Fall Camp Depth Chart

[CloneIce]

and hung out to dry on about 50% of the plays.

I've watched people try to blame the poor LB play on the DL for years now. It's always been silly, because anyone who watches the games and has any football knowledge understands we have both lacked physical talent and been out of position way too often at the LB position. Campbell noted it immediately when he came to campus. We've had a lot of guys out there that just plain were not Big 12 LBs.

I'm hopeful we'll turn the corner this year. Harvey has some talent (better at blitzing than stopping the run so far, but he is just a Jr this year). And hopefully Lanning is better than Seely, and Spears sounds promising. This could be the year we get back to at least average.

 

[CloneIce]

I'm 5'6" myself. I know from personal experience us small guys play with a chip on our shoulder. That being said, I would have been a better player with a little more size. You're not gonna win any jump balls with 6'4" receivers.

CB play is way, way, down the list of concerns with this team. A lot of people overrate height when it comes to college CBs (there are a helluva lot of short CBs in the NFL too). Peavy and Payne are players.

 

[TheJackWePack5]

Or not even updated at all

It was updated.

 

[Ben4Cy]

I'm curious if we go 4 wide, how many different combo's you have.

Ryen and Jones at the same time? Or do you go with size over speed and plug in Murdock or epps for one of those.

I like AL, Butler, Ryan and Jones. Underneath and over the top.

 

[TheJackWePack5]

I'm curious if we go 4 wide, how many different combo's you have.

Ryen and Jones at the same time? Or do you go with size over speed and plug in Murdock or epps for one of those.

I like AL, Butler, Ryan and Jones. Underneath and over the top.

Jalen Martin will be out there as well.

 

[Ben4Cy]

Jalen Martin will be out there as well.

I am actually really excited about his upside. It sounds like CMC is as well. Size is there for sure.

 

[CloneIce]

Jalen Martin will be out there as well.

He wasn't on the depth chart, was he? Might be a year away from seeing much PT, with so many experienced WRs ahead of him.

 

[CascadeClone]

I've watched people try to blame the poor LB play on the DL for years now. It's always been silly, because anyone who watches the games and has any football knowledge understands we have both lacked physical talent and been out of position way too often at the LB position.

These are not mutually exclusive causes, and I think we have suffered significantly from both.

I honestly believe that if the DL is just a bit better, and the LBs are just a bit better, then the defense as a whole could be much better as an overall unit. Not like a Top 20 defensive juggernaut or anything, but just average would be a big step forward.

 

[RealisticCy]

These are not mutually exclusive causes, and I think we have suffered significantly from both.

I honestly believe that if the DL is just a bit better, and the LBs are just a bit better, then the defense as a whole could be much better as an overall unit. Not like a Top 20 defensive juggernaut or anything, but just average would be a big step forward.

Agreed with above, problems have been across the entire front 7 (and at times the secondary as well). Good DL play directly influences what LB's can do and how you have to use them. Can't get pressure with 4? Have to blitz or get picked apart. Can't eat up blockers or hold your ground in the run game? LB's end up with DL in their laps and having to fight off more blocks to make a play. Good LB play rarely affects the DL the same way.

Everybody loves to say we need offense to be competitive in the Big 12. IMO we won't win consistently until we can stop the run. Doing that starts with DL play. Really excited to see this kind of size on the line for once. Hope Uwazurike can develop into a stud.

 

[Rural]

I've watched people try to blame the poor LB play on the DL for years now. It's always been silly, because anyone who watches the games and has any football knowledge understands we have both lacked physical talent and been out of position way too often at the LB position. Campbell noted it immediately when he came to campus. We've had a lot of guys out there that just plain were not Big 12 LBs.

I'm hopeful we'll turn the corner this year. Harvey has some talent (better at blitzing than stopping the run so far, but he is just a Jr this year). And hopefully Lanning is better than Seely, and Spears sounds promising. This could be the year we get back to at least average.

Wasn't' implying the talent was adequate, any linebacker will struggle with the middle wide open.

 

[dualthreat]

It's more about the LBs being continually out of position and following it with a missed tackle. Blame the d line all you want (they deserve blame too) but the last few years Rhoads was here our whole front 7 on D was just plain bad. Ranked dead last in run defense iirc

 

[clonedude]

For every position or just OL?

