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Post by midwestsader05 on Feb 9, 2024 9:59:50 GMT -5
Since it looks like several folks understandably want to turn our attention back to the current roster now that recruiting is nearly done for 2024, I thought I’d create a position guide of who and what to watch this spring. Even before the coaching staff change, Chesney believed this would be the most competitive of any spring practice since pre Covid. Add to that a new staff, new scheme installs etc and I would highly suggest you make it to a practice and the spring game if you can.
Offense first:
QB - Joey P will enter as the 1 / Frattura v Jenkins for the 2. All 3 QBs will get A TON of reps with only 3 on the roster this spring.
RB - Fuller and JC will be the obvious feature backs. Can Slade, Laube, or Punni make a run for a Purdy type change of pace back?
WR - Shorter and Shipman are the 1 and 2 returning. After that, expect a wide open competition for the 3/4 (at least 4 WRs see a lot of snaps in a given year.) Youngblood, Mullaly, Mosey and Warren need to make a statement this spring before the arrival of Cason, Newton and SirCharles this fall.
TE - Petersen the obvious 1. Wide open battle b/t Schillinger and Petitta for the 2. John Owens also might be moving to TE to provide depth.
OT - Declan Mac and a healthy Cam McNair will be favored to replace Newman and McMurtrie. Brad Blattner had a very good freshman year and emerged late challenging for the 2 deep. Wide open after that depending on who Denecke wants at G v T. - (Beesly, Eldridge)
IOL - Christo returns as the starting Center, Daddona will likely be a starting Guard. Other guard spot battle will be big b/t Cam Nolan, Joe Metzger and possibly Will Janis although I expect Janis could also be the #2 Center.
Defense to follow:
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Post by hc17 on Feb 9, 2024 10:50:29 GMT -5
Since it looks like several folks understandably want to turn our attention back to the current roster now that recruiting is nearly done for 2024, I thought I’d create a position guide of who and what to watch this spring. Even before the coaching staff change, Chesney believed this would be the most competitive of any spring practice since pre Covid. Add to that a new staff, new scheme installs etc and I would highly suggest you make it to a practice and the spring game if you can. Offense first: QB - Joey P will enter as the 1 / Frattura v Jenkins for the 2. All 3 QBs will get A TON of reps with only 3 on the roster this spring. RB - Fuller and JC will be the obvious feature backs. Can Slade, Laube, or Punni make a run for a Purdy type change of pace back? WR - Shorter and Shipman are the 1 and 2 returning. After that, expect a wide open competition for the 3/4 (at least 4 WRs see a lot of snaps in a given year.) Youngblood, Mullaly, Mosey and Warren need to make a statement this spring before the arrival of Cason, Newton and SirCharles this fall. TE - Petersen the obvious 1. Wide open battle b/t Schillinger and Petitta for the 2. John Owens also might be moving to TE to provide depth. OT - Declan Mac and a healthy Cam McNair will be favored to replace Newman and McMurtrie. Brad Blattner had a very good freshman year and emerged late challenging for the 2 deep. Wide open after that depending on who Denecke wants at G v T. - (Beesly, Eldridge) IOL - Christo returns as the starting Center, Daddona will likely be a starting Guard. Other guard spot battle will be big b/t Cam Nolan, Joe Metzger and possibly Will Janis although I expect Janis could also be the #2 Center. Defense to follow: How should we rank these position groups? |
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Post by dharry13 on Feb 9, 2024 10:52:08 GMT -5
When you say rank - could you be more specific? Meaning ranking the offensive position groups from strongest to weakest?
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Feb 9, 2024 10:57:31 GMT -5
We figure to air it out more in 2024 with Joe P under center.
We lose a whole of of weapons on the perimeter.
Big opportunity for the WR room.
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Post by thecrossisback on Feb 9, 2024 11:00:06 GMT -5
Where does Braden Graham fall on the Qb chart?
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Feb 9, 2024 11:06:01 GMT -5
I'd love to see more of what Sammy Slade can do. 10 carries for 125 yards in his first two seasons. Of course, that is heavily affected by one 75 yard carry , but take that out and he still is gaining good yardage
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Post by dharry13 on Feb 9, 2024 11:12:43 GMT -5
Where does Braden Graham fall on the Qb chart? Impossible to tell yet as the coaching staff really hasn't seen Frattura, Graham, Robinson, Jenkins play in person yet on live reps. Big spring for Frattura and Jenkins to get tons of reps. Even bigger summer for all 4 QBs to create the depth chart. |
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Post by hc17 on Feb 9, 2024 11:16:04 GMT -5
When you say rank - could you be more specific? Meaning ranking the offensive position groups from strongest to weakest? Exactly! Where are we strongest (ie Pesansky, Fuller?) & where are the concerns heading into Spring Ball ? |
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Post by drjack on Feb 9, 2024 11:19:49 GMT -5
Wait are practices open to the public? I figured they would be invite only, or maybe just open to football alums.
