If Tommy Stevens is what we think he is, man this team will be ridiculous next year as well. I just took a quick look at the depth chart, and basically it's like this:
-Offense- (losing 2 starters)
Tommy Stevens takes over at QB
The entire OL is back.
Sanders and Slade are back
All WRs are back except Thompkins (and current freshman look really good)
The TE's are all back (and current freshman look really good)
-Defense- (losing two starters - we all know Parsons will be starter soon)
Entire DLine is back
All LBs come back except Farmer (he won't be the starter for much longer anyway)
Lose 1 CB & 1 S
-Special Teams-
Lose Thompkins, everyone else back.
Basically, if Tommy Stevens takes over for Trace and is what we all believe he can be... this team practically loses no one. Thompkins has a slew of WRs ready to step in for him anyway, including a ton of talented freshman like Shorter. I think KJ probably takes over punt returns, but if not Reid handled that before too. Really, minimal loss and much more experience. One caveat is... of course... if Stevens is as good as we think. But oh man if he is watch out...
Defense? Will be huge on experience and talent. The DLine will be seasoned and ready to wreak havoc, and the young LBs will all have much experience from this year and a whole off-season to bulk up and get better. The secondary loses Scott at the safety, which I don't think will be hard to replace. Oruwariye is a big loss, but with Castro-Fields and Reid coming back as the top two I'm not worried about that either.
Basically next year comes down to this: If Trace can be replaced well by Stevens (or someone else, who knows), this team will be LOADED.
Stevens won’t be quite as good as McSorely throwing the ball but I believe he’ll makeup for it with his legs. I can see him stepping up big like tee Martin did a few years back and have us contending for a NC because the team will be stacked.
Interesting perspective....
Never count your chickens before they are hatched. The team looks like it is set up to be good, but unexpected things can happen. Look at all the guys we lost during the off-season due to injury/retirement. Here’s to hoping everyone that we expect to be back, is back.
A few years back? Tee Martin played at Tennessee from 1996 to 1999. He is currently the offensive coordinator at USC, the west coast one.
Stop making us feel old! LOLOLOLLOLOL
Southern, I'm not sure about Tommy Stevens not being the passer Trace is. I look at his size and see a guy who can throw the ball from deep in the pocket and on the run, whereas Trace does well when he can step up and wing it downfield, Tommy has to show that he is accurate.
From what I've seen of Stevens, he has all the physical tools. Tall, strong arm, and yes accurate.
What I don't know about him is if he can read the defense well, and knows who and when to pass the ball. That's something Trace does very well, he sees the defense and knows where to distribute.
You know me lioninsa, I’m always pulling for the next guy up to be better than the guy that left, no exceptions lol. I’ll be Stevens biggest cheerleader when it’s his time. Roam had a good post above explaining things better than I can lol
Yep, 05, 08, 2016, 2017 we had a chance but come up a little short. The 05 team stings me the most because I believe we best Texas or USC that year. Man we had some big time studs on that team LB99.
We haven't seen Tommy at QB when the outcome of the game is still yet be determined. I think one of Trace's greatest attributes is his coolness when things are falling apart around him, his ability to make decisions under those conditions. Otherwise, as you say, Tommy appears to have all of the tools.
Illinois, Illinois, Illinois, etc.
