Training Camp Depth Chart...
by nafselon
on Jul 20, 2008 12:37 PM EDT
...is up and available here. Obviously we've already hit on the running back and quarterback positions.
Noteworthy that Christian Ponder (7) and Greg Carr (18) appear to be the only two notable players who have changed numbers this season.
Corey Surrency will be starting at one of the wide receiver positions in my opinion. Parker is out for the first two games as his punishment stemming from his arrest during the offseason. It looks like Richard Goodman is going to take a medical redshirt this season so you can cross him off the depth chart.
Caz will miss the first three games of the season with a suspension. Jonathan Hannah will not be a member of the team and Charlie Graham has yet to complete his duties at TCC to return to the program. So that leaves 2008 signees Bo Reliford and Jabaris Little there. Little has some developing to do so Reliford will start. Now Bo is a DYNAMITE athlete but he needs to get a little stronger. As it is he's going to bring an element to the tight end position that Caz doesn't have -- speed, athleticism and playmaking.
As you can see there's no juniors or seniors anywhere on the offensive line. With Evan Bellamy's blood clot injury forcing him to miss the season, Rodney Hudson moves back to guard and true freshman Zebrie Sanders moves to first-team tackle. Now that may not last because the coaches believe true freshman David Spurlock is good enough to start at guard which would move Hudson back to tackle, where he excelled at in the Music City Bowl.
At defensive end there's no reason that Markus White won't move up to first team quickly. Kevin McNeil might have to take a redshirt this season due to the academic scandal and his increased role in it and Neefy Moffett is more suited for situational play. Everette Brown is solid on the other end but with Brian Coulter out of the picture and off to Mizzou, I'm not crazy about the depth here.
On the other hand, I don't think the depth at DT is as bad as once thought. Sure they will need better seasons from Kendrick Stewart and Emmanuel Dunbar but I think both players are capable.
At linebacker I don't see Toddrick Verdell holding off Nigel Bradham for very long, let's be honest. Everyone and his mother thinks Dekoda Watson will be the breakout star on defense and there's enough depth with Kendall Smith, Ricardo Wright and Vince Williams that if Derek Nicholson is a step slow recovering from his injury I don't think there will be too big of a dropoff.
I would put FSU's secondary up against anyone's with Carter, Patrick Robinson and Rolle. Now if McClure or Jamie Robinson can step up at free safety than that's a pretty good starting group. The reserves, however, concern me greatly.
Thoughts? Concerns? Insults?
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I have to disagree with your assessment of the defensive line. The defensive ends should be fine. Remember that Wake puts their best offensive linemen on the interior. This very well could be the point of attack that costs us the game.
As for the TE’s, once Caz is back he should provide us an extra half lineman worth of blocking.
I did a decent writeup on injuries at FSUncensored.blogspot.com. Seems as if we weren’t complaining unreasonably.
Unique analysis of the 'Noles and the national CFB Landscape at HTTP://www.FSUncensored.blogspot.com
by FSUncensored on Jul 22, 2008 12:14 PM EDT 0 recs
How are the defensive ends fine...
...with such a short rotation. The defensive ends have been one of the biggest problems on the defense since…well since the Dan Gladden left the coaching staff. Now it’s a short rotation in a spot that desperately needs improvement.
Don’t get me wrong, I love what White and Brown have the potential to bring, I just wish there were four more bodies able to do that same thing 80% as well.
by nafselon on
Jul 22, 2008 7:12 PM EDT
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I don't think the defensive ends will be a problem in the first 3 nor overall.
While the play has certainly slipped since Gladden left, I saw improved play last year and I look for that to continue that this year. We don’t need 6 defensive ends for a game. 4 are just fine, especially for the first 3 games, and then we will increase our depth with certain players returning from suspension.
We have 3 solid Defensive Ends in Brown, White and Neefy. Reports on Jamar Jackson have also been encouraging. I hope McNeil doesn’t require a medical red shirt. Finally, Lampkin is a high motor guy who plays with intelligence. He is more than capable of spelling the big 3 for 10 plays per game.
Unique analysis of the 'Noles and the national CFB Landscape at HTTP://www.FSUncensored.blogspot.com
by FSUncensored on Jul 22, 2008 7:54 PM EDT 0 recs
McNeil....
...not a medical redshirt, but it’s something stemming from the academic scandal.
He missed all of last year with a redshirt or a suspension. No one really knows, either way he should be a redshirt sophomore this year…if he misses the first four games. If he doesn’t than last year becomes a suspension or something and he’s a junior instead of a redshirt sophomore.
Basically he’s getting screwed or screwed himself depending on how you look at it.
I’m glad you are optimistic, but one injury on the line and you’ve got walk-ons in the rotation. That’s not a good thing. I hate that Coulter isn’t going to be here, that kid had star written all over him provided coach Allen doesn’t force him to play 20 pounds underweight.
by nafselon on Jul 22, 2008 9:12 PM EDT 0 recs
Who do you have in the "rotation"?
Keep in mind that either Nigel could line up at Defensive end in pass rush situations if we really had a dire situation.
Unique analysis of the 'Noles and the national CFB Landscape at HTTP://www.FSUncensored.blogspot.com
by FSUncensored on
Jul 22, 2008 9:42 PM EDT
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Nigel is the....
...starting Mike linebacker by Week 4. Not a defensive end at all.
I have White, Brown starting with Neefy and McNeil (maybe) backing them up and obviously Jackson will be in the mix with Everette Dawkins.
So someone is going to have to step up shortly.
by nafselon on Jul 22, 2008 11:09 PM EDT 0 recs
Naf,
Did you check out my blog with the injuries post? It’s in my sig.
Also, the coaches made comments about Nigel Brad as a defensive end if he continues growing. Carr did play some with his hand down in high school and excelled.
White, Brown, Neefy and Jackson are a fine 4 and Everette is perfectly capable of being a 5. Will we need to stay healthy to be very good? Yes. But to say that we are in trouble as the rotation is currently comprised is a stretch.
Unique analysis of the 'Noles and the national CFB Landscape at HTTP://www.FSUncensored.blogspot.com
by FSUncensored on
Jul 23, 2008 4:18 PM EDT
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Nigel Bradham is a mike linebacker...
...Carr could be a defensive end. That wouldn’t shock me, he played some there at First Coast and it’s probably a natural fit.
But it is a troubling rotation. 1 returning starter, 1 guy with playing experience and three guys who have never played at this level have to contribute immediately. It’s an inexperienced group at best and one injury away from being thin and inexperienced.
by nafselon on Jul 23, 2008 5:10 PM EDT 0 recs
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