Thoughts on next year?

[cloneclone]

After a fun win and season, what are your thoughts about the team next year?

A lot can still change with the portal and all that, but it seems like a lot of unknowns outside of QB.

I kind of have concerns about all 3 levels of the defense, and wonder if we actually do see a bit of a scheme change. The 3-3-5 was implemented to help with the spread passing game, but the big 12 seems to be a running league now. I think the last half of the year had to open the eyes of the coaching staff that something needs tweaked.

I think the offense has a potential to be better? 2nd year at the helm for Mouser, I think he'll only improve. He had some real high moments, but also some real head scratchers, hopefully he'll work some of those out. Absolutely love Higgins and Noel, but I think Rocco not having them will really help his development. I'm a big believer in the more you can spread the ball around, the more dangerous you are as an offense. I have a feeling Dylan Lee is going to play a big part next year and I wonder if he starts taking off in the 2nd half of the year like Monty and Breece did. It probably ultimately comes down to the o-line (which it normally does), I just don't know what to expect from them.

It's kind of funny, even though bowl games don't really matter, I think with the win I'm going to guess we'll be ranked 15-20 in the preseason. I think if we lost we would be unranked in the preseason. That gives us a real shot at the playoffs if we have a year like this one!

 

[Isualum13]

16-0. Anything less will be a major disappointment and grounds for firing campbell.

 

[Isualum13]

Also a maximum of 7 points per game allowed.

 

[JM4CY]

In Rocco I trust.

 

[ZorkClone]

I really liked what I saw out of Alston. He seemed like he could be a decent replacement for Higgins.

I wonder if we will move back to heavier use of TE with Burkle and Breamer should be back.

Defense probably needs some sort of schematic change that couldn’t reasonably be done during the season. But our scheme seemed to work in the sense that if we force the other team to pass, we do well.

 

[Stormin]

11-3 season. First 11 win season ever. CCG. Pop Tarts Bowl win. Rotters are idiots.

 

[madguy30]

I'll go with 7-8 wins again. Worked out this year and went beyond that. I liken it to my basketball expectations or making the tourney.

It's hard to gauge how things can go and I'm not really familiar with who's coming back or not. I think there's some raw talent there with the WRs.

 

[CYCLNST8]

Very proud of this team’s resilience. But any objective observer knows that our defense needs work. We could easily end up on the losing side of close games next year. Tackling has regressed. Pass rush is non existent. Just ONE disruptive DE would make a huge difference.

 

[Clonehomer]

I’m excited. With the transfers and what we saw yesterday, I’m not worried about the receivers. I think we have enough there. RB’s look good if they stay healthy and all come back.

Defense is the concern. When Verdon didn’t play, the secondary looked lost. Gotta find some players to step up there. The LB’s should be better with experience and getting guys back from injury. No idea on the d-line. We get some guys back, but will we have the depth we had this year?

Schedule will be tougher, but I don’t know why the Big12 championship game wouldn’t be the goal. Should at least be in the hunt for it.

 

[cayin]

our schedule is much harder next year. KSU in Dublin will be a tough game for us, especially for our defense. Iowa at home will be tough, they take this game extremely seriously and will want this game bad after feeling like we stole one from them. The rest of the conference, we have ASU, and BYU at home, should be very tough games. And we can't figure out KU under Leipold. On the road at TCU will be tough. I'm guessing 7-5 with this schedule.

 

[alexssdean12]

Have to find a way to replace:

2 starting receivers - Jackson, Green, Alston, Brown and relying on the tight ends more
Left tackle - James Neal has played it before so we'll see
Center - Jim Bonifas much like Neal
TE (Klotz) - Tyler Moore has really stepped up this year

Both DE - Ike, Myles, Carnell, and maybe a transfer compete
Corner - Not super sure as Purchase was backing up Porter is also gone (slightly concerned)
MS - Surges and Smith can compete
BS - James really stepped it up some games, has some work to do

10 starter level guys to replace but we have guys have have been there before

 

[Clonehomer]

Have to find a way to replace:

2 starting receivers - Jackson, Green, Alston, Brown and relying on the tight ends more
Left tackle - James Neal has played it before so we'll see
Center - Jim Bonifas much like Neal
TE (Klotz) - Tyler Moore has really stepped up this year

Both DE - Ike, Myles, Carnell, and maybe a transfer compete
Corner - Not super sure as Purchase was backing up Porter is also gone (slightly concerned)
MS - Surges and Smith can compete
BS - James really stepped it up some games, has some work to do

10 starter level guys to replace but we have guys have have been there before

Even with as great as Noel and Higgins were this year, the passing game is where I’m the least concerned. Might see more 2 TE sets with Brahmer and Burkle. Maybe it’ll look like the Kohler and Allen years in that regard.

If the Oline can be equal to this year the offense will be special. And that may be needed with what we lose on defense.

 

[Dopey]

I feel comfortable with where the offense and LBs will be.

DBs will probably be fine. DL desperately needs a pass rush.

3-3-5 should be evaluated pending personnel.

Not fair to expect these results next year. Schedule will be a bit tougher. But I think we can expect to be in and hunt for a CCG bid.

 

[bosco]

Offensive Line needs to get better.

Defensive Line needs to get better.

Need more speed in the DB.

Tackling needs to get better.

Hansen needs to be the feature back.

 

[ghettocowboy4cy]

4-2-5 needs a serious look. They need to seriously look at bringing in some better LB’s. Secondary became shacky as the season went on. As always the OL… Nough said there. Overall we are in decent shape for next season!

 

[inCyteful]

16-0. Anything less will be a major disappointment and grounds for firing campbell.

And we probably better not trail my more than 3 at anytime.

 

[werdnamanhill]

I expect some regression due to the schedule being much tougher (at least seeming that way in December), as well as a ton of talented seniors leaving. Seems like a re-tooling year.

7-9 wins id say. 10 would not shock me however, especially if our injury luck comes back around

 

[Thomasrickj]

If we can grab a few guys in the portal that know how to tackle and a good edge rusher we should be expecting double digit wins again. Good transfers came in at the WR as well as Alston looking like he’s got potential, offense won’t be an issue.

 

[MartyFine]

That Ireland game vs. K-state will be very important. The loser of that game the past few seasons has went on to struggle with the rest of their season.

 

[BCClone]

That Ireland game vs. K-state will be very important. The loser of that game the past few seasons has went on to struggle with the rest of their season.

The Kstate game has been the last game of the season. So yeah the loser would struggle with the rest since they were done.