Every position, except special teams.

I'll try as best I can, but I'm mostly just guessing here....

QB- Park, Noland, Kempt, Moore
RB- Montgomery, Warren, Kene (if healthy), Lang or Croney
H-back- Seonbuchner, Cole Anderson?
TE- Allen, Harms, Soehner, Anderson
WR- Ryen, D. Jones, Akers, Peeler
WR- Lazard, Eaton, Denver Johnson, Jalen Martin
WR- Butler, Murdock, Epps, Josh Johnson
LT- Campos, Foster, S. Curtis, Kleinow
LG- Garcia, Larson, Mueller, Hudson
C- JGJ, Windham, Nogaj, Denaro
RG- Oge, Knipfel, Bolton, Newell
RT- Meeker, Kodanko, LaFrenz, ?? ran out of names

DE- Waggoner, Uwazurike, Dominguez, Coleman
NG- Lima, Johnson, J. Bailey, Robertson
DT- Trent, Leo, Tonga (if he shows), Robertson
Leo- Bailey, Benton, Lensing, C. Bailey
LB- Spears, Northrup, Vance
LB- Lanning, Sutton, McMillen
LB- Harvey, Mackenro Alexander, Spreen, Hummel
Star- Edwards, Alexander, Thadd Daniels
FS- KCM, Edwards, Grant, K. Jones
SS- Wilkerson, White, Braxton Lewis, DLC
LC- Payne, Azunna, Bowens, Webster
RC- Peavy, Ruth, Pickett-Brown, OJ Tucker

Wow... that was hard. I made a ton of guesses obviously, and some horrible ones I'm sure, but hey, I did it. For example, I have no idea on some of the younger OL who plays which positions? Same for LBs, not sure which LB position the younger guys will play. Same with safeties and corners.

One thing that stood out to me the most was how thin we are on the interior of the DL, especially if Tonga doesn't make it here or can't contribute. If we have an injury or two here, we'll be in DEEP trouble. I can see why they moved Matt Leo in there, we needed some bodies.

 

[RustShack]

Looks like a good team to me. Stacked at skill positions, feel real good about 6 OL.. so hopefully they stay healthy.

Defense has talent, but knowing when/where to be and tackling is more important. No worries about the secondary. If nothing else the size of the DL is a big upgrade from what we are used to.. hopefully that helps stop the run and the LB's our more at least.

 

[The_Gent]

I have a feeling that Knipfel will take Garcia's spot. That said, our lack of depth at OL is frightening if we lose one or two guys. Same can be said for losing a linebacker. Alexander being the 2nd string OLB is scary; dude weighs like 170.

 

[SolarGarlic]

I'll talk depth chart with you, @Beyerball

I think the concern is the lack of size and experience. Klein, Knott, & Jeremiah Jones set a helluva standard that has fallen quite short the last few seasons. If you look around the league, most inside linebackers are still between 230-240 lbs. There's a correlation between bulk and the ability to absorb/shed lead blockers. I also don't know how anyone wouldn't be nervous about last year's starting quarterback winning the starting MLB job. If anyone can pull it off however, it's Joel. I'm rooting for him, but I expect some struggles early on.

My annual reminder that Jesse Smith was a first-team All Big 12 linebacker in 2009, one year before Knott was second team.

 

[bosco]

Listening to you guys get excited about the season before this team and staff have actually proven anything shows why they are still sending Nigerian Prince email scams.

 

[RustShack]

I have a feeling that Knipfel will take Garcia's spot. That said, our lack of depth at OL is frightening if we lose one or two guys. Same can be said for losing a linebacker. Alexander being the 2nd string OLB is scary; dude weighs like 170.

I think Knipfel is better and I hope he's ready, it just normally takes Jucos a year first before they are ready.

 

[TheJackWePack5]

Every position, except special teams.

I'll try as best I can, but I'm mostly just guessing here....

