I am not worried about defense, but how many 3rd down conversions did Lazard get us? He was a clutch performer that made our offense click. Our running game can be shut down as we saw yesterday. Passing game needs to be reliable. Would love to see DM on a screen play - how unstoppable would that be?
Next year
- Thread starter CycloneVet
- Start date
The defense may be the best we've ever had: Lima, Bailey, Harvey, Spears, Payne and Peavy. Same with the offensive line. Offense returns a ton and Zeb has much higher ceiling than Kempt. REALLY need Peavy to come back for senior year though. Will miss leadership, passion and toughness of Lanning and Lazard. I predict 8-4 regular season and another bowl win for a 9 win total, but I also think there's a chance to go 10-2 regular season if everything goes our way.
Hopefully Peavy and Butler return.
We won a lot of close games, but then again we were 9-4 and arguably a few plays away from being 11-1 and playing OU in Dallas for the CFP.
Despite losing guys like Lazard, Ryen, Murdock, and Campos we’re going to need the offense to improve to move past every game being a toss-up. Not getting ****** by the refs in critical game changing calls would make a couple game difference too.
We won a lot of close games, but then again we were 9-4 and arguably a few plays away from being 11-1 and playing OU in Dallas for the CFP.
Despite losing guys like Lazard, Ryen, Murdock, and Campos we’re going to need the offense to improve to move past every game being a toss-up. Not getting ****** by the refs in critical game changing calls would make a couple game difference too.
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Peavy is not ready for the NFL at all. Decent college corner, but that's it right now. He needs to work on his game for another year.
Butler probably could go, but he'd be better off with at least one more year in college too.
Agree on DM being dangerous on screens. I've been wondering why we don't utilize that more.
I'm ready for Zeb or someone with a stronger arm and that can scramble.
Devon Moore, Re-al Mitchell??
Kempt won't have Lazard to catch those back shoulder under thrown balls. Sure he still has Butler but you won't have both. I love Kempt's story and he was great with our roster but if he could scramble as well, we would have been deadly on offense. What's awesome about next year though is I'll trust our coaches with whomever they put out there as the starter.
Devon Moore, Re-al Mitchell??
Kempt won't have Lazard to catch those back shoulder under thrown balls. Sure he still has Butler but you won't have both. I love Kempt's story and he was great with our roster but if he could scramble as well, we would have been deadly on offense. What's awesome about next year though is I'll trust our coaches with whomever they put out there as the starter.
I was worried about this earlier in the year it seemed several Seniors were carrying us. However, I'm not as concerned now as several underclassmen really stepped up. It's going to be a matter of more underclassmen stepping up to provide depth.
I'm confident in Zeb replacing Kempt. Who replaces Zeb?
I'm confident Butler can come near Lazard production, who replaces Butler?
Jones replaces Ryen, who replaces Jones
and on down the line....
Lanning & Lazard will be tough to replace from a leadership standpoint, but hopefully with the 'culture' change that Campbell is bringing, someone else will step up.
Future's bright...!
I'm confident in Zeb replacing Kempt. Who replaces Zeb?
I'm confident Butler can come near Lazard production, who replaces Butler?
Jones replaces Ryen, who replaces Jones
and on down the line....
Lanning & Lazard will be tough to replace from a leadership standpoint, but hopefully with the 'culture' change that Campbell is bringing, someone else will step up.
Future's bright...!
Hopefully Chase Allen will benefit from this if Butler is double teamed. Just a thought.
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I don't see Butler going early and getting drafted early, i.e. siging for big money.
Is Jones back? I think he gets a bigger role next year.
Agreed. A chance to show that he can be the lead dog in the passing game would really benefit his draft stock.
Beyond Lazard, there's also Murdoch and Ryen that's going to hurt as well. Their catches may have not been as impressive at times, but they caught a lot of them.
Returning:
WR X - Butler
WR Z - Eaton
WR M - Epps and Jones
We need more bodies or different options. Obviously Chase Allen has been sold to us as a bright talent, but I will believe that we'd consistently throw to a TE when I see it. Another option is to use the RBs split to the slot more often. You have Croney, Warren, Lang, and Nwangwu as options. Having these guys as screen options with Butler blocking might just work.
Returning:
WR X - Butler
WR Z - Eaton
WR M - Epps and Jones
We need more bodies or different options. Obviously Chase Allen has been sold to us as a bright talent, but I will believe that we'd consistently throw to a TE when I see it. Another option is to use the RBs split to the slot more often. You have Croney, Warren, Lang, and Nwangwu as options. Having these guys as screen options with Butler blocking might just work.
WR isn't going to be a problem, look out for D. Johnson, J Martin and T Milton next year.
What excites me about next year is how the needs are more of a fine tune rather than an overhaul. I see an oline man, a second QB and a safety.
To start how nice is it we're only needing a second QB. KK is ideal but the Buckeye would be great as well.
O line return 4 guys with starter experience. Be nice to add a grad transfer to let the young studs in the pipeline one more year to develop.
Safety, White played well at free safety. Lewis started at star we have a juco coming in. Be nice to get another GT to give us options.
Everywhere else the pieces seem to be in place.
To start how nice is it we're only needing a second QB. KK is ideal but the Buckeye would be great as well.
O line return 4 guys with starter experience. Be nice to add a grad transfer to let the young studs in the pipeline one more year to develop.
Safety, White played well at free safety. Lewis started at star we have a juco coming in. Be nice to get another GT to give us options.
Everywhere else the pieces seem to be in place.
UNI, Akron, Oklahoma, Tech, Kansas, TCU, Baylor, KSU, Memphis. Looks like 9 to me.
