Next Year's Depth Chart

[notredomer23]

Just the Starters
Offense

QB- Jimmy Clausen
RB- Robert Hughes
WR- Duval Kamara
WR-Robby Parris if his droppsies is cured, if not Grimes
TE-Yeatman if he stays with football, otherwise Ragone
FB- Schmiidt please
C- Wenger
OT-Romine
OT Young
OG-Olsen
OG- Stewart (ok maybe not)


Defense

DE-Justin Brown(if he comes back for 5th year) or Hand
DT-Kuntz/Williams
DE- Paddy Mullen( unless Brown comes back, then Hand
LB-Neal
LB-Smith
LB-Crum
LB- T Smith
S- david Bruton
S Kyle McCarthy
CB Walls
CB McNiel

what say you?

 

[jonesman]

I think we are a little early to start the depth chart. It is fun, but let's first see who comes back for their 5th year and what the final recruiting class looks like. Since you started this, I will put in my two cents worth.
Offensive:
QB - JC
RB - This position will be by committee similar to this year. Aldridge, Hughes, Allen and even Jabbie if he comes back.
FB - Schwaap. Only because he has incriminating pics of CW. Schmidt deserves time here. Asaph has not improved one ounce.
WR - Kamara is number one. Grimes is a good third. The HUGE question is the number two guy. I hope Tate can prove he can run routes to go with his speed. Floyd could be a big factor.
OL - I think that most of this is set. Young, Turk, Wenger, Olsen, Duncan, Stew is the flex guy.
TE - Yeatman, Rudolf and Fauria will get a good look.

Defense:
OLB's - Neal and Smith
ILB's - Crum and Toryan Smith. Paskorz is my suprise pick here. Watch out for him.
DL - Ian will anchor the middle. Kuntz and Brown on the DE's. Cwynar is my pick as DE third and Omar will back up Ian.
Safety - Bruton. The other safety position is going to be a battle royal. McCarthy, Gaines, Brown, Harrison Smith and maybe an incoming freshman. Harrison is my pick here. This kid has blazing speed, size at 6'2" and he can jump out of the gym.
CB - Walls, Lambert if he comes back and McNeil. Gray will be in the rotation and so will Munir Prince.

 

[piyachi]

Safety - Bruton. The other safety position is going to be a battle royal. McCarthy, Gaines, Brown, Harrison Smith and maybe an incoming freshman. Harrison is my pick here. This kid has blazing speed, size at 6'2" and he can jump out of the gym.

It was my understanding that Smith was being seen as next in line for Bruton, not to take over for Zibby. Who among that group is a strong safety?

 

[jonesman]

Piyachi,
It is a matter of putting the two best talents back there. What guy can cover, fly to the ball and lay the wood. As I said, this position battle will be epic. McCarthy played alot this year, but he did not really impress. He is not super physical or fast. Sergio Brown was hurt, Harrison was being redshirted and the recruits are not here yet. I say Harrison because he gives us the elements of speed, size and good hands, plus he appears to be very physical in his highlights. It is nice to know we have multiple candidates for positions like this.

 

[piyachi]

Yes it's early, but fun too. I'll do a full chart 'cause I'm bored.

Offense:
QB - 1 - Clausen - Improvement and weight gain over the offseason
2 - Sharpley - Excellent back-up and knows the system (Crist will need time)
RB - 1 - Aldridge - Putting injuries behind him hopefully
2a - Allen - Thunder and lightning
2b - Hughes - And the unstoppable force
FB - 1 - Schmidt - Finally takes over due to catching ability
2 - Schwapp - Can't shake the fumbles
WR - 1a - Kamara - Very physical, and excellent blocker
1b - Grimes - Not getting any bigger but should be productive
1c - Floyd - He sees a decent and steadily increasing amount of time immediately
2a - Tate - Sees more time in stretch the field situation
2b - Parris - Hopefully he gets stronger to fight off defenders
C - 1 - Wenger - Has already looked as good as Sully this year
2 - Cave - Comes in very strong for a frosh and sees garbage time
G - 1 - Olsen - Finally the winner of the RG carousel
1 - Stewart - Has improved consistently, and is a force to run behind
2 - Honestly no clue as to our depth here
T - 1 - Young - Someone needs to help him, he really could be a monster
1 - Turkovich - Also made huge strides since the beginning of the season

Defense

NT - 1 - Williams - Great surprise so far, hope he gains a few pounds
2 - Kuntz - If Williams goes down I think we slide Kuntz back
DE - 1 - Kuntz - He has been excellent at NT, I think he gets even better at DE
1 - Brown - Solidifies the other end
2 - Hunter - Another immediate impact guy, has the size and strength
2 - Stephenson - Should be a very solid backup as well
ILB - 1 - Crum - Duh, the leader of our D
1 - Brockington - Comes back as well
2 - Smith - Still a backup, hopefully he prepares for a solid senior year
2 - McDonald - Can't see us having two guys down, but he is flying under the radar
OLB - 1 - Smith - Came out of nowhere to become a leader already
1 - Neal - Starts to become a run stopper as well as pass rusher
2 - Ryan - Very solid backup
2 - Richardson - Same
CB - 1 - Walls - Just might be the most dominant player on D next year
1 - Gray - Haven't seen anything yet, but hear great things
1a - McNeil - Our nickel-package guy
2 - Lambert - Really curious to see if he comes back, has the athleticism
2 - Prince - Another athletic guy, better adjusted to the position by next season
S - 1 - Bruton - Vicious hitter with good speed
1 - McCarthy - Has a better SS body than others with more speed
2 - Smith - Harrison is special and a freakish athelete
2 - No idea who could be our SS backup

Whew, ok well there are some spots where the backups haven't made any noise, or maybe I missed it. Very few frosh even as immediate backups.

 

[piyachi]

It is a matter of putting the two best talents back there. What guy can cover, fly to the ball and lay the wood. As I said, this position battle will be epic. McCarthy played alot this year, but he did not really impress. He is not super physical or fast. Sergio Brown was hurt, Harrison was being redshirted and the recruits are not here yet. I say Harrison because he gives us the elements of speed, size and good hands, plus he appears to be very physical in his highlights. It is nice to know we have multiple candidates for positions like this.

Hells yea - I cannot wait to see Harrison out there.

 

[jonesman]

Piyachi,
Just want to correct you on a couple things. On defense, Brockington and Stephenson are out of eligibility. They are gone. Cwynar is the guy to watch on DL. He is enrolling early, so will get spring ball. He just beat out Filer for Illinois D player of the year. He is said to be a monster. On O, I pray that Cave does NOT have to play this coming year. It is time we start getting back to freshman lineman redshirting. This helps to make depth on the line. Bemenderfer could back up Wenger.

 

[piyachi]

Ah ok - First off somehow I forgot about Bermenderfer. Secondly the line confuses me because we have shuffled guys so much that I can't even keep track of who is a guard and who is a tackle. Third, if Brockington is gone then ILB might be a tough spot for us next year. I hope Toryan can step it up.

See I was debating on Cwynar. He has to lose weight to play where we want him, according to him. He is also used to playing more of a DT role in high school I think. Physically I think he is a go, especially as an EE. Maybe he can get the mental part in too if Brown's simplistic scheme works for him. We may need him in the two-deep since Ethan Johnson might be working off the injury (although he has been sitting so who knows) and none of our backups that will be back look to be a lock for playing time.