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Post by dharry13 on Feb 9, 2024 11:22:10 GMT -5
Considering Midwest created the above I'll let him answer for himself. Here's my two cents:
I think they know what they have in QB, RB and TE and WR. I do think there are important battles to see who backs up Joe at QB, JP at TE, and the #3,#4 WR. Those are important because injuries do occur and need guys to step up to see they could do the job if thrown into the fire.
For me the biggest question comes at OL. Part of it is simply because of their predecessors. They were a top 5 group in the FCS last year and 4 left. They have a new OL coach as well. So to me that group has the best opportunity to go out and earn their spot this Spring. Lots of minutes are up for grabs.
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Post by midwestsader05 on Feb 9, 2024 11:59:34 GMT -5
Considering Midwest created the above I'll let him answer for himself. Here's my two cents: I think they know what they have in QB, RB and TE and WR. I do think there are important battles to see who backs up Joe at QB, JP at TE, and the #3,#4 WR. Those are important because injuries do occur and need guys to step up to see they could do the job if thrown into the fire. For me the biggest question comes at OL. Part of it is simply because of their predecessors. They were a top 5 group in the FCS last year and 4 left. They have a new OL coach as well. So to me that group has the best opportunity to go out and earn their spot this Spring. Lots of minutes are up for grabs. I agree with this. OL and the 3/4 WRs biggest intrigue by far on offense for 2024. |
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Post by purplehaze on Feb 9, 2024 12:02:11 GMT -5
Not worthy of a separate thread but two PL rivals have had backup qb's leave: Lafayette is left with only reliable Dean DiNoble after backup Ah-Shaun Davis transferred to Pace, and Lehigh is left with only 5th yr Dante Perri after Brayten Silbor departed (to where ?) - did not detect any highly rated qb's in either of their recruiting classes. (Colgate's top 3 returning qb's are on their spring roster)
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Post by hcnj on Feb 9, 2024 12:28:23 GMT -5
Regarding TE: Petitta vs Schillinger, my memory from HS tape was that Schillinger seemed to be more of a blocker type, Petitta seemed to be a good blocker but also a pretty good receiver, not just a dump-off guy. Anyone have more educated view? WR, it will certainly be interesting to see who will emerge and how passes will be spread post Coker but I don't think there's much doubt that Mosey, Mulally, Youngblood will all be there. Warren is the wild card for me. He was a gifted receiver in prep and HS.
Remember this thread only addresses guys on campus in the Spring. I'm a Bergen Catholic guy so I'm rooting for Sean Woods to get in the mix at guard also.
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Post by midwestsader05 on Feb 9, 2024 12:46:47 GMT -5
Regarding TE: Petitta vs Schillinger, my memory from HS tape was that Schillinger seemed to be more of a blocker type, Petitta seemed to be a good blocker but also a pretty good receiver, not just a dump-off guy. Anyone have more educated view? WR, it will certainly be interesting to see who will emerge and how passes will be spread post Coker but I don't think there's much doubt that Mosey, Mulally, Youngblood will all be there. Warren is the wild card for me. He was a gifted receiver in prep and HS. Remember this thread only addresses guys on campus in the Spring. I'm a Bergen Catholic guy so I'm rooting for Sean Woods to get in the mix at guard also. Woods is absolutely going to be in the mix as an upperclassman. Tough kid and nasty. probably still one year away but after the departure of Christo and Daddona in 2025, he will definitely get his shot. |
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Post by midwestsader05 on Feb 9, 2024 12:56:17 GMT -5
We figure to air it out more in 2024 with Joe P under center. We lose a whole of of weapons on the perimeter. Big opportunity for the WR room. What weapons on the perimeter did we lose besides Jalen? Obviously, the Sluka to Coker connection will be legendary but don’t think there’s other perimeter playmakers we lost. I guess we can throw Purdy into that category too. “The asset.” |
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Feb 9, 2024 13:01:26 GMT -5
We figure to air it out more in 2024 with Joe P under center. We lose a whole of of weapons on the perimeter. Big opportunity for the WR room. What weapons on the perimeter did we lose besides Jalen? Obviously, the Sluka to Coker connection will be legendary but don’t think there’s other perimeter playmakers we lost. I guess we can throw Purdy into that mix too. “The asset.” Yeah, you're right...at the time of posting it slipped my mind that Shorter had decided to return. We only had five guys with double digit receptions this past season, and two are returning (Shorter and Shipman). Quinton Gregory is replaceable. Tyler Purdy (14 for 166) is one guy we are going to miss a lot more than we might think. That kid is a football player. |
