Looking at what we thought we knew coming into the season vs what we've seen so far:
Prior to the season, using the Spring Game, summer reports, practice reports and the CGC scrimmage as (minimal) data:
QB: I thought we had a gunslinger with an NFL arm. The CGC scrimmage gave me some pause, just because he kind of got rattled just a little there and started missing some fairly easy throws with no live (hitting) pass rush. I thought that we'd see more of Lanning than we did in the first few games too.
RB: I believed that Montgomery was a solid RB and hoped that Warren would bounce back, but I had doubts just because the lack of holes didn't fit his running style. I was super pumped about Johnnie Lang and thought that Croney would be relegated to 4th string.
WR: I knew what we had in Lazard. Butler shined in the CGC scrimmage. We heard good things about Murdock. I figured that Jones would keep getting better. Ryen would be a solid option. No idea on Eaton.
TE: Figured that Allen alone would triple the catch output from last year's TEs. Soehner would be a good in-line blocker and of course Seonbuchner would dominate at F.
OL: I thought these guys would struggle just a little early on and get better and better. Figured run blocking would be a problem just because they didn't have road graders like Bobek and Scoggins, but Oge would help there.
DE: I was cautiously optimistic that Bailey would continue to improve and Waggoner would be solid. Leo, Benton and Lensing would be better depth than we've had and Uwazarike could play some outside on running downs.
DT/NG: Huge unknown with Lima and Trent. Johnson played some last year, but didn't do much. Tongamoa would slowly get mixed in.
LB: Again, huge unknown with Lanning and Spears. Harvey was the only proven player.
CB: I thought we were set with Peavy and Payne. Azunna would be a solid backup. Figured this would be one of the best groups in the conference.
S: My only real concern here was KCM's health. I figured Wikerson/Edwards could man the other spot OK and even if that was a weak spot, it could be covered up by the rest of the secondary, who could all see some all-conference mentions.
After 6 games, here's what I see:
QB: Park melted down vs UT, but was decent in 3 other starts. Who knows when/if he'll be back. Kempt has filled in nicely as more of a game manager, but I don't know how many B12 shootouts we can win with him. Lanning has played some and did OK. I still think we need to have him pull up on one of those designed runs and launch one. IMO we are going to need Park back to get to a bowl game.
RB: Montgomery has been a revelation. One of the best backs in the country. If we had any run blocking at all, he'd be piling up the yards. I didn't see this elusiveness last year. Warren has cleaned up his ball security, but he just is not the type of back to get yards when the POA is stuffed. I actually think that Croney might deserve 2nd team carries at this point. Hopefully as the OL improves, Warren gets a chance to break a few.
WR: This group has pretty much lived up to expectations. They are a handful on jump balls. Blocking has been incredible. There have been drops...especially Lazard, but he seems to be coming on and he's made WAY more good plays than bad ones. Ryen has played well enough to keep Jones on the bench. Murdock is every bit as good as the staff said. Eaton has limited reps, but I am not the least worried about what our WRs will look like next year even with losing 3 of their top 6.
TE: Seems like Allen plays a lot, but they don't throw to him much. The position is much more of a threat than it was last year, but it is easy to put Butler and Lazard at "TE" on passing downs because they are faster and can still block DBs well.
OL: We thought that this would be the trouble spot for the O and it has been. Not that they've been terrible, but they do struggle to move people. Campos has bounced back well. But other than him, there's a bunch of average to solid players. Manning has done a great job of scheming around it (minus the UT game). Oge being out hurts...thankfully we have Knipfel. I think that they'll continue to improve and getting a year's experience for Foster, Meeker, Knipfel, JGJ means good things for next year.
DE: A pleasant surprise. Bailey HAS continued to improve. Waggoner is more than solid. Benton and Lensing have done a good job as backups.
DT/NG: More than a surprise. Lima is playing at an all-conference level IMO, even though he won't have the stats. Trent has also played way better than I thought he could. Now Johnson is coming on. I'm hoping Tongamoa plays more and more. They are going to be very, very good next year.
LB: Shocked at how well Lanning and Spears have played. Of course, it helps when the DL is doing its job in front of them. Harvey is better than last year too. Now they need to develop some depth (Hummel, Sutton, McMillen).
CB: Peavy is once again playing at an all conference level. I've been a little disappointed with Payne, but he has done OK. As far as I know, Azunna hasn't played yet. I had written Ruth off as a potential transfer, but he's gotten better and better. It would not surprise me at all to see Payne back at Star next year...especially if guys like Jones and Bowens step up.
S: Amazing how much better the D plays when KCM is back there. Wilkerson has played pretty much to expectations. Guys like White and Grant have a long ways to go. This will be one of the key positions to watch this spring.
I will say that the one position I'm disappointed in is KR. They really need someone back there that can do something. I don't think that it's worth it to play Nwangwu at this point, so maybe there's nothing to do here. Guess I'd like to see them try Deshaute Jones back there. Or Johnnie Lang if he's not going after the medical RS.
Prior to the season, using the Spring Game, summer reports, practice reports and the CGC scrimmage as (minimal) data:
QB: I thought we had a gunslinger with an NFL arm. The CGC scrimmage gave me some pause, just because he kind of got rattled just a little there and started missing some fairly easy throws with no live (hitting) pass rush. I thought that we'd see more of Lanning than we did in the first few games too.
RB: I believed that Montgomery was a solid RB and hoped that Warren would bounce back, but I had doubts just because the lack of holes didn't fit his running style. I was super pumped about Johnnie Lang and thought that Croney would be relegated to 4th string.
WR: I knew what we had in Lazard. Butler shined in the CGC scrimmage. We heard good things about Murdock. I figured that Jones would keep getting better. Ryen would be a solid option. No idea on Eaton.
TE: Figured that Allen alone would triple the catch output from last year's TEs. Soehner would be a good in-line blocker and of course Seonbuchner would dominate at F.
OL: I thought these guys would struggle just a little early on and get better and better. Figured run blocking would be a problem just because they didn't have road graders like Bobek and Scoggins, but Oge would help there.
DE: I was cautiously optimistic that Bailey would continue to improve and Waggoner would be solid. Leo, Benton and Lensing would be better depth than we've had and Uwazarike could play some outside on running downs.
DT/NG: Huge unknown with Lima and Trent. Johnson played some last year, but didn't do much. Tongamoa would slowly get mixed in.
LB: Again, huge unknown with Lanning and Spears. Harvey was the only proven player.
CB: I thought we were set with Peavy and Payne. Azunna would be a solid backup. Figured this would be one of the best groups in the conference.
S: My only real concern here was KCM's health. I figured Wikerson/Edwards could man the other spot OK and even if that was a weak spot, it could be covered up by the rest of the secondary, who could all see some all-conference mentions.
After 6 games, here's what I see:
QB: Park melted down vs UT, but was decent in 3 other starts. Who knows when/if he'll be back. Kempt has filled in nicely as more of a game manager, but I don't know how many B12 shootouts we can win with him. Lanning has played some and did OK. I still think we need to have him pull up on one of those designed runs and launch one. IMO we are going to need Park back to get to a bowl game.
RB: Montgomery has been a revelation. One of the best backs in the country. If we had any run blocking at all, he'd be piling up the yards. I didn't see this elusiveness last year. Warren has cleaned up his ball security, but he just is not the type of back to get yards when the POA is stuffed. I actually think that Croney might deserve 2nd team carries at this point. Hopefully as the OL improves, Warren gets a chance to break a few.
WR: This group has pretty much lived up to expectations. They are a handful on jump balls. Blocking has been incredible. There have been drops...especially Lazard, but he seems to be coming on and he's made WAY more good plays than bad ones. Ryen has played well enough to keep Jones on the bench. Murdock is every bit as good as the staff said. Eaton has limited reps, but I am not the least worried about what our WRs will look like next year even with losing 3 of their top 6.
TE: Seems like Allen plays a lot, but they don't throw to him much. The position is much more of a threat than it was last year, but it is easy to put Butler and Lazard at "TE" on passing downs because they are faster and can still block DBs well.
OL: We thought that this would be the trouble spot for the O and it has been. Not that they've been terrible, but they do struggle to move people. Campos has bounced back well. But other than him, there's a bunch of average to solid players. Manning has done a great job of scheming around it (minus the UT game). Oge being out hurts...thankfully we have Knipfel. I think that they'll continue to improve and getting a year's experience for Foster, Meeker, Knipfel, JGJ means good things for next year.
DE: A pleasant surprise. Bailey HAS continued to improve. Waggoner is more than solid. Benton and Lensing have done a good job as backups.
DT/NG: More than a surprise. Lima is playing at an all-conference level IMO, even though he won't have the stats. Trent has also played way better than I thought he could. Now Johnson is coming on. I'm hoping Tongamoa plays more and more. They are going to be very, very good next year.
LB: Shocked at how well Lanning and Spears have played. Of course, it helps when the DL is doing its job in front of them. Harvey is better than last year too. Now they need to develop some depth (Hummel, Sutton, McMillen).
CB: Peavy is once again playing at an all conference level. I've been a little disappointed with Payne, but he has done OK. As far as I know, Azunna hasn't played yet. I had written Ruth off as a potential transfer, but he's gotten better and better. It would not surprise me at all to see Payne back at Star next year...especially if guys like Jones and Bowens step up.
S: Amazing how much better the D plays when KCM is back there. Wilkerson has played pretty much to expectations. Guys like White and Grant have a long ways to go. This will be one of the key positions to watch this spring.
I will say that the one position I'm disappointed in is KR. They really need someone back there that can do something. I don't think that it's worth it to play Nwangwu at this point, so maybe there's nothing to do here. Guess I'd like to see them try Deshaute Jones back there. Or Johnnie Lang if he's not going after the medical RS.