QB- Park, Noland, Kempt, Moore
RB- Montgomery, Warren, Kene (if healthy), Lang or Croney
H-back- Seonbuchner, Cole Anderson?
TE- Allen, Harms, Soehner, Anderson
WR- Ryen, D. Jones, Akers, Peeler
WR- Lazard, Eaton, Denver Johnson, Jalen Martin
WR- Butler, Murdock, Epps, Josh Johnson
LT- Campos, Foster, S. Curtis, Kleinow
LG- Garcia, Larson, Mueller, Hudson
C- JGJ, Windham, Nogaj, Denaro
RG- Oge, Knipfel, Bolton, Newell
RT- Meeker, Kodanko, LaFrenz, ?? ran out of names

DE- Waggoner, Uwazurike, Dominguez, Coleman
NG- Lima, Johnson, J. Bailey, Robertson
DT- Trent, Leo, Tonga (if he shows), Robertson
Leo- Bailey, Benton, Lensing, C. Bailey
LB- Spears, Northrup, Vance
LB- Lanning, Sutton, McMillen
LB- Harvey, Mackenro Alexander, Spreen, Hummel
Star- Edwards, Alexander, Thadd Daniels
FS- KCM, Edwards, Grant, K. Jones
SS- Wilkerson, White, Braxton Lewis, DLC
LC- Payne, Azunna, Bowens, Webster
RC- Peavy, Ruth, Pickett-Brown, OJ Tucker

Wow... that was hard. I made a ton of guesses obviously, and some horrible ones I'm sure, but hey, I did it. For example, I have no idea on some of the younger OL who plays which positions? Same for LBs, not sure which LB position the younger guys will play. Same with safeties and corners.

One thing that stood out to me the most was how thin we are on the interior of the DL, especially if Tonga doesn't make it here or can't contribute. If we have an injury or two here, we'll be in DEEP trouble. I can see why they moved Matt Leo in there, we needed some bodies.

Looks pretty much like I would have it. Tough to say about which true freshmen will play what positions.

I think the DL will be 'ok' depth-wise if Tongamoa shows up. The names we have that will play without a doubt are:
Ray Lima 6'3 306 -highly regarded JUCO should play a lot. Good size/strength.
Jamahl Johnson 6'0 314 -played sparingly last year. Looks like a "hold the gap" type of DL but has good twitch.
Vernell Trent 6'3 282 -has played a lot of football for ISU. Shows flashes of being solid but needs to be more consistent.
Matt Leo 6'7 (Campbell just said he's 291) -a big body that is still adapting to the game. Could play DE or on the interior
Eyioma Uwazurike 6'6 (Campbell said 290) -will likely play both DE and on the interior depending on the situation. Looks to have big potential.
JD Waggoner 6'3 248 -a high motored "workman-like" DE. Was playing well last year before injury.
Spencer Benton 6'2 247 -played quite well late last season. Similar to Waggoner in playing style.
JaQuan Bailey 6'2 260 -showed flashes as a TRFr. Has one of the highest ceilings on the DL, IMO.
Carson Lensing 6'4 249 -coaches have raved about him all offseason. Certainly will get time.

Thats 9 guys among the 4 spots with a few being interchangeable between DE and DT.

A few wild cards are Josh Bailey (6'2 288) as a young guy and obviously Kamilo Tongamoa (6'5 290) who's eligibility is within question. Both could help the depth.

I doubt any true freshman play among the DL unless they are ready (unlikely yet). I also wouldn't be surprised to see a walk-on contribute on the DL (a la Spencer Benton).

The depth isn't great, but the cupboard certainly isn't bare there.

 

[CloneConer]

Glad to see Carson Lending's name come up. I remember enjoying his highlights during recruitment and wondered why he didn't have more hype. Went back and found it. It's laughably impressive. Clearly a men among boys type of situation in highschool. He played about every position for his team. Makes sense that he was recruited as an ATH. Could be a very nice 4 year contributor for us on the DL.

His senior highlights for those interested...

 

[swessball]

Uwazurike and Leo are both 290???

That seems massive for a couple D-ends (yes I know that Campbell said they both will be seeing time inside but I still expect to seem them outside quite often, especially Uwazurike). I get not wanting to get blown off the line of scrimmage, but at that weight you'd think it'd be tough to get to the quarterback other than performing a bull rush.