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Post by hc6774 on Feb 9, 2024 16:34:36 GMT -5
For me the biggest question comes at OL. Part of it is simply because of their predecessors. They were a top 5 group in the FCS last year and 4 left. They have a new OL coach as well. So to me that group has the best opportunity to go out and earn their spot this Spring. Lots of minutes are up for grabs. I believe this group was developed over the 2 prior years when Coach Smith played 2's especially in the 1st half of games. |
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Post by midwestsader05 on Feb 9, 2024 17:30:05 GMT -5
For me the biggest question comes at OL. Part of it is simply because of their predecessors. They were a top 5 group in the FCS last year and 4 left. They have a new OL coach as well. So to me that group has the best opportunity to go out and earn their spot this Spring. Lots of minutes are up for grabs. I believe this group was developed over the 2 prior years when Coach Smith played 2's especially in the 1st half of games. Not really as much as you think. Christo and Daddona obviously have a lot of experience at multiple IOL positions. Declan was the 3rd OT last season and would play in 2-3 series a game to spell either Newman or McMurtie. Cam McNair backed up Grady Smith at RT in 2022 and would get run in 2-3 series a game but missed a lot of opportunities in ‘23 while recovering with the medical redshirt. No one else really has any meaningful run. Cam Nolan rotated a tiny bit at Guard last year but CJ and Schon didn’t come out that often. |
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Post by newadvisor on Feb 9, 2024 18:13:08 GMT -5
Who's the breakout player of 2024??
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Post by dharry13 on Feb 9, 2024 18:16:02 GMT -5
JC Clerveaux and either Mullally or Warren IMO
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Post by hc87 on Feb 9, 2024 18:34:19 GMT -5
The O-line, apologies to Sluka, Fuller and Coker (and others), may have been our best unit the last 2 or 3 years....rebuilding it will be a primary concern imo.
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Post by midwestsader05 on Feb 9, 2024 18:37:48 GMT -5
On offense, I agree on JC.
Additionally, I’m not sure he would characterize as a “breakout”, but I am interested to see Jake Peterson in Dresner/Curran’s Offense which utilizes a lot of TE and H in the pass game.
Plus with Joey P at QB and Jake’s second year away from his 2022 knee surgery; that makes him an interesting prospect. Matt missed him open downfield a decent amount last year.
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Post by hcnj on Feb 10, 2024 20:18:07 GMT -5
What weapons on the perimeter did we lose besides Jalen? Obviously, the Sluka to Coker connection will be legendary but don’t think there’s other perimeter playmakers we lost. I guess we can throw Purdy into that mix too. “The asset.” Yeah, you're right...at the time of posting it slipped my mind that Shorter had decided to return. We only had five guys with double digit receptions this past season, and two are returning (Shorter and Shipman). Quinton Gregory is replaceable. Tyler Purdy (14 for 166) is one guy we are going to miss a lot more than we might think. That kid is a football player. I agree strongly about Purdy's contributions. But I think they will be more than offset by a healthy JC who is going to help the backfield in multiple ways. He might not be Fuller through the line but he's a strong and talented runner who can spell Fuller or catch the ball a little. |
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Post by midwestsader05 on Feb 10, 2024 20:28:45 GMT -5
Yeah, you're right...at the time of posting it slipped my mind that Shorter had decided to return. We only had five guys with double digit receptions this past season, and two are returning (Shorter and Shipman). Quinton Gregory is replaceable. Tyler Purdy (14 for 166) is one guy we are going to miss a lot more than we might think. That kid is a football player. I agree strongly about Purdy's contributions. But I think they will be more than offset by a healthy JC who is going to help the backfield in multiple ways. He might not be Fuller through the line but he's a strong and talented runner who can spell Fuller or catch the ball a little. Re Purdy and JC; JC’s pass catching ability at Everett and then his PG year at Williston was very impressive. Showed an Ability to catch the ball out of the backfield in stride without slowing down. |
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Post by midwestsader05 on Feb 16, 2024 16:58:20 GMT -5
I’ll try to get the Defensive Spring Preview up soon but a final thought to summarize the offensive outlook. We’ve grown accustomed to having multiple offensive players as preseason all conference selections for several consecutive seasons.
For 2024, we have only one lock in Jordan Fuller. Christo is probably the next most likely followed by Petersen and Shorter as longer shots. Just another data point about the uncertainty in replacing 7 starters this fall.
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