Pre-fall depth chart

[tazclone]

Knot and Klein would have been ripped apart their sophomore years as well if they had that DL. Having a good DL gives LB's just enough time to recover from their mistakes. They had that, these guys didn't.

Meeks and Miller had the potential to be better than they were, but they were set up to fail... Especially Meeks.

Miller was set up worse. played out of position for all but three games.

again, A DL makes a LBs job easier and would have made things look better. No one is refuting that. it doesn't erase bad reads, coverage abilities, **** poor tackling and being undersized. You can evaluate those separate. And like others have osted some of the LB were still pretty young so bad reads were expected. their poor coverage, being undersized and too slow in covergae have nothing to do with the DL. In short the DL was bad last year and LB play was bad last year.
A DBs play is reliant on DL play as well but you can tell they have the ability to play at the Big 12 level even with poor play in front of them.

 

[RustShack]

Even the best coverage defenders will get beat if there's no pressure. Bad reads is normal for most new players, just a hell of a lot more noticeable with a bad DL.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

I feel bad for Meeks. I don't think his speed of play that he presented is anywhere near what his actual potential is. That kid was thrown to the wolves, against a really REALLY good run team, and his d-line let him get destroyed. I eat crow for Miller whenever I can. I criticized him harshly his junior year. He played like a man when he was in the middle until his injury. My hat goes off to him.

 

[thrillcat]

In general, more people should watch replays before commenting on play(not you specifically). it is amazing what you can see when completely sober and have the ability to rewind and focus. I love when fans state "I don't have to watch the replay, I was there." Ya, because you are better than every coach that has coached the game since games have been recorded.

again...not a shot at you just fans in general

I hear ya. I generally watch every replay for exactly the reasons you state- better views, replays, sobriety.

I have never and will never be able to bring myself to watch that game again.

 

[bozclone]

It is good to see the depth chart dominated by Juniors and Seniors at most positions. Especially the line. We have to have upperclassmen dominated teams to compete in the Big 12. You can not win at ISU starting a bunch of 3 star recruits as sophomores. In most cases they are not physically ready.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

A bit bummed about Williams if the rumors are true. Need all the help at RB we can get this year. Although if the O-Line is even the least bit decent, I suppose it doesn't matter who the RB is. You see it with the Denver Broncos every year, plug in play RB's all the time. Drives me nuts in Fantasy Football.

At the very least, I hope SBR is not our leading rusher this year. Would not be ideal.

 

[Rabbuk]

A bit bummed about Williams if the rumors are true. Need all the help at RB we can get this year. Although if the O-Line is even the least bit decent, I suppose it doesn't matter who the RB is. You see it with the Denver Broncos every year, plug in play RB's all the time. Drives me nuts in Fantasy Football.

At the very least, I hope SBR is not our leading rusher this year. Would not be ideal.

What Williams?

 

[Cyinthenorth]

What Williams?

Kendall, not Chris. Apologies for the confusion.

 

[Rabbuk]

Kendall, not Chris. Apologies for the confusion.

What are the rumors, I looked through the thread but must just be missing them.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

What are the rumors, I looked through the thread but must just be missing them.

Top of the page, about him possibly not making it to campus

 

[TheJackWePack5]

Top of the page, about him possibly not making it to campus

I thought I remember hearing in Chris' podcast that both Leath and Williams were trying to finish up classes and he thought they would make it. I'll have to go listen to it again to see. Really hope Williams can make it too. Would take a lot of pressure off of Brown and Warren and possibly would not make a Frosh burn a redshirt.

 

[tazclone]

Even the best coverage defenders will get beat if there's no pressure. Bad reads is normal for most new players, just a hell of a lot more noticeable with a bad DL.

Yes, but that is because they are required to cover for an extended time which I spelled out when describing the play of the CBs.
Notice no one is talking about hte play of the DBs. even though they got beat. That is because if you watch them, you can see they had Big 12 ability even as young as they were. they made good reads, they had the speed and athletic ability to recover from bad reads, poor tackling technique, poor positioning, etc. etc.

You are claiming all bad LB play is directly related to the DL...Well, there is a reason the staff brought in JUCO LBs and it isn't because the current one were great. You can look at LB play and say...those guys missed that because the DL sucks. You can also look at their play and say...they should have made that play, their coverage is poor, they lack speed, they lack explosiveness, and they are undersized.

CPRs recruiting philosophy the first few years was crap. From long, lean OL to "growing players." I rememebr the year Utah kicked are *** at home and CPOR talked about recruiting QBs because they are the best athletes ont he team and they can always move positions. It didn't work. He tried to take DBs and make them safeties, Safeties and make them LBs, LBs and make them DEs and DEs and make them DTs. That led to the last two year's defense.....small, injury prone and playing out of position. Luke Knott and Levi Peters aresafety bodies playing OLB with MLB speed. It's not their fault they are out of position. It's not Miller's fault he was out of position most of his career.

Like I said, there is a reason the staff went JUCO at the LB position. They needed an upgrade.

