB-Dan Fox/Kendall Moore
OLB-Danny Spond/Jaylon Smith?
CB-Bennett Jackson/Lo Wood
CB-Keivarae Russell/Jalen Brown
FS-Farley/Shumate
SS-Slaughter?/Collinsworth/Baratti

My roster is best case scenario, but really the only possible stretch could be Cierre Wood coming back. That would be 6 5th or 6th year seniors putting us at the scholarship limit now of 85 for next year assuming no decommits. This does not take into account the possible medical scholarships of Tate Nichols and Hegarty(God, I hope not), but Nichols is looking likely, and I have heard Hendrix may transfer so we will probably be around 83 if we take all 6. Add Vanderdoes, and back at 84.

Quick Analysis

QB-Improved greatly from 2012
RB-Hard to say, if Wood comes back improved, if not definite question mark
TE-Downgrade. Not saying Koyack can't produce, as he was the top rated TE, but it is a question mark right now and he hasn't shown much on the field for us to believe otherwise
WR-Improved greatly from 2012. Jones and Daniels are going to straight up ball.
OL-the starting line up will be stellar. Not necessarily improved. Need Hegarty to recover.
DL- Tuitt and Nix will be MONSTERS, but losing Kap hurts. Sheldon Day is a good replacement
LB- Shembo and Spond should have awesome years, but our ILBs of Fox and Calabrese scare me. They are more than capable, I guess it is just going to be weird for me not having Te'o back there.
CB-improved greatly from 2012
S- If Slaughter comes back, definitely improved. Farley played great. Motta is a loss, but Safety is arguably our deepest position.

 

[Ironman8]

^Nick Martin is definitely going to be in the 2 deep, and may even be starting next year.

 

[notredomer23]

^Nick Martin is definitely going to be in the 2 deep, and may even be starting next year.

That's just a miss on my part. I don't know how I forgot him, as I had him in the starting lineup in another depth chart I made.

 

[Ironman8]

That's just a miss on my part. I don't know how I forgot him, as I had him in the starting lineup in another depth chart I made.

No worries. I think if they keep Lombard at tackle either he and Hanratty will have a solid battle at RG, or that Hanratty and Hegarty (God willing) will have a good one at C.

 

[notredomer23]

No worries. I think if they keep Lombard at tackle either he and Hanratty will have a solid battle at RG, or that Hanratty and Hegarty (God willing) will have a good one at C.

I could even see Martin playing center. We have seen how Kelly likes his linemen to be able to play any position and he wants the 5 best linemen out there. I think a line of Z. Martin, Watt, N. Martin, Hanratty, and Lombard would be a pretty solid line.

It really hurts probably not having Nichols. I really think he would start this year.

 

[Ironman8]

I could even see Martin playing center. We have seen how Kelly likes his linemen to be able to play any position and he wants the 5 best linemen out there. I think a line of Z. Martin, Watt, N. Martin, Hanratty, and Lombard would be a pretty solid line.

It really hurts probably not having Nichols. I really think he would start this year.

Agreed. There have even been whispers of Watt playing center. Should be interesting to see how it goes. I'm just really glad we are getting Martin and Watt back - if we weren't we would be in major trouble.

 

[Walter White]

My semi-bold predictions (subject to change):

QB-Golson/Kiel
RB-Bryant/Carlisle/Atkinson/McDaniels (Very uncertain about these)
WR-Daniels/Smith/Robinson
WR-Jones/Brown/Ferguson
WR-Onwalua and Neal/Fuller (Onwalua comes in polished ready to contribute)
TE-Niklas/Welch/Koyack (All three play)
LT-Z. Martin/Elmer
LG-Watt/Bivin
C-Hegarty/Hanratty
RG-N. Martin/Harrell
RT-Stanley/Lombard (Stanley is too good to ride pine)

DE-Day/Jones (Jones and Springman get more involved in the rotation)
NT-Nix/Schwenke
DE-Tuitt/Springmann
CAT-Williams and Shembo (I think Williams starts to get more snaps than Shembo)
ILB-Grace/Rabasa (Rabasa starts to get in on goal line stands)
ILB-Fox/Anzalone (I am not sure Calabrese comes back but if he does hes ahead of Alex)
DOG-Smith and Spond (split even)
CB-Jackson/Atkinson
CB-Russell/Luke
FS-Slaughter/Farley
SS-Shumate/Baratti

KR-McDaniels/Neal (This is if Atkinson becomes one of our main backs)
PR-Neal (Nobody is quicker than him on the roster)

 

[chicago51]

My semi-bold predictions (subject to change):

QB-Golson/Kiel
RB-Bryant/Carlisle/Atkinson/McDaniels (Very uncertain about these)
WR-Daniels/Smith/Robinson
WR-Jones/Brown/Ferguson
WR-Onwalua and Neal/Fuller (Onwalua comes in polished ready to contribute)
TE-Niklas/Welch/Koyack (All three play)
LT-Z. Martin/Elmer
LG-Watt/Bivin
C-Hegarty/Hanratty
RG-N. Martin/Harrell
RT-Stanley/Lombard (Stanley is too good to ride pine)

DE-Day/Jones (Jones and Springman get more involved in the rotation)
NT-Nix/Schwenke
DE-Tuitt/Springmann
CAT-Williams and Shembo (I think Williams starts to get more snaps than Shembo)
ILB-Grace/Rabasa (Rabasa starts to get in on goal line stands)
ILB-Fox/Anzalone (I am not sure Calabrese comes back but if he does hes ahead of Alex)
DOG-Smith and Spond (split even)
CB-Jackson/Atkinson
CB-Russell/Luke
FS-Slaughter/Farley
SS-Shumate/Baratti

KR-McDaniels/Neal (This is if Atkinson becomes one of our main backs)
PR-Neal (Nobody is quicker than him on the roster)

No way Lombard doesn't stary. Stanley may start at RT but they will then move Lombard inside to RG.

I like your safety projections. We need speed out there. Baratti, Collinsworth, and Farley (despite starting all year) just don't have enough speed. I didn't think so prior to NCG but Max Redfield will compete for time at safety.

Eddie V is in the deep if he comes to ND. I don't blaim you for not having him on there right now but if he comes he is in the rotation.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I like your safety projections. We need speed out there. Baratti, Collinsworth, and Farley (despite starting all year) just don't have enough speed. I didn't think so prior to NCG but Max Redfield will compete for time at safety.

Baratti ran a laser-timed 4.4 40 as a recruit. Collinsworth was the fastest gunner on our coverage teams before he got injured. And Farley won the starting FS job this year in no small part due to his athleticism.

Lack of speed isn't a problem for our DBs. Give McCarron all day to throw and he'd pick apart any secondary in the country.

 

[chicago51]

Baratti ran a laser-timed 4.4 40 as a recruit. Collinsworth was the fastest gunner on our coverage teams before he got injured. And Farley won the starting FS job this year in no small part due to his athleticism.

Lack of speed isn't a problem for our DBs. Give McCarron all day to throw and he'd pick apart any secondary in the country.

I trust your intell on this.

If we are so fast I wish the staff would take more chances then. I think when you blitz you have to tight coverage to take away the hot routes.

I believe you want play as conservative as possible while still being successful. When you are not succesful though you got to start sending people and getting folks in the backfield and when you send people you got play tighter and take away the hot throws. If you we as fast you claim I wish the staff would take more chances at times.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

If we are so fast I wish the staff would take more chances then. I think when you blitz you have to tight coverage to take away the hot routes.

That was part of our problem last night. Diaco has been very reluctant to blitz all season since it leaves the secondary exposed. Fortunately, our DL alone has been sufficient to generate enough pressure against almost every team we faced (which is a rare luxury for a 3-4 defense). 'Bama's OL was much better than anything we'd yet faced though, so our DL simply couldn't get pressure on its own, which gave McCarron all the time he needed to pick apart our secondary.

I believe you want play as conservative as possible while still being successful. When you are not succesful though you got to start sending people and getting folks in the backfield and when you send people you got play tighter and take away the hot throws. If you we as fast you claim I wish the staff would take more chances at times.

That's the next evolution for our defense. We simply weren't good enough to generate a consistent pass-rush and strand our young DBs in man coverage this year. That will change in the future.

 

[Domina Nostra]

This is how I would do it, based on what I think we need to upgrade:

QB-Golson/Kiel (Golson, like Clausen, will make a big leap!)
RB-Bryant/Mahone (need more traditional running game, mix it up with others)
WR-Daniels/Smith
WR-Jones/Brown/Fuller
WR-Neal/Carlisle
TE-Niklas/Welch/Koyack
LT-Stanley/Z.Martin
LG-Z. Martin/Watt
C-Watt/Heggarty (Watt is the constant, but do you start Heggarty or N. Martin?)
RG-N. Martin/Hanratty
RT-Lombard/Elmer

DE-Day/Jones
NT-Nix/Schwenke
DE-Tuitt/Springmann
CAT-Shembo/Williams/Okwara
ILB-Grace/Moore
ILB-Fox/Anzalone
DOG-Spond/Smith
CB-Jackson/Atkinson
CB-Russell/Luke
FS-Slaughter/Redfield/Farley (safety is difficult, but needs a shake-up)
SS-Baratti/Shumate/Collinsworth

KR-Atkinson/Collinsworth
PR-Collinsworth/Folston

 

[Walter White]

This is how I would do it, based on what I think we need to upgrade:

QB-Golson/Kiel (Golson, like Clausen, will make a big leap!)
RB-Bryant/Mahone (need more traditional running game, mix it up with others)
WR-Daniels/Smith
WR-Jones/Brown/Fuller
WR-Neal/Carlisle
TE-Niklas/Welch/Koyack
LT-Stanley/Z.Martin
LG-Z. Martin/Watt
C-Watt/Heggarty (If Heggarty is good, I would bump Watt over for N. Martin)
RG-N. Martin/Hanratty
RT-Lombard/Elmer

DE-Day/Jones
NT-Nix/Schwenke
DE-Tuitt/Springmann
CAT-Shembo/Williams/Okwara
ILB-Grace/More
ILB-Fox/Anzalone
DOG-Spond/Smith
CB-Jackson/Atkinson
CB-Russell/Luke
FS-Slaughter/Redfield/Farley (safety is difficult, but needs a shake-up)
SS-Baratti/Shumate/Collinsworth

KR-Atkinson/Collinsworth
PR-Collinsworth/Folston

I like your O-line predictions. I hadn't thought about moving Zach Martin to guard. That might be the best option for next year.

 

[Domina Nostra]

I like your O-line predictions. I hadn't thought about moving Zach Martin to guard. That might be the best option for next year.

I got the idea from one Mr. Barrett Jones. It would benefit the team by getting Stanley on the field as a LT and get Zach more ready for his likely future position.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Wow, I don't know how I forgot him. He will be irreplaceable.

That's assuming that the offense doesn't change. In my opinion 2013 will be the first of the Cincinnati-esque offenses. Kelly should spread it out and really utilize Golson as he becomes a top 15 QB.

2013 will be even better than 2012. The offense will "take off" in my opinion. Then on defense:

SE - Tuitt
NG - Nix
WE - Day
DOG - Spond
MIKE - Grace
WILL - Fox
CAT - Shembo
CB - Jackson
CB - Russell
FS - Farley/Slaughter
SS - Shumate

Returning eight starters from one of the best defenses in the country, returning 5/7 of the front. They will be elite again. The defensive backfield will be most improved and thus Diaco will be able to do more, obviously.

Good things in 2013. 10-2 should be expected. 8-4 or worse will be a disappointment.

 

[RuntheBall]

QB-Golson/ 2A Kiel 2B Rees
RB-Carlisle/Bryant (1A, 1B) & Atkinson
WR-Daniels/Smith
WR-Jones/Ferguson
WR-Neal/Brown (Don't really seen brown in the slot though)
TE-Niklas/Koyack
LT-Z. Martin/Stanley
LG-Watt/Hanratty
C-Hegarty/Hanratty (As long as Matt's health is okay)
RG-N. Martin/Harrell
RT-Lombard/Elmer

DE-Day/Hounshell
NT-Nix/Springmann
DE-Tuitt/ J. Jones
CAT-Shembo/Williams (Maybe Williams beef's up an is a DE?)
ILB-Grace/Moore
ILB-Fox/Anzalone (Carlo 1b with Fox if they both come back)
DOG-Spond/Smith
Note: Okwara sees the field sometimes (Cat if Ishaq / Shembo plays DE situationally?)
CB-Jackson/Wood (If Wood is healthy; if not, Cole Luke/ Shumate)
CB-Russell/Brown (Depends on how Cole Luke/ Safety situation plays out- aka Redfield)
FS- Slaughter (If he comes back and is healthy)/ Farley/ Redfield
SS-Baratti/ Farley/ Collinsworth
K-Brindza
P-Brindza or Walk-on ?
KR-Atkinson/McDaniels
PR- Doesn't matter if we don't block; Folston/ Kinlaw ?