OL could be deeper, but we should be fine barring injury.
Should be quite strong with Rees, Crum, and Belding and Thiry. Add in
one Tackle in Mattes.
QB, we'll be fine. Based on the scrimmage, Mauro will be plenty ready
and Persa IS the real deal. I am not comfortable with Kafka. Anyways, no
one is going to start over CJ barring injury, or we should fire Fitz.
RB, when has Tyrell Sutton last missed a game in his last 12,000 yards
of rushing? He's a tough bugger, and if he goes down, I say you put in
Jordan Mabin. He may or may not make a great CB, but he's proven what he
can do with the football.
LB, we are better than you and everyone thinks. I too was a bit nervous
about this unit, but after initial reports from the spring, I think this
unit will surprise in a huge way. Simpson and Arrington are more than solid,
have great athletisim and playmaking potential, and could have breakout
years.
Dinard and Kadela have starting experience, although their play leaves
something to be desired thus far if you ask me, and I look forward to them
getting beat out by the youth. Where I think we'll really see a surprise
is in the youth. Davie and Williams are my bets to grab huge amounts of
time.
Just about everyone is raving about Williams, and his film was impressive.
Remember, no one ever heard of Pat Fitzgerald before 1995. Then you have
Jeske, who is probably worlds away, but there's a lot of time between now
and the Fall and that he's practicing in a black jersey is great news.
And it is definitely within the realm of possibility that one of the
frosh could step up -- McNaul, Watt, and Browne are all big enough for
the Big 10. Time will tell, but could they be like another 3 star LB who
wore the hated Scarlet and Grey? I think LB will be the surprise of the
year for us this fall (I'm betting on the talent and the youth).
CB, you are high. We have never been deeper. We have never had two CB's
as talented as Battle and McManus. They could be lock down this year and
we could put them on islands. We have highly ranked talent in Justan Vaughn,
Michael Bolden, and Jordan Mabin who could push. Mabin for sure will burn
his shirt -- you don't sit talent like that. Dave Oredugba brings excellent
size and athleticism for the position and could ruin Fitzcat's secret squirrel
assessment.
Overall, you are probably right that our OL, QB, and RB depth are questionable,
although I don't think are bone frail. But our D is as deep as it has ever
been. The talent and depth at DL is sick.
That you think we are playing Hawaii already discounts your predictions,
which are far, far too pessimistic.
This team is shaping up to being possibly the best we have ever, ever
fielded. The D is going to be sick and will remind us of 1995, only more
aggressive and playmaking. OL does make me a little nervous, and as Fitzcat
has pointed out, all bets are off if CJ or Sutton are hurt. Otherwise,
I predict a Big 10 championship and an epic mauling of the Buckeyes in
front of a shocked and weeping crowd in the Shoe. Nothing short of 10 wins
and a Big 10 title will be satisfying this year.
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