In all fariness to Knott, Seeley, Mills, Meeks, etc...they got thrown to the wolves with little experience. We were blessed with two greats in Knott and Klein so the bar is set hi.

 

[tazclone]

I feel bad for Meeks. I don't think his speed of play that he presented is anywhere near what his actual potential is. That kid was thrown to the wolves, against a really REALLY good run team, and his d-line let him get destroyed. I eat crow for Miller whenever I can. I criticized him harshly his junior year. He played like a man when he was in the middle until his injury. My hat goes off to him.

Why Miller ever played WILL is beyong me. He was a MIKE all day everyday. I could see it when George was here but not last year.

Did Meeks transfer or was he one of the naughty boy casualties that was dismissed?

 

[tazclone]

I thought I remember hearing in Chris' podcast that both Leath and Williams were trying to finish up classes and he thought they would make it. I'll have to go listen to it again to see. Really hope Williams can make it too. Would take a lot of pressure off of Brown and Warren and possibly would not make a Frosh burn a redshirt.

Leath waas always expected to be late arriving and Williams was always a risk to make it. I have yet to see anything that says he isn't making it and have only heard it is still 50/50.

 

[nickcyv]

Yes, but that is because they are required to cover for an extended time which I spelled out when describing the play of the CBs.
Notice no one is talking about hte play of the DBs. even though they got beat. That is because if you watch them, you can see they had Big 12 ability even as young as they were. they made good reads, they had the speed and athletic ability to recover from bad reads, poor tackling technique, poor positioning, etc. etc.

You are claiming all bad LB play is directly related to the DL...Well, there is a reason the staff brought in JUCO LBs and it isn't because the current one were great. You can look at LB play and say...those guys missed that because the DL sucks. You can also look at their play and say...they should have made that play, their coverage is poor, they lack speed, they lack explosiveness, and they are undersized.

CPRs recruiting philosophy the first few years was crap. From long, lean OL to "growing players." I rememebr the year Utah kicked are *** at home and CPOR talked about recruiting QBs because they are the best athletes ont he team and they can always move positions. It didn't work. He tried to take DBs and make them safeties, Safeties and make them LBs, LBs and make them DEs and DEs and make them DTs. That led to the last two year's defense.....small, injury prone and playing out of position. Luke Knott and Levi Peters aresafety bodies playing OLB with MLB speed. It's not their fault they are out of position. It's not Miller's fault he was out of position most of his career.

Like I said, there is a reason the staff went JUCO at the LB position. They needed an upgrade.

In all fariness to Knott, Seeley, Mills, Meeks, etc...they got thrown to the wolves with little experience. We were blessed with two greats in Knott and Klein so the bar is set hi.

This is a good post Taz.

 

[DFWClone]

Yes, but that is because they are required to cover for an extended time which I spelled out when describing the play of the CBs.
Notice no one is talking about hte play of the DBs. even though they got beat. That is because if you watch them, you can see they had Big 12 ability even as young as they were. they made good reads, they had the speed and athletic ability to recover from bad reads, poor tackling technique, poor positioning, etc. etc.

You are claiming all bad LB play is directly related to the DL...Well, there is a reason the staff brought in JUCO LBs and it isn't because the current one were great. You can look at LB play and say...those guys missed that because the DL sucks. You can also look at their play and say...they should have made that play, their coverage is poor, they lack speed, they lack explosiveness, and they are undersized.

CPRs recruiting philosophy the first few years was crap. From long, lean OL to "growing players." I rememebr the year Utah kicked are *** at home and CPOR talked about recruiting QBs because they are the best athletes ont he team and they can always move positions. It didn't work. He tried to take DBs and make them safeties, Safeties and make them LBs, LBs and make them DEs and DEs and make them DTs. That led to the last two year's defense.....small, injury prone and playing out of position. Luke Knott and Levi Peters aresafety bodies playing OLB with MLB speed. It's not their fault they are out of position. It's not Miller's fault he was out of position most of his career.

Like I said, there is a reason the staff went JUCO at the LB position. They needed an upgrade.

In all fariness to Knott, Seeley, Mills, Meeks, etc...they got thrown to the wolves with little experience. We were blessed with two greats in Knott and Klein so the bar is set hi.

In before he calls you a hawk or troll.

Great post btw.

 

[jbindm]

Why Miller ever played WILL is beyong me. He was a MIKE all day everyday. I could see it when George was here but not last year.

Did Meeks transfer or was he one of the naughty boy casualties that was dismissed?

Meeks decided to transfer after the coaching staff asked him to switch positions. I think they wanted to move him to TE.

 

[Wesley]

We play our best defense with swarm tackling. However, you need depth to keep that up.

 

[jbindm]

We play our best defense with swarm tackling. However, you need depth to keep that up.

Or some good luck avoiding key injuries to front line guys. We've had neither the last couple seasons. Doesn't excuse the on field product, but you can't ignore it either.

 

[rholtgraves]

Lot of question marks on the defense. On offense it doesn't sound good for the center position. Sounds like Lalk is the guy simply bc he can snap